Chapter 209: Are You Summoning Lance?

Meanwhile, on the other side of Ikerite University, at the College of Magical Engineering, the previous quiet of the afternoon was broken by the chatter and laughter of students. Many were just finishing their classes and stepping out of the main building, whereas those who had no classes that afternoon were picnicking on the lawn or lounging lazily in the shade, enjoying a brief respite.

The gardens and lawns beside the old Liberal Arts Hall marked the boundary of the College of Magical Engineering. The main building of the college was not far ahead, and it was a structure featuring glass walls and a distinctive iron-tower.

On the fifth floor of the main building, sunlight slanted into the corridor, bathing the entire hallway in rich, warm hues. The heavy door to the dean’s office opened, and a young woman with blonde hair and green eyes stepped out, a sweet smile on her lips.

Prince Ainor, who had been waiting in the fifth floor corridor, asked, "How did it go?"

Standing beside him was Lady Sophia, the daughter of an earl, who was practically inseparable from him. Professor Boralo had entrusted the two of them with the task of guiding Karen around the campus over the past few days.

Not only were they outstanding students of the College of Magical Engineering excelling in both conduct and academics, but they were also intimately familiar with the royal capital’s branch of the Card Maker’s Association.

Moreover, Professor Boralo often felt they had too much free time on their hands. They spent all their time together yet made no romantic progress, which was a situation that was maddeningly slow for any observer.

"It’s all set. Dean Boralo said that Dean Lawrence will arrange a time this weekend for me to examine the Primal Tablet," replied Karen with a bright smile.

She was a second year Gold Certified card maker from the academic exchange team of the Yaloran Kingdom’s Royal University. Her primary objective in coming here was to examine the Wind Primal Tablet. Although that moron, Adam, had tried to cause trouble for the Sages’ College, Dean Lawrence was a magnanimous man, so he had made sure she was taken care of.

The task the dean had assigned her was not difficult. In fact, it was quite routine; she simply needed to craft a specific number of high-quality enchanted cards for the clergy at the royal capital branch of the Church of the Goddess of Fate.

She had managed to complete the assignment in less than a week after arriving at Ikerite University. Of course, this also had to do with her own abilities. Had she not been a skilled Gold Certified card maker, she could never have finished the task with such ease.

Karen bowed slightly to the two of them, expressing her thanks. "Your Highness Ainor and Lady Sophia, thank you both for looking after me these past few days. I’d like to invite you along when I go to view the Wind Primal Tablet as a token of my gratitude."

Generally speaking, since Dean Lawrence rarely had the time to arrange viewing sessions for the Wind Primal Tablet, those granted the opportunity were permitted to bring along others they knew well, should they wish to do so.

A magical artisan’s viewing session was not a quick affair, so Lawrence had to clear at least two hours in his schedule. Moreover, the dean had been unusually busy lately, making this arrangement a tight squeeze. He had only managed to free up the time by cancelling some previously scheduled work, specifically because Karen was due to return to the Kingdom of Yaloran in a few days.

Sophia answered decisively, "Thank you for the kind offer, but I’ll secure my own chance to view the Primal Tablet with Dean Lawrence later on."

She had no need for such handouts. Although she acknowledged that her talent for card making didn't quite match Karen's, she knew it was only a matter of time before she, too, became a Gold Certified card maker.

Besides, she had come to terms with things. Ever since she had witnessed Lance’s performance at the Card Maker’s Association first hand, nothing, no matter how monstrous, seemed strange to her anymore.

Karen’s head drooped, and her voice grew faint, "I see... Then what about His Highness Ainor?"

Sophia stated firmly, "He isn't going either."

"I'm sorry... I didn't realize that inviting His Highness would upset you, Sophia..." Karen shrank back timidly, as if realizing she had made an offensive request. She then added, "Someone of my humble background... perhaps I shouldn't have gotten so close to you all in the first place..."

"Not at all. Sophia is like that with everyone. She isn't deliberately making things difficult for you." Ainor hurriedly tried to smooth things over. It looked as though Karen was on the verge of tears because of Sophia. It made it seem as if he and Sophia were using their noble status to bully a talented commoner girl from another kingdom!

"Ainor, you!" Sophia’s brows shot up as she heard this, and she clenched her fists in frustration.

If only Ainor would just shut up!

Karen tugged at Ainor’s sleeve, her voice tinged with a hint of pleading as she asked, "So, Your Highness Ainor, would you be willing to come watch with me? I’m scared to be all alone at Ikerite University. The upperclassmen who came with me aren't magical artisans, and you’re the only person here I can truly trust."

"Well..." Ainor looked torn, glancing back and forth between Karen and Sophia.

He felt as though Sophia’s gaze was warning him not to go. But if he refused, it would look like he, as a prince, was throwing his weight around and looking down on Karen because of her lowly background.

Unfortunately, watching Ainor’s indecisive actions only made Sophia more and more agitated, until she finally stomped her foot. In a fit of anger, she squeezed her eyes shut, clenched her fists, and shouted, "What are you hesitating for? If you want to go, then go!"

She simply had enough of this lately!

"Sophia..." Ainor stared at Sophia, momentarily stunned. He was completely bewildered by the situation.

The very next moment, however, after being shouted at, tears began to stream down Karen’s face.

She sobbed, "I knew it... Sophia really hates me! I suppose I should just go back to the Kingdom of Yaloran..."

"Karen, no! That’s not it. You’ve definitely misunderstood something." Ainor was suddenly at an even greater loss for what to do. It would be disastrous if rumors spread that Sophia was bullying Karen. He didn't want her to be branded as a "villainess."

Ainor looked at Sophia and asked anxiously, "Sophia, why are you picking on Karen?"

He genuinely couldn't fathom why she had suddenly become so angry. She hadn't even lashed out like this back at the Card Maker’s Association, not even in front of Lance.

Sophia was already furious, and upon hearing Ainor scolding her, a wave of uncontrollable hurt and grievance surged up within her.

Tears welled in the corners of her eyes as she screamed shrilly, "Picking on her? You idiot. Just go be with her then! I hate you the most!!!"

However, the moment the words left her lips, she regretted them. Sophia immediately saw the look of astonishment on Ainor’s face. He appeared deeply hurt. It was then that she noticed Karen, who was hiding behind Ainor, watching her with a gaze that held a hint of pity.

It was as if the other girl was mocking her. "Your prince is within easy reach."

With Karen’s easy charm, she could effortlessly win over even a prince of the realm. In fact, there wasn't a man in the entire school she couldn't conquer.

Sophia’s long, dark hair, shimmering with violet hues, stood out strikingly in the midday light. However, her eyes, which were usually so proud, were now brimming with tears and turning red at the rims.

"I..." Her voice trembled, and her lips quivered.

Despite her attempts to hide it, her heartbreak was clearly etched on her face. She sniffled hard and wiped away the tears at the corners of her eyes, yet more kept spilling out.

Finally, Sophia burst into loud sobs. She turned and ran down the corridor, repeatedly wiping away tears with her slender hands, but the droplets fell to the floor like beads from a broken string.

Faculty members from the College of Magical Engineering paused as they witnessed the scene, watching in bewilderment as Sophia hurried past. They had no idea what had happened.

Sophia ran all the way from the fifth floor to the first. The sounds of her footsteps and ragged breathing echoed through the empty hallway, mingled with her occasional sobs.

Eventually, she found herself somewhere she didn't recognize, but it didn’t matter. It was somewhere far enough from Ainor that he wouldn't see her. She sank powerlessly onto a stone step, burying her face in her hands. Her shoulders shook, and tears dampened the backs of her hands.

Her long, dark hair cascaded over her shoulders. Around her, there was nothing but bright sunlight, leaves rustling in the breeze, and falling petals. Sophia sat beneath the old Liberal Arts Hall, weeping helplessly.

Tears poured down her face and her voice was choked with sobs as she begged, "Oh, Goddess... Please, send someone to help me deal with that wicked woman."