Aetheric Chronicles: Reborn As An Extra

After a few moments, Aurelia finally managed to compose herself, pulling back from the embrace with reddened cheeks. She quickly wiped away the remnants of tears with the back of her hand, a faint blush coloring her face as she realized how emotional she had become in front of everyone.

"S-sorry about that," she mumbled, straightening her uniform with slightly trembling hands. "I just... I really missed you." Discover hidden tales at empire

Her embarrassment drew soft chuckles from their friends, lightening the heavy atmosphere that had settled over the room. Even Aurelius couldn't help but smile, though his eyes still held a shadow of concern as he watched the siblings.

"We should let Adrian rest now," Lila suggested, placing a gentle hand on Aurelia's shoulder. "He's been through a lot, and recovery takes time."

The others nodded in agreement, offering their well-wishes and promises to visit again soon. One by one, they filed out of the room, Aurelia giving her brother one last lingering look before allowing herself to be led away by their friends.

Only Aria remained, standing near the doorway as silence settled over the room like a delicate veil. Her hands fidgeted with the hem of her sleeve, a habit she thought she had long since overcome when he returned.

The question that had been burning in her mind since Adrian's return now threatened to suffocate her: What if he didn't remember her either? What if all their shared moments, all the times they had supported each other, had vanished like morning mist?

She opened her mouth to speak, then closed it again, uncertain. What could she possibly say that wouldn't sound selfish or demanding? He needed rest, time to heal, space to recover his memories—if they could be recovered at all.

"You should rest," she finally managed, her voice softer than she intended. "Recovery is the most important thing right now."

Adrian nodded, that same polite, distant expression on his face that he had worn throughout the earlier conversations. "Thank you for your concern," he replied.

As she turned to leave, his voice stopped her. "And... thank you," he added, causing her to look back at him. "For catching me when I was falling. And... I apologize if I haven't met your expectations since then."

The words hit her like a physical blow, though she managed to maintain her composure. There was something in the way he said it—something that felt both familiar and utterly foreign, like a beloved melody played in the wrong key.

"Don't worry about it," she responded with a subtle nod, proud that her voice remained steady despite the storm of emotions in her chest. Then she stepped out, closing the door behind her with a soft click.

For a long moment, Aria remained there, leaning against the cool wood of the door, her eyes closed as she tried to process everything that had happened. The Adrian who had returned to them was both the same and completely different from the one they had known. The careful way he spoke, the measured responses, the diplomatic distance he maintained—it all felt deliberate, almost practiced.

Opening her eyes, she straightened up, a determined set to her jaw. Whatever had happened to Adrian during those harrowing moments they couldn't reach him, whatever had caused this change in him—she would uncover the truth. While he focused on recovery, while they all waited to see if his memories would return, she would piece together the puzzle he had become and the truth behind his fall.

Her fingers brushed against the ring she wore—and her resolve strengthened. She hadn't always been good at solving mysteries, but she was at least good at seeing the patterns others missed. This would be no different. She would find out what really happened, what caused this change in him, and maybe, just maybe, find a way to bridge the distance that now seemed to stretch between them like an endless chasm.

With one last look at the closed door, Aria straightened her shoulders and walked away, her footsteps echoing in the empty hallway. The afternoon sun streaming through the windows cast long shadows on the floor, and somewhere in the distance, a bell tolled, marking the passage of time that seemed to flow differently now that Adrian had returned—changed, distant, but alive.

And for now, that would have to be enough.

_____

After everyone had left, Adrian remained motionless in his bed for several long moments, his gaze fixed on the door where Aria had just departed. Slowly, he turned his attention to the window, watching as the afternoon light painted golden patterns across the academy grounds.

"Enter," he spoke softly into the seemingly empty room.

For a heartbeat, nothing changed. Then, as if reality itself had frozen, the shadows in the room deepened and time seemed to halt. The dust motes hanging in the sunbeams stopped their dance, and even the gentle flutter of the curtains stilled to unnatural stillness.

A figure materialized before him, emerging from the shadows like ink bleeding through parchment. It was a woman, tall and graceful, dressed in flowing dark robes that seemed to merge with the shadows themselves. Her face was concealed behind a elegant veil, with only her eyes visible—eyes that held wisdom beyond mortal years.

Adrian's lips curved into a small, knowing smile. "It's good to see you again, Nanny Safiya."

The woman bowed her head slightly, her movements carrying an otherworldly grace. "It's good to see you as well, Young Master," she replied, her voice carrying the warmth of countless memories. "Though I wish the circumstances were different."n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

His smile remained, but his eyes grew serious. "Tell me everything I need to know."

The shadows in the room seemed to deepen further, as if responding to the weight of the words about to be spoken, while time remained frozen around them like a painting preserved in eternal twilight.

"Alright, let me start from the beginning then..."

"From the moment I left Young Master in the Lighthaven Family..."