33 Joint Combat Exams
"Adrian!" Louise's voice called out like a cheerful bell, breaking through my morning daze. I turned around to see her hurrying toward me, her bright eyes sparkling with energy.
"Good morning!" she greeted me with boundless enthusiasm, her ever-present smile lighting up her face.
"Good morning, Louise," I replied, returning her smile. Her infectious positivity was hard to resist.
"Are you heading to class now?" she asked, falling in step beside me.
"Yeah," I confirmed, adjusting my bag on my shoulder. "I am."
"Hehe, then let's go together," Louise suggested, her smile never faltering. It was impossible not to chuckle at her cheerful demeanor.
As we strolled through the hallways of Lucian Hall, our conversation flowed effortlessly, filled with the mundane details of life. But it wasn't long before Louise broached a topic that had been on her mind.
"By the way," she began, her pout returning, "I haven't seen you for the past few days. I know the alchemic students were given free rein to prepare for the upcoming joint training exams, but you could've joined your friends for lunch, right? I searched everywhere for you!"
Louise's frustration was palpable, and I couldn't ignore the guilt that gnawed at me. I had recently reunited with my friends after returning from a brief trip, only to disappear again under the pretext of influencing someone. I had intentionally avoided our group in the past few days, not wanting to involve them in the events I had set in motion. If I were to reveal what I had done during those days, they would likely try to kill me themselves. Louise's determination to find me was both endearing and slightly intimidating, making me question my decisions.
"Haha, I have no excuse for that, Louise. I'm sorry," I admitted, trying to appease her. Her pout remained, and I could tell she expected more than just an apology.
"A sorry isn't enough," her eyes seemed to convey, and I sighed in response. "Haah... you demon," I muttered playfully.
"Fine, you win. Lunch is on me," I declared, half-frustrated and half-amused at her persistence.
"Haha, you promise?" Louise asked, her smile returning as my words seemed to appease her.
"Promise," I affirmed, trying to sound as sincere as possible. "No take-backs, okay?"
Louise responded with a skip in her step as we continued our journey, her boundless energy a reminder of how she could easily brighten up my day.
As we approached the doorway, just on the verge of stepping into the next part of our day, two familiar voices broke the usual silence of the hallway, calling out to me in perfect harmony.
"Adrian."
"Ian."
The voices had a peculiar synergy—one soft and gentle, carrying an air of mature wisdom, while the other held a rough, yet gentlemanly, charm. It was as if the contrasting tones had woven themselves into a harmonious melody that resonated deep within me.
Turning around, I was greeted by a sight that took my breath away. There, standing before me, was a vision of beauty. Elena, with her sky-blue eyes that mirrored the vast open skies and long, flowing white hair as creamy and silky as the clouds themselves, beamed with a gentle smile. It was the first time I had seen Elena in her school uniform, and the transformation was astonishing. She radiated an undeniable allure and elegance that left me momentarily entranced.
By Elena's side, walking alongside her with an expression of confusion on his face, was Tristan. His bewilderment was palpable as he slowly pieced together the unexpected connection between Elena and me.
"Senior, you're acquainted with Adrian?" Tristan asked, his voice tinged with curiosity as he tried to make sense of the situation.
Elena, with her characteristic grace and charm, responded with a soft chuckle that danced in the air like a melody. "Oh, I guess I didn't mention it to you yet," she replied, her voice as melodious as a lullaby. "Yes, me and Ian are acquainted, though it wasn't that long ago since we met."
"Huh? Who is this girl I'm seeing right now?" I couldn't help but wonder, utterly taken aback by the transformation in Elena's demeanor. Her switch from the previous evening to this morning was nothing short of astonishing. It was as if she had gone from one extreme to another, and I found myself struggling to reconcile the two versions of her I had witnessed.
The memories of the previous night were still fresh in my mind. After our intimate activities, Elena had woken up in my bed, her initial reaction marked by a fervent desire to escape my embrace and flee to her own room. She had been overwhelmed by embarrassment; her cheeks flushed with the recollection of our shared passion.
In response to her adorable reaction, I had chuckled softly and advised her to get dressed before leaving. Elena, realizing that she was standing completely naked before my eyes, had initially tried to cover herself, but soon she had allowed me the pleasure of gazing upon her captivating body.
My cock twitched looking at her sinful body.
However, her moment of vulnerability had been short-lived. Realizing the potential consequences of her actions—being discovered in my room or having her absence noted by her servants—Elena had quickly requested some of my clothes and hastened to leave my room.
As she was busy trying to dress up, I pressed my hard manhood on her buttocks.
"Uhm Elena a few minutes wouldn't hurt right?"
Slap..! the hands holding her waist quickly got thwarted.
"No"
It was just one word that I could've easily ignored, but looking at her deathly pale and worried expression I guess I shouldn't force my desires on her just yet.
Just before departing, she had surprised me with a long and passionate kiss "Mmmh!"
a moment of pure intimacy that had left both of us momentarily breathless. Her soft moan had escaped her lips, and then, in a sudden wave of embarrassment, she had gently pushed me away and fled from the room.
As I watched Elena now, her demeanor was worlds apart from the passionate and daring woman I had encountered the night before. Her gentle and almost saintly demeanor caught me completely off guard, leaving me with a sense of intrigue and curiosity about the complex and multifaceted person she truly was.
Although I wondered how Elena and Tristan had already become acquainted, I couldn't help but think back to the novel's timeline. As far as I remembered, they only made contact when Adrian was helping heal the participants after the joint combat exams. I decided to ask Elena about it later; she might have a reasonable explanation.
"Uh-uhm, are you Senior Elena Tellarum?" Louise suddenly asked, and I realized I'd almost forgotten 15:26
she was here with us.
"Uh-uhm, are you Senior Elena Tellarum?" Louise suddenly asked, and I realized I'd almost forgotten she was here with us.
"Yes, I am," Elena replied gently, her expression one of mild confusion as she observed Louise, who seemed to be trembling with excitement.
"Th-then you're really Elena Tellarum? The Church of Light's one and only saintess, the academy's holiest person, and the personification of the goddess in this very world?" Louise's excitement bubbled over as she spoke.
"Yes?" Elena replied, her confusion growing as Louise's excitement intensified, her face inching closer with every word.
"I knew it! Th-then, Senior, can I please get—?" Louise began to say something but was abruptly cut off.
I stepped in, blocking Louise's ever-approaching face, which was getting uncomfortably close to Elena's. "Wait, Louise, can't you see you're bothering Elena?" I reprimanded her.
"Elena?" both Tristan and Louise inquired, clearly puzzled by my informal address of our senior.
"Well—" I began, attempting to explain myself, but Elena interrupted.
"Fufu, I allowed Ian to address me by my first name, so please don't reprimand him for speaking rudely to a senior," Elena said with a chuckle, her gentle demeanor calming the situation.
"Now that I think about it," Tristan noted, "you call Adrian Ian, senior."
Upon hearing Tristan's observation, Louise nodded in agreement, their combined gazes demanding an explanation.
Fortunately, Elena was quick to provide one. "Well, although I did say we've only recently met, Ian and I found ourselves highly compatible, so an intimate friendship naturally formed."
"Compatible?" Louise murmured, still curious about our relationship.
Elena shifted the conversation, reminding us of our impending classes. "Well, enough about that. Aren't you guys heading to your respective halls for classes? It's almost time, you know. Especially you, Tristan; I've heard the combat department is especially strict about attendance."
Tristan snapped to attention, realizing the time. "Oh, you're right. I'd better hurry up, Louise. Adrian, I'll see you at lunch later," he said before dashing off toward Cleave Hall.
"Fufu, I guess I should be going too. My ride is here," Elena announced just as a majestic white carriage came into view. A paladin and a nun quickly disembarked, guiding Elena inside. She truly was the saintess.
Before leaving, Elena winked at me through the carriage window and then gracefully departed.
"I suppose we should be on our way as well?" I suggested to Louise.
"...Yes, I suppose so," she replied, her response delayed and somewhat absentminded. I couldn't help but notice her frequent glances between me and the now-departed Elena.
….
"Good morning, partner," Euphemia greeted with her disarmingly sunny smile.
"I thought you promised to help me out in my experiments? Hmm?" she inquired; her smile still intact but with an underlying hint of irritation.
I wanted to say, "Sorry, but to be honest, I completely forgot about it," right to her face, but the words
somehow stayed trapped in my throat.
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