Aetheric Chronicles: Reborn As An Extra

Chapter 62: Morality, Reality, Returning

I collapsed on my knees, gasping for breath. "Huff... Huff..."

I still couldn't quite grasp what had just happened. The vision had felt so real, so vivid, that it left me shaken to my core. I thought I died for real, since the pain...

But then, it hit me. That was just a vision, right? I hadn't really been stabbed. I was still alive, and the mage was defeated. Yet, the memory of the dagger piercing my heart lingered, leaving a chill down my spine.

As I caught my breath, another question surfaced in my mind. Did I really just... kill someone? The reality of my actions began to sink in, and a wave of guilt washed over me.

But then, I remembered why I had to do it. The threat the mage posed, the danger he would bring if left alive... I had no choice, did I?

Still, the weight of what I had done hung heavy on my conscience. I wasn't a killer, or at least I didn't think I was. Yet, here I was, standing over the lifeless body of another human being.

'Was it really necessary?' a voice in my head questioned. 'Could I have found another way?'

No, was he a human to begin with? I denied the idea.

I shook my head, trying to dispel the doubts that nagged at me. There was no time for regrets or second-guessing now. Aurelia and the others were still waiting back at camp, and who knew what other dangers lurked in the forest? I knew I had to return quickly.

I pushed myself to my feet, my muscles aching from the exertion of battle. With a deep breath, I turned away from the mage's lifeless body, forcing myself to focus on the task at hand.

As I made my way back through the dimly lit cave, the events of the battle replayed in my mind, each moment etched into my memory with vivid clarity. The taste of adrenaline still lingered on my tongue, mingled with the metallic tang of blood.

Despite my victory, a sense of unease gnawed at me. I couldn't shake the feeling that I had crossed a line, that I had become something I never wanted to be. But as the saying goes, desperate times call for desperate measures.

I emerged from the cave into the cool night air, the moon casting its silvery glow over the forest. With a heavy heart, I began the journey back to camp, my mind consumed by conflicting emotions.

When I finally reached the campsite, the others were still lying on the ground, unconscious.

Thankfully, I was beginning to feel fine since I drank a few health potions. Now, I need to bring my sister and others into the camp. The outside was still cold and most of them were probably drained of Aether in the battle. And their bodies still weren't strong enough to endure the night chill. Not for long.

I knelt down beside Aurelia, gently lifting her unconscious form into my arms. She was lighter than I expected, her breathing steady but shallow. I carried her to the nearest tent made her group, knowing she needed rest and warmth.

Once I laid her down inside, I covered her with a blanket and tucked her in, making sure she was comfortable before stepping back outside. The others still lay scattered around the camp, their bodies motionless in the pale moonlight.

I couldn't do this alone. I needed help to get everyone to safety and tend to their injuries. With a sense of urgency, I made my way to my own tent, where my only remaining group member, Ardel, lay.

"Ardel," I said, shaking him vigorously. "Wake up, buddy."

Ardel stirred, groaning softly. "Hmmm... I-Is it morning... already?" he mumbled, his voice thick with sleep.

"Not quite," I replied, shaking him more vigorously. "We've got work to do. Help me get everyone into the tents."

"Hmm? What are you talking about?" Ardel asked, his voice still heavy with sleep and confusion.

"No time to explain," I replied urgently, grabbing him by the shoulders and shaking him. "Just get up and help me."

With a bewildered expression, Ardel stumbled out of the tent, blinking in the moonlight. "What's going on?" he asked, still trying to make sense of the situation.

"We'll talk later," I said, cutting him off. "Right now, we need to get everyone into the tents. It's cold outside."

"R-Right... It's cold." Ardel nodded, his confusion evident, but he followed my lead without further question. Together, we worked quickly to gather the unconscious students and carry them to the safety of the tents.

As we laid them down inside, Ardel's expression shifted from confusion to concern. "What happened out there, Adrian?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper. "Why are they all unconscious and not waking up?"

I paused, considering what to tell him.

"I... I don't what exactly happened, but I think there was a battle. I left at night to do something and when I came back, I saw everyone lying on the ground. There were signs of battle, but what confused me was there was no blood or physical injury on them. Anyway, then I realized a problem, there was no aether protecting their bodies so I decided to bring them to tents.

And you know the rest." I decided to lie, about the part I was watching everything happen and doing nothing (not that I could do much).

I also decided to keep the part where I fought with the root of the incident, the injured mage from him. From everyone.

Ardel nodded slowly, his expression grave. "I see..."

"W-wait? How come I didn't wake up then? I am sure there must have been a lot of noise?" He suddenly asked, probably from himself.

"Haha, maybe you are too deep of a sleeper, the type who sleeps even in an earthquake. Haha!" I joked, trying to lighten the mood.

"Hey! I'm nothing like that!" Ardel chuckled, the tension in the air dissipating slightly. "I woke up when you shook me, didn't I? Anyway, what are we gonna do now?"

"Well, prepare for morning, what else?" I replied with a smile. "Let's get started."