"Doors closing. Please mind out the way." The recorded voice of the elevator announced before shutting its doors, hiding those inside from the outside.
Lillian stood inside the elevator beside the tall, black-haired woman who had magically manifested herself as a pair of headphones out of nowhere. She folded her arms, leaned against the wall of the elevator, and gazed at her phone - bobbing her head at it at what Lillian assumed to be music.
None of them spoke a word to each other. Not like they need to.
'So awkward!' Lillian thought. She looked over her missions again and couldn't help but feel it was just a bit too much for a first mission! Befriend the Heir of one of the most well-known noble families? The villainess at that!
She steeled herself and turned towards Marionette, unexpectedly met by her red crimson eyes staring intently at her. Her eyes narrowed on her figure, and she looked her over.
Lillian felt like a rabbit that was face to face with a cautious yet curious hunter. She shrunk a little, losing a bit of her confidence already. However, she reminded herself that—
'You're a 24-year-old woman inside, Melissa! Don't get intimidated by someone who's about six years younger than you!'
Just as she was about to hopefully start a conversation with the tall beauty, she was suddenly shocked at the fact that Marionette was the first to start it.
"Do you perhaps go to Louis Mana Academy?"
"E-eh? Y-yes!"
'She initiated it first!?'
Marionette nodded at Lillian's answer, satisfied, before saying vaguely:
"I get lost easily."
"... Okay...?"
"Is that a yes or a no?"
"Huh?"
Lillian stared at her with a raised brow. That was then she finally came to the realisation that 'She's terrible at expressing herself!'
Lillian thought back to how the player community thought of this trait of her. They all found it quite funny whenever she had her screen time. Even Lillian found it a bit endearing.
"Are you perhaps asking me if I can lead you to the academy?"
Marionette took off her headphones and gave a small nod before pushing herself off the wall.
"That's included in what I am asking of you."
"Huh? Then what do you—" Before she could finish her sentence, the elevator trembled a bit before its voice soon appeared.
"Ground Floor. Doors opening. Please mind out the way." The elevator announced, followed by the opening of the doors. Marionette stepped out before looking over her shoulder, "Well?"
Lillian broke out of her stupor, moved to her side, and began to make her way out to the exit of the luxurious apartment complex. She gave a few curious glances towards Marionette.
'Is she ever this social...? Wait, is she actually bad with directions? Actually! Is she the type to be late!?'
Lillian pulled out her phone and checked the time.
It was 7:50.
She clutched her head, panicking inside that she would be late. This panic of hers soon dissipated as soon as she exited the building and gazed at the outside world. (10)
Just like her old world, this world, too, had its own technological advances, bringing it to the modern era. Although rare, skyscrapers tall enough to reach the clouds existed in this world.
As well as...
"Is that an aircraft?"
She placed her hand just above her eyes before narrowing her eyes at the large object in the sky that looked like a warship plucked out of the water and given the ability to fly.
Its underside had several tilted plates, mimicking the scales of what Lillian could remember to be a dragon.
She pondered on the reason why before remembering that, 'Oh right! These are the creations of the Church of Weathering Skies, aren't they?'
The Church of Weathering Skies worships one of the four creatures that represent the Four Cardinal Directions—specifically, the Azure Dragon.
"Ah~... I guess that explains why it has scales..."
PAT PAT PAT
"Hm?" Lillian looked to her side to see Marionette gesturing for her to get in... a Limousine?
"Get in."
"Huh? Are we not walking there?"
"That's at least a thirty-minute walk from here. Even if we ran, that's not enough time. Now get in."
Marionette grabbed her by the arm and began to pull her towards the long, black car. Lillian couldn't help but widen her eyes in surprise, "B-but why are you bringing me along?! Didn't you just want me to show you the academy?"
"Hm? Since when did I say that?" Marionette looked over her shoulder, her hair flowing over her shoulders majestically and her eyes staring deeply at her.
Her face froze like a doll; she felt unfeeling to Lillian a bit.
"I want you to be my guide just in case I get lost." She nonchalantly explained, shocking Lillian even further.
'... Is she always like this, or did her being real change how she is!?'