Looking at the excited face of Principal Danton, Luo Wei's smile was somewhat forced.
"I did learn some of Master Gould's magic... but Principal, it's still a bit awkward for you to call me your junior brother..."
"You really learned his magic?" Danton's eyes immediately lit up. "Come, come! Show this old man what you can do, let me see!"
Unable to resist the principal's enthusiasm, Luo Wei could only glance helplessly at Evelyn.
"Professor, is that vase on your desk valuable?"
"Not at all," Evelyn frowned. "Why...?"
Before she could finish, Luo Wei's first-circle spell, [Magic Missile], was already flying toward the vase.
With a dull explosion, the vase on the desk shattered into fine powder, scattering across the floor, but the spell caused no damage to the surrounding area.
"My vase!!"
Luo Wei tried to calm the agitated Professor Evelyn, while Principal Danton's astonished gaze fell upon him.
"No mistake, no mistake..."
He murmured to himself.
"Such a concise magical structure greatly shortens the lengthy incantation time of traditional magic, and even ordinary learners can pick it up easily. It's perfect for widespread adoption..."
"Master Gould... truly a genius among the reclusive mages back in the day..."
"It's just a shame that his systematic improvements to magic have been lost for years, and his spellbook vanished after he left..."
Hearing this, Luo Wei felt a pang of guilt, as that very spellbook was currently in his possession.
After Danton finished his muttering, he eagerly turned to Luo Wei again.
"Since Master Gould taught you such magic, he must still be alive, right? Where is he now? Is he well?"
"Uh..." Luo Wei looked at the emotional Danton, unsure of what to say.
He had a feeling that since Gould had taken the spellbook with him when he left, and now it was in his hands, it likely meant the book was ownerless.
In other words, Master Gould, the man who had revolutionized the magic industry, was probably dead.
Not knowing how to respond, Tilis, who had been silent until now, suddenly spoke up.
"Master Gould spent his whole life chasing after Master Usoma, and Master Usoma also disappeared around the same time..."
"I think... the two of them must have gone into seclusion in the mountains, living out their days in peace, free from worldly concerns..."
"Is that so?" Danton immediately asked Luo Wei.
Luo Wei silently looked at Tilis, who gave him a reassuring smile in return.
"That's right," Luo Wei said with a smile.
"I see," Danton laughed, relieved. "That's good then. I won't disturb him..."
Luo Wei glanced at Tilis again, her smile tinged with a hint of melancholy.
Clearly, she had said that on purpose—perhaps to help him out of a tight spot, or perhaps...
to give the story a more perfect ending.
After this conversation, Principal Danton inquired after Luo Wei's well-being and assured him that if he ever ran into trouble at school, he could come to him.
Luo Wei smiled and nodded repeatedly, thinking to himself that with his current abilities, there wasn't much trouble in this school that could faze him.
Principal Danton patted Luo Wei on the shoulder, smiling encouragingly.
"Study hard here. Most graduates from Callen University go on to guide production in the Ministry of Industry, while a few enter politics, dedicating their talents to His Majesty and the nation. Your future is limitless."
"I have other matters to attend to, but since Professor Evelyn will be taking you along, perhaps we'll meet next month in the Northern Frontier. We can talk more then. This old man quite likes young people."
With that, Principal Danton left with a smile.
Luo Wei turned a questioning gaze toward Evelyn.
Evelyn explained, "The principal and my father are close friends despite their age difference. He designed the mechanisms in our family's castle."
"I see," Luo Wei nodded in understanding.
After Principal Danton left, only the three of them remained in the office.
It was Tilis's first time in Evelyn's office, and she looked around curiously, her eyes eventually landing on the bookshelf.
"I love reading. Since you're a professor at the Magic Academy, you must have collected quite a few good books, right?"
"Uh, well..." Evelyn quickly spoke up as Tilis picked up a magazine. "I don't really have many good books here. How about I take you to the school library instead?"
"No need, I'll just browse a bit~"
But as Tilis continued looking, her curious expression gradually turned to confusion.
"Huh—?"
"‘Saint Callen Fashion Trends,’ ‘The Elegant Woman's Beauty Guide,’ ‘A More Beautiful You Tomorrow’..."
She looked at Evelyn in bewilderment. "Are these... also part of your curriculum?"
Seeing Evelyn's awkward expression, Luo Wei couldn't help but chuckle. He had long wanted to tease Evelyn about the kind of stuff she read.
Evelyn forced a laugh. "Oh, these are just some casual reads. I don't usually look at them..."
Then she quickly added, "They're my colleagues'! Yes, that's right! They left them here..."
"Ah," Tilis nodded, her gaze lingering on the stack of magazines with consecutive issue numbers.
She decided not to press further.
Evelyn quickly pulled Tilis away from the bookshelf. "Tilis, what would you like to drink? I'll get it for you!"
"Hmm... black tea, please. Thank you."
Tilis wasn't particularly picky about drinks, but she remembered that Luo Wei liked it, so she blurted it out.
"Alright," Evelyn walked over to the tea table. "Would you like sugar?"
"Extra sugar, please."
"So Tilis has a sweet tooth," Evelyn smiled.
"Kind of..."
Lately, Tilis had indeed developed a taste for sweet things. In the Dream Realm, she would make a sweet treat for herself and Luo Wei every day, and she couldn't forget that blissful flavor.
A moment later, the aroma of tea filled the office. Tilis set down her cup and looked at Evelyn with an apologetic smile.
"About what happened back in the town... I might have been a bit rude. I hope you don't mind."
Evelyn was momentarily taken aback before recalling the incident where Tilis had played a prank on her, leaving her drenched.
"Oh... it's fine, no big deal. It's all in the past now."
She smiled magnanimously. "Even though it was a bit of a hassle, the outcome was good, and that's what matters!"
Tilis smiled happily. "I'm so glad you feel that way. I was worried everyone would be as petty as Ophelia!"
Evelyn chuckled helplessly. Even if I wanted to hold a grudge, I wouldn't stand a chance against you...
But she was still interested in gossiping about someone else, especially when that someone was "Her Highness, the Fifth Princess."
"Shh... Luo Wei has a ring..."
"It's fine, the ring has been rendered useless by me, now it's just a decoration."
"Really? That's great! Then let me tell you, she..."
Luo Wei looked at the two who seemed to have started a tea party, whispering to each other, and lightly coughed.
"Ahem, talking behind someone's back isn't a good habit. I still have class, so I'll be going now..."
Evelyn's expression changed, "Oh no! I have class too!"
Seeing the two about to leave, Tilis smiled and said, "Don't worry about class for now. That kind of knowledge isn't that hard, is it? I have some important news for you to hear before you go."
The two hesitated but sat back down. Tilis waved her hand, setting up a magical barrier around the office to prevent eavesdropping.
Then, with a serious expression, she looked at them.
"Norsgul is planning to send a delegation. The higher-ups on both sides are secretly negotiating, and the delegation is expected to arrive in Saint Callen City next month."
"Norsgul?" Luo Wei was stunned. "The Church is sending envoys?"
Tilis nodded. "Who would have thought? After being sworn enemies and cutting off ties for so long, they now seem to have the intention to reconnect."
"Something feels off about this..." Luo Wei frowned slightly.
Ever since he learned about the subtle movements of the Church, he and Ophelia had been closely following the developments. There was now enough evidence to suggest that the Church was indeed strengthening ties with the neighboring countries around Wegnar, subtly forming a network aimed at encircling Wegnar.
Ophelia had told him that the Minister of Finance and the Minister of Defense were constantly arguing in front of Charlton II, with the Minister of Defense even wearing his military uniform, shouting that this was the second "Anti-Wegnar Alliance." He claimed the enemy was getting too bold and urged for immediate military action to strike directly at the enemy's capital and march to the foot of the Sacred Mountain of Xiston.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Finance argued that this was likely just religious infiltration and not a big deal. He insisted on avoiding war if possible, as the empire's finances couldn't handle another multi-front war...
Even Captain Raymond was swamped with work, as espionage activities had become increasingly rampant. He had just returned from vacation and was already back to working overtime through the night.
All of this gave Luo Wei a bad feeling—the clouds of war seemed to be drawing closer.
"On one hand, they're forming a secret alliance against Wegnar, and on the other, they're sending a delegation to show goodwill? What exactly are they trying to do?" Luo Wei questioned the motives behind the Church's delegation.
"You might as well ask what the Church's Saintess is up to..." Tilis muttered.
Evelyn suddenly spoke up, "Could it be that she saw Luo Wei and Ophelia together and got jealous? So angry that she wants to destroy the Wegnar Empire?!"
"Uh..." Luo Wei said helplessly, "That's probably not it. The reasons are likely more complicated..."
"Oh, really..." Evelyn didn't know much about Luo Wei's past, and her comment had been somewhat joking.
"Will she be part of the visiting delegation?" Luo Wei asked again.
"Of course not," Tilis said with a smile. "Otherwise, things would get chaotic."
"True," Evelyn nodded. "After all, she's the Saintess of the Church, a high-ranking figure in her country. She wouldn't put herself in such a dangerous position."
"Alright, that's all I wanted to say," Tilis put down her teacup. "The situation in Wegnar is quite delicate lately. Be careful and stay safe. I have matters to attend to with the Hidden Sect, so I'll take my leave now."
"Take care of yourself too," Luo Wei noticed her dark circles had gotten worse.
"Don't worry about me," Tilis smiled softly. "For me, the body is just a piece of clothing. My next outfit is already prepared~"
Luo Wei looked at her helplessly, suddenly imagining an absurd scenario.
Tilis staying up for weeks, collapsing at her desk, her soul leaving her body, casually swapping into a new one, burying the old body in the backyard, and then continuing to work through the night...
A natural workaholic...
With a flash of teleportation magic, Tilis disappeared with a smile.
After she left, Evelyn silently looked at Luo Wei.
"Xiao Wei, are we still going to class...?"
Luo Wei glanced at the time and sighed, "Class is almost over..."
Evelyn complained, "Oh no, I'm going to lose half my salary. Teacher, I'm almost broke..."
Luo Wei chuckled, "Don't worry, I'll take care of you!"
"Really?" Her emerald-green eyes lit up instantly.
"Of course," Luo Wei nodded.
"But... taking care of me is expensive," Evelyn said sheepishly. "You see, I go to the beauty salon every other week, and I need the latest designer bags, and also..."
"It's just pocket change!" Luo Wei waved his hand generously. "Teacher, you have no idea how much my alchemical potions are worth on the black market."
"Ah?" Evelyn recalled and nodded blankly, "Oh, right. High-efficiency potions that suppress supernatural backlash are one-of-a-kind on the entire continent..."
As she thought about it, she got excited. "Xiao Wei! So you're rich!"
"Well... not exactly rich, but I can certainly afford to take care of you," Luo Wei said with a smile.
After all, he was the player, the protagonist of this world. It would be a bit ridiculous if someone like him couldn't make money...
Seeing Luo Wei acting like a domineering CEO, Evelyn got into character, leaning against him like a delicate woman.
She smiled coquettishly, "So, dear boss, what are we doing next? I'll do my best to satisfy you~"
Luo Wei grinned, pinching her delicate chin. "My beauty! Of course, you'll have to serve me well later~ Do a good job, and you'll be handsomely rewarded!"
Evelyn giggled, "Xiao Wei, you're so strange like this. This role really doesn't suit you~"
"Hmph!" Luo Wei narrowed his eyes. "A kept woman should know her place!" He took Evelyn's hand. "Let's go!"
"Where are we going? Hahaha, teacher still has to go to class!"
"Class? Forget about it!" Luo Wei scoffed. "Even if the sky falls today, we're slacking off!"
And so, the teacher and student, skipping class, walked hand in hand out of the school and onto the bustling commercial street. They laughed and joked, feeling a thrill like they were eloping or having a secret affair as strangers gave them odd looks.
The midday sun, the lively street, their first date—this might have been the happiest day of her adult life.
Her emerald-green eyes sparkled slightly. This feeling, this must be happiness.
She truly hoped every day in the future would be like this.
.
.
(Too lazy to come up with chapter names, so combining two chapters into one.)