The Exalted Prince Lives Again-Chapter 52: A Curveball

August 8th, 1513; 14:50 hrs;

The western gate of the Lumen Academy.

Lucien was closing in on the western gate, donning a matte velvet silk shirt and midnight black trousers.

Paired with his polished black boots and his sharp appearance, Lucien looked neat.

Selene had messaged him after the call to wear something casual, but this was the best he had.

Any less than that and it would not feel like a date anymore.

Just as he took the final turn, he noticed that Selene was already standing there, leaning on the guard post, waiting.

She looked beautiful, wearing her white, frilly shirt with powder-blue denim trousers and a brown heel.

She had light makeup on, along with a ponytail, which made her look sleek, pretty, and high-class.

"Sorry for making you wait," Lucien apologized, reaching her in measured steps.

He kissed the back of her hand politely.

She also greeted him, raising an imaginary hem of an imaginary skirt, and spoke, "Don’t apologize, I was just early."

Lucien nodded.

"How would we go somewhere, though?" Lucien spoke, concerned, "All my privileges were taken away after ’that’ happened."

He rolled his eyes, and Selene immediately understood.

"We can hire a taxi, but first," She took out two masks from her purse. "Wear this."

Lucien nodded and wore it without saying a word.

A literal Prince cannot be out in the open with his face bare for everyone.

They scanned their IDs on the gate’s scanner and got out.

To Lucien’s surprise, a sleek black sedan with tinted glass was already waiting for them outside.

Selene had already prepared for them, it seemed.

Lucien took the lead and opened the door for her, then entered from the other side after ensuring she was comfortable inside.

"Take us to Billy’s on 137th Ave," She ordered.

The driver nodded professionally, and the car started moving.

"So," Lucien spoke, "What’s the plan?"

Selene turned around excitedly and asked, "Do you like bowling?"

Lucien shrugged, "I... don’t hate it."

To be honest, old Lucien did like bowling, but sucked badly.

And as for him, he only knew about bowling from his memories.

"Great." She clapped, moving back to her seat.

"We would first go bowling, then shopping, and finally, I have booked a dinner on a boat in the middle of a lake."

Her tone was elated, narrating her plans excitedly.

But on the other hand, Lucien felt a bit guilty.

"I should’ve planned that for you instead." He spoke, his tone monotone.

"..."

"Hehe!" She chuckled silently, her hands demurely covering her mouth.

"Don’t sweat it, silly." She spoke, still giggling, "I have been here for 6 months. Consider this a treat from your senior."

"I... guess, if you put it that way." Lucien bobbed his head awkwardly.

"Exactly. Don’t mind."

After that, Selene slid a bit closer to Lucien, albeit still not touching physically, and started to show him the venues she had booked for them.

The lake, the boat dinner, and so on.

137th Avenue was quite far from the academy, so it took them over 30 minutes to reach their destinations.

They stepped outside the vehicle, and the cab left for the parking lot.

Selene had booked the cab for the entire day, so the driver just had to wait in his car and drive a bit to get a massive payday.

Standing in front of a rather modest building, Selene and Lucien looked up at the board.

"Let’s head inside, shall we?"

...

Rattle! Clatter!

The clatter of the pins, the scent of the cheese popcorn, and the excited shouts of others filled the cozy underground bowling alley beneath Billy’s.

It was quite unusual.

Too mundane for someone of their status, but they were excited.

Lucien stood in front of their lane with a ball in his hands.

Or at least struggling to figure out how this damn ball even works.

His fingers felt weird in the holes, and Lucien was borderline convinced that the ball was cursed.

Selene was sitting behind, stifling her laughter, at seeing the funny scene in front.

A prince, a Lumen Academy cadet, wasn’t able to properly hold a bowling ball.

"You can do it, Lucien." She encouraged him from behind, but her teasing voice betrayed her words.

"I am trying," Lucien said, deadpan, annoyed that something like this was holding him back.

"You’ve survived Ingestion, Lucien," She whispered loud enough for only Lucien to hear. "Don’t let something like this defeat you."

’I can’t tell if she’s simply teasing me or genuinely trying to encourage me.’ He brooded, his eyes serious, trying to figure out the ball.

"I’ve trained with swords, not giant orbs of damnations." He sounded pissed.

’Damn it all.’

Lucien inhaled sharply, took two stiff steps back, and swung his hands,

Clunk!

The ball was on its way to a strike, but in the middle of it all, it suddenly turned.

A gutterball.

"Pfft!" Selene held back her chortle, trying hard not to just burst out laughing.

"The lane is cursed."

Pfft! Hah! Umph!

"Ple-ase, Lucien, don’t." She broke out even harder, her belly aching because of it.

Lucien glared at her, "You’re enjoying this way too much."

He took out a ball and gave it to her. "Why don’t you give it a try?"

"You bet." She took the ball and made her way to her lane.

"Watch and learn, Your Highness."

One step, two steps, and throw.

It was an effortless curve and,

Crash!

All ten pins down.

Strike!

Lucien looked at her, mildly betrayed.

"Witchcraft." He mumbled.

"Indeed," She answered, "I am a finger witch."

She joshed, wiggling her fingers with a grin.

...

By frame six, Lucien had scored a total of seven points.

Not in one round.

In total.

Meanwhile, Selene was approaching a perfect game.

She didn’t gloat (much), but every time Lucien nearly hit a pin, she’d gasp exaggeratedly, acting like Lucien had achieved a new form.

"I hit one," Lucien announced proudly, watching the 7-pin wobble and fall.

"I should call the news reporters." She teased yet again.

"You’ll regret mocking my inability to bowl, Selene." He glared with mild shame.

"It’s not that," She chuckled, wiping a tear from her eyes, "It’s the fact that how diligently you try, even though you suck."

"It’s called Perseverance, a skill very important to every Exalt." He tried diverting the topic.

’And I don’t like losing.’ He mumbled under his breath, but Selene heard it all.

"It’s okay, Your Highness, everyone has something they suck at." She consoled him, but it didn’t feel diligent at all.

"What about you then?" He questioned, "What do you suck at?"

Selene locked her eyes with him, a grin forming on her pretty face, "Why don’t you find out by hanging out with me, Your Highness?"

Lucien suddenly sobered up a bit, a chuckle escaping his lips, "As I thought,"

"You are bold."