CHAPTER 75: CHAPTER 75 - VIVIAN

Vivian led Lucien to her residence within the academy grounds.

It was a spacious and well-structured building designed with both elegance and practicality in mind.

Each student had their own private quarters within. It’s enough to feel at home without losing the academy’s refined atmosphere.

But as they approached the entrance, a stern-looking caretaker stepped in their path... blocking Lucien.

"I’m sorry," she said firmly. "Guests are not allowed beyond this point."

Vivian quickly spoke up. "It’s alright, he’s my little brother."

The caretaker didn’t budge. "I understand but I have rules to follow. No exceptions."

Vivian was about to turn around and take Lucien somewhere else but before she could... Lucien casually reached into his pocket and pulled out a token.

The Free Pass Token granted by the Headmaster.

The moment the caretaker saw it, her eyes widened and her posture straightened in alarm.

"Esteemed guest!" she exclaimed. Her tone flipped from cold to courteous. "Please forgive my rudeness earlier. You’re more than welcome to enter."

Lucien sighed inwardly and rolled his eyes. ’No exceptions, my ass... Sigh, the power of connections...’

Even so, the Silvermine Guards couldn’t come with them. Only him were allowed beyond the entrance.

The guards had to remain outside.

He turned to them with a small smile.

"Brothers, I’ll just be in my sister’s room for a bit. There’s no danger here. In the meantime, take these and relax."

He handed out snacks and drinks from his INVENTORY.

The guards’ eyes sparkled and they responded with cheerful grins.

"For you Young Master, we will! Please, don’t worry about us!"

Lucien gave them a nod of gratitude then followed Vivian inside.

Vivian smiled and eagerly grabbed Lucien’s hand, pulling him along.

"Quick, brother! I recently learned how to brew tea. I’m so excited to show you!"

Lucien’s eyes lit up with interest.

’Looks like my sister finally picked up a hobby other than being kind to everyone.’

His lips curled into a small smile.

They stopped in front of a door. Vivian channeled a bit of mana into the lock and with a soft click, the door opened.

She pushed it forward, revealing her room.

Lucien stepped in... and froze.

The room was large. Much too spacious for a single student.

Clean.

Orderly.

Well-lit.

With high ceilings and generous furnishing.

"This is yours?" he asked, surprised.

Vivian nodded. "Yes. Everyone gets rooms like this. Impressive, right?"

Lucien nodded slowly, still impressed.

"Alright, Lulu. Sit down and wait for me. I’ll go brew us some tea."

Now that they were alone, Vivian’s tone softened.

She was warmer and more relaxed... like they were back in the comfort of their home in Lootwell.

Lucien rubbed the back of his neck. "Sis, just call me Lu. And actually... I brought some dried leaves. Can you brew it into tea?"

He reached into his INVENTORY and pulled out a small bundle.

Bright Leaf Tops.

They dropped from the crops like carrots. It can be brewed into tea and it slightly boosts focus and alertness.

Vivian’s eyes sparkled as she examined the leaves.

"They smell amazing! Right away!"

Without hesitation, she rushed to the kitchen area, already excited to brew their tea.

Between the two of them, there was no need for formalities or reservations.

Not when it was family.

Now that he was alone, Lucien took a moment to observe the room more closely.

It was well-furnished and impeccably organized.

Everything is in its place.

The space itself seemed to reflect Vivian’s personality.

Neat.

Thoughtful.

Quietly disciplined.

’Feels like I just stepped into a condo in a modern city...’ Lucien thought as he glanced around.

But something tugged at him.

Despite the room’s size, it was clear Vivian lived modestly. There were very few personal items... just the essentials provided by the academy.

No decorations. No clutter.

Just enough to live comfortably. Nothing more.

Lucien frowned slightly. ’She’s holding back again...’

He made a quiet decision right there.

’I’m spoiling her today.’

He inhaled deeply, picking up the faint aroma wafting from the kitchenette.

"Wow... smells like my sist— I mean, like tea. Smells like nicely brewed tea."

Just then, Vivian returned with a tray, carefully balancing a pair of porcelain cups and a steaming pot of tea.

She set one in front of Lucien and smiled. "Please try it, Lu."

Lucien took a sip... and blinked.

"Whoa! Sis, this is amazing! You’re seriously great at this. Come on, drink with me!"

Vivian beamed at the praise and quickly poured a cup for herself.

She took a sip...

And froze.

"Huh...? My tea’s never tasted this good before..." Her eyes widened with each sip. Her brows rose in surprise. "This is delicious!"

Within moments, she could feel the effects.

Her mind cleared.

Her senses sharpened.

Her focus and awareness lifted noticeably.

She looked up at Lucien in awe. "Lu... where did you get these ingredients? This is incredible! It’s like drinking a magic potion!"

Lucien chuckled. "I’ve got plenty more. Picked them up from our territory. I’ll give you a whole stash later."

Vivian’s eyes lit up like stars.

"Really? Thank you!"

At the mention of their territory, Vivian’s smile faded into a thoughtful expression.

"Brother... how is our territory doing now?"

Lucien leaned back, setting his cup down gently. "It’s been... eventful."

And so, he began to tell her.

He spoke of everything that had unfolded since she left.

The betrayal that shook them. The struggle to reclaim the farm. The conspiracy that nearly ruined them. The dungeon they discovered. The divisions they created. The wall. His journey to grow stronger. And even his unusual pets.

He left out the darker and more graphic details. No need to burden Vivian with too much worry.

Instead, he told it like a story.

Weaving it with just enough tension and mystery to keep her hooked.

Vivian’s emotions shifted with each turn of the tale.

Shocked, amazed, angry, proud.

Lucien, of course, couldn’t resist having a little fun.

He paused deliberately at dramatic moments, letting the silence build.

Vivian leaned in, impatient.

"...And then?"

Lucien only raised a brow, sipping his tea with a teasing grin.

"Lu! Don’t pause there!" she huffed, nudging him.

He laughed softly, enjoying her reactions.

But through it all, she listened intently. Never once doubting him.

After seeing his abilities earlier, it was clear to her. Lucien had grown far beyond what she remembered.

By the time he finished, there was a long pause. Then Vivian stood up and wrapped her arms around him.

"...Thank you for working so hard, brother," she whispered. "I wish I could’ve seen it all with my own eyes. But I knew you’d manage. That’s why I can stay here and study in peace."

Lucien didn’t need anything else.

That simple truth... spoken with such warmth and trust, filled him with quiet strength.

He returned the hug, holding her close.

After their emotional exchange, Lucien leaned back and suddenly remembered something important.

"Oh right sis, be careful around that Coalheart bastard. He might be plotting something. And Thornel too. Have they tried anything funny with you?"

Vivian made a thoughtful face, one finger tapping her chin.

"Hmm... during the first week, Coalheart kept trying to talk to me. He’d approach me often... always pretending to be friendly. But my friends weren’t having it. They chased him away every time."

Lucien raised an eyebrow, impressed.

"And Thornel?" he asked.

Vivian rolled her eyes. "He just runs his mouth all the time. I ignore him. He’s not even half as good as you."

Then she smiled softly.

"You know... Mother used to say there’s no better man than you, Lu. Now that I’m here in the capital and have met others... she was right."

Lucien blinked, momentarily speechless.

’Her friends are better than I thought. I’ll have to treat them well next time.’

He then glanced upward with a small, proud grin.

’Also... What a way to raise a daughter. Nicely done, Mother in heaven.’ He gave an invisible thumbs-up to the sky.

After a pause, he turned back to Vivian. "What about you, sis? What was it like when you first came here?"

Vivian leaned back, her expression softening with memory.

She spoke about the day she left. The quiet, uneventful journey made bearable by the sweet Honeys Lucien had given her. She said they kept her in a good mood all the way.

Then, her tone changed.

"And then something unexpected happened. When I ate the Royal Jelly you gave me... I gained a skill! One no one else has heard of."

Lucien straightened up, intrigued.

"It’s called Wings of Atonement. It activates automatically when I’m in danger and I can also use it manually... though I’m still learning to control it. I’m not strong enough yet but it’s already helped me a lot."

Lucien’s eyes gleamed.

’A skill with both passive and active effects... That’s indeed rare. And powerful.’

He couldn’t help but smile proudly.

’I’m really glad I gave her that Royal Jelly before she left.’

Vivian continued.

"They also tested my magic affinity. I have an attribute in Light Magic. It’s considered rare in the kingdom. I’ve already mastered the basic spells and now... I’m working on the intermediate ones."

Lucien smiled, genuinely impressed.

They spent the next stretch of time chatting about their journeys.

Then, Vivian leaned in slightly, her eyes playful.

"Lu... looks like your childhood dream came true. You can finally use magic now huh?"

Lucien chuckled. "That’s right, sister. And not just that... I’ve gained a lot of skills."

"I noticed," she said, eyes sparkling. "Every single one of them looked formidable."

Lucien rubbed the back of his neck... but there was something else nagging at him.

"Sis... I’ve been meaning to ask. I noticed you don’t have a lot of things here. Didn’t you use the gold coins I gave you?"

Vivian paused at the question, looking a little sheepish.

"Uhm... Lu, it was a lot. I don’t really need that much money. I’ve been saving it for our territory. And honestly, the academy already provides everything I need... so I thought it’d be wasteful to spend."

Lucien fell silent for a moment. His expression was unreadable.

’Just as I thought... she’s hoarding it all like a savings account for home. She’ll never spend a coin unless I make her.’

He sighed internally.

"Sister," he said, voice a little more serious, "there’s no point in having money if you never use it."

Then, a small grin tugged at his lips.

Without another word, Lucien reached into his INVENTORY.

’Time to spoil my sister rotten.’