Chapter 65: Crazy Lilliana

'Adrian has been acting rather suspicious lately' Louise thought to herself, her concern growing as she waited at the dorm entrance. 'I can understand last time since he said it was a family matter, but this time, what reason does he have for disappearing again? It's happening way too frequently now'

Her worries weren't unfounded, as even Tristan and Alex, their mutual friends, had started to raise questions about Adrian's frequent absences. Louise found herself contemplating this, pondering on the situation, while her patience wore thin.

'Even though it wasn't necessary for him to attend our scheduled lunch together with everyone'

'it wouldn't hurt to inform us about what's happening to him, right? Aren't we friends? Or am I just being too nosy?'

As she stood by the dorm entrance, Louise's mind raced with thoughts. She couldn't help but wonder why Adrian had been so elusive lately.

She had wanted to ask him about it the day before, but he was nowhere to be found, neither in his classroom nor in his dorm. It was as if he had vanished from the school, leaving her and their friends, Tristan and Alex, genuinely curious about his circumstances.

Louise recalled overhearing the dorm master's stern words the night before. The dorm master had scolded a student who had returned so late that she couldn't contain her anger.

Though Louise hadn't paid much attention at the time, the dorm master's intense murmur practically echoed through the halls. She also remembered the stern reminder about certain punishments for those who returned late. While Louise wasn't certain who the dorm master was referring to, she couldn't help but suspect that it might have been Adrian. The mystery surrounding her friend's recent behavior deepened, leaving her even more eager to understand what was going on in his life.

Louise glanced at her watch, a growing sense of unease washing over her. "He's still not here? He usually comes during this time," she mumbled to herself, her worry deepening with each passing second.

Adrian's punctuality was something Louise had come to rely on. He had always made an effort to ensure he wasn't late for their classes, and this consistent pattern of behavior had set her internal clock. But today, he was conspicuously absent.

Doubt crept into her mind. Had she jumped to conclusions too hastily? Perhaps the dorm master's scolding had been directed at someone else. Louise's thoughts whirled with uncertainty, and she couldn't shake the feeling that she might have been mistaken in her assumptions.

Unable to bear the uncertainty any longer, Louise made a decisive choice. She resolved to visit Adrian directly in his room. She had tried to confirm her suspicions the night before, but the dorm master had swatted her away, insisting that she get some rest. However, with Adrian's prolonged absence, she felt compelled to uncover the truth. She wanted to ensure her friend's well-being and finally put her concerns to rest, even if it meant confronting him directly to find out what had been happening in his life.

.....

"Well then, Sister Lilliana, I'll see you again sometime?" Adrian said as he prepared to bid Lilliana farewell.

Lilliana chuckled, her playful demeanor evident. "Haha, no, silly. Don't you mean 'later'? I'll come visit again this evening."

Adrian furrowed his brows in confusion. "Later? Evening? Uhmm... don't you have student council duties?"

Lilliana's grin grew mischievous as she replied, "Well, yes, but that doesn't mean I won't have enough time to visit you, hehe."

As their conversation concluded, Lilliana made her way to the door, ready to depart. Adrian was about to get up from his seat and tidy up the room before leaving. However, he couldn't shake the disconcerting feeling that Lilliana's parting words had left him with. Her demeanor had taken on an eerie quality that bothered him.

Just as Lilliana was about to leave and Adrian was preparing to clean up, a sudden knock echoed at his door. Salik, who had been waiting outside, promptly addressed him.

"My lady, young master, a visitor has come."

'Visitor? Who is it now?'

Adrian instructed Salik to let the visitor in.

As the doors swung open, a familiar face came into view. Louise had paid him an unexpected visit, and Adrian couldn't help but wonder about her intentions.

Was she upset about his recent absence from their usual lunch gatherings, or was there something else on her mind? He had planned to make amends for his absences by treating his friends to lunch, but he was now uncertain if that would suffice.

Silver-white hair, ashen gray eyes, and beauty that knew no bounds – these qualities belonged to only one person in the entire academy, Lilliana Vulter Tellus.

As a fourth-year student, she was a well-known figure throughout the academy. It wasn't merely because she was a part of the student council or because she held the prestigious title of top student in her grade.

Lilliana's fame was cemented by her status as the eldest daughter of Duke Tellus and the revered "Flower of the Empire," a title bestowed upon her by the emperor himself. Even those who did not attend Estelle Academy had likely heard or knew the name Lilliana Vulter Tellus.

Her appearance was so distinctive and captivating that encountering someone with her description immediately signaled her presence.

As such Louise had no difficulty recognizing Lilliana, further solidified by Adrian's address of her as "sister." The renowned beauty and charisma that surrounded Lilliana were as unmistakable as the bright sun in the sky, and her unique attributes had etched her into the memory of everyone who crossed her path.

"What year are you in?" Lilliana inquired, her voice taking on a slightly commanding tone, reminiscent of her podium presence when addressing the students.

Louise found herself flustered and nervous, struggling to respond to Lilliana's question. Sensing her discomfort, Adrian decided to step in to assist. "She's a first year like me," he explained, "and she's the top student for the summoning department."

Lilliana was initially annoyed that Adrian had to speak for Louise, but her annoyance gave way to surprise as she absorbed this new piece of information. She hadn't expected the innocent-looking girl to hold such a prestigious title.

Intrigued, she observed Louise more closely, and her eyes began to glow silvery. This unique ability allowed her to see through mystical energies, and she noticed the presence of two gigantic gray silhouettes that seemed to guard the girl.

Louise's spirits, Lilliana deduced, and she marveled at the size of these ethereal protectors. "Her spirits?" she thought, impressed by the towering snake-like entity among them. It was clear that Louise had made contracts with high-ranking spirits, a remarkable feat for a first-year student.

Lilliana was well aware of the privileges bestowed upon students with spirit contracts, and even among the fourth-year summoning department students, only a select few had the honor of forming contracts.

However, their contracts were often limited, and they couldn't summon their spirits at will. To see Louise, a first-year student, not only possessing such powerful spirits but also having them guard her directly left Lilliana both impressed and humbled. It was evident that Louise was not just gifted but truly blessed with unique talents in the world of summoning.

As Lilliana continued to process the impressive presence of Louise and her unique connection to powerful spirits, she couldn't help but have some lingering thoughts.

'A girl as talented as this is friends with Adrian? Furthermore, they seem rather close' she mused, the complexity of the situation gnawing at her curiosity.

"Why did you---"

Lilliana was about to delve further into her questions when Salik's voice cut in, addressing her with a reminder. "My lady, forgive my rudeness, but you are running late," Salik pointed out, "and I'm sure the young miss and young master also have their classes to attend."

Lilliana glanced at the clock and realized that time had indeed flown by during her conversation with Adrian and the unexpected visit from Louise. "I'm sorry; I guess I took a bit too much of your time, Adrian," she apologized, her demeanor undergoing a sudden transformation.

Adrian, ever the gracious friend, reassured her with a warm smile. "No, it's nothing, sister Lilliana. I was also having fun with our conversation, haha."

Lilliana's spirits lifted at Adrian's words, and momentarily, the whirlwind of troubling thoughts that had plagued her mind subsided. As she prepared to leave, she cast one last glance at Louise, prompting the younger girl to instinctively step back and take refuge behind Adrian.

"I'll see you around, Miss Obelia," Lilliana said, accompanied by a seemingly friendly smile. However, her eyes told a different story, betraying the confusion and unease that still lingered within her.

With Lilliana and Salik's departure, Adrian and Louise were left alone in the room, confusion and tension hanging in the air. Louise couldn't contain her bewilderment and had to voice her question aloud.

"What was that?"

Adrian sighed, his expression mirroring his own perplexity.

"I don't know," he admitted, the encounter with Lilliana leaving him just as mystified and uncertain about the situation as Louise.