Consuming The Tablet

The journey to the canteen was smooth, excluding Charlotte's awkwardness. Lucien noticed her discomfort and decided to ease the tension by not forcing her into a conversation. Instead, he took in the surroundings, admiring the beautiful scenery around them. The sound of the leaves rustling, the gentle breeze blowing, and the distant chirping of birds created a serene atmosphere that he found calming. He felt grateful to be alive again and to experience this moment.

"Um, Lucien...I hope you don't mind me asking, but how did you know about my...defectness?" Charlotte finally decided to break the silence, her voice trembling slightly. She couldn't help feeling grateful for his thoughtfulness, yet at the same time, she also felt a pang of disappointment. It was really a conflicting emotion, ah...

"I have my ways of knowing things," Lucien lied smoothly as he breathed.

"Aha!" Charlotte exclaimed, her eyebrows raising in surprise. "So, I suppose the negative rumors about you being foolish and incompetent were false all along?" she asked, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.

Lucien let out a small chuckle before replying, "Actually, I spread those rumors myself. I figured if people thought less of me, they wouldn't pay much attention to what I was doing. And while they were distracted, I gathered information and planted spies all around." He shrugged nonchalantly, hoping that his gibberish lies would make Charlotte see him in a more positive light. After all, the rumors of him being a notorious playboy and arrogant noble had already spread throughout the academy, staining his image beyond repair.

"That's a clever strategy," Charlotte complimented with a slight nod of approval. However, her tone changed as she continued, "But I have to admit, it's a little unsettling to think about all the spying and gathering of knowledge you did. It's kinda creepy." As she spoke, her tone was laced with fear. Lucien's heart raced in nervousness as he realized his plan to improve his image had ended up backfired.

'Damn it! Why did I have to make myself sound like a stalker? Protagonists in novels always make gathering intelligence sound badass. And women would always find those clever and calculating men to be attractive. But in truth, it was creepy all along. I should have kept my mouth shut to avoid spouting nonsense again,' Lucien thought, feeling regret for his earlier words.

However, Charlotte's next words reduced his disappointment by a notch. "On another note, such a practice was normal among nobles. Even my father might do that to a family he deemed to be an enemy and worth investigating. So, it's kind of impressive that you achieved such a feat at such a young age. You really changed my opinion about you," she said with a small smile. Lucien felt relieved that his image had improved in her eyes, even if it was due to the lie he had created.

He was about to say something in response when he heard Charlotte announce. "We've arrived."

As Lucien and Charlotte emerged from the forest, they saw the grand structure of Rivenhall Institute looming in front of them. The canteen was located in the main building, which was made of stone and had towering turrets on each corner. The entrance to the canteen was a large wooden door, adorned with intricate carvings of vines and leaves. The door was flanked by two stone pillars, each adorned with a brass sconce holding a flickering torch.

As they stepped inside, they were greeted by the warmth of a large fireplace, which crackled merrily in the center of the room. The canteen was a large hall with a high ceiling and wooden rafters. Long wooden tables were placed in rows, each accompanied by a matching bench. The walls were adorned with tapestries depicting scenes from the history of Rivenhall, while suits of armor stood guard in the corners.

On one side of the hall was a long counter where a few chefs were busy cooking and serving food. The counter was adorned with various types of bread, cheese, fruits, and meats. A few students were already gathered around the counter, picking out their choices of food and chatting with each other.

Lucien and Charlotte proceeded towards the nobles' section of the canteen, passing through the regular students' area, where the lively buzz of chatter filled the air with discussions of classes and upcoming exams. Amidst the jovial atmosphere, occasional bursts of laughter and friendly banter could be heard.

As they ascended the stairs leading to the nobles' section, they were met by guards stationed at the gate who merely glanced at them before allowing their passage. The atmosphere in the noble's section was a stark contrast to the lively chatter of the regular students' area. Here, conversations were held in hushed tones and the occasional sound of a servant's footsteps echoed throughout the hall.

When they walked in, their presence immediately drew the attention of the other nobles, and all eyes turned toward them.

Lucien, who was socially awkward on Earth, couldn't help but feel nervous as all eyes turned toward him and Charlotte. He silently rubbed the back of his neck in an attempt to soothe his growing anxiety.

Despite initially thinking of Charlotte as shy and timid, Lucien observed her composed demeanor as she confidently led him to a table in the corner by the window overlooking the balcony. The sunlight filtering through the partly cloudy skies cast a warm, comfortable glow that didn't make him feel overheated.

After a moment, a server dressed in simple garb come greeted them. "Good day, milady and milord. What can I do for you?"

"Please bring me a glass of water..." Charlotte paused and turned her eyes to Lucien. "What about you, Lucien?"

"Err, just an ice tea, please." Lucien ordered randomly.

The server took note of their order and asked politely, "Will there be anything else for you, my lady, my lord?"

Charlotte shook her head gracefully. "Just those two items, please."

"As you wish, my lady," the server replied with a bow. "I shall return shortly with your refreshments." He then left them to attend to their request.

Charlotte was tapping her fingers at the desk when she noticed the sunlight shining on Lucien's pale face and became concerned. "Are you feeling unwell?" she asked.

Lucien shook his head. "No, I'm fine," he replied, but his complexion said otherwise.

"Then, why are you so pale?" Charlotte worriedly asked.

"Isn't it just my regular tone skin?" Lucien replied, trying to downplay his nervousness. He couldn't let Charlotte know that he was feeling anxious and uncomfortable under the scrutiny of so many people. After all, he was a man and his pride was at stake.

"Is that so?" Charlotte was unconvinced and was about to inquire further when the server arrived with their refreshment. He carefully placed each beverage on their table and then quickly departed, leaving Lucien and Charlotte alone again.

Charlotte smiled as she reached into her pocket and retrieved the Spirit Enhancer Tablet. "Let's see if you're telling the truth," she jested, holding the pill in her open palm. Lucien's heart raced as he watched her swallow it down with a gulp of water.

He couldn't help but feel a twinge of worry. What if the tablet didn't work as Auman said? But he didn't want to show any sign of doubt or weakness in front of Charlotte. He took a sip of his iced tea and tried to act nonchalant as he waited to see if anything would happen.

Charlotte scrunched her eyebrows and appeared to be sensing something. After half a minute had passed, she closed her eyes and began to meditate, seemingly focusing on something internal.

As Lucien was intently focused on Charlotte, he failed to notice the approaching footsteps. Suddenly, a looming shadow casts over them, causing him to snap back to reality. When he looked up, he was dumbstruck by the sight of a girl who bore a striking resemblance to Charlotte.

However, unlike Charlotte's soft and delicate features, this girl had a more rigid and sharp appearance. Lucien also couldn't help but notice that the most distinct difference between the two was the size of their breasts. While Charlotte was voluptuous and full, the woman in front of him was rather flat.

"Sister, what a surprise to find you here." The woman's voice was laced with a hint of mockery, as she spoke with a superior tone. As she talked, her eyes sparkled with derision, and her lips twisted into a mocking smirk.

She then began to circle around Charlotte like a bee, her steps deliberate and measured. "My, my, you look positively radiant, sister," she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Has father's constant beating not left you with a single bruise? Or does he ultimately stop because he realizes you're hopeless to begin with?" Her lips curled into a cruel smile, and her eyes glinted with malice.

'Beating? Bruise? What's she talking about?' Lucien mused confusedly. He involuntarily glanced at Charlotte, who remained seated with a stoic expression on her face. Her eyes were shut as though she was completely cut off from the world.

"Sister," the woman sneered, "I'm sorry I couldn't take care of you. After all, I'm a genius novice mage. I have more important things to deal with than looking after a hopeless case like you." She smirked, her eyes filled with contempt as she looked down at Charlotte.

...

After a few attempts of ridiculing, the woman finally had enough of Charlotte's silent reaction. "Hey, are you deaf?" She waved her hand in front of Charlotte's face. "Can you reply to me? Or have father's constant beatings left you with a permanent hearing loss? Hello?!"

Lucien stood up from his seat, ready to intervene and protect Charlotte from the woman's taunts. However, before he could say anything, he sensed an unusual energy emanating from Charlotte's body, like the calm before the storm. Suddenly, Charlotte's eyes snapped open, revealing a piercing glare that sent chills down Lucien's spine. Without saying a word, she strode purposefully towards the balcony, her steps filled with an unwavering determination.

"I knew it! She must have left because she couldn't handle my ridicule. She must have been mortified,"

Lucien noticed a sense of pride in her eyes as she spoke, as if she had accomplished something great. However, he resisted the urge to ducktape the woman's mouth and focused on his growing concern for Charlotte. With a determined look, he turned away from her and started running towards the balcony where Charlotte had disappeared.

As he hurriedly chased after Charlotte, feeling a mix of fear and curiosity about what was happening, he purposely bumped into the woman, causing her to stumble. She turned to glare at him, her eyes narrowing with anger, but Lucien didn't stop to apologize. Instead, he rushed towards the balcony, hoping to catch up with Charlotte before she did anything rash.

"Hey! Are you blind?!" The woman exclaimed in displeasure and began to follow him as he bolted towards Charlotte's direction.

As Lucien stepped onto the balcony, he felt a sudden surge of energy that made his hairs stand on end. The air was charged with electricity, and small sparks crackled around Charlotte's body. He could feel the heat radiating off her, and the pressure in the air grew more intense with each passing moment.

Charlotte's eyes remained closed, and her breathing was slow and measured. Suddenly, she lifted her head, and her eyes snapped open. Lucien gasped as he saw the familiar blue of her irises now shimmering with an otherworldly light. The sparks around her grew brighter, and the air around them seemed to pulse with energy.

"Lightning!"