The central hall of the Sage Academy Tower Library is usually a serene and solemn space, but today, it radiates liveliness unlike ever before.
Many scholars stood on the exquisite, intricately colored floor tiles and carpet, conversing with Carlen, earnestly confirming and inquiring about each detail they were interested in. From time to time, they turned to discuss with their friend or colleague nearby. A tense, yet excited atmosphere hung in the air.
Even though the [Original Slabstone Tablet-Wind] had already been thoroughly studied, a Pink Sacred Magic Card based on the barrier formula of [Original Slabstone Tablet-Wind] still held high academic value!
At this moment, the base floor was no longer a quiet hall of knowledge, but had transformed into the lively scene of an academic press conference.
Even the return of Lanci failed to attract much attention for the time being.
Only Loren, who had retrieved the [Original Slabstone Tablet-Wind], was the first to notice Lanci.
"..."
He originally had something to say but stopped as soon as he saw the magic card in Lanci’s hand.
"Student Lanci has also returned."
Owing to the dissipation of the Void Gate, this change in magic power swiftly drew the attention of the crowd.
However.
Some revealed expressions of brief surprise, others promptly refocused their attention on Carlen, and some were very perplexed.
People saw a bleak white card in Lanci’s hand.
It even seemed to have a very low status, as it was hard to feel the magic fluctuation from it.
"Please wait for me for a moment."
As soon as Carlen saw Lanci, she immediately apologized to the other scholars and quickly walked over to his side.
"Student Lanci, it seems your performance isn’t too good this time. I heard Dean Loren’s praises about you. I had thought you could at least make a fourth-order purple magic card."
Carlen looked up at Lanci, scrutinizing his face as she spoke.
She seemed quite confident in her assessment of Lanci’s level.
He was pretty much a rookie.
She even wanted to laugh at him a little bit.
Is this it? The genius cardmaker of the Sage Academy? She had thought he was going to be much better.
Even if Lanci had made a magic card of higher position with blue quality, it would have been alright. The white-level ordinary magic card of low order, which even the novice Cardmaker of Magic Engineering College could create, was typically a tool card or an item with weak magical effects.
The scholars nearby held their tongues.
In fact, they could tell that this was not a performance issue.
Underperformance would either result in card explosion or incomplete products, thus reducing the quality by a grade. Carlen was calling Lanci incompetent, just not straightforwardly.
"Instead of whether I performed well or not, it’s more about my true ability."
Lanci said calmly.
"..."
Hearing Lanci make no excuses, Carlen was somewhat surprised, her mouth falling slightly open.
She had thought that Lanci would feel defeated since he had been praised so much.
"Lanci, don’t lose heart. After all, you are only a freshman. Sometimes cardmaking really depends on luck. I’ve also made white ordinary cards, but at least you are very honest. If I had made a white ordinary magic card, I would probably hide it."
Carlen continued to smile radiantly, encouraging Lanci.
The strong have the right to mercilessly humiliate the weak.
Considering that Lanci had made such a pathetic card, she found it hard to contain her laughter.
This time, everyone could tell that Carlen was ridiculing Lanci heavily.
Apparently, the relationship between the two had never been good, and Carlen just stopped pretending after she started riding high.
"Well, we’ll meet again if we’re meant to, Lanci. I hope to see you at the Platinum Level Card Maker’s exam, so I can witness the skill of the super talented cardmaker that Dean Loren spoke of."
Carlen turned her eyes and waved to the scholars and reporters, as if she didn’t have time to focus on Lanci any longer.
"I will strive to."
Lanci politely watched Carlen walk away, responding.
"...?"
On one side, Dean Loren, who was watching Carlen’s face sarcastically mocking Lanci, wondered if Carlen had misunderstood something.
You guys may indeed meet in the Platinum Level Card Maker examination.
Loren never imagined that Carlen hated Lanci this much, at first he thought the two got along well!
Wait a minute.
"!"
Loren frowned tightly.
He just realized a serious problem -
Good Lord, was Carlen treating Lanci as a weakling and starting to bully him?
Although the fact that Lanci is a prospective Platinum Level Card Maker has not yet been made public, Dean Loren didn’t expect Carlen to misjudge Lanci’s strength to this extent!
"It’s over..."
After being startled for a moment, Loren covered his forehead, recalling the words Carlen had just said to Lanci... he felt all was lost.
He dared not imagine the scene where Carlen faces Lanci as an examiner on the Platinum Level Card Maker examination... Carlen’s mentality might just blow up.
"Dean Loren, what’s wrong?"
Lanci asked with concern.
"..."
Loren lowered his hand, looked at Lanci, speechless.
Lanci did indeed remember his instructions. Unlike the other three who were to remain in Hutton Kingdom, Carlen would return to Arolan Kingdom on schedule, healthy, safe, and happy.
But this time, Carlen’s social life is on probation.
"Forget it... This kid is asking for it..."
Loren said weakly.
Not surprisingly, when students from the Royal Arolan Academy come in contact with Lanci, nothing good comes out of it. At a glance, getting hospitalized is considered a great fortune!
Standing on the carpet, Loren thought for a moment and started to worry about Lanci’s feelings now. After all, the card that he made after the observation was indeed a bit strange.
"Didn’t perform well?"
Loren asked Lanci.
He was a bit curious about what kind of card Lanci ended up making.
At least as a prospective Platinum Level Card Maker, the lower limit wouldn’t be seriously making a white card, right?
Loren had never seen Migaya produce a White Ordinary Magic card.
"..."
Lanci lowered his gaze to the card in his hand, smiling slightly, not caring at all about the result of this cardmaking.
Originally, he was planning to ask Loren for a token, to avoid getting too deep into his disguise when he goes to the Northern Continent, so he could prove his identity to the police at the critical moment.
But it seems unnecessary now.
"I performed quite well, actually."
Lanci smiled lightly, only turning his fingertip to let Loren see the Magic card in his hand.
[Fake Stone Tablet-Wind]
[Category: Equipment Card]
[Grade: White Ordinary]
[Tier: 1]
[Passive effect: This card can be regarded as the Original Tablet of Wind, but does not have any bonus effects. Observing this card, you may gain a weak comprehension of Wind-attribute Magic Engineering.]
[Note: Everything in the world will eventually be reborn, and the wind will always blow on this land.]
After a simple wave goodbye, he walked past Loren.
Leaving Loren standing there, eyes wide.
In the second half of this year, he will carry this [Fake Stone Tablet-Wind] to the Northern Continent to directly play Dean Loren. Lanci will strive to create a positive role model with the artistic image of the Great Priest, bloom in both the North and South Continent, and promote Ichrite culture.