Aetheric Chronicles: Reborn As An Extra

My and Emeric's gazes clashed for a few seconds, then with a cold 'tch,' Emeric left the cafeteria, clearly displeased at seeing me, with Aria no less. But I didn't give a damn at his pathetic display of his emotions. He should be thankful that I saved his ass.

Ignoring Emeric, Aria and I took our trays and picked out our food before finding a free table to sit down. The cafeteria was bustling with students, the chatter and clatter of dishes creating a lively atmosphere. As we ate, my mind wandered back to the recent events surrounding Rowan, the Dream Stalker.

Last week, Rowan's interrogation and trial ended. His actions of using his ability to control his classmates and other students, including his own little brother Emeric, had been discovered. The investigation had revealed even more heinous crimes he had committed behind the scenes in the city—extortion, blackmail, and even illegal business with the black market.

The evidence was overwhelming, and Rowan had been sentenced to 25 years in prison. To ensure he couldn't use his ability to escape or cause further harm, they had bound his aether with special chains, effectively cutting off his powers. It was a fitting end for someone who had caused so much suffering.

What made me satisfied was he was caught earlier and punished accordingly. After all, in the novel he managed to keep himself safe for about another two years after barely getting out of the situation.

Right, he used his little brother - Emeric as the scapegoat. Since Emeric already had bad blood with Aurelius and with Rowan pulling the strings from behind, it was Emeric who was sentenced to prison for 20 years. His fate after that was unknown. After all, he should be still in prison when the novel was ongoing.

Anyway, now my actions have changed the plot, it will definitely affect the future. But I am relieved that Lyra won't have to be another victim of Dream Stalker and end up being the most powerful villainess.

But it is laughable that it was she who escaped from the control of Rowan and beat him at his own game in the novel.

Haha, readers were really surprised and intrigued by that twist.

"Adrian?"

Ah-! Shoot, I was too engrossed.

It was Aria's voice that brought me back to the present.

"Are you okay? You seem lost in thought." She said after I snapped out.

I shook my head slightly, clearing my mind. "Yeah, sorry."

Aria stopped eating and looked at me. "Were you... thinking about that girl?"

Eh, where did this come from?

"No, why would I think about her?" I replied. Hmm... Wait, did the ring in her hand vibrate just now?

Don't tell me she used the lie-detecting effect of the ring just now... Then...

"I was reminded of Rowan after seeing 'him'," I decided to be honest.

"Ah, him, huh..." Aria nodded and continued eating.

"..."

It seems like it is hard to understand women in this world as well...

I get she might have been jealous, but her sudden question threw me off balance. I didn't think she would actually use the lie-detecting ring just to check my thoughts about another girl. Maybe she didn't trust me completely yet. Or it was her personality I have yet to see till now.

"I know her."

"Hmm?" What is she talking about again?

"I know her master as well."

Hmm... Is she talking about the story behind them?

"Ok, let's talk about it later," I said since there were a lot of ears around us and this was a sensitive topic.

"Alright."

________ ___ __

After dinner, we went straight to the dormitory and then to my room. I grabbed some snacks and drinks to pass the time more comfortably.

Aria took a sip of her drink before starting. "If you know, Rhea's master, Veda Silverbloom, is known by the title 'The Enchantress of Elixirs.' About 10 years ago, she was one of the most revered alchemists on the continent. Her potions were said to work miracles, and her knowledge of magical herbs was unmatched. Many people sought her out for help, and she never turned anyone away."

I nodded, already knowing some of this, but letting Aria continue uninterrupted.

"But everything changed when she took on a disciple," Aria said, her voice growing more somber. "Her disciple was a young woman named Liora. She was brilliant, talented, and had a natural affinity for alchemy. Veda was proud of her, and it seemed like they were a perfect match. However, things started to go wrong."

Aria paused, her expression cold. "Liora grew ambitious, too ambitious. She wanted to surpass her master, Veda, and was willing to do anything to achieve that. It was found out that she started experimenting with forbidden techniques and ingredients, pushing the boundaries of what was safe and ethical. Veda tried to rein her in, but Liora did not listen."

The room seemed to grow colder as Aria continued. "One day, during one of her forbidden experiments, something went horribly wrong. There was an explosion in Veda's laboratory, and Liora was caught in it. It is rumored that she survived but was left horribly disfigured and her magical abilities were crippled. Veda was devastated, blaming herself for not being able to control her disciple."

I listened as the story painted a tragic picture of ambition gone awry. "What happened to Liora after that?" I asked.

"She disappeared," Aria said quietly. "Some say she went into hiding, too ashamed to face anyone. Others believe she might have joined a dark alchemical group, hoping to find a way to restore her lost powers. No one really knows for sure."

Aria sighed, her expression sad. "Veda never took on another disciple after that. She retreated from the public eye, focusing only on her work. When she finally accepted Rhea as her apprentice, it was a huge surprise to everyone who knew her. Many were skeptical, thinking she would never trust another student again."

I leaned back, absorbing the story. "That explains why Rhea seemed so unsure of herself," I said. "She must feel a lot of pressure, trying to live up to such a legacy while knowing what happened to her predecessor."

Aria nodded. "Right. But I'm sure Master Veda must have seen something special in Rhea to take her on despite everything."

Of course, after all...