The skyline of the border city-state, a few stars still twinkling with faint light, are like the verses of a poem about to disappear in the night sky.
Until the dawn's light quietly arrives, a hint of red glow arises on the horizon, shrouding the Lanci family's mansion in a vague hue.
In this tranquil moment, Lanci's bedroom seems especially peaceful, light seeping through the window screen as if pure elves are dancing.
However, Lanci is already awake.
He moved his body, pushed the quilt to one side, let his feet hang down, and gently put them on the carpet, feeling the soft touch under his feet.
"Why would I dream of me in the underworld, with Yama on an extended vacation, and I signing for the Book of Life and Death…"
He rubbed his eyes, recalling the dream, murmuring to himself,
"Right, the borrowed code can be returned now."
After a good stretch, a relaxed feeling spread throughout his body. Lanci straightened his back and got up from the bed.
After washing, he did not go downstairs to have his breakfast right away.
Instead, he pulled open the curtain next to the book desk, basking in the morning sun that was pleasantly warm.
A breeze gently brushed the leaves outside the window, and birds were singing on the tree branches not far away.
Crystal clear notes drifted into Lanci's bedroom along the windowsill, filling the pleasant morning.
It has been two weeks since he borrowed this code from the border library.
These days, more and more books were piled on his desk.
In addition to the code, he asked the housekeeper to buy him several basic books directly sold at the Cardmaker's Association in this city-state.
Learning and using magic of this world is obscure and difficult to understand, like doctoral-level mathematics; if you can't learn it, you just can't.
Lanci is quite certain that he doesn't have the talent to become a traditional Mage,' who can skillfully use magic on his own.
But the good thing about this world is that – everyone can use magic through 'Magic Cards'.
However, the Magic Cards bound to the soul have a carrying limit.
So they won't affect the uniqueness of the combat profession, they will only make the strong stronger.
And ordinary people can use various convenient small life magic through Magic Cards.
Because of this, the Magic Artisans who can make Magic Cards are a very popular profession!
Compared with making other kinds of magical tools, in addition to having a thorough understanding of magical engineering principles, card making requires high creativity and brainpower, as well as a high level of drawing skill.
What relieved Lanci was that the related knowledge of Magical Engineering, such as the production of magic tools and the principles of magic equipment, seemed surprisingly simple to him. Even if he glanced through them quickly, he could still understand very fast.
"Of course, it could also be that the compiler of the textbook is of a high level."
Lanci looked at the pile of reference books on his desktop and sighed.
Coincidentally, these textbooks were all written by the same author:
"Fundamentals of Magical Engineering in the Hutton Kingdom, Seventh Edition - by Bolao"
"Common Mistakes in First-order Magic Card Making - by Bolao"
"Ethical Guidelines for Cardmakers - by Bolao"
He heard from the people at the Cardmaker's Association that this Professor Bolao is indeed a tutor of the Ichrite College of Magic Engineering.
It's a pity that Professor Bolao doesn't accept students.
Otherwise, Lanci is even willing to work hard for a hundred days and apply to the Magic Engineering College.
However, compared with the Magic Engineering College, whose curriculum is complex and varied and have designated tutors, he prefers the free and relaxed course structure of the Sage Academy and the Knight College: fewer compulsory courses, more elective courses, and only needs to complete all compulsory courses and earn enough credits to graduate.
As for those suitable Magic Engineering College courses, he can incorporate them as elective subjects into his own course schedule later.
This is the conclusion Lanci came to after thoroughly researching the information of Ichrite Academy.
"Ok, after studying the theory, it's time to experiment with the making of Magic Cards."
Lanci felt that the so-called "Mana" that was depleted from drawing Talia's portrait the other day should have recovered by now.
Today, he can go rent a Cardmaking Workshop from the Cardmaker's Association to try practicing.
Also,
Since he will be leaving the city-state for the Royal Capital in two and a half months.
"Talia's affairs must also be arranged.
Although she is of the Demon Race, we need each other.
Perhaps in the future, the two of us could become good trading partners.
Lanci looked out of the window.
Soon, he spotted a grey figure outside his courtyard.
In the corner of the street where the sunlight had yet to reach, a young girl stood with an air of dignity, akin to a living work of art. Her posture was like delicate porcelain, exquisite and gentle.
In the breeze, the deep grey cloak concealing Talia fluttered lightly, adding a touch of mystery to her.
In this quiet moment, she seemed to blend into the surrounding environment as part of a painting, as though her existence was the only focus of that painting.
Lanci rested his chin on his hand, staring from afar at the demon princess perfectly disguised as a human.
"It's a pity she's so old, she must be at least a few hundred years old."
He sighed.
Though among the Demon Race, Talia is considered a young demon.
But according to human age concept, it wasn't wrong to call her an old woman.
Of course.
Lanci wasn't sure what the consequences would be if he actually called Talia an old woman.
...
Far away.
As if she had sensed Lanci's gaze, Talia's eyes also glanced towards the second floor of the mansion.
"Good morning."
Once their eyes met, Lanci waved his hand lightly towards Talia with a smile.
Talia ignored him.
Her grey hair slipped past her shoulders like silk, quietly falling onto her cloak, her eyes emotionless as she stared straight ahead.
She just wanted to ensure there was no threat to the inhabitants of this mansion.
Since it was Lanci himself, and not someone else who could pose a threat to Lanci, she had no intention of paying any further attention.
Just as she was only concerned with carrying out her job —protecting her employer.
And not concerned with the employer himself.
However...
For some reason, she felt that the young man's inner thoughts were unusually active just now.
And he seemed to be thinking something extremely damn.
But Talia had no idea where her intuition came from, or what could possibly be going on in the young man's head.
It was evident.
He was just giving a friendly greeting.
Perhaps it was a misconception.
Ever since the destruction of the Demon Kingdom... she began to hate humans.
Even for a harmless human like Lanci, she sometimes had misconceptions, doubting if he might be a perfectly disguised vile character.
But her Lie Detection Spell and her own observations proved that this human being had absolutely good conduct.
"Sigh."
Talia sighed softly.
She had thought that after wandering in the Human Kingdom for so many years, she had come to understand humans to some extent.
But now it seems that if she wanted to endure and successfully integrate into human society, in search of an opportunity to restore her kingdom.
She still had a lot of work to do.