The cafeteria of Abyssal Hall was nothing short of luxurious, with towering obsidian pillars, enchanted chandeliers dripping with ever-shifting colored lights, and rows of tables laden with decadent als. Despite the grandeur, the air buzzed with the typical chaos of students jostling for their places and chatting animatedly.
Liria followed Enara, keeping a careful distance as the princess wove her way through the crowd.
"Is it always this loud?" Liria muttered.
[Observation: Excessive noise levels detected. Recomnd noise-canceling spells.]
Thanks for the suggestion, Captain Obvious, Liria thought sarcastically.
Enara turned her head slightly. "Stay close. The cafeteria is where the wolves co out to play."
"I can handle a few overly entitled kids," Liria said, though she stayed on high alert.
As they reached the serving counters, a trio of girls stepped into their path, blocking the way. They were impeccably dressed, their uniforms tailored and embellished with crests flaunting their noble lineage. The leader, a tall girl with golden horns and piercing green eyes, looked Liria up and down with a disdainful sneer.
"Well, well," the girl drawled, her voice dripping with venom. "If it isn't the princess and her little human pet."
Liria's grip tightened on her tray, but she kept her face impassive.
"What do you want, Velira?" Enara asked, her tone cold and detached.
Velira smirked, clearly enjoying herself. "Just curious why our dear princess is associating with... that." She gestured toward Liria as if she were pointing at a piece of trash. The two girls flanking her giggled.
Liria could feel the tension rising, but she remained silent. She'd dealt with worse back in her old world.
Velira leaned closer, her smile turning cruel. "You know, Enara, it's embarrassing to see soone of your stature lowering herself. A human has no place here. They're weak, insignificant, and—"
"That's enough."
Enara's voice cut through the noise like a blade, sharp and unyielding. Velira froze, her smirk faltering.
Liria blinked, surprised by the intensity in Enara's expression. The princess stepped forward, placing herself squarely between Velira and Liria.
"Let make sothing clear," Enara said, her voice low but lethal. "Liria belongs to . She's my guard, my responsibility, and my choice. If you have a problem with her, you have a problem with ."
The cafeteria fell silent as Enara's words echoed through the space. Even Velira seed montarily stunned.
"And trust ," Enara added, her midnight eyes glinting dangerously, "you don't want to make your enemy."
Velira's composure cracked, and she stepped back, muttering sothing under her breath. The trio quickly retreated, their laughter replaced by awkward silence.
[Analysis: Enara's territorial instincts are unusually strong. Recomnd caution when interpreting her intentions.]
Yeah, thanks for the heads-up, Liria thought, suppressing a small smirk as she trailed behind Enara into the VIP section of the cafeteria.
The difference between the main dining hall and the VIP area was night and day. While the regular cafeteria was opulent, with polished obsidian floors and enchanted chandeliers, the VIP zone seed like an entirely separate realm. The tables were carved from ebony wood, inlaid with shimring runes that pulsed faintly with protective magic. Each chair was cushioned in deep red velvet, with gold filigree accents gleaming under the light. The ceiling here was an illusion of a starry night sky, complete with occasional shooting stars streaking across its expanse.
Liria eyed the setup with mild disbelief. "This is where you eat lunch? Seems… excessive."
"It's where I deserve to eat lunch," Enara replied, her tone making it clear she thought the question was ridiculous.
Before Liria could respond, a server approached—a demon woman dressed in a sleek black uniform adorned with the sigil of Abyssal Hall. Her skin shimred with a faint opalescence, and her horns were polished to a mirror-like shine. She bowed gracefully.
"Princess Enara," the server said, her voice soft and lodic. "It's an honor to serve you. What may I bring for your lunch today?"
Enara barely glanced at the woman. "The usual. And make it quick."
The server nodded and turned to Liria, her gaze appraising but professional. "And for your guest?"
"Just bring whatever's easy," Liria said, waving a hand dismissively.
The server hesitated, her brows furrowing slightly. "We don't serve 'easy' here. Might I suggest the grilled hellfire salmon, paired with charred bloodroot vegetables? Or perhaps the starfall pasta with aetherial sauce?"
Liria blinked. "Uh… sure. The pasta, I guess."
With a nod, the server disappeared through a shimring curtain, her movents as fluid as water.
Enara leaned back in her chair, smirking. "You're hopeless."
"I don't know how to order fancy demon food," Liria muttered. "Sue ."
When the food arrived, Liria couldn't help but stare. The starfall pasta was a work of art, the noodles glowing faintly as if imbued with starlight. The sauce shimred like liquid silver, and it was garnished with delicate purple flowers that gave off a faintly spicy aroma. Beside it, a crystal goblet filled with an iridescent drink was placed, the liquid swirling with colors that shifted like a kaleidoscope.
Enara's dish was equally extravagant: a slab of perfectly seared at that glowed faintly with magical energy, surrounded by an array of vegetables carved into intricate shapes.
Liria poked at her pasta cautiously. "Is this safe to eat?"
Enara rolled her eyes. "If it wasn't, do you think I'd be eating it?"
"Fair point."
To Liria's surprise, the food was delicious. The pasta was light and flavorful, the sauce rich with a hint of sweetness that balanced the spiciness of the flowers. The drink, though suspiciously glowing, was refreshing, tasting like a blend of citrus and sothing she couldn't quite place.
[Analysis: Nutritional content optimal. Magical properties detected. Recomnd consuming regularly to enhance recovery rates.]
Glad you approve, Liria thought, rolling her eyes internally.
After finishing their al, they left the VIP section, stepping back into the bustling main cafeteria.
As they made their way toward the exit, Liria felt a familiar prickle at the back of her neck. She turned her head slightly and spotted him Rikan Blackthorn.
The demon boy was leaning against a pillar, his arms crossed and a smug grin plastered across his face. His jagged horns cast sharp shadows under the cafeteria's magical lights, and his crimson eyes glead with misplaced confidence.
"Ah, Silverthorn," Rikan said, pushing off the pillar. "Fancy seeing you here."
Liria rolled her eyes. "Let guess you're here to make another pointless speech about how I don't belong?"
Rikan smirked. "No speeches this ti. Just a friendly reminder that your victory back in the training grounds was pure luck. Humans don't have the strength to survive in a place like this."
"Is that so?" Liria asked, raising an eyebrow.
[Subject: Rikan Blackthorn.
Level: -2.
Status: Overconfident.
Threat Level: Laughable.]
"Pretty sure I beat you fair and square," Liria continued. "Or do you need to remind you?"
Rikan's grin faltered, but he quickly recovered. "You got lucky. Next ti, I won't go easy on you."
Enara stepped forward, her midnight eyes narrowing. "Rikan, are you really this dense? Liria could beat you blindfolded. I suggest you walk away before you embarrass yourself."
Rikan hesitated, his bravado wavering under Enara's glare.
Liria sighed, stepping in front of Enara. "Relax, Princess. Let handle this."
She leaned closer to Rikan, lowering her voice. "Listen, I get it. You've got sothing to prove. But here's the thing you're way out of your league. So why don't you save us both so ti and walk away?"
For a mont, Rikan looked like he might argue, but sothing in Liria's tone or perhaps the cold certainty in her eyes made him hesitate. He muttered sothing under his breath before turning and walking away, his shoulders tense.
[Analysis: Conflict avoided. Probability of future encounters: 98%.]
"Great," Liria muttered. "He's going to be a recurring problem, isn't he?"
Enara smirked. "Welco to Abyssal Hall."
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