Chapter 28: Fragments of the Past

Chapter 28: Fragments of the Past

The academy grounds were eerily quiet the next morning. Aetrial sat under a tall oak tree near the library, her eyes scanning an old book she had borrowed. The text was dense, detailing the complexities of dark magic runes, but her thoughts kept wandering.

Cain’s words last night… What did he mean? Does he suspect something?

She sighed, closing the book and leaning back against the rough bark of the tree. The weight of maintaining her façade was becoming increasingly burdensome, especially with Cain’s growing interest in her.

---

A Curious Lilliana

The quiet didn’t last long. A familiar, bright voice broke the stillness.

“Aetrial!”

She groaned inwardly before plastering on a neutral expression. Lilliana approached her with a cheerful bounce in her step, a basket of flowers in hand.

“What are you doing out here all alone?” Lilliana asked, sitting down beside her uninvited.

“Studying,” Aetrial replied curtly, holding up her book as proof.

“Dark magic, huh? You’re always so serious!” Lilliana said with a laugh. She began weaving the flowers into a crown, her nimble fingers moving with practiced ease.

Aetrial glanced at her and frowned. “What do you want?”

“Why do you always assume I want something?” Lilliana teased, placing the half-finished crown on Aetrial’s head. “There. Now you look less intimidating.”

Aetrial sighed, pulling the flowers off her head and setting them aside. “If you’re just here to waste time, go bother someone else.”

“Fine, fine,” Lilliana said, standing up with a dramatic pout. “But you should smile more, you know. You’re much nicer when you’re not scowling.”

Aetrial rolled her eyes as Lilliana skipped away, leaving her alone once again.

---

A Sudden Memory

As she sat in silence, an old memory surfaced. It was from years ago, back when she—no, he—was still the infamous Aetrial Ranolf, heir to one of the greatest noble families.

The memory was hazy, but she remembered standing in the grand halls of the Ranolf estate, her father’s voice echoing sternly.

“Aetrial, you carry the blood of the Ranolf family. Weakness is unacceptable. You must excel in all that you do.”

She had taken those words to heart, pushing herself relentlessly to meet her family’s expectations. But now, everything felt different. Her identity, her abilities, even her sense of purpose—none of it aligned with who she used to be.

---

An Unexpected Encounter

The sound of footsteps pulled her from her thoughts. She looked up to see Cain approaching, his dark figure cutting a striking silhouette against the bright morning light.

“Studying under a tree? How quaint,” he remarked, stopping a few paces away.

Aetrial narrowed her eyes. “What do you want now?”

“Just passing by,” he said smoothly, though his smirk suggested otherwise. His gaze flicked to the discarded flower crown beside her, and his eyebrows rose in mild amusement. “Didn’t peg you as the flower type.”

“It’s not mine,” she snapped, quickly shoving the crown into her bag.

Cain chuckled, taking a seat on a nearby bench. “You’re quite defensive today.”

Aetrial huffed, trying to refocus on her book, but his presence was impossible to ignore.

“Tell me, Aetrial,” Cain began, his tone turning curious. “What drives someone like you? Is it ambition? Duty? Or something else entirely?”

She froze for a moment, his question catching her off guard. “Why do you care?”

“I find you... intriguing,” he admitted, leaning back with a relaxed smile. “You’re not what I expected.”

“And what did you expect?” she asked, her voice laced with irritation.

Cain’s smirk deepened, but he didn’t answer. Instead, he stood and gave her a slight bow. “I’ll leave you to your studies—for now.”

As he walked away, Aetrial watched him, her thoughts a tangled mess.

---

In the Shadows

Cain returned to his quarters, his sharp crimson eyes reflecting a trace of curiosity. The moment he stepped inside, the shadowy figure appeared, bowing deeply.

“My lord,” the figure intoned, “the Ranolf heir continues to behave unpredictably.”

Cain walked to the window, gazing at the fading light outside. “Unpredictable is an understatement,” he said, his voice thoughtful. “Aetrial Ranolf—he carries himself like a completely different person. The pride and arrogance once associated with his name are absent.”

The shadow shifted slightly, its head tilting in contemplation. “His mannerisms… they are almost too refined for someone with his history. It’s as if he—”

Cain cut him off, his tone sharp. “He’s hiding something, yes. But more than that... there’s a peculiar softness to his presence now. It doesn’t align with what I’ve observed in the past.”

The shadow hesitated before adding, “Could it be an act, my lord? A deception?”

Cain’s lips curled into a faint smirk, though his eyes remained thoughtful. “If it is, it’s a flawless one. But no one can hide forever—not from me.”

He turned, his crimson gaze piercing through the darkened room. “Continue observing him closely. I want to know everything—every interaction, every moment. There’s something buried beneath that calm demeanor, and I will uncover it.”

The shadow bowed once more before melting into the walls. Cain lingered at the window, his expression unreadable.

“Aetrial Ranolf,” he murmured, his tone laced with curiosity. “What is it you’re so desperately trying to conceal? I’ll find out soon enough.”