HIATUS//Becoming Lila Rossi

Chapter 8: The Angel's Deception

The door to the nurse's office swung open, and Lila stepped out, her ankle now supported by a sturdy brace and a crutch under her arm. She had executed her plan flawlessly. The hallways were mostly empty, with most students having already rushed to their class. The few who remained in the corridor gave the pair curious glances as they passed by. Adrien, who had left the nurse's office with her, stayed close by her side, his concern evident in his expression.

"How are you feeling?" Adrien asked, his voice gentle and sincere as he looked at her with a mix of worry and empathy.

"Much better, thanks to you," Lila replied, her voice dripping with sweetness as she gave him a grateful smile. The moment her words left her lips, the system beeped, causing the stillness of the corridor to deepen. The usual background noise of footsteps and murmurs faded away, leaving an almost surreal silence. A holographic screen appeared before Lila, its interface glowing softly as it displayed the next message.

"Congratulations, you have successfully completed your second mission. You have earned another reward point. Please select your upgrade."

Lily's heart raced with a mix of anticipation and excitement as she gazed at the screen. Her eyes danced over the list of available upgrades. The options ranged from increased charm to enhanced perception, but what caught her attention was the Angel Aura. She tapped on it with a decisive touch. The system's interface responded immediately, scrolling through a series of dazzling animations before settling on her choice. A soft, ethereal light enveloped her, casting a gentle glow that seemed to make her appear more serene and approachable.

"The Angel Aura is active. You will now be perceived as an innocent and kind-hearted soul."

With the world frozen around her, Lily took advantage of the brief pause to strategize her next move. As she observed the eerie stillness of the hallway, she mentally reviewed her plan. The soft glow of the Angel Aura made her feel both powerful and vulnerable. "Alright," she murmured to herself with a mischievous glint in her eye, "now to get Adrien to accompany me to the headmaster's office." Her mind raced with possibilities. She imagined how the newfound aura would influence her interactions. The system's upgrade had promised she would be seen as innocent and kind-hearted, a stark contrast to her usual persona.

Lily knew that this aura would provide her with the perfect cover. "If I play my cards right," she thought, "Adrien will be so focused on helping me and being concerned for me that he won't question my motives." She rehearsed her lines in her mind, visualizing the perfect blend of vulnerability and charm. Her plan was to use Adrien's genuine concern to navigate the school's hierarchy and extract what she needed without revealing her true intentions.

A new mission notification materialized on the system's interface, its words glowing with a faint, pulsating light. The screen shimmered with a soft, ethereal glow as the message appeared:

"Get Adrien Agreste to accompany you to the headmaster's office to retrieve your school schedule. Do so without revealing your true intentions."

The message hovered before her, each word pulsing gently as if inviting her to consider her next steps carefully. The notification was accompanied by a visual representation of her mission progress, with a progress bar showing her achievements thus far. Lily's excitement bubbled beneath her calm exterior. She watched the glowing words, feeling a thrill at the clarity of her new objective. The challenge was clear, and she was ready to use her new upgrade to its fullest potential.

Time resumed its normal flow, and Lila leaned heavily on her crutch, carefully maintaining her delicate façade. Her eyes widened with a touch of vulnerability as she looked up at Adrien. Her face was a perfect blend of fear and gratitude. "Could you help me get to the headmaster's office?" she asked, her voice wavering just enough to sound genuinely in need of assistance. "I need to get my schedule, but I'm not quite sure where it is."