Aethernea : Soulbound [Book 1]

Episode 145 - Reunion

Previously:

Friday, the last day of Muni entrance exams, Special exam. Examiners give Kiel a final artifact, whose enchantment he doesn't need to replicate but to just draw out. However, Kiel finds that the enchantment is too small and he can't sense it clearly with his mana sense. While Kiel is stressing out, Elaru can feel his panic and wants to help him, however, the anti-cheating contract they had signed prevents them from communicating. So she comes up with an idea to break it as a part of her special exam and shocks the trio of old men with her ability. After breaking her contract she realizes that Kiel no longer needs her help and a backlash of Kiel's actions hits her. After the appearance of the headmaster Eruan Arite, she finally manages to break away from the trio of shameless old men, leaving the classroom.

* * *

Without further ado, she erased her presence, wrapping herself in her mind cocoon and layers of invisibility. She had just flown several meters down the corridor when her entire vision turned dark.

Episode 145 – Reunion

Her mana vision blurred in front of her eyes, her mind turning foggy.

She stopped to lean on the wall.

The corridors were strangely empty. Strangely quiet.

In the deathly silence, her labored breathing was especially audible.

Even the dripping of her blood could be heard clearly, as it rolled down her chin onto the floor.

With her back pressed against the wall, she slid down onto her behind.

This time, she didn't bother to wipe away the trickling blood.

Instead, she reached into her pouch, fumbling through it for some time before her trembling fingers managed to take out a bottle of pills.

She flicked the cork out and stuffed a handful of pills down her throat as if eating candy.

Then she just sat, with her eyes closed, taking in deep breaths.

Her mana vision had cleared up, once again revealing the bloody red flower of flames staring at her from deep underground. Without an eye or a pupil, even for Elaru it was difficult to tell the focus of its attention.

But right now, she could feel its gaze clearly. It was almost prickling her skin.

"Those pills can only lessen the symptoms, not treat the cause." A disembodied emotionless voice whispered inside her head. "Forceful activation of Aethernea has destabilized your vessel."

Elaru let out a long sigh before speaking out into thin air. "Can you fix it?"

* * *

Elaru blinked her long black eyelashes furiously. As if trying to blink away sleep, to blink away the moisture in her eyes blurring her vision. She didn't think of whether her blinking would be effective. It was just a natural instinct of a person whose bright world had suddenly turned dark. An instinct to blink the darkness away.

As her own reflection became crystal clear in front of her eyes, her fluttering eyelashes finally calmed down.

She stared at the black shiny surface that was so clear it could have just as well been a mirror.

For a moment she thought that something went haywire, for the face looking back at her wasn't quite the same as she remembered it. It was paler than usual, looking even paler due to the faded markings on her face. Their usually deep black color was washed out, fading out, almost blending with her skin.