My Family in the Novel?

Chapter 160: First Act 29: Start

"Ugh…." Evadne slowly woke up, her hand instinctively reaching for her forehead as a throbbing pain invaded her senses.

"You're awake," a voice called out to her, and to no surprise, it was Tristan, who was busy boiling some hot water in the middle of a bonfire.

"Here," Trista handed her a water flask.

"Thanks… How long have I been out?" Evadne inquired.

"Three, no four hours at most. The injuries you got were much worse than I expected," said Tristan as he examined her legs.

Although most of her body was on the road to recovery, her legs and face still needed a bit more attention. Tristan had managed to heal them enough to close the wounds, but the burnt areas required additional care.

"Tsk… I guess that's one way to leave this test."

Evadne slumped back onto the hard ground, sighing in annoyance. Despite her generally positive outlook, she couldn't ignore the severity of her injuries. If she didn't seek the help of a high-ranking priest now, she risked sustaining permanent damage, potentially bidding farewell to her promising career as a warrior.

"S-senior," a quiet and hushed voice called out to Evadne just behind Tristan. Evadne turned around, and upon seeing the face, immediately recognized her.

"You two, huh? Still alive, it seems."

"I'm so sorry, Senior! Because of us, you…" the girl apologized to Evadne with a bow, even the one-armed man right next to her did the same.

Both Katia and Liam were high-ranking nobles, so seeing them bowing like this would be quite a shocker for any aristocrat if they were ever to witness this scene.

Despite all that, they bowed down their heads and threw away their pride. If it wasn't for Evadne, they probably wouldn't be standing here right now.

"Don't be. It was my fault for letting my guard down anyway," said Evadne nonchalantly as she casually ignored the apologies of the two.

Although she did get herself in trouble because of them, ultimately, it was because of herself that she got into this situation.

"I'm sure you get the situation now, right, junior?"

"Yeah… but for starters, tell me more about the guy you faced"

"Sure…" said Evadne, her eyes burning with anger.

….

Judging from the size of the explosion, those two ghouls should be fried by now. What a waste…

But why was it a waste in the first place? It feels like I've been letting my emotions get hold of me for some time now.

I wasn't even exactly angry at Liam in the first place.

But at the same time….

A surge of annoyance and disappointment filled my heart at the thought of letting Liam escape.

Damn it, I guess, before I realized it, my assimilation with Adrian is reaching its peak.

Even if I try to ignore it, it would only be a matter of time before this current body of mine would become fully assimilated. In probably just a few more months, everything that is Adrian would become me.

It wasn't such a bad thing anyway.

Total assimilation with Adrian would mean unlimited access to his memories, as well as fully accepting that the two of us would become one and the same. Adrian's soul within this body is completely gone.

I don't know the exact details of what happened to it or if my sudden transmigration resulted in his soul being broken. There's even a high chance that my soul devoured his.

It will take some time to get used to it, but now, as Ian and Adrian, we are one and the same.

There's no point thinking that we're two separate entities now.

"Master..." Schwi suddenly came to my side, along with Sasha. I could see that their skin was slightly burning due to the extensive heat, but they endured it as they approached me.

"The orc lord is slowly reaching the higher floors. It would only be a matter of time before it reaches this floor," Schwi reported.

"Then I guess we better prepare"

'Although a bit behind schedule, the climax will start now. Although I'm worried that Aria and the others might encounter the orc lord as it's descending, as long as she's holding the staff, she should be safe. But I guess I better send one of Elaniel's demons there just in case, and Meralda should also be right beside her, so she should be fine'

"Schwi, proceed with the plan. Tell Gobel to light it up."

With that, Schwi immediately transformed into a swarm of crows alongside Sasha, who turned into a swarm of butterflies.

Although they could communicate with Gobel via a communication crystal, the explosion from those mana bombs might swallow Gobel alongside it.

'With Schwi being there, that kid will surely escape unscathed'

'I guess I should also start opening up the marked locations. The professors should be making their way down here considering the huge explosion that happened'

'I wonder if that bitch of a Goddess is watching right now?'

….

"Tell me, Lady Aria Tellus, why do you have our academy's most prized treasure?" questioned Princess Christine, her words resonating in Aria's ears.

Aria's hand trembled as the realization of her implication and the true identity of the staff she held slowly dawned on her.

The staff in her possession was no ordinary one; its value could rival that of a small nation.

Crafted from the highest quality materials and endowed with an abundance of magical effects, it was an artifact that defied conventional valuation.

With the staff of Estelle, even low-ranking mages could effortlessly cast high-level spells, provided they had enough mana.

Caught in the weight of the princess's inquiry, Aria grappled with the significance of her actions and the potential consequences that lay ahead.

The gravity of the situation began to sink in for Aria as she contemplated the true capabilities of the staff she held.

It wasn't just a mere magical implement; it was a portable artillery, capable of unleashing rapid, high-ranking spells in quick succession.

In the wrong hands, this staff posed a threat on a national level. Its potential misuse by malevolent mages, particularly those of significant power, could be catastrophic, given the protective spells automatically woven into the staff to shield its wielder.

Aria's possession of this staff held severe implications. Firstly, the staff was currently considered missing, raising concerns about its potential misuse.

Secondly, even if Aria had stumbled upon it by chance, the shimmering lights emanating from the staff suggested that it had chosen her as its master.

This presented a significant predicament, considering the academy's ownership of the staff and the potential consequences of its unauthorized use.

Aria, caught in a web of lies, desperately searched for a way to divert suspicion.

The princess's inquiry put her on the spot, and revealing the true origins of the staff could involve Adrian, something she desperately wished to avoid. Fumbling for an explanation, a feeble yet hasty excuse tumbled from her lips.

"I… it was—" Aria stammered, her attempt to articulate interrupted by a gaping mouth. She needed to convey the staff's sudden appearance without divulging the complicated truth. The excuse that surfaced was a mixture of desperation and improvisation. "I-it just came to me all of a sudden…?"

Perplexed, Princess Christine probed for clarification. "What do you mean?"

"I just woke up one day, and the staff was already right next to me," Aria blurted out, hoping her words would mask the staff's true origin.

"…."

The ensuing silence weighed heavily, and Aria could feel the princess's penetrating gaze dissecting her and the staff alternately, her green eyes scrutinizing every nuance before her hands rested on her chin.

Aria's heart pounded in her chest as the fabricated excuse slipped past her lips.

The implausibility of the staff of Estelle casually manifesting at her side left her feeling a deep sense of regret and self-loathing.

In the face of the princess and her impending role as the empire's future empress, Aria's nervousness reached new heights, and she desperately sought an escape from this tangled web of lies.

'Even a random kid from the slums could probably make a better lie'

"I did hear rumors that the staff was an ego weapon and had a mind of its own, so are you saying that the staff chose you as its master, Miss Aria?" questioned Princess Christine, her sharp gaze searching for any sign of deception.

"Y-yes," Aria replied, her voice shaky with uncertainty. To her surprise, the princess seemed to accept her explanation without further probing.

Aria's mind whirred with relief, but she knew the questions about Adrian and the staff's origins would inevitably surface.

For now, she opted to keep those details shrouded in secrecy, recognizing that divulging Adrian's involvement might lead to even more complications.

"What you say seems to be the truth, judging from how you're able to grab hold of it quite easily, the runes are even reacting to your touch," remarked the princess as she closely observed the staff in Aria's hands. It was evident that the staff had already recognized Aria as its next master.

The princess focused her keen magical senses on the situation, attempting to detect any discrepancies. However, her scrutiny proved futile, as there were no indications of fabrication or mistake. The mana and the magical strings connecting the staff to Aria's heart were already in place.

Under normal circumstances, Princess Christine would have congratulated Aria for achieving such a wondrous feat—becoming the master of the Staff of Estelle, a coveted achievement for any mage.

What better honor and grace than having that title?

But…

The princess would have congratulated Aria for her achievement if not for the inconvenient truth of Aria's standing in magical prowess.

Aria, occupying a middle rank when it came to magical abilities, stood neither among the strongest nor the weakest mages. This fact, coupled with the staff being a lost item, complicated the situation.

Even if one were to excuse Aria for potentially stealing it, the indisputable truth remained—the staff belonged to the school.

Aria's rank as a mage made it challenging to justify her possession of the staff, and high-ranking mages would undoubtedly question her right to even touch such a prestigious artifact.

"You should return it, Miss Aria. You should be aware of the complications that come with that staff," advised the princess.

Her words carried not only as a counsel but also as a stern warning about the potential consequences that might arise from Aria's possession of the Staff of Estelle.

'Lilliana did say that her sister had potential but to think this much?'

Christine was quite surprised by the hidden potential that Aria had, although at first, she did think she was quite average, the fact that she was chosen by the staff proves otherwise.

'It would be better If she proves her worth the right way'

"But, it's mine."

"That claim in itself is also questionable, Miss Aria. Although I somewhat believe your words, the lack of evidence disproves it, and it is not only me that you have to prove it to but the entire academy board."

"Can't you just turn a blind eye to this your highness…..."

Aria's words slowly got lower as she realized what she was saying. Asking the princess of an empire to turn a blind eye to a potential crime?

As if lying to her wasn't enough, Aria just asked her to lie to the world for her.

"…."

Judging from the silent judgment that the princess gave her, it seems her request was denied.

"Don't be stubborn, Miss Aria. I knew letting it go would be hard, as this is an opportunity of a lifetime. But the fact still remains that it is the academy's sacred treasure. It's essentially the living artifact that made this academy, and even if you do return it, it's not like you have no chance of reclaiming it."

Aria would surely be questioned, but aside from that, nothing else would happen.

Although the staff would be claimed by the academy right away, it's not like Aria had no right to fight for it as she was the confirmed master of it.

What the princess is basically telling her is to claim the staff through proper means.

Whether she likes it or not, even if she keeps it a secret, a bunch of people would surely question her if she randomly displays the staff like what she did today.

"What are you two doing?"

A stern yet sleepy voice cut through the tension, startling Aria and Christine.

They turned to find Bella standing behind them, her expression a mix of concern and urgency.

"Bella? You're here?" Aria's surprise was evident, and Christine couldn't help but share in the sentiment. They had left Bella back on the fifth floor, and her sudden appearance raised questions.

"Wake the others; we need to get out of here" Bella instructed, her urgency emphasizing the gravity of the situation. The weight of her words hung in the air as the trio faced the impending danger.

Suddenly, the ground beneath them quaked violently, as if a colossal force were swallowing the entire dungeon.

The tremors reverberated through the structure, unsettling everything in its wake.

"ROOOAGH!!!"

"GRAAAAH!!!"

"KROAGHH!!"

The echoing roars of various monsters intensified the atmosphere, adding an extra layer of dread to the already chaotic scene.

It was a chilling symphony of impending danger.

The ever-quiet floor they entered suddenly reverberated with the cries of the monsters.