Lucan followed Maris down the winding corridor toward the temple, a place he hadn't yet visited due to Mordecai.
"So, Lucan-sama," Maris said cheerfully, "the temple is just ahead."
Lucan nodded appreciatively. The corridor was grand, lined with intricate carvings and adorned with the soft glow of magical lanterns. The atmosphere was serene—until, Alec stormed down the hallway with an expression that could sour milk.
"Hold it right there!" Alec bellowed. "I challenge you to a duel!"
Before Lucan could even blink, a menacing marionette with ghostly white eyes popped out of nowhere. The puppet moved with uncanny agility, and in one smooth motion, it grabbed Alec by the collar and sent him soaring through the air. Alec's face transformed from fierce determination to sheer panic as he flew out of sight.
Lucan's jaw dropped. "Well, that's one way to dodge a duel."
Maris shrugged, her demeanor as casual as ever. "Oh, don't worry about it. That's just how things go around here. He'll land somewhere safe."
Lucan nodded. He forget that it's still world of game that had comedy element.
So he decided to move on with Maris. As they neared the temple entrance, a small child came barreling down the hall, arms stretched wide for a hug.
"Big Sister Maris, let's hug!" the child exclaimed with glee.
Maris smiled warmly, bending down to meet the child. "How sweet!"
But just as the child was about to reach her, a sudden gust of wind whooshed through the corridor. The child was lifted off the ground and sent hurtling out of a nearby window—three floors down.
"Shouldn't we, uh, help him?"
Maris waved her hand dismissively. "Oh, don't worry. He will bleed from head for one hour and then back to normal."
"Next time he came to hug you, he should build safety net around."
As they continued toward the temple, Fabian, the academy's resident poet and hopeless romantic, appeared with dramatic flair.
"Ah, Maris, my muse!" Fabian declared, striking a theatrical pose. "Your beauty eclipses the dawn itself!"
Before Maris could respond, a decorative suit of armor, apparently dislodged by some unseen force, crashed down from the ceiling and landed squarely on Fabian. The armor clanged loudly as Fabian tumbled to the ground, struggling to free himself from the cumbersome metal.
"Well, poet your luck is too bad." Lucan said.
Maris glanced at Fabian, "That's just a little mischief from the ceiling. It happens more often than you'd think."
As Fabian extricated himself from the armor, Roland, the knight renowned for his bravery, appeared with a grand flourish.
"Maris, fair and lovely," Roland intoned, kneeling with dramatic grace, "allow me the honor of escorting you with valor!"
Just as Roland finished his grand gesture, a sudden whirlwind erupted around him. He was lifted off his feet and spun around like a top. Roland whirled uncontrollably, his armor clanging and jingling as he was flung out of the corridor and through a side door.
Lucan raised an eyebrow. "Well, the wind is too strong here."
Maris watched Roland's exit with a nonchalant shrug, "No. He is just special, The wind must have decided to join in on the chivalry."
With Roland out of the way, Lucien, the mysterious young prince, arrived with a smooth, enigmatic air.
"Ah, the renowned Maris," Lucien said suavely, "I have searched you for..."
Before he finished speaking, a trapdoor in the floor suddenly swung open. Out popped a comically oversized rubber duck, bouncing off Lucien's head and sending him tumbling into the trapdoor. The duck bobbed around the corridor, quacking loudly and causing a scene.
"I didn't knew academy had such trape, have to careful."
Maris watched the commotion with mild amusement. "Don't worry Lucan-sama, these trap only target royal family."
As the chaos began to settle, Damian, a wealthy young man adorned with extravagant jewelry, arrived with a flourish.
"Maris!" Damian exclaimed, presenting a glittering gem with a flourish. "I wanted to give you this beautiful crystal as a token of my admiration. It's worth a fortune!"
Maris accepted the gem with a gracious smile. "Thank you, Unknown rich man! It's lovely."
Without hesitation, Maris walked to the garden, where a scruffy dog was running around. She handed the gem to the dog, who immediately began chewing on it with evident pleasure.
Damian's face fell as he watched his precious gem being destroyed. "But… that was a priceless artifact!"
Lucan chuckled. "Well, I guess the dog's taste in gems is... refined."
Maris turned back to Damian with a reassuring smile. "Oh, don't worry. The dog will make sure it's well taken care of."
Damian sighed in defeat, watching as the dog continued to gnaw on the remains of the gem.
Lucan meet almost all male leads, and he didn't expect first meeting with them would be like this, but it was fun. They were completely different from the game characters he knew.
After two minutes, they finally entered the temple. The temple was a peaceful oasis with soft, calming music playing in the background.
Maris led Lucan through the tranquil halls, where the atmosphere was as serene as he had expected.
As they reached the inner sanctum of the temple, Lucan noticed an elderly priest meticulously arranging incense sticks. The priest's concentration was so intense that he didn't notice Maris and Lucan entering.
"Ah, good to see you, Priest Rimu," Maris said, her voice light and cheerful.
The priest, startled, looked up. "Oh, Saint Maris! I didn't see you there. You're here for another day of spiritual enrichment?"
Maris nodded enthusiastically. "Yes, and Lucan-sama is here to see the temple."
Priest Rimu gave Lucan a warm smile. "Welcome, young man. I assure you, the temple is a place of great peace and contemplation."
Just then, a loud crash echoed through the temple. Lucan and Maris turned to see a large, ornate chandelier swinging wildly. The chandelier had somehow come loose from its mount and was now dangling precariously above the priest's head.
Lucan's eyes widened. "Um, is that supposed to happen?"
Maris watched it and shook her head, "It... not."
I have to do something quickly or else Maris will surely let her power control by themselves.
Lucan looked at Maris, and thought.