Chapter 1 A Fresh Start in the Royal Capital

In the early morning in Hutton’s royal capital, Lan Qi woke up early and went to the Yeklit Academy alone.

He passed through the bus stop in front of the school gate and saw the golden light rising from the east, illuminating the entire campus, which made him feel a sense of freshness and vitality.

Three days had passed since the end of the entrance examination.

Today, Lan Qi was about to begin his campus journey.

According to what Teacher Theresa had told him, he should first go to the Magic Engineering Institute to exchange for a student bracelet, and then he could move into the academy.

During this time, Lan Qi and Talia had been living in a hotel not far from the academy, Talia was staying next door to him, and Talia would follow him every day when Lan Qi went out.

Lan Qi had already told Talia that after he could move into the very safe Yeklit Academy, Talia would no longer need to protect him like this.

The salary would remain the same.

He would only trouble her when he had questions to ask her.

So now Talia had almost regained her freedom like a new person.

She no longer had to be Lan Qi’s bodyguard every day.

She also had a fake Wilfred family identity.

As long as she wasn't too flamboyant, or went to a large association to register, she would hardly be recognized.

In just a few months, Talia had said goodbye to her down-and-out wandering life, and could even enjoy a leisurely life in this royal capital of Yeklit every day with a generous pension.

When Lan Qi and Talia had breakfast together this morning, Talia looked a little dazed.

It was like she had retired.

But Lan Qi was also very gratified to see that Talia's life was getting better.

Supporting his elderly teacher was his filial duty.

"Speaking of… every time I think about her age, she seems to glance at me… Is it just my imagination…"

Lan Qi muttered to himself as he walked along the main road of the campus.

Although the talent magic of detecting lies may be further upgraded to transform in the direction of mind reading.

But Talia shouldn’t be even close to touching the threshold of mind-reading talent magic.

Because in the settings that Lan Qi knew, Talia had not mastered any mind-reading abilities even in the main timeline two years later.

"So, there's nothing to worry about, age isn't a big deal, she shouldn't care too much."

Lan Qi smiled in relief and continued to walk towards the old arts and sciences building of the Magic Engineering Institute.

The plants on both sides were bathed in the morning mist and sunlight, exuding a fragrance, and there were many flowers along the road whose names Lan Qi couldn't name, some bright, some elegant, and some strangely shaped.

Accompanied by the singing of birds, the buzzing of bees, and the gurgling of water, he gradually walked from the end of the road into a soft meadow covered with flowers. According to the road signs, the buildings in this area were all built in the garden.

After a few minutes of walking.

Lan Qi finally found the typical Gothic Revival building located on the edge of the Magic Engineering Institute, with statues and reliefs inlaid on the ancient red brick exterior wall, which was one of the landmarks of the campus - the old arts and sciences building of the Magic Engineering Institute.

This historic building used to be the workshop where magic engineers displayed their whimsical ideas. It was maintained and renovated a few decades ago and began to be used to provide technical services from the Magic Engineering Institute to students who needed help from other departments.

Lan Qi looked around and didn't see many students.

It seemed that those who would come here these days were basically only new first-year students.

It was very early now, and even the doors of the old arts and sciences building had not yet been opened.

"Oh no, I came too early… I forgot that the people here go to work at nine and leave at five, not a minute early or a second late."

Lan Qi said regretfully.

He remembered that the Yeklits' Buddhist work habits were very different from his.

Many shops closed at five o'clock, and they would rather not make money than leave work, let alone the school's service department.

So Lan Qi could only stand on the lawn, hugging his arms boredly, waiting for the staff of the Magic Engineering Institute to go to work.

Just treat it as feeling the leisure that modern people should have. Sometimes wasting time is also a kind of happiness.

"Actually, it's not bad to just gather inspiration…"

Lan Qi looked up and admired the ancient building in front of him, which was like a work of art. He felt that the fragrance of flowers, the fragrance of grass, the smell of soil and the humid air in the garden seemed to surround him, which was quite pleasant.

The top of the old arts and sciences building was a towering tower, on which was inlaid a carved Yeklit Academy emblem.

The bottom of the school emblem was a silver shield, representing the firmness and belief of the Kingdom of Hutton. The center of the shield depicted the statue of the Goddess of Destiny, holding a laurel wreath in her hand, surrounded by the Holy Light of the Cross, and the background was the Southern Cross constellation, symbolizing the geographical location of Yeklit Academy in the Southern Continent.

The white banner at the top of the school emblem was inscribed with vigorous ancient magic writing, which meant "We will grow in the respect of future generations."

Just by looking at it, Lan Qi felt his heart surge, as if the last trace of sleepiness remaining from waking up early in the morning had been completely dispelled.

He was unconsciously attracted to it, unaware that the second hand had turned several times.

"This kind of carving is probably an artistic masterpiece of a generation of carving masters…"

Lan Qi stood motionless on the grass, staring at the school emblem and muttering to himself.

"Indeed, it was made by Jella Zelte, a magic engineer who graduated from Yeklit Academy two hundred years ago. If you look carefully, you will find many of his works in the academy."

A familiar voice sounded not far behind him, interrupting Lan Qi's thoughts.

Lan Qi woke up as if from a dream, turned around, and saw a girl with light golden long hair standing gracefully in the garden.

Lan Qi remembered her appearance. It was Princess Vivian, whom he had met once in the examination room and who had a bad relationship with his teammate Hyberian.

Lan Qi didn't expect that the princess would come so early, but upon closer inspection, Lan Qi found that, with her arrival, staff members from the Magic Engineering Institute soon came to the old arts and sciences building to open for business.

Sure enough, human relationships exist everywhere.

"Your Highness Vivian, I'm sorry, I was too engrossed in watching and didn't notice you had already arrived."

Lan Qi smiled slightly and greeted the princess, who had also come here to wait at some point.

"..."

Vivian pondered slightly.

In fact, she didn't intend to talk to Lan Qi at first.

Because after the last time, she found that she was a little unable to deal with Lan Qi's personality.

He was a little too nice, a little silly, but his mind was very bright.

"What do you think is the difference between this carved school emblem and a crafted product?"

Vivian didn't exchange pleasantries first, but looked at the carved school emblem at the top of the old arts and sciences building and asked Lan Qi.

After two meetings, Vivian was very sure that this commoner boy named Lan Qi Wilfred didn't have the sense of distance and awe that ordinary people should have towards nobles. He was more like a traveler from a country with no noble culture.

But Vivian didn't mind.

Lan Qi was indeed a promising talent in their country, and his background was also very clean.

She just wanted to talk to Lan Qi about this ancient masterpiece on the tower.

Lan Qi always had a unique poet, painter, and craftsman temperament, which was natural and could not be imitated.

It was rare to meet a peer who might be able to discuss art with her.

Vivian took this opportunity to probe his reality.