Chapter 76: Master's Mad
"Uwahh!"
The echoes of my yawn reverberated through the hallways as I stretched my back and walked, still feeling the residual effects of fatigue.
Lilliana was quite true to her words, paying me a visit last night seriously tht girl is quite scary sometimes especially when I talk about other girls from time to time in our conversation.
It was so troublesome trying to send her back to her room, and I couldn't help but sigh at the unpredictability of such encounters.
Fortunately, Salik came to my aid, gently reminding Lilliana of the passing time.
The whole situation had an air of both annoyance and amusement.
Lilliana's enthusiasm about our supposed shared past was unrelenting, and my attempts to redirect her energy towards her own quarters were met with persistent resistance.
Reading through Adrian's memories while simultaneously replying to Lilliana's question was so annoying.
Lilliana's persistence knew no bounds; she even attempted to create a makeshift excuse, pretending to tie my neck, just to prolong her stay in my room. Salik, in all his wisdom, intervened before the situation could escalate further, dragging her away forcibly
I couldn't help but shake my head at the lengths she would go to just to spend time with me.
As Salik deftly ushered her away, I couldn't help but feel a twinge of sympathy for the old butler. The awkward glances he shot my way spoke volumes, silently asking me if dealing with such antics was never part or her ladies daily routine.
'Lilliana seriously needs to give that old man a well-deserved break'
Lilliana's relentless grip on my collars nearly resulted in them being ripped off.
The intensity with which she clung to me made me question whether she was more determined to hold onto my clothes or to stay in my room.
It was a close call, and I couldn't help but sigh in relief when Salik intervened, sparing both my attire and my patience.
However, what struck me as odd was the peculiar focus Lilliana had on my neck throughout the entire ordeal.
Her eyes seemed fixated on a specific spot, almost as if she saw something she didn't want to see, The glint in her eyes took on an unsettling quality, sending a shiver down my spine.
The sudden shift in her demeanor only added to the unease. As quickly as her intensity had peaked, she abruptly stopped and retreated to her room.
The vibrant colors in her eyes disappeared, leaving behind an emptiness that lingered in the air.
Worry gnawed at me as I continued to send messages to my sister, desperately seeking a response that never came.
I stared at the ethereal thread that bound us together, tracing its faint glow with my eyes. The usually robust mana thread that connected us in our telepathic communication felt feeble, its strength diminished.
Though it was still intact, the weakened connection raised concerns about my sister's well-being.
As I continued my stroll, Aria's face entered my mind. 'I seriously fucked my sister huh?'
The recent intimate encounter we shared raised questions about her feelings, whether it was because we were under the heat of the-moment or a genuine desire for each other. It was still a fact that I took her virginity.
I found it ironic that someone with her initially abrasive demeanor turned out to be pure in a different sense.
I wonder how Aria would react the next time we meet? Maybe we would even meet later.
Alex's would likely attempt to invite her again for lunch later and would likely add an interesting layer to the situation.
Regardless of whether she attends the lunch later or not, I planned to reach out to her myself.
The remedy I provided for her brain was only temporary, and I still needed to consult my sister to address Aria's mental health, herself her remembering the memories Sis erased was unnatural.
When we meet again Depending on her reaction, I might need to adjust our relationship a little bit.
....
Salik's weary appearance reflected the toll of a sleepless night as he presented Lilliana with a list detailing Adrian's interaction from the previous day. Bowing slightly, he conveyed, "My lady, here is the list of people Adrian interacted with yesterday."
Lilliana, displaying a keen scrutiny, reached for the paper, her eyes delving into the names. "Isn't this just his usual friend group?" she remarked, her tone betraying a hint of skepticism.
Salik, maintaining his composure, affirmed, "Yes, my lady."
A furrow formed on Lilliana's brow as she sought further clarification. "Are you sure you included everyone?"
Salik responded with confidence, "Yes, my lady. Except for anyone he passed by, I made sure to document all the names of everyone he interacted with yesterday."
However, Lilliana's dissatisfaction lingered. Despite being aware of Adrian's regular company during meals and social gatherings, the list fell short of unraveling the mystery behind the conspicuous red mark on his neck. The puzzle persisted, leaving Lilliana determined to uncover the overlooked detail that might provide a crucial clue.
As Lilliana perused the list of names, ranging from Adrian's classmates to his friends, none seemed to be relevant except for the women. Her focus narrowed to three key figures: Louise, Euphemia, and Aria.
Louise, having already met Lilliana's scrutiny due to her proximity to Adrian, emerged as the most likely suspect. The closeness between them hinted at a possible romantic connection.
On the other hand, considering Adrian's shared classes with Euphemia, Lilliana speculated whether a budding affection had developed between the two as they spent their days in close proximity.
Lastly, the inclusion of Aria intrigued her. Despite knowing how much Aria hated Adrian, her name couldn't be dismissed. According to the report, the two had ventured into a private training room together, adding a layer of complexity to the situation.
Lilliana crumpled the paper, her mana conjuring fire that engulfed the document. Turning to Salik, she pressed for more information.
"Salik, what did Aria do after they left the training room?"
"For now, that's all the report I could gather. There were no more sightings or reports of them after that. However, I did hear that Aria went back to her room right after."
"Is that so?" Lilliana's determination only strengthened. The mystery persisted, and she couldn't allow anyone to claim Adrian's attention. With a possessive glare in her eyes, she vowed that Adrian would remain hers, no matter the obstacles in her way.
…..
"Louise!" I called out to her as I waved my hand.
"Adrian, good morning," she replied with a smile.
"Good morning. Were you waiting for me?"
"Yes, I figured since I now know what time you get out of bed, hehe," she said with a playful smile.
"You really don't have to, though."
"It's fine... I like it this way."
"What did you say?" I asked as I couldn't hear her properly.
"N-nothing! Anyways, let's go now"
...
"Hey, why didn't you come to the lab yesterday?" asked Euphemia as she rolled the vial in her hands, transforming the once golden-brown color into green. "Ah, fail huh? Tsk," she said before throwing it away, resulting in the teacher reprimanding her, but she just ignored every word that came with it.
"Well, a situation came up, you see."
"Is that so? Well, I don't really care, but that potion you gave me was really something else, huh? Who knew it was possible to temporarily increase one's mana circle up to the next level just by drinking that potion. You created something quite extraordinary. No wonder why you bested me in the rankings and became the top; it was well deserved," said Euphemia with a strangely satisfied smile.
As much as I wanted to say that it was her who found out how to create that potion—well, her future self at least—I couldn't exactly say it, as it was future knowledge from the novels.
But anyway, why is this girl delaying things so much? I've already finished my half of the exam by making five potions. The exam was about making ten strengthening potions, but she sure is taking her time. I doubt she was even creating the potion itself anymore.
But looking at my classmates in the back, they seemed eager as they tried their best to finish first before our group. Did they really want to beat us that much? And Euphemia isn't even taking this seriously. Did you guys really want to beat her that much?
"It took me some time to decode it but I made my own version yesterday you better come to my lab today, okay?"
"Sure…"
...
Deep within the mountain valley, explosions erupted, and the skies were ablaze with the dance of lightning.
Boom! Boom!
The valley echoed with the sounds of a fierce battle. Fire raged, and a thunderous roar sent shivers through one's soul.
A colossal red dragon stood at the center, its scales stained with blood and its body covered in wounds. It faced an extraordinary opponent, a human whose movements were a blur, an enigma that eluded both sight and sense.
The dragon, desperate to end the relentless onslaught, doubted even the protective strength of its formidable draconic scales, which typically reduced physical attacks by 80%.
The mysterious human moved with unparalleled speed, delivering heavy blows that left the mighty creature reeling.
In a final bid to turn the tide, the dragon gathered an immense amount of mana within its cavernous maw, preparing to unleash the devastating power of its fiery breath upon the relentless adversary. The air crackled with anticipation as the mountain itself seemed to hold its breath.
"So that's all you've got, huh? Boring," scoffed the hooded figure as the winds stirred with the gathering mana from the dragon. The force blew the hood off, revealing the face of a beautiful woman with striking grey eyes and flowing black hair.
Clad in casual white blouse and black trousers, her attire contrasted with the danger of the situation, enhancing her allure. Her figure was a masterpiece, sculpted with divine precision, and her captivating face momentarily charmed even the mighty dragon.
The enchanting woman gracefully took her stance, wielding a longsword with martial perfection.
As the dragon unleashed its fiery breath, the world momentarily turned white.
"Whoosh….!" Everything got quiet…
When clarity returned, the scene that unfolded was nothing short of astonishing.
The dragon, split vertically, lay defeated.
The impact of the strike extended far beyond, slicing through the skies, the ground, the mountains, and everything within a hundred kilometers.
The hooded lady stood amidst the aftermath, her sword gleaming with residual energy. Her calm demeanor belied the incredible power she had just unleashed, leaving the once-mighty dragon vanquished and the landscape forever altered.
The elegant lady clicked her tongue in disappointment.
With a single step, she vanished and reappeared on the dragon's colossal corpse, despite being several hundred meters away moments ago.
As she inspected the massive body, she approached the chest and reached inside, extracting a gigantic red ball.
With a swift motion, she shattered it, revealing an even smaller orb that she effortlessly consumed.
"This one's nasty"
"But anyway, that sure was boring. Even though I came here because I detected a pretty strong mana signature, this thing couldn't even handle one of my slashes"
"How boring haah…. Should I just go mess with the holy kingdom again? Considering they treat me as public enemy number 1" she mused, contemplating her next move with a hint of mischievous amusement.
A crackling spark filled the air, and from the ethereal blue stardust of mana, a young child emerged, her pointed ears and swaying blonde twin tails identifying her as a member of an otherworldly race. Rushing towards the elegant lady, she greeted her with enthusiasm.
"Boss! Boss!" she said as she hurriedly pointed a Magic stone at her.
"Mila I told you to stay away for the time being, even I don't know if you can handle this much mana radiation from a dragon's corpse"
"Well, you'll protect me anyway right boss? Hehe" she smirked mischievously.
The lady could only shake her head at her companions trust with her well she wasn't wrong though even right now she was spreading her aura in a sphere to block the dragon's radiation from hitting her.
"So why did you suddenly come here?"
"Look, look at this," she said as the magic stone glowed in blue, and a holographic screen appeared. It displayed the face of her handsome disciple.
"Tristan, huh? Well, would you look at that. He seems to be the top student. Well, that's to be expected, considering he's my disciple," she said proudly.
"Wait for it, boss."
"Hmm?"
As she continued to look at the screen recording, the words that came off of Tristan's mouth pissed her off.
"I can assure you,"
"As the top student of the combat department, and in the name of my master, Siena Scaith..."
"I am the strongest."
As she heard Tristan's words, a boiling rage swept inside her.
"Even though I told, that kid not to reveal who his master was!!"
"Did that kid truly want to die?"
"Mila, take me to Estelle Academy now"
"Eh, now?"
"Yes."
"I can't. I've run out of mana with us teleporting from town to town and places to places. I'm not your personal teleporter, you know? Besides, the academy is quite far away from us. I can't teleport you there directly even if my mana was full."
"You think I don't know that? Just teleport us back to Landille. I'm sure they have tamed ground dragon carriages there."
"Eh, but they're expensive!" Mila protested.
"Don't worry, we have more than enough money" she said while pointing back at the dragon's corpse.