The Male Lead isn't Following the Script!
Chapter 205: Relief

Chapter 205: Relief

The six months had flown by faster than Adeline anticipated. What once seemed like a daunting, distant goal had crept up on her, bringing with it a mix of excitement and nervous anticipation.

In that time, Adeline had poured herself into her training with single-minded determination. She felt the results of her efforts in the controlled crackle of lightning at her fingertips, in the way her strikes had become sharper and more precise.

Her connection to her element, though still unconventional compared to others, felt deeper and more natural.

She would love to say that coming to the academy was a waste of time, but that would not be true. She learnt a lot of things and she soon realised why everyone wanted to get in here.

Studying the other elements had been a turning point. Adeline observed how fire wielders focused on raw energy and emotion, while water users drew upon fluidity and adaptability.

Earth wielders relied on steadfastness and patience, and air practitioners leaned into freedom and flexibility. From these observations, she devised her own method of connecting with lightning—a combination of intense focus and the unleashing of her inner drive.

She came to view her element as untamed and volatile, yet full of untapped potential, much like herself.

Experimentation became her ally. With no pre-established techniques for lightning at her disposal, Adeline drew inspiration from the fire techniques she had observed. Fire techniques emphasized rapid bursts of energy and explosive force, which felt closest to lightning’s nature.

Her father was right, it was the closest she could get to it. She had to give it that old man. In terms of fighting and strategy, no one could beat him. The duels with Aaron were ingrained into her mind. Still that alone was not enough.

After sparring a few times she became familiar with his style, she could find patterns and defend accordingly. Monsters were not like that. She needed to be careful.

Combining those principles she learnt and applying it to her element, she created moves that were uniquely hers. Her strikes had speed and precision, her movements a sharp efficiency that mimicked the lightning she wielded. While they weren’t perfect, they were enough to give her an edge, and she took pride in crafting them herself.

Yet, all her preparations led to one inevitable conclusion: she needed to face the monsters. No amount of practice could replicate the experience of battling a real, unpredictable foe.

She faced them before but they were not the stronger ones... She did not know what kind of monsters would be in the hunt, she could only pray that she would do well.

Adeline knew her limits but was determined to push them during the hunt. She couldn’t afford to hold back if she wanted to win—and she did want to win. The library’s restricted section and the knowledge locked away within it were too valuable to ignore.

Amidst all this, Cassian remained an ever-present distraction. He had made multiple attempts to approach her over the months, his demeanor a mix of persistence and quiet frustration.

Initially, Adeline assumed he’d give up after her repeated dismissals. But Cassian, it seemed, was not easily deterred. Every time she brushed him off, he came back, more determined than before.

It wasn’t anger that fueled her rejection of him anymore. That fire had burned itself out, leaving nothing but frustration.

How could he act as though nothing had happened? As though the months of distance, his cold shoulder, and his refusal to explain himself didn’t matter?

Every time he approached her with his characteristic charm, pretending as if everything was fine, she found herself torn between exasperation and the faintest twinge of guilt. She did not want to ignore him... But her frustration still remained.

She was not asking for much, an explanation and an apology would do. He should stop trying to sweep things under the rug and pretend it did not happen.

The evening air was cool, a soft breeze carrying the faint hum of nature and the distant murmurs of other students training in the academy’s open grounds. Adeline stood amidst the training arena, her focus sharp as arcs of lightning flickered from her fingertips.

She had been pushing herself harder than usual, determined to perfect her control before the hunt. The stakes were high, and she couldn’t afford to fall short.

As the crackle of energy subsided, Adeline straightened, wiping a sheen of sweat from her brow. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught movement and turned her head slightly. Cassian stood nearby, leaning casually against a tree, his intense gaze fixed on her.

Adeline ignored him, turning away. She picked up her water flask and took a long sip, feigning indifference. It wasn’t the first time he had lingered like this, watching her from a distance.

She had gotten used to his silent presence over the months, but tonight, it grated on her nerves. Why wouldn’t he just leave her alone?

This had to be the longest time she ever held a grudge. She asked herself why she cared so much... Maybe if it was anyone else she would have gotten over it but for some reason she couldn’t bear that it was Cassian who did it to her.

"You know," he started, his voice casual but tinged with something deeper, "you’re getting better at that."

"What do you want, Cassian?"

He hesitated, as though weighing his words. "Just... Watching. You’ve come a long way."

He came for her. These training grounds were for elemental wielders. Those who did not possess powers had a different training ground assigned to them and it was not anywhere near their’s.

The compliment hung in the air, but Adeline didn’t acknowledge it. Instead, she tightened the cap on her flask and turned to leave the arena.

"Wait," he called, his tone soft yet urgent.

Adeline paused mid-step, her back still turned. She hesitated for a brief second, then continued walking.

"Linny, please," he pleaded, his voice uncharacteristically vulnerable.

The nickname stopped her in her tracks. It had been so long since he’d called her that—long enough that it stirred something buried deep within her. Slowly, she turned, her arms crossed as she faced him.

He took a hesitant step forward, his usual confidence was not there anymore.

When he opened his mouth to speak, no words came out.

Adeline’s brows furrowed in frustration. "If you don’t have anything to say, don’t waste my time." She sighed and spun on her heel, making to leave once again.

"I’ve been approaching the issue all wrong," he blurted out, stopping her in her tracks.

She turned her head slightly, but her expression remained unimpressed. Was it not obvious, he was ignoring the issue and her feelings.

He sighed heavily, running a hand through his hair. "I’m sorry," he said, his tone carrying the weight of sincerity. "The reason I didn’t reach out before... It wasn’t because I didn’t care. It was because I did. I thought staying away would protect you."

Adeline’s lips pressed into a thin line. Her eyes narrowed slightly as she studied him, trying to decipher the truth in his words. "Protect me from what?"

"From everything," Cassian admitted. "From myself, from the dangers around us. I... I wasn’t in a position to expose my weaknesses, and I thought if I kept you at arm’s length, it would be safer for you."

Adeline felt a swirl of emotions she couldn’t quite place. A part of her wanted to be touched by his words, to believe he had truly been trying to protect her. But another part was hung up on the word he used. A weakness.

I don’t want to be anyone’s weakness. I’ve spent my whole life trying to prove I’m capable.

Without fully turning, she glanced over her shoulder and whispered, "I see... I’m... going back."

She didn’t feel like she could angry at him. What kind of a person would she be? She spent her entire life trying to protect the people she loved and while he sucked at it... He too was just trying to do the same.

She just didn’t like being called a weakness. She knew that he did not mean it like that. But at the same time...

Forget it.

Cassian on the other hand felt relieved. It wasn’t much, but it was something. She still spoke to him and for Cassian, it was enough. He felt that his heart felt lighter, the first sign of progress in months.

Cassian’s words lingered, intertwining with her own thoughts and doubts. She didn’t know whether to believe him or to push him away for good. But one thing was certain: she wouldn’t allow herself to be seen as a liability ever again.

Her resolve hardened as she left the arena. The hunt was drawing closer, and she would use it as her proving ground. Not just to the academy, not just to the dean, but to herself. She would show everyone—including Cassian—that she was strong, capable, and not someone that needed protection.