The matter was finally settled, and Loren at last took a rare moment to rest, although truthfully he hadn't been that busy even if things hadn't been resolved.
Lying in bed, Loren stared at the Sun Card in his hand. That card wasn't very useful to him, but since it had come into his possession, there was no harm in keeping it.
Whatever the Sun Card could do, Loren himself could also accomplish. He didn't need beguilement to make others believe his words.
Therefore, selling Clarity Potion on a large scale wouldn't backfire. Clarity Potion prevents cognitive interference and helps people remain true to themselves, and their true selves already believed Loren.
So when Loren used the Sun Card's other effects, he wouldn't be affected either, although the card still had limited use for him.
Loren could turn what he wanted into reality without the Sun Card. If he couldn't do something himself, the Sun Card wouldn't help him do it. And if something required offending a few gods to achieve, it simply wasn't worth the cost.
After that Loren took out the other cards, trying to piece together the designs on their backs, but they wouldn't fit together at all, even when he matched cards with consecutive numbers.
"Looks like it's not that simple..."
Finding nothing more to research, Loren put the tarot cards away and prepared to sleep.
But he was interrupted by Cecelia crawling out from under the bed. She had helped a lot during this incident and now wanted a reward from Loren...
...
"Good morning..."
The next afternoon, Loren yawned as he walked over to the dining table.
"Where's Paqina?"
It was still the weekend, so Paqina shouldn't have gone to classes.
"She's not here. She's not familiar with us, so it would be awkward for her to stay here. She went back to the dorm early this morning and didn't even have breakfast."
"Is that so?"
Loren could understand Paqina's mindset. Yesterday, when she was at Loren's house, she had been very reserved, always hovering near him. That closeness was what made her feel more at ease.
"Movila, where is Paqina now?"
"She went into the academy laboratory and hasn't come out since this morning."
"……"
Paqina really loved learning. She didn't study for grades; she studied simply because she enjoyed it.
Now she believed Loren treated her well because she was a diligent student, so she pushed herself even harder in her studies.
"Alright, I'll bring her some food in a bit."
Paqina hadn't finished her breakfast this morning, and since she had been in the lab without food, she was probably starving by now.
"Okay."
Loren had barely finished his sentence when Seraphina began packing food for him.
"You're so competent, I feel like I'm leveling up from maid to star wrath."
Mirrorheart speared a piece of food and complained before stuffing it into her mouth.
"That counts as leveling up in your eyes?"
Loren was almost at a loss for words. In Mirrorheart's view, when he treated her well it meant he was being rude; showing respect counted as disrespect.
Rather than wanting an equal conversation, she preferred being trodden under his foot.
Hearing that unfamiliar phrase, Naclis looked puzzled. She quickly scanned the others to avoid revealing her ignorance.
Anna grinned wickedly, Laila blushed slightly, and everyone else kept a normal expression. Naclis seemed to be the only one confused.
So she hid her confusion and continued eating as if she didn't care.
"Alright, I'm off."
After finishing his meal Loren didn't linger; he planned to go straight to find Paqina.
"Take care."
Seraphina waved warmly at Loren as he left, and Loren returned the courtesy.
After Loren left the table, Mirrorheart also left and went into Loren's room. She had already ordered that no other maid enter Loren's room; only Mirrorheart was allowed inside.
Seraphina hadn't joined the meal today, but everyone was used to that and didn't think much of it.
...
It was the weekend, so the academy was quiet. Many students at the Bountiful Magic Academy were locals from the Royal Capital, so they usually went home on weekends.
Even students from elsewhere used weekends to relax; very few chose to keep grinding.
The academy's management of students was quite lax—much like a university. Real universities seldom micromanage students, and student councils were mostly for show.
The more power the student council had, the more trouble it caused, and the worse the school became.
Bountiful Magic Academy had a student council too, equally lacking presence, at most organizing events.
When Loren used to watch anime he had admired student councils, so he had once served in the student council at the academy and knew just how useless they could be.
After arriving at the academy, Loren went straight to the laboratory. When he pushed the door open he found Paqina hard at work.
Her hair was even messier than the last time Loren had seen her. She was standing beside the infusion platform, surrounded by runes drawn everywhere—even compared to the runes she had painted when making the Crimson Elegy, these were no less elaborate.
Loren set the food he had brought on the table without disturbing Paqina, who was absorbed in her work. Paqina didn't notice Loren entering.
But she didn't leave Loren waiting long. Soon she finished the final step and took a ring out of the infusion platform.
"It's finally done!"
Paqina cheered excitedly. She removed her glasses and tried to wipe the dust from them with her clothes, but her clothes were dirty too.
As she hesitated, Loren handed her his handkerchief.
"Use this."
"Oh, thank you."
Paqina accepted the handkerchief, wiped her glasses clean, and only then looked up and saw Loren.
"Master Mentor? What are you doing here?"
As she exclaimed, she instinctively hid the ring behind her, intending to put it in her pocket, but she remembered she was wearing a skirt today.
She glanced down at the handkerchief in her hand. It was exquisite, high-quality fabric embroidered with delicate patterns: an inverted cross with an eye and a mirror.
Those designs had been embroidered by Mirrorheart. Loren had long used the inverted cross to represent himself, and the mirror represented Mirrorheart.
Paqina felt a little embarrassed that such a beautiful handkerchief had been dirtied by her.
"Master Mentor, should I wash this for you..."
Loren shook his head at Paqina's offer.
"Never mind that. You didn't finish breakfast this morning, you're hungry now, right? I brought you lunch."
At the mention of food Paqina felt a wave of hunger and smelled the meal. She instantly felt awkward, but hunger won out. She opened the lunchbox and began eating; Loren hadn't even had time to ask her to wash her hands first.
At the same time, she casually set the ring down on the table. Only then did Loren get a good look at the ring's design.
It was gold with silver inlaid patterns, and at the top sat a gem-like stone, very much like a wedding ring.
