Under Ranni's guidance, Miko Yotsuya spent quite a while adjusting her breathing and focus before finally raising the Astrologer's Staff and attempting to control the magical power within her body.
"Buzz—"
As magical power flowed through the staff, the glintstone at its tip shone with a brilliant light. A small Glintstone Pebble gradually formed and hovered above the staff.
Seeing that she had successfully cast the spell, Miko Yotsuya exclaimed excitedly,
"I did it! Ah—!"
However, the moment she shouted, her hand trembled.
The unstable control caused the Glintstone Pebble to shoot forward.
Ranni reacted instantly. With a gentle wave of the Carian Regal Scepter in her hand, the Glintstone Pebble flying through the air dissolved immediately, dispersing into tiny specks of starlight.
Looking at the visibly disappointed Miko Yotsuya, Ranni said calmly,
"There is no need to feel discouraged. Being able to cast the spell successfully on your first attempt already shows that your talent is excellent. Continue practicing, and once your proficiency improves, control will come naturally. Now, prepare for your second cast."
Taking a deep breath, Miko Yotsuya nodded and raised her staff again.
By five-thirty in the evening, Luo Yu had finished preparing dinner. At the same time, Ranni brought Miko Yotsuya downstairs.
The moment she came down, Miko Yotsuya caught the rich aroma drifting from the kitchen.
"It smells amazing!"
She instinctively placed a hand on her stomach.
After practicing magic nonstop upstairs—casting the basic Glintstone Pebble more than twenty times—her magical power had long since been depleted. As a beginner, the repeated casting had exhausted her completely, and hunger had followed naturally.
Looking at the two of them, Luo Yu smiled.
"I was just about to come upstairs to call you. Since you're already down here, let's start dinner."
After sitting down, Miko Yotsuya looked toward Luo Yu and Ranni with gratitude.
"Luo Yu, Miss Ranni… thank you both so much! If it weren't for you, I'd probably still be troubled by those evil spirits right now."
Luo Yu filled a bowl of soup for Ranni and replied with a smile,
"You've already thanked us more than once, and we've received your gratitude. Now that you've joined the Carian Magic Academy, the best way to thank us is to focus on your training and truly master magic."
Ranni nodded in agreement.
"My thoughts are the same as my king's. Simply dedicate yourself to studying magic."
Miko Yotsuya nodded firmly.
"Yes! I'll work hard!"
Then she picked up her chopsticks.
"Thank you for the meal! Wow—this is so delicious!"
Every dish on the table happened to be something Miko Yotsuya loved. Combined with the physical exhaustion from practicing magic earlier, her appetite was extraordinary.
After eating for a while, Luo Yu asked,
"So, how did the magic practice go upstairs?"
Ranni answered calmly,
"She can already cast Glintstone Pebble reliably. However, her casting speed is still somewhat slow, and the projectile's flight speed is not fast enough. Her accuracy, though, is acceptable."
As Ranni calmly delivered her evaluation, Miko Yotsuya's cheeks gradually turned red with embarrassment.
Luo Yu chuckled.
"It's fine. Take it slowly. Your talent is already very good."
Ranni nodded as well.
"That is correct. I did not intend to criticize you. Today is only your first day. There is still plenty of time ahead."
"I understand! I'll work even harder!"
After dinner, they rested briefly before Miko Yotsuya prepared to head home.
The Astrologer's Staff was carefully stored inside a small brocade pouch that Ranni had crafted—an item capable of holding objects in a compact space. She tied the pouch with a string and hung it around her neck.
"I'll walk you home," Luo Yu said, standing up.
Then he looked toward Ranni.
"What about you, Ranni? Want to come along?"
"That would be fine. A walk outside would be pleasant."
So the three of them left the house together.
They boarded a bus heading toward Miko Yotsuya's home. While riding, Ranni's gaze settled on a humanoid evil spirit sitting motionless in the seat ahead of them.
After observing it for a moment, Ranni said to Miko Yotsuya,
"Close your eyes and try controlling your vision. See if you can stop perceiving it."
Miko Yotsuya nodded and followed the method Ranni had taught her earlier, focusing on controlling her spiritual sight.
Three seconds later—
The evil spirit that had been clearly visible moments before vanished from her vision entirely.
Miko Yotsuya's face instantly lit up with excitement.
"It worked!"
Ranni nodded with satisfaction.
"Excellent. You can now control your sight naturally. Your next task is to improve your proficiency with magic. Also… regarding your father's matter—would you like to resolve it yourself, or should we assist you?"
"Ah, that… I can handle it myself!"
Now that she had awakened magical power, Miko Yotsuya knew it was time to face the lingering issue surrounding her father with determination.
Soon, the bus reached her stop.
After escorting Miko Yotsuya home, Luo Yu and Ranni began walking back together at a relaxed pace. They planned to stop by a nearby supermarket before riding Torrent home.
Glancing at Luo Yu holding her hand, Ranni spoke.
"My king, when Miko Yotsuya's magical power erupted earlier, I sensed two presences appear briefly outside the house before disappearing."
Luo Yu nodded.
"I sensed them too. We'll investigate later and see what's going on. Their aura leaked quite clearly, and I've memorized it. If someone is watching Miko Yotsuya, they probably aren't far away. Though… I didn't expect you to care about her this much."
A faint smile appeared at the corner of Ranni's lips.
"Despite being terrified of evil spirits, she possesses remarkable resilience. Combined with her natural talent, it would be foolish to overlook such potential. Besides, she is quite a charming girl. I believe she could be a suitable candidate as one of your future consorts."
Luo Yu looked at her helplessly.
"You're still thinking about that?"
"Well then, my king," Ranni replied calmly, "how is the research on creating my new body progressing?"
Luo Yu scratched his cheek awkwardly.
"Uh… it's proving a bit difficult."
"Then there you have it," Ranni said matter-of-factly. "So you need not worry about me becoming jealous. I am not so narrow-minded. Besides, I have complete confidence that in your heart, I will always be the most important one. Am I correct?"
Luo Yu answered without hesitation.
"Of course. Ranni, you are the most important to me."
"Then that is enough. I believe you will honor your promise to me. As for Miko Yotsuya… she truly is a suitable candidate. What do you think, my king?"
Luo Yu thought for a moment.
"…I think there's no need to rush."
"I was merely sharing my thoughts," Ranni said gently. "You may be more open about such matters without worrying about me. I am already satisfied with the life we have now. Just as you once said—our future is very long. I do not mind the passing of this brief period."
Ranni's open-mindedness left Luo Yu momentarily unsure how to respond.
Looking ahead at the lively supermarket they had just reached, Luo Yu let out a breath.
"Let's leave that topic for now. We're at the supermarket—let's see if there's anything we need."
Even so, Luo Yu couldn't deny that Ranni's words had stirred something in his heart.
Still… there was no need to rush.