The Male Lead isn't Following the Script!
Chapter 200: We Meet Again

Chapter 200: We Meet Again

"Maybe Victoria could come live with us?"

Adeline’s eyes widened as she turned to Maia. "That’s a great idea!" she exclaimed, excitement colouring her voice. She looked at Layla for confirmation, her pink hair bouncing with the movement.

Layla, who had been leaning back lazily in her chair, straightened up slightly. "Sure," she said with a casual shrug. "I’m fine with it. I trust you, Linny. And if you trust Victoria, then so do I."

Adeline beamed at her friends, grateful for their support. She turned back to Victoria, her expression earnest. "What do you think, Victoria? Would you want to room with us?"

Victoria hesitated, her dark eyes flicking between the three girls. "Are you sure?" she asked cautiously. "I don’t want to intrude."

"You wouldn’t be intruding," Adeline said firmly. "We’d love to have you with us."

Maia nodded enthusiastically. "Absolutely! It would be so much fun to have you in our room."

Layla leaned forward, resting her chin on her hand as she regarded Victoria with a small smile. "You know, my mother speaks highly of you," she said, her tone light but sincere. "She says you’re sharp and dependable. I think you’d fit right in."

Victoria blinked, surprised by Layla’s words. "Your mother...?"

Layla waved her hand dismissively. "Yeah, she’s a fan. Don’t let it go to your head," she teased, though there was warmth in her voice.

The Eastern Duchess heard a lot about Victoria from Adeline. She had a good impression of her and her sister who was now engaged to Alaric.

Victoria allowed a small smile to creep onto her lips, the corners of her mouth barely lifting. "Alright," she said quietly. "If you’re sure, I’d like that."

Adeline clapped her hands together, her excitement palpable. "Perfect! It’s settled then. You’re moving in with us!"

The group spent the next few minutes discussing logistics, from Victoria’s belongings to how they would rearrange the room to accommodate her.

Adeline’s heart felt lighter than it had in days. She was thrilled that Victoria would be joining them, and she couldn’t wait to see how their dynamic would evolve.

She knew that the girls would love Victoria too! She was a good kid! You just need a little bit of time to get used to her, otherwise, she was kind, smart and dependable!

As they talked, Adeline couldn’t help but feel a sense of gratitude. She had been worried about making friends in the academy, especially given her unique circumstances and the weight of her goals.

But here she was, surrounded by people she genuinely cared about, building connections that felt strong and unshakable.

Layla, with her easygoing nature and hidden depth, was a comforting presence. Maia, with her nervous but earnest personality, brought warmth and sincerity to the group. And Victoria, with her quiet strength and sharp intellect, added a sense of grounding to their little circle.

Adeline glanced around at her friends, a soft smile gracing her lips. Maybe, just maybe, this academy life wouldn’t be so daunting after all.

Adeline sat quietly at the back of the classroom, her fingers idly tracing the patterns of the polished desk. The instructor, an elderly mage with wispy grey hair and a commanding presence, stood at the front of the room, gesturing animatedly as he spoke about the importance of connecting with one’s element.

The elemental class was designed to be inclusive of all factions—offensive, defensive, and harmony-based magic users. For many students, it was a cornerstone of their education, the place where they learned to attune themselves to the very essence of their magic. Yet, for Adeline, it was an isolating experience.

Lightning.

The word echoed in her mind like a forbidden melody. Her element was thought to have been extinct for generations, a remnant of a bygone era. Every other element was represented in the classroom, each with its own teacher and its own methods for connection. But lightning? Lightning was hers alone, an anomaly without precedent.

She glanced around the room, observing how her classmates immersed themselves in their elements.

Fire users were seated near open flames, their hands hovering just above the flickering light. The instructor explained how the fire was alive, temperamental, and demanding respect. "You must approach fire like you would a wild beast," he said, his voice calm but firm.

"It is powerful, but it can turn on you if you are careless." Adeline watched as the fire users closed their eyes, their breathing steadying as they sought to synchronise with the element’s natural rhythm.

Adeline sighed woefully. The fire element was nothing new to her. She was surrounded by fire users. The techniques she learnt were tailor-made for fire but it was close enough according to her father.

Although everyone here had trained before joining the academy, the academy wants to make sure the children understood and felt their elements and not just consider it a tool.

Nearby, water users worked with bowls of clear liquid. Their exercise involved mimicking the ebb and flow of tides, their fingers moving in fluid, circular motions over the water’s surface. "Water is patient," the instructor continued. "It can erode mountains given enough time. To connect with it, you must embrace its adaptability and its persistence."

The wind wielders were out in a field doing... Something. Adeline didn’t see or pay attention. It was too much work and she was busy wallowing in a bowl of self-pity.

She could hear the Goddess telling her to snap out of it, stop acting all ’woe is me’ and to get her shit together.

’That’s quite mean! Huhuhu I have no one to teach me... How do I connect with my element, huh? Do I run in a thunderstorm with a metal stick pointing at the sky?!’ Adeline whined and complained to the Goddess.

The Goddess was annoyed! This was not right! She was the whiny character and Adeline should be telling her to cut it out, not the other way around! What happened?!

"Look, in our dynamic there is only room for one needy, whiny person and I have already claimed that position! So stop it!" The Goddess yelled. What happened to this once bright and bubbly kid.

If she wanted some lightning she could probably send some her way... The Goddess was trying to help the best she can... Although it was not ideal at all!

"Air is freedom," he explained. "It does not obey commands but responds to guidance. To wield it, you must become its companion, not its master."

Earth users were positioned around blocks of stone and piles of soil, their hands resting on the solid materials. For them, the connection was physical, almost primal. "Earth is steadfast and unyielding," the instructor said. "It requires patience and unwavering determination. To harness it, you must ground yourself and become one with its strength."

Even the rare student of ice magic had his place, their element regarded as an extension of water but with its own unique properties. Lucas, seated near a frost-covered basin, ran his fingers lightly over the frozen surface. Ice was an uncommon but still recognised element, with dedicated instructors who specialised in its nuances.

To say Adeline was salty was putting it lightly. But could she really blame them? Her element was extinct and they wouldn’t be giving her special treatment. She sighed to herself again.

Adeline, however, had no such guidance. Lightning was not like fire or water or even ice. It was volatile, destructive, and unpredictable. It didn’t linger like the other elements, it struck with sudden ferocity and disappeared just as quickly. It was a fleeting force of nature, impossible to contain or nurture. How was she supposed to connect with something so elusive?

Her thoughts were interrupted by a soft voice to her left.

"We meet again, Miss Adeline Kendrick," it said.

Startled, she turned her head and found herself face-to-face with Lucas. He sat with the same composed demeanor he had displayed during lunch.

"So we do," Adeline replied, a polite smile gracing her lips.

She hadn’t expected to see him here, after all these years. The last time she’d seen Lucas, he had been a timid, shy boy, always hunched over with his hair falling into his face. He had barely spoken, his voice a whisper that could hardly be heard over the chatter of the adults around them.

Adeline tilted her head slightly, studying him. She had nothing against Lucas; they had barely interacted growing up. If anything, they were little more than acquaintances, their relationship surface-level at best.

Lucas’s lips curved into a faint smile, though it didn’t quite reach his eyes. "You seem to be out of place here," he remarked, his tone neutral but laced with curiosity.

Adeline chuckled dryly, leaning back in her seat. "You could say that," she said. "There’s no one here to teach me how to connect with my element. Lightning isn’t exactly... Common."

Lucas raised an eyebrow, his gaze flickering with interest. "That’s one way to put it," he said. "I’d say it’s more... Unique."

Adeline shrugged, her expression thoughtful. "Maybe. But unique doesn’t always mean better."

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