"Lightning..!" Charlotte exclaimed, her voice filled with power and excitement. The sparkles around her grew brighter, intensifying with each passing moment. The air around her crackled with electricity, and Lucien could feel the hair on his arms standing on end.
"Wave!" she shouted, her voice ringing out like a thunderclap. Suddenly, a massive bolt of lightning surged forth from her outstretched hands, taking the form of a towering wave that roared toward the nearby forest. Lucien could feel the intense heat radiating from the electrifying blast.
The lightning wave crashed into the trees, setting them alight in a blaze of flames that consumed everything in their path. Leaves crackled and burned, and the scent of smoke filled the air. Lucien could only stand there in shock and awe, marveling at the incredible power of Charlotte.
The lightning wave was like nothing they had ever seen before. It crackled and hummed with an intensity that seemed to fill the entire courtyard. The air grew thick with the smell of ozone. The windows on the balcony shattered with a deafening boom, sending shards of glass flying in all directions. People in the canteen scrambled to get out of harm's way, some even dropping their plates and glasses in their rush to escape.
"Run!"
"It's a fourth-tier spell!"
"Guard! Where's the guard?"
As the lightning wave dissipated, the onlookers were left in stunned silence. They had never witnessed such raw power before, not even from the student from the School of Sorcery. Even the mage who had been eating in the canteen were left speechless, their mouths hanging open in disbelief. It was clear that what Charlotte had just cast was no ordinary spell.
"Is it one of the professor's spells? Otherwise, how could it have been so destructive?"
"Obviously, no student could have cast such a powerful spell, but why would a professor be eating in the student canteen?"
"Perhaps the food at the professor's lounge tastes terrible??"
"Why are you discussing food at a time like this?!"
...
Charlotte exhaled a deep breath, her body still tingling with the remnants of power. The sensation was familiar, but the intensity of the spell was something she had never experienced before. As she turned around, she saw Lucien staring at her in disbelief. She couldn't help but feel a little proud of herself.
Without hesitation, she ran towards him with swift and graceful steps, her heart racing with adrenaline. When she reached him, she threw her arms around him, holding him tightly. For a moment, all she wanted was to share her joy with him, to thank him for allowing her to embark on a new path.
As she held him, Charlotte felt a warmth spreading throughout her body, one that was unfamiliar yet comforting. She pulled back slightly and looked into Lucien's eyes, seeing them in a new light. The intensity of the moment made her heart race, and she realized that the attraction she felt toward him was undeniable. The electricity from her magic still lingered in the air, creating an atmosphere of passion and possibility.
At that moment, Charlotte felt a sudden surge of affection toward Lucien. Even though she previously hated him and detested him, today was different. He became her savior, and she began seeing him in a different light.
"L-little sister..." Charlotte heard a stutter behind Lucien, causing her to turn her head slightly. As she peeked through the gap in Lucien's arm, she saw her supposed elder sister, trembling all over. The woman was covering her mouth in shock, and there was a trace of dread within her eyes.
Charlotte's eyes, which were previously filled with affection, turned cold all of a sudden as she noticed her sister's presence. With a light nod, she responded, "Sister Isabella." She gently pulled her hug back and turned to face her sister head-on, her expression now guarded and cautious.
"Y-you can cast magic spells?" Isabella stammered, her eyes wide with disbelief as she looked at Charlotte. Her sister had always been the quiet, reserved one, and Isabella had never even imagined that she might have the ability to use magic.
Moreover, Charlotte was expected to remain a mere mortal, incapable of using magic, as she had failed in numerous attempts to awaken her Arcane Nexus. The Arcane Nexus served as the foundation of a mage's power and acted as a cornerstone in determining their magical aptitude, which also served as the basis of determining mages' level of talents. The higher the aptitude, the greater the potential for talent.
If Charlotte failed to awaken her Arcane Nexus, it meant that she was born without any magical talent, and she had no hope of ever becoming a mage. The question remained: how was she able to cast such a powerful and destructive spell that was only reserved for an Elite Mage?
Was the sun rising from the west today?
Charlotte responded with a calm and casual nod. "Just now," she said, her tone devoid of any excitement or surprise. It's just like she was talking about the food she just ate for breakfast.
The casual tone of her voice almost drove Isabella to a state of berserk.
"Just now?" she repeated incredulously, unable to contain her disbelief. "You mean to tell me that you only awakened your Arcane Nexus recently and were instantly able to cast a fourth-tier spell?! Are you freaking kidding me?"
"Yes, and to be more precise, I just awakened a few minutes ago," Charlotte replied, a broad smile spreading across her face. It seemed as though she was relishing the twisted emotions displayed on Isabella's face.
"A few minutes ago!" Isabella exclaimed in shock. Her face was flushed, like she was experiencing extreme constipation. She was about to say another word when the sound of heavy boots echoed from the direction of the canteen.