Chapter 353

Chapter 353: Dinner for Two

When she returned to her dormitory, the sky was already dark.

As she walked down the roads within the academy, Lolan Hill noticed that the fortress had become much quieter recently. The streets, once filled with chatter and laughter, now only had dim streetlights and a few scattered students hurrying by, seldom exchanging words.

Lolan Hill pondered over the reason. Perhaps it was due to the recent conflicts and mergers between clubs, which made students feel anxious and uneasy, reducing even the number of those who would venture out for activities. On usual weekends, many students enjoyed gathering by the lake, barbecuing, playing music, and expressing their feelings to one another.

The teachers and sages in the campus had always been the stabilizing pillars in everyone’s hearts. Unfortunately, these pillars now seemed transparent, as if they did not exist, ignoring and neglecting the current situation. This loss of security made the students feel vulnerable. Although they were all powerful Extraordinary Beings, most were still young and had yet to fully grow and strengthen themselves.

At this moment, perhaps it was only through forming groups that students could find mutual security. She thought so. Currently, there were hardly any students in the academy who chose to go solo; instead, they all sought to join clubs. It was rumored that ‘The Black Veil’ had also expanded its membership because of this.

How detestable.

Lolan Hill had always been a person with a good temper and rarely got angry. But this time, she genuinely felt dislike and disgust.

Lagertis’s diary revealed many past events to her, the happiness and sorrows, gatherings and partings of the witch seniors. Across millennia, they should have been companions and friends, but due to various reasons, they became enemies, turned against each other, and even killed each other, leading to such tragic endings.

If Dorothy hadn’t died, Lagertis probably wouldn’t have ended her own life out of loneliness. Night Mistress had never left the observatory in all these years, even without explaining anything. It wasn’t hard to guess that she harbored insurmountable obstacles and obsessions in her heart.

Now, with that witch returning, it might be to seek revenge for past grievances. With the already scarce witches no longer helping and being friendly to each other, but instead turning hostile and engaging in killing, it truly was heartbreaking.

Lolan Hill entered the corridors inside the fortress and looked at the ceiling adorned with green-leaf-wrapped flower chandeliers. Unconsciously, she recalled the scene of meeting Attadis in the hallucinations of the diary. That benevolent senior witch,

, she took care of her companions like an elder sister, bringing warmth and comfort like a summer’s day.

Perhaps if Attatis were still alive, the witches wouldn’t have fallen apart later.

She didn’t know what Dorothy had discovered in the ruins back then or what kind of research and dissemination she had done, which made the sages so wary, leading Night Mistress to completely turn against her former friends and strike them down. Later, the situation spiraled out of control, and the witches began to develop rifts among themselves.

Logic told her that perhaps Night Mistress also had her reasons for acting as she did, but emotionally, Lolan Hill still felt a bit pained. She disliked sad things and preferred a happy ending.

Tragedy might be stunning and beautiful, but she still favored plain and warm happiness.

Click, the key was inserted into the lock, turned, and opened the door to the secluded corridor.

The dormitory still had a faint yellow candle burning inside. Lolan Hill walked into the room and closed the door behind her.

“I’m back.”

“Welcome back, Lolan.” Curti sat up from the bed, still a bit groggy, but her expression was quite happy.

“How did Curti sleep?”

Lolan Hill walked over and gently hugged Curti’s head, feeling the warmth of her red hair and back. Although they hadn’t been apart for long, in Lagatis’ diary, she felt as if she had gone through a century.

“Sleep well, Lolan~”

Curti also stretched out her arms and hugged Lolan Hill around the waist, saying in a muffled voice.

“That’s good.”

Lolan Hill let go of her arms, sat back down on the bed, and asked, “What would you like to eat tonight, Curti?”

“Anything is fine, I love whatever Lolan makes.”

“Curti is so silly.”

“No, Lolan actually called me silly, waaah.”

“No, actually Curti is very cute.”

“Really?”

“Really.”

After getting to know each other better, Lolan Hill found it easier to interact with Curti. Sometimes, the simple Curti even made her want to tease her a little.

But she still had to restrain herself; after all, if Curti got angry, she wouldn’t be able to handle it.

“Curti, I’ll teach you how to cook.” Lolan Hill started bustling around in the kitchen (laboratory).

“Okay, Lolan, what are we eating today?”

“Let’s have something light today.”

“Wouldn’t it be better to boil some fruit and then stew some meat?”

“In fact, when you’re not sure how to handle an ingredient, boiling it in water is usually a safe bet.”

“But didn’t Lolan say that many things will dissolve if cooked for too long?” Keti’s eyes revealed her confusion.

“At least it’s better than burning it to ashes. Keti, let’s learn step by step.” Lolan Hill, wearing an apron, raised the ladle and said.

“Mm-hm.” Keti nodded beside her and continued peeling potatoes.

As the sounds of ping-pong and flames echoed in the laboratory, their dinner slowly began.

—

Five days later, in the ‘Black Water Lily’ activity room.

“Why isn’t Lolan here?”

There were quite a few people gathered in the activity room, including several club presidents from the last meeting, as well as representatives from some smaller clubs.

Bumansa, dressed in a cheerful dress with white and olive green stripes, stood in front of the desk explaining, “Lolan went out to gather raw materials. She is currently developing a potion to counteract the effects of the ‘Black Veil’ spell.”

“How is the progress?” Kuuye, the president of the ‘Snow Country Evergreen’ club, asked eagerly. He was dressed in white, with only the cuffs and collar decorated with emerald leaves.

“Lolan said she has made some headway, but is still missing some materials,” Bumansa relayed the information Lolan had entrusted to her.

“What kind of materials does she need? Our natural sequence club has ample reserves and can provide Lolan with ample assistance,” Red Sail responded. Igli, Atati, and Ling also agreed.

“This, we can make a list when Lolan returns, but there’s no need to worry. She said most of what she needs has been arranged, she just lacks some key materials and is negotiating with others.”

“That’s good to hear,” Ling replied briefly. Although this winged girl was beautiful, her style was always so cold.

“Since Bumansa and Lolan have said so, we can wait and see,” Igli said gently, a sweet smile on her face.

“How about everyone sets up a meal sometime? Recently, more and more clubs want to join our alliance, it’s time to establish some rules.”

When she said this, the other guests in the activity room turned their hopeful eyes toward Bumansa, the neighborly girl from a common background, who felt a sense of pressure and responsibility this time.

(End of Chapter)