Aetheric Chronicles: Reborn As An Extra

Chapter 125: The Legend Of Eternal Rings

Adrian and Aria exchanged bewildered looks, unable to comprehend how they could have possibly won when they hadn't even managed to remove the rings.

"But... how?" Adrian asked, his voice tinged with confusion.

The old man smiled enigmatically. "The rings chose you," he explained cryptically. "That's why you won."

Adrian and Aria exchanged another glance, their minds swirling with unanswered questions. But before they could inquire further, the old man started speaking.

"These rings are not ordinary," the old man continued, his voice low and mysterious. "They are rare artifacts, once wielded by a legendary couple Awakeners whose love was said to be as timeless as the stars themselves."

Adrian and Aria listened intently, their curiosity piqued by the old man's words.

"These rings hold great power," the old man continued, his eyes shining with a hidden knowledge. "They were forged in the fires of ancient magic, imbued with the essence of love and destiny."

Adrian and Aria exchanged a glance, their minds reeling with the implications of the old man's words. Rare artifacts, imbued with ancient magic... It was almost too fantastical to believe.

"What kind of power do they possess?" Adrian asked, his voice filled with wonder.

The old man smiled knowingly. "There are many legends surrounding these rings, but two of the features I have the knowledge of are their ability to protect the wearer from harm once a day and their capacity to reveal the true intentions of others."

Adrian and Aria exchanged another glance, their minds racing with possibilities. Protection from harm and the ability to discern truth... It was a formidable combination indeed. It might become overpowered when used at the correct time. Not to mention, these were just two functions of them.

"And as for the legend of the rings and the ones chosen by them," the old man continued, his voice taking on a solemn tone. "It is said that only those who are truly meant for each other can wield the power of these rings. They are a symbol of destiny, a testament to the eternal bond shared by two souls."

As the old man's words hung in the air, Adrian and Aria exchanged a meaningful glance, their minds buzzing with the weight of the legend they had just heard. The idea that they were somehow chosen by these ancient artifacts, meant to wield their power together, was both thrilling and daunting.

Their eyes met once again, and for a brief moment, time seemed to stand still. In that silent exchange, they both felt a surge of emotion—a fluttering in their hearts, a quickening of their pulses.

Are we meant for each other? The thought flickered through their minds like a bolt of lightning, electrifying and undeniable.

But before they could dwell on it further, their faces flushed with heat, and they quickly looked away, their gazes dropping to the ground as if seeking refuge from the intensity of their thoughts.

Adrian opened his mouth to speak, to dismiss the old man's words as nothing more than fanciful tales spun from ancient legends. But when he turned to where the old man had been standing, there was no one there. The stall was empty, the rich velvet curtains billowing gently in the breeze as if the old man had never been there at all.

Adrian's heart skipped a beat, his mind reeling with disbelief. Had they imagined the whole encounter? Or had the old man simply vanished into thin air, leaving behind nothing but the echo of his cryptic words?

Aria's voice broke through the silence, her tone laced with uncertainty. "Did... did he just disappear?"

Adrian nodded slowly, his mind still struggling to make sense of what had just happened. "I... I think so."

They exchanged another glance, their eyes reflecting a shared sense of bewilderment. It was as if they had stepped into a world of illusion and mystery, where anything was possible and nothing was as it seemed.

However, the rings were still in their hands, which meant they couldn't have imagined the encounter. The rings were real, and so were the words of the old man.

"These rings..." Aria began, her voice trailing off as she turned her hand to observe the glinting gold band. "What should we do with them?"

Adrian considered for a moment, his thoughts racing. "Well, if what he said is true, they might be valuable beyond measure. And if they truly have the powers he described, they could be incredibly useful. Besides, we can't remove them anyway, so let's continue wearing them."

"Hmm..." Aria nodded in agreement, glancing at the ring on Adrian's hand and then hers.

However, neither of the two talked about the legend behind the rings again. They were afraid it would become too awkward.

"Do you want to go somewhere else?" Adrian asked as they left the Treasure Hunt Pavilion.

"...Let's return to the academy," Aria replied after a bit of thought.

"Ok." Adrian nodded and hailed a carriage asking the driver to take them to the Celestial Arcane Academy.

The ride back to the academy was a quiet one, both Adrian and Aria lost in their thoughts. The rhythmic clattering of the carriage wheels provided a soothing backdrop as they processed the events of the day. The rings on their fingers, gleaming with a soft, magical light, served as a constant reminder of the mysterious encounter and the old man's cryptic words.

Just after they got out of the carriage and were about to enter the academy, Adrian stopped walking.

"Hey, Aria, can you go on without me, I have something to do urgently. I'll call you for lunch myself." He told Aria who turned over.

"Hmm, ok. But call me when you start cooking, I wanna help you."

"Ok," Adrian replied with a smile and watched as Aria entered the academy.

Then, his smile turned cold.

'Shadow Glide'

With a quick movement, he disappeared from his position. About ten seconds later, he appeared at the corner of the street, behind two people.

"Have you two watched enough?" He muttered coldly, sending showers down upon their spines.