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Lucan and Elias were seated on a stone bench near the academy\'s fountain, their conversation inaudible from Maris\'s hidden vantage point. Lucan\'s demeanor was as calm and collected as ever, his posture relaxed, and his gaze steady as he spoke. Elias, on the other hand, appeared more animated, his movements betraying his excitement and nervous energy as he talked.

Despite the physical distance, Maris felt a strange tension as she observed the two of them.

She bit her lower lip, a twinge of unease gnawing at her. Ever since Elias had arrived at the academy, Maris had kept a close watch on him—and on Lucan. The transfer student was an enigma, with his mysterious aura and the ancient guardian spirit that always seemed to hover protectively around him. It was no wonder he had quickly become a subject of curiosity and speculation among the other students.

But Maris wasn\'t merely curious. She knew Lucan was after the fifth map piece, and she had seen the signs of his obsession as he pursued the others. With Elias having one of the map pieces and occupying so much of Lucan\'s time, Maris found herself feeling... neglected.

Maris tried to push the thought away, but the jealousy twisted in her chest, catching her off guard with its intensity. It wasn\'t just about the time Lucan was spending with Elias—it was the sense of being excluded from something important. She had always believed that Lucan trusted her, that she was different from the others, but lately, she wasn\'t so sure.

"What are your plans, Lucan-sama?" she whispered to herself, her voice barely audible in the quiet of the evening.

As if on cue, Lucan leaned closer to Elias, his expression gentle, almost reassuring. Maris\'s eyes narrowed as she watched the subtle interplay between them. She knew Lucan well enough to recognize the signs of his manipulations. Elias was being drawn in, slowly but surely, and Maris could only guess at what Lucan was promising him.

A pang of concern joined the jealousy already gnawing at Maris\'s heart. She shook her head, trying to dispel the unwelcome emotions. This wasn\'t about her feelings for Lucan—at least, it shouldn\'t be. Her concern was for him, for what he was planning, for the consequences of his actions. But as she continued to watch, she couldn\'t deny the growing unease that settled in her chest.

Taking a deep breath, Maris stepped out from the shadows and started toward them. Her footsteps were light, almost hesitant, as she approached. But before she could get close enough to make her presence known, she saw Lucan place a hand on Elias\'s shoulder, his expression one of earnest concern.

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Elias looked up at Lucan, his eyes wide with a mix of emotions—fear, hope, and something else Maris couldn\'t quite place. Whatever Lucan was saying to him, it was having a profound effect. Elias nodded slowly, seemingly coming to a decision.

Lucan stood up, offering Elias a reassuring smile before turning and walking away. Elias watched him go, a conflicted expression on his face, before slipping a hand into his pocket and pulling out a small, ancient-looking scroll. He stared at it for a long moment, then sighed deeply and ran after Lucan.

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Lucan stood alone in the twilight of the academy gardens, the faint glow of the setting sun casting long shadows across the manicured lawns. In his hand, he held the fifth map piece, the edges of the ancient parchment crinkling slightly as he tightened his grip. He had finally acquired it.

Earlier that day, Lucan had successfully tricked Elias into handing over the map piece. The memory replayed in his mind, each word, each carefully crafted sentence designed to exploit Elias\'s naivety. Lucan had played his part well, adopting the role of a concerned friend who only wanted to help.

"Thank you for trusting me," Lucan had said, his voice smooth and reassuring. He had placed a hand on Elias\'s shoulder, his smile warm and genuine. "I promise, I\'ll keep it safe."

Elias had hesitated only for a moment before handing over the piece. At first, he had denied it, but then he ran after Lucan, his face a mixture of uncertainty and relief. He had wanted to believe in Lucan, and Lucan had given him every reason to do so.

Lucan sighed, tucking the map piece into his coat pocket. He knew he was getting closer to his goal. However, in pursuing this goal, he had ignored Maris and the time he usually spent with her. Sometimes, Lucan wondered why he needed to become an Evil Magician, why he needed to become the strongest, why he needed to maintain his reputation, duties, and responsibilities.

Couldn\'t he just abandon everything and live an honest and good life with Maris and his family? However, he couldn\'t. Maris had the duty of killing Evil Magicians, and in this era, there were two. Lucan now had more reason than ever to become an Evil Magician—he needed to do it to help Maris if she ever faced difficulties.

His thoughts were interrupted when he reached his room and found Maris waiting for him. She stood by the window, her arms crossed, her expression unreadable. The last rays of sunlight cast a golden halo around her pink hair, making her appear almost ethereal.

"Maris," Lucan greeted her, shutting the door behind him. "What are you doing here?"

Maris turned to face him, her light blue eyes locking onto his with an intensity that made him pause. "I could ask you the same thing, Lucan-sama," she said quietly, her voice steady but tinged with something unspoken. "Can\'t you just tell me why you\'re collecting these map pieces?"

"I will tell you," he said, "but not now. Just know that these map pieces are important."

Maris wanted to press him further, to demand answers, but something in his tone gave her pause. Reluctantly, she nodded, accepting his words for now.

"Just be careful, Lucan-sama," she whispered as she turned to leave, her voice barely audible. "I don\'t want you to get hurt."

Lucan watched her go. As the door clicked shut behind her, he pulled out the fifth map piece and unrolled it, staring down at the intricate markings. He was closer than ever to completing the map.

Carefully, Lucan folded the map piece and placed it with the others. There were only two pieces left.