Let's Train Heroine

Lucan reached the door to the meeting room and paused, listening intently. The room was empty, just as he had planned. He had carefully orchestrated a diversion earlier in the day, ensuring that all the members of the organization would be occupied elsewhere. With a quiet breath, Lucan pulled a slender metal pin from his pocket and set to work on the lock.

His hands moved with practiced precision, and within moments, the door clicked open.

The room was dark, save for the faint moonlight filtering through a small window. Lucan stepped inside, his eyes quickly adjusting to the shadows. The chest was exactly where he had been told it would be, nestled under a loose floorboard near the center of the room. He crossed the room in a few swift strides and knelt down, carefully prying up the floorboard.

The chest was small and unassuming, made of dark wood with metal bindings. Lucan\'s heart raced with anticipation as he opened it, revealing a piece of parchment nestled inside. He reached in, his fingers brushing against the aged paper. This was it—the second piece of the map that would lead him to the ancient relic, *Eye of Obsidien*

He unfolded the parchment, his eyes quickly scanning the strange symbols and markings. It was only a fragment, but it was enough to confirm the map\'s authenticity. Lucan folded the parchment back up and slipped it into his coat pocket, replacing the chest and floorboard as if nothing had been disturbed.

Lucan stood, taking one last glance around the room to ensure he had left no trace of his presence. Satisfied, he exited the room and quietly locked the door behind him, his mind already racing with plans for the next step.

---

Meanwhile, in a secluded part of the academy, Maris had been keeping an eye on Elina. She had noticed the girl\'s growing interest in Lucan and had no intention of allowing anyone to come between them. Maris had waited for the right moment, biding her time until she could confront Elina without any interruptions.

Elina was sitting alone in the library, her focus on a book she was reading. Maris approached her quietly, her expression calm but her eyes sharp. She stood behind Elina for a moment, watching her, before finally speaking.

"Teacher Elina," Maris\'s voice was soft, but it carried an edge that made Elina look up in surprise.

"Oh, Saint Maris! I didn\'t see you there." Elina smiled, though her expression faltered slightly at the sight of Maris\'s serious demeanor. "Is something wrong?"

Maris took a step closer, her gaze never leaving Elina\'s. "We need to talk."

Elina blinked, confused. "About what?"

"About Lucan-sama," Maris said, her tone dangerously calm.

Elina\'s eyes widened slightly. "Lucan? I—I\'m not sure what you mean…"

Maris leaned in, her voice dropping to a whisper. "I know you\'ve been watching him. I know you\'re interested in him."

Elina\'s face flushed, and she opened her mouth to protest, but Maris didn\'t give her the chance.

"But you see, Lucan-sama belongs to me," Maris continued, her words cutting through the air like a blade. "And I won\'t allow anyone to get in the way."

Elina\'s confusion turned to fear as she saw the intensity in Maris\'s eyes. "I…I don\'t understand…"

"You don\'t need to," Maris said, her voice cold. She reached out, placing a hand on Elina\'s forehead. "You just need to forget."

Elina\'s eyes widened in shock, but before she could react, a soft, golden light emanated from Maris\'s hand. Elina\'s expression went blank, her eyes losing focus as Maris\'s magic took hold. The memories of Lucan, the feelings she had started to develop—everything faded away, replaced by a calm emptiness.

Maris removed her hand, watching as Elina blinked, looking around in confusion. The fear was gone from her eyes, replaced by a vague uncertainty.

"Are you all right, Teacher Elina?" Maris asked, her voice once again soft and gentle.

Elina shook her head slightly, as if trying to clear away the fog in her mind. "I…I think so. What was I doing?"

"You were just reading," Maris said with a reassuring smile. "Nothing to worry about."

Elina nodded slowly, though she still seemed a bit disoriented. Maris gave her a final, reassuring smile before turning and walking away, satisfied that the threat had been eliminated.

As Maris left the library, she couldn\'t help but think about Lucan. She had done this for him, to protect him from any distractions or temptations. In her mind, it was an act of love—a way to keep them together, no matter what.

Maris happily waln back to her room, imagining next day spending with Lucan.

---

Lucan, unaware of Maris\'s actions, returned to his quarters with the second map piece in hand. He carefully unrolled the parchment on his desk, studying the markings by the light of a single candle. His plan was progressing smoothly, but he knew this was only the beginning. The relic was still far from his grasp, and the challenges ahead would only grow more difficult.

But as Lucan stared at the map, a dark determination settled over him. He would obtain the relic, no matter what it took.

In the quiet of his room, Lucan allowed himself a small, satisfied smile. The first heist was complete, and the path to becoming an Evil Magician was slowly unfolding before him.