Aetheric Chronicles: Reborn As An Extra

'Umm... How should I talk to him?' Aurelia thought inwardly as she stood at the opposite of her brother. 'I don't know what to say... Urgh... Where did your courage go, girl?'

'What do I do?'

'Should I ask for an explanation?'

She has recounted what happened at the Awakening Ceremony many times by now. And she still found it unbelievable that her brother was evil or hid his true colors.

After all, she knew he was always sincere when showing and caring for her during their childhood and till that day.

However, she couldn't exactly tell why her brother acted that way, why did he disown her? And why did he even apply to the academy then?

She wanted to talk in the first week and even searched for him throughout the academy. But she couldn't find him anywhere, it was as if he knew it and was intentionally hiding himself from her.

But, when she saw him on the next week. She lost all the courage she had and could only stare at him.

She also sensed something changed about him, he became more distant, not only to her, but to also his surroundings. He also became colder and a little emotionless.

As she watched her brother standing like his new usual self, she couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness at the sight of him. Despite the distance that now separated them, she still harbored a glimmer of hope that they could somehow reconcile and find their way back to each other. Return once how they used to be.

'But first, I need to break this awkward silence between us...'

'Ok, let's do it.'

"Can we start?" 'Big Brother...'

'Huh, did I sound a bit cold? Urgh...'

"Yes." She heard Adrian's cold response. 'No, he was way colder than me...'

'But, it's ok. I will use this chance to show him what I learned these whole four months!' Aurelia took her position while being fueled by determination.

However, as the duel started, one BIG problem arose.

'Urgh... My legs...' Aurelia gritted her teeth as she suddenly started to feel a slow but numbing pain in her legs, causing her movements to become sluggish and uncoordinated. She stumbled slightly, struggling to maintain her balance as she fought against the pain and her brother.

Soon, she found the source of the problem.

'Damn, it's those bitten places.' Aurelia cursed inwardly while still pulling the strings of her bow.

'W-What should I do? Just when I wanted to show him what I learned...'

'N-No, I can't give up. Not yet...'

'But... He must already think I'm weak, right?'

'Yeah, is that why he is only deflecting the arrows, and so effortlessly?'

"Urgh." Being too engrossed in her thoughts, she moved her feet and landed wrongly, resulting in a sudden increase in pain.

"Argh!" At the same time, she heard someone groaning in pain not far from them.

She then heard her brother's voice.

"Let's stop."

Aurelia bit her lip in frustration as her brother called for a halt to the duel. She knew she couldn't hide her pain any longer, and the disappointment weighed heavily on her.

'So he noticed it, huh...'

'What is he gonna do now? Switch me? Probably...'

And as she watched her brother talking with the instructor, her prediction came true.

'He really thinks I'm weak and switch me...'

Her head dropped together with her spirit.

However, Adrian's next words made her eyes widen, and look at him in surprise.

"Why?" The instructor asked.

"Because I found my partner is currently unable to fight in her best form," Adrian answered. "Not only her, but there are quite few students who can't fight now. And I think I already know the reason."

"Oh, care to explain." Instructor Darius asked since he also saw several students lacking compared to other lessons.

"Yes, instructor." Adrian then started explaining the reason. He asked why they were unable to fight. He told me about the Survival Training Course, the test, and the Piras.

"Ah, now it's understandable..." Instructor Darius nodded his head in understanding after Adrian ended his explanation. "Ok, then, listen up students. Those who attended the Survival Training Course and ended up getting themselves bitten by Piras, and now feeling numb at the bitten places, stand in a line on my right side.

Don't try to lie if you weren't bitten, and don't try to continue if you were really bitten. Those who don't do as I say, I will give you a severe punishment. Now, start."

Aurelia listened intently as Adrian explained the situation to Instructor Darius, her surprise growing with each passing moment. She hadn't expected her brother to advocate like this, especially after their strained relationship in recent months.

As Instructor Darius issued his instructions, Aurelia felt a mix of relief and apprehension wash over her. Relief, because she knew she wouldn't have to continue fighting in her current condition, and apprehension, because she wasn't sure if her brother did this for her sake or simply thought it would be a nuisance to fight her like this.

With a heavy heart, Aurelia stepped forward and joined the line of students on the instructor's right side, silently acknowledging her inability to continue fighting in her current state. She couldn't help but feel a sense of disappointment in herself for not being able to live up to her own expectations.

However, as she glanced at Adrian standing beside her, she couldn't help but feel a flicker of gratitude towards him for standing up for her when she needed it most.

'Yeah, it's been always like that...'

'He always notices it but tends to appear he is doing it for his own sake...'

'Hmm?'

'!' Her eyes widened slightly, her mind buzzed as she suddenly thought of that incident.

As Aurelia's mind raced with possibilities, she couldn't shake the feeling that there might be more to her brother's actions than met the eye.

'Could it be...' she pondered, her thoughts swirling with uncertainty and hope. 'T-Then...'

'Back then...'