Group 5 consisted of me (Lucien), three boys, and one girl who was clearly a noble. Her family's crest was proudly displayed on the collar of her uniform. The boys, on the other hand, seemed to be commoners, much like myself.
I could feel the subtle distance the three boys kept from the girl. The tension from the earlier confrontation between nobles and commoners still hung in the air, and the boys seemed unsure of how to act around her. As awkward silence loomed, I knew I had to break the ice.
"Once again, my name is Lucien. I come from the Fraction of Thaidia. Nice to meet you all!" I said with a friendly smile, making sure to meet everyone's eyes.
Despite my efforts, the atmosphere remained tense. The boys exchanged glances but stayed quiet, while the girl with the noble crest barely looked at me, her expression hard to read. I noticed her pink ribbon—perhaps a way to spark conversation.
"That pink ribbon looks really nice on you," I commented, hoping to ease the tension.
She blinked, surprised, her gaze finally meeting mine. For a moment, I saw a flicker of warmth in her eyes before she quickly composed herself. She gave a slight nod.
"Tha… thank you," she replied softly.
"I'm Olivia—Isabelle Olivia," she introduced herself, her voice shy but polite. "I'm from the Isabelle household, in Murata, the capital city of the Southern Plains."
The boys nodded, acknowledging her name, though they still appeared hesitant to engage fully.
"Nice to meet you, Ms. Olivia," I responded, addressing her formally to suit the situation.
Recalling what I knew from the game, I tried to keep the conversation going. "Murata, huh? I've heard it's beautiful down there, with vast plains and fields."
Olivia's expression softened slightly as she nodded, her eyes brightening. "Yes, it is. Very peaceful, with the beauty of nature and endless stretches of fields."
"Sounds like a wonderful place," I added, trying to keep the mood light.
"Y-yes, it is," Olivia replied, her voice quieter now, as though lost in fond memories.
Isabelle Olivia... In the game, she was a minor NPC, not a key character—much like Lucien. But seeing her now, I realized she had more charm than I'd expected. Her brown hair, tied into twin tails with pink ribbons, gave her an innocent, almost adorable appearance. Her voice... it was surprisingly gentle, rivaling that of the key characters.
"My name is William. I come from the Junction of Mangol, the capital city of the Northern Highlands," one of the boys finally spoke up, breaking the silence. His voice was strong and confident, matching his appearance.
William stood tall, his well-built physique fitting the image of someone from the Northern Highlands. His short black hair was neatly cut, and his stern black eyes gave him a focused, no-nonsense look. He seemed like the kind of person who took everything seriously.
"My name is Xing. I come from the Coastal Sector, raised in the Junction of Nanchang Province. Nice to meet you all."
Xing had a cool, collected demeanor. His toned physique and sharp, alert expression made it clear that he was always ready for action. Despite his relaxed posture, there was an energy about him that hinted at his readiness for a challenge. Unlike the others, he didn't hail from a capital city, which set him apart.
"My... name is Omar. I come from the Western Borderland," Omar said quietly, his voice barely above a whisper.
Omar was shorter and more timid than the others, his eyes nervously shifting around the group. A large scar on his left cheek immediately caught my attention—it hinted at some harsh experience from his past.
"Omar, that's impressive! Growing up in the Western Borderland must have been tough," I said, offering him an encouraging smile.
Omar blinked, clearly surprised by the compliment. Slowly, a shy smile spread across his face. "Th-thank you," he stammered, his posture relaxing just a little. He still seemed hesitant but less nervous.
With everyone having introduced themselves, it felt like the tension between the three boys and Olivia, the noble girl, hadn't quite lifted. I could sense their unease around her—probably unsure of how to interact with someone of noble status. Olivia, for her part, seemed to hold back, not quite sure how to bridge the gap either.
I decided to break the awkwardness by asking more questions. Getting to know them better would help. Xing mentioned he didn't received his Eureka yet, but he was confident in his martial arts skills.
William, Omar, and Olivia, however, had already received their Eurekas. Interestingly, both William and Omar had been granted the Sand Class Eureka, allowing them to manipulate sand. It was a versatile element, useful for both offense and defense. William seemed proud of it, while Omar, more reserved, simply nodded along, still shy.
Olivia, on the other hand, had the Water Class Eureka. She spoke about it with calm confidence, explaining how the water element gave her the ability to control its flow and adapt to different situations.
Each of them had great potential, and I could see how, with more training, their Eurekas would grow even stronger.
As for me? Well, I'd have to find another way to become stronger. I didn't have a Eureka or any special combat skills, but what I did have was my intellect—and the knowledge of the game.
With Lucien's memories merging with mine, I now had an edge. I could navigate this world better than most—predict certain events, uncover hidden paths, and avoid unnecessary pitfalls. For now, my priority was gathering information, especially about my classmates. Knowing their strengths and weaknesses would give me an advantage, whether it was to form alliances or steer clear of potential conflicts.
And speaking of conflicts, I hadn't crossed paths with the class bully yet. But I already knew who it was—Khan Ali, the infamous troublemaker. From what I remembered, he wouldn't make his move until the official term started next week. That's when he began his reign of terror.
Given his nature, someone like me—or more specifically, like Lucien—would be a prime target. In the game, Wade, the protagonist, would usually step in to protect those being bullied. It was one of his defining traits.
While that might be reassuring, I didn't want to rely on Wade. I didn't want to be seen as weak, the type of person who needed saving.
"Luc... Lucien!"
Olivia's voice jolted me from my thoughts. I blinked, suddenly aware of the ringing bell as students began to leave the classroom. She stood near my desk, her expression a mix of concern and confusion.
"Oh... sorry, I didn't hear the bell," I muttered, hurriedly gathering my things.
"You seemed really deep in thought," Olivia said softly, her eyes flickering with curiosity.
"Yeah, just... thinking about a lot of things." I glanced around the room, noticing the other three boys had already packed up and were ready to leave.
"See you three on Monday!" I called out with a wave as I stood up.
The three boys nodded back at me before heading out of the classroom. Olivia, however, was still waiting by my desk.
"Uh... Ms. Olivia, aren't you leaving?" I asked, noticing she hadn't moved.
"Is it alright if we... leave together?" Olivia asked softly, her voice trailing off. She looked down for a moment before adding, "I'm not really familiar with the city…"
Her uncertainty caught me off guard. Olivia, a noble, was asking me for help? For a second, I hesitated, unsure of how to respond. This wasn't something that happened in the game—or at least, not to Lucien.
"Of course," I said, giving her a reassuring smile. "I don't mind at all."
She looked relieved, her tense expression softening slightly, and I felt a sense of responsibility rise within me.
"By the way, are you staying in the school dorm?" I asked, trying to keep the conversation going as we began walking out of the classroom.
"Ah... I'll be staying at my father's friend's place," Olivia said. "I haven't visited it yet since I just arrived in the city this morning and went straight to the entrance ceremony."
"That sounds like a hectic day," I replied, trying to imagine what it must have been like for her. "Arriving in a new city and jumping right into things... I'm surprised you're handling it so well."
Olivia smiled slightly, her gaze shifting to the path ahead. "It's been... overwhelming, to be honest," she admitted. "I've never been away from home before, and everything here is so different."
"Well, if you ever need help with anything, feel free to ask," I said.
"I may not know everything, but I will try my best."
Her eyes flickered toward me, a glint of appreciation in them. "Thank you, Lucien. I really appreciate that."
"HEY!! What do you think you're doing with the young lady?!"
A booming voice cut through the air just as we stepped out of the school building. I turned toward the source of the voice and saw a man rushing toward us. His face was set in a stern, protective glare, and judging by his formal attire, he could only be one person—Olivia's butler.
Before I could react, Olivia quickly stepped forward.
"Wait, Arnold, it's fine!" she called out, her voice firm but calm. The man, who I now knew as Arnold, slowed his approach, though his suspicious eyes remained locked on me.
"Miss Olivia," Arnold said, bowing slightly as he came to a halt in front of her. "I was told to escort you to Mr. Jacob's estate, where you will be staying, as your father instructed."
I could see Olivia's expression shift slightly, perhaps a mix of unease and acceptance. She nodded, understanding the formalities of her position.
Jacob. So that's where she would be staying. I don't really know who that was, but he was probably someone important, likely a noble as well. It wasn't surprising—her father, being a noble, would have those kinds of connections.
"Lucien," Olivia said, turning back to me, her eyes softening again, "thank you for walking with me. I... appreciated the company."
"It was no trouble. I'm glad I could help," I said, though Arnold's watchful gaze was still on me, like I was some unpredictable variable in his carefully controlled world.
Arnold cleared his throat, clearly ready to take charge again. "Miss Olivia, we should leave. The car is waiting."
Olivia turned back to me, offering one last small smile before heading toward the car with Arnold.
It certainly seemed that way. I returned her wave, watching as the car disappeared down the road. Turning, I began making my way back home. Something about Olivia's expression had shifted when she heard Jacob's name—it seemed like her mood darkened, if only for a moment.