Chapter 44: Lance’s Law Firm

It was nearing half past four. The afternoon sun had dipped from its zenith and was casting long, slanted beams through the tall floor-to-ceiling windows, bathing one side of the classroom in a rich, golden-orange glow that lent the room a gentle, mellow atmosphere.

A fading, wistful radiance settled upon the tabletops, empty chairs, and steps, as if silently recounting the passage of time. Hyperion and Lance were sitting behind a spacious wooden desk at the back of the classroom.

Hyperion didn't know why Lance was looking at her. After a moment's thought, however, she met his gaze. While staring into his beautiful, emerald-green eyes, she offered a word of caution. "Lance, don't get involved in my affairs anymore. There's no need for you to get dragged into any of this..."

Lance was unconvinced. He simply blinked, his expression calm and unruffled. "I won't stand by and watch a friend get bullied. Besides, back when Mordan called me a 'lousy lawyer,' didn't you stand up for me, too?"

Lance then smiled. He always returned kindness with kindness. "Anyway, if you ever need legal help, come find me at Room 101 in the Sages’ College dormitory. Once I pass the bar exam, I can hang a 'Lance’s Law Firm' sign right next to my door."

Hyperion was once again rendered speechless, unable to find a response to such a ridiculous statement. Nearby students also overheard him. Although no one dared to disturb Lance, who clearly looked exhausted and uninterested in interacting with strangers, many pricked up their ears. They were curious to hear what else might be said between him and Hyperion.

The rules at Ikerite University were actually quite accommodating. Students with unique talents often turned their dorm rooms into popular hubs, attracting visitors from various departments and grade levels who came seeking their services. The school tacitly permitted this kind of social interaction as part of a diverse campus life.

But a law firm? That was something no one had ever really heard of before. Who the hell looked for a lawyer at school?! This was a university for training mages and the like, not a law school!

***

The branches and leaves of the trees on campus swayed gently in the breeze, their shadows dancing across the classroom floor like a silent performance. Students moved back and forth along the campus paths. The faint sounds of laughter and conversation drifted into the classroom from afar, making time feel at once ethereal and incredibly real.

In the end, after debating with herself, Hyperion nodded and accepted Lance’s sincere offer of help. "If I can find my father, I will make sure he invites you to become an advisor to the House of Aransar with the highest honors."

Her expression conveyed the solemnity of her promise. Though it could well turn out to be an empty promise, it spoke volumes about her attitude. She now acknowledged Lance as a friend to both herself and the House of Aransar, and the House of Aransar always repaid its debts of gratitude.

"An advisor to the dukedom? That would certainly be an impressive title. If my old man found out I’d made something of myself here in the capital, he’d probably faint from shock..." Lance smiled at the thought.

He didn't care whether the promise would actually be fulfilled. He quite admired his new friend. "Hyperion, you always act so cold and aloof, but deep down, you’re incredibly kind."

Hyperion didn't understand why Lance would say that. "What do you mean?"

Lance explained with a smile, "Because your focus has never been on inheriting the family title yourself, but instead on finding your father."

Hyperion slowly lowered her head. She seemed to sink into a sorrowful reverie she couldn't easily shake off. After a brief pause, she said, "...Father. He’ll be fine."

Her expression remained composed, yet her inner thoughts were clearly in turmoil. She had risked her life to uncover the few clues she had regarding her father's disappearance, only for them to point vaguely toward the Krati Empire in the south.

Unfortunately, she was too weak right now, and she was all alone. It was still impossible for her to distinguish friend from foe, or identify the mole within the capital. Venturing alone to the Krati Empire to investigate would be nothing short of a death sentence.

She had to grow stronger quickly. Perhaps her father could still be saved, so she just needed to find him as soon as possible. However, Hyperion would never tell Lance about any of this. She absolutely could not let him get dragged any deeper into this mess.

Seeing Hyperion fall silent and remain quiet for a long while, Lance finally asked tentatively, "Have you considered tackling a Shadow Realm dungeon? Let's team up and give the Shadow Realm a little shock."

Among the people he knew, Hyperion was undoubtedly the most compatible teammate. Not only did they have a history of working together, but she had also proven herself to be incredibly reliable in their previous fight. That was precisely why they had managed to clear the super-hard version of the Canyon of Infinite Phantoms together.

Hyperion’s fingers froze on the page of her book. She stared blankly at Lance, her mouth slightly agape as if she wanted to speak or perhaps just gasp for fresh air.

Although she was still struggling to process Lance’s sudden news, as his invitation felt almost too good to be true, she gathered enough of her thoughts to ask, "Are you actually... asking to go with me?"

Lance’s tone was firm and certain. "Of course."

Hyperion lowered her head again to stare at the book on the table, biting her lip as she wrestled inside. The only reason Lance was being so friendly toward her was that he didn't yet know she was half-demon, and she simply didn't know how to bring herself to confess the truth to him.

Even if this friendship was nothing more than a fragile bubble, an illusion ready to shatter and vanish at any moment, she still couldn't bring herself to be the one to pop it. Hyperion said in a low, quiet voice, her gaze cast downward, "You can back out at any time."

That was tantamount to accepting Lance’s invitation to team up. Yet, it also meant accepting that he could unilaterally back out whenever he chose.

The mere thought of this morning's slew of classes made a sharp pain shoot through Lance's head, prompting him to exclaim and complain, "I knew you’d agree! How about we hurry over and challenge the Shadow Realm today before the College of Magical Engineering closes for the day? I seriously can't stand these classes anymore. Which bastard decided to add Principles of Incantationless Casting to the required curriculum this year? I just can't get the hang of it!"

He hadn't expected the courses at the Sages’ College to be this difficult. ...Or perhaps his aptitude for practical magic was simply abysmal.

Principles of Incantationless Casting, in particular, had been a real nightmare for Lance. It hadn't been a required subject in the old curriculum, yet, as luck would have it, it had been added this year due to a syllabus overhaul!

Hyperion murmured, momentarily stunned, "Today?"

She certainly hadn't expected Lance to be so wildly impulsive. This was far more surreal than a spur-of-the-moment trip. Her heart was suddenly pounding erratically against her ribs. For a moment, she didn't know what expression to wear or what tone to use in her reply.

Lance gave a vigorous stretch, loosening up his limbs. "Yes, right now. Want to come with me?"

As he leaned back in his chair and looked at Hyperion again, a look of absolute confidence appeared on his face.