Aetheric Chronicles: Reborn As An Extra

[ A/N: The day to confront the past has finally come! If you waited for it (which I did), then here it is. ]

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After Adrian and Ren's match ended, the individual combat competition continued with the senior years' matches.

Since Adrian didn't have any events left for today, he left the Arena and started returning to his dorm.

As Adrian left the bustling arena behind, he felt a familiar presence trailing him. He didn't need to look back to know who it was. Instead, he continued walking, his steps measured and purposeful, until he reached a secluded spot away from prying eyes and ears.

He stopped in a quiet, deserted courtyard, the tall walls providing a sense of isolation. The evening sun cast long shadows, creating an almost surreal atmosphere. Adrian stood still, waiting, his senses heightened as he felt the presence approaching.

After a few moments, he heard the soft footsteps drawing nearer. Without turning around, he spoke in a calm, steady voice. "Long time no see..."

There was a brief silence, filled only by the gentle rustling of leaves in the breeze.

"...Sister."

Then, a soft, stunned gasp reached his ears. Aurelia stood just a few steps behind him, her expression a mix of surprise and emotion. Hearing the word "sister" from Adrian, a word she hadn't heard from him in a long time, left her momentarily speechless.

Adrian turned to face her, his eyes meeting hers. He saw a myriad of emotions reflected in her gaze—relief, surprise, longing. For a moment, they simply stood there, taking in the sight of each other, the months of separation and silence hanging heavily between them.

"Long time no see... big brother," she finally replied, her voice trembling slightly with emotion.

Adrian felt a surge of emotions welling up inside him—relief at finally acknowledging her as his sister again, guilt for the months of distance, and a deep, unspoken bond that had never truly faded. He took a deep breath, trying to steady his tumultuous feelings.

"It's been long, right?" he said softly, his voice thick with emotion. "Come with me. Let's find a place to sit and talk."

Aurelia nodded, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. She followed him silently as they made their way to a quiet bench tucked away in a corner of the courtyard. They sat down, the weight of unspoken words hanging in the air between them.

"Before you ask anything, is your Master acting as a judge right now?" Adrian asked, his voice serious.

Aurelia who didn't know what to say looked at her brother in confusion but nodded nevertheless.

"I see..." Adrian muttered.

"Did you meet with Aunt Margery yesterday?" Adrian asked again.

"...Yes," Aurelia replied surprised how he knew about it.

"I met with Uncle Gerald and found out about her also coming. And it wasn't hard to figure out her going to meet you since she always treated you as her daughter." Adrian said as if reading Aurelia's mind.

"Then... You probably want to talk about 'that' day, right?" Adrian asked once more. "The day we awakened..."

Aurelia looked at her brother from the corner of her eyes, her gaze filled with a mixture of hesitation and longing. The day of their awakening was a memory that haunted both of them, a day that had changed their relationship and lives. She took a deep breath, feeling the weight of the past pressing down on her.

"Yes," she finally admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "I've wanted to talk about it for a long time. But... I couldn't find the courage..."

Adrian nodded, understanding the significance of this moment. "Me too..." "

"It's been a heavy burden to carry alone." He said in a sincere voice. "But now we can speak."

'But we need to hurry...'

"Ask anything you want to ask. I will answer them as honestly as possible." Adrian said looking Aurelia in the eye.

"...Why... Why did you do that? Why did you say those words? Why did you act like that?" Aurelia's voice grew strained, tears streaming down her face. "I didn't recognize you that day, Adrian. The brother I knew would never have pushed me away like that.

I was so hurt and confused. All this time, I've been thinking... Did you truly hate me? Did I do something to make you upset? Why did you shut me out? Why...

Why..."

Adrian felt a pang of guilt and sorrow as he watched his sister's tears fall. He reached out and gently wiped a tear from her cheek, his touch soft and comforting.

"Aurelia, I never hated you," Adrian said softly, his voice filled with regret. "I'm sorry for what I did back then. It was the best choice I could think of at that time... I'm truly sorry..."

He hugged his sister, holding her close as she sobbed into his shoulder. He patted her back gently, his touch reassuring. "You haven't changed, crybaby," he teased softly, trying to lighten the mood a bit.

Aurelia managed a weak laugh through her tears, feeling a sense of warmth and comfort she hadn't felt in a long time. "I'm sorry," she whispered, noticing the wet spot on his clothes where her tears had soaked through.

Adrian chuckled softly, shaking his head. "Don't worry about it." He hugged her again, this time more gently, allowing her to snuggle into his arms. He felt her relax, her tears subsiding as she took in the familiar comfort of her brother's embrace.

After a few moments, Adrian gently pulled back, looking into her eyes. "I owe you an explanation," he began, his voice steady. "That day, our awakening, was supposed to be a joyous occasion. But things didn't go as planned."

Aurelia listened intently, her eyes still glistening with tears but filled with a need for understanding. Adrian took a deep breath, gathering his thoughts.

"Our family's legacy, our powers, come with a heavy responsibility. When I awakened, I saw something... something that made me realize the dangers we would face. I saw a vision of a future where our bond, our closeness, could be used against us. I saw us being manipulated, torn apart by those who sought to exploit our powers."

Aurelia's eyes widened in shock and confusion. "What? What do you mean?"