NOVEL NEXT Chapter 100: Growing Up
"Ah, what are you doing here?" the man said. His voice was sharp and suddenly filled with annoyance rather than surprise.
Lucius stared at him and then at Luna.
Same hair color.
Same eyes.
Same bone structure, even.
It was obvious who this man was the moment Lucius laid eyes on him.
'What are the odds…?' Lucius thought. 'Is my luck really this bad?'
He knew from the novel who this man was.
While Luna's parents lived in a city far from Aurelion and Northcrest, she still had an older brother.
Not just any older brother either — this man was Luke Keller, lead scientist of a research lab in Aurelion, and the inventor of something that had changed the world.
Back in the academy arc of the novel, Lucius remembered, a new device had been revealed.
A machine meant for the wealthy, for people who hadn't awakened powers. It was supposed to give them a fighting chance.
It wasn't flashy like a spell or as powerful as true awakened combat, but it was revolutionary.
The Cybersuit.
And right now, Luke Keller was standing here, wearing one in full display although Lucius guessed it was a prototype.
"Ah, Big Brother," Luna said brightly.
Her eyes lit up as she smiled at him, ignoring his cold tone. "I came with Lucius to—"
"Save it. I don't want to know." Luke cut her off, not even letting her finish.
Luna's smile shook, but only for a moment. She quickly stepped aside to make way, moving out of the doorway.
Luke stormed in without a glance back, his footsteps were, like the floor itself should get out of his way.
Lucius sighed in his head.
'Damn this novel and its complicated relationships.'
It wasn't like Luna had a bad relationship with her brother.
She loved him, he cared for her deep down, but his way of showing it was… well, rude. It was as if every word he spoke had to stab before it landed.
Still, Lucius knew something else from the novel.
Luke Keller might look like a terrible brother, but he was protective to a fault. Which meant one thing for Lucius — he had to expect attempts on his life any day now.
Soon after, they got into the car. Lucius started driving them back home.
"So… do you want to talk about your brother?" Lucius asked. He knew a lot about Luke already, thanks to the novel, but Luna didn't know that he knew.
He had to act like he was learning.
"Well, what do I say?" Luna shrugged.
She didn't even look bothered.
Her eyes were glued to her phone, fingers moving fast across the screen.
She was probably sketching out new drone designs already. "My brother has been rude to me for as long as I can remember. It started when I moved out. But I'm still glad he's alright. If he's grumpy, it means he's healthy."
Lucius chuckled.
He couldn't help it.
Her logic was strange, but it was also… comforting. She wasn't weighed down by her brother's attitude. If anything, she seemed at peace with it.
He relaxed.
He didn't have to worry about her heart being heavy. She was stronger than he thought.
Then his eyes widened.
A car suddenly veered off the highway ahead. The screech of tires filled the air as the vehicle swerved wildly and heading straight for them.
Lucius gritted his teeth.
The car was aiming directly for his passenger side. Worse, there was a car right behind them, too close for him to reverse.
He didn't hesitate.
He expanded space around them, bending the world with his power. The enemy car barreled forward, but instead of crashing into them, it lifted, as if pulled up by invisible hands.
Metal groaned and twisted as the vehicle soared into the air like a toy tossed by a child.
Then, the driver's seat swung open.
A man tumbled out, rolling through the air before slamming onto the ground. He groaned, staggered to his feet, and somehow managed to stand.
Lucius held the suspended car steady with his power, lowering it softly to the side of the road.
His focus then shifted to the man who had fallen out.
The stranger looked young, maybe early twenties. His glasses were crooked on his face. His shirt was wrinkled, his breathing heavy like he had been drinking.
He swayed as if every step might send him crashing down again.
But his eyes locked onto Lucius.
"Lucius von Hohenberg… I hate you!" he shouted, his voice shaking with both anger and drunken slurs. "You stole my girlfriend!"
Lucius blinked.
Even Luna froze in her seat.
"…What?" Lucius muttered flatly.
This guy looked like he had crawled straight out of a comedy skit.
'More importantly,' Lucius thought dryly, 'how the hell did he see through my tinted windows?'
He stared at the man for another second, then sighed. Without another word, He pressed his foot to the gas and drove off.
What was this novel even about at this point?
The drunk man's shouts faded behind them.
Clowns like that weren't worth the effort.
…
"What do you mean Elara isn't here?" he asked sharply when Villy appeared to greet him.
The maid stood in her neat gown, her expression calm as always.
"Lady Elara had a raid mission to do today," Villy reported smoothly. "It is her first time raiding. The people she is raiding with are experienced. You don't need to worry."
Lucius froze.
His hand still rested on the doorframe.
Then, slowly, he raised his other hand and brushed at the corner of his eye, as if wiping away a tear.
"Ah, Villy… give me the details now," he said, voice thick with emotion.
Inside his head, he was dramatic.
'My baby… my baby is finally growing up. Sprouting her wings. Leaving the nest.'
It was too much.
He needed to check on her immediately and see if she was doing well, and if these high ranking people were truly high ranking.
'Guess another thing is added to my schedule.' He thought.