Chapter 33: Whispers of Doubt

Chapter 33: Whispers of Doubt

The academy was abuzz with the aftermath of the duel between Aetrial and Cain. While most students avoided direct confrontation with Aetrial due to the weight of the Ranolf name, whispers followed her everywhere.

"Did you see that serpent spell?" one student murmured.

"Of course. Who knew someone like Aetrial could wield that kind of magic?"

"It’s no wonder he’s from the Ranolf family, but still... there’s something odd about him."

Aetrial walked past them, pretending not to hear. Inside, however, she felt a mix of irritation and unease.

“They talk as if I’m not even here,” she muttered under her breath.

---

Cain’s Curiosity

Meanwhile, Cain was in the academy library, surrounded by old tomes and scrolls. His crimson eyes scanned the pages of a book on ancient magic, but his thoughts were elsewhere.

Aetrial Ranolf.

Her magic was extraordinary, even by Ranolf standards. But there was something more—a subtle incongruity he couldn’t ignore. The way she moved, her expressions, the delicate air about her—it was unlike the arrogant, brutish heir the rumors described.

“She’s hiding something,” Cain murmured.

“Shouldn’t it be a he?”

Cain looked up to see Lilliana standing nearby, a playful smirk on her face. She carried a stack of books, her golden hair glowing in the sunlight streaming through the windows.

Cain glanced at her, his expression neutral. “Slip of the tongue.”

Lilliana raised an eyebrow but didn’t press further. “Is this about the duel?”

Cain closed the book in front of him, leaning back in his chair. “You could say that. Aetrial is… intriguing.”

Lilliana tilted her head. “Intriguing? That’s an odd way to describe him.”

Cain chuckled. “You wouldn’t understand. Ranolf or not, there’s more to him than meets the eye.”

---

Aetrial’s Doubts

Later that evening, Aetrial found herself in the quiet of her dorm room. The day’s events replayed in her mind, particularly the way Cain had looked at her during the duel.

His words lingered.

“You’re holding yourself back in ways you don’t even realize.”

“What did he mean by that?” she wondered aloud, running a hand through her hair.

She stared at her reflection in the mirror. The golden waves that framed her face, the softer features she still hadn’t entirely grown used to—it was a far cry from the man she once was.

“This is my life now,” she reminded herself. “I just have to keep going.”

But deep down, she couldn’t shake the feeling that her facade was beginning to crack.

---

An Unexpected Encounter

The next morning, Aetrial decided to train in one of the academy’s secluded practice fields. She needed to focus, to channel her frustrations into something productive.

She was mid-way through a complex spell when a voice interrupted her.

“Impressive.”

She turned to see Cain standing at the edge of the field, his arms crossed and a faint smirk on his face.

“What do you want?” Aetrial asked, lowering her wand.

“I was passing by and saw you practicing,” he said casually. “You’re quite dedicated.”

Aetrial frowned. “Why do I feel like you’re here for something else?”

Cain chuckled, stepping closer. “You’re sharp. Fine, I’ll be honest—I’m curious about you.”

“Curious?”

He nodded. “You’re different from the person everyone says you are. Why is that?”

Aetrial tensed. “Maybe people just like to gossip.”

“Perhaps,” Cain said, his tone unreadable. “But there’s more to it, isn’t there?”

---

A Brief Revelation

Before Aetrial could respond, a sudden gust of wind swept through the field. It carried with it a faint, almost imperceptible whisper—a fragment of dark magic that made Aetrial’s heart skip a beat.

Cain’s eyes narrowed as he glanced around. “Strange.”

“What is?” Aetrial asked, trying to keep her voice steady.

Cain didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he took a step closer, his crimson eyes meeting hers. “You’re not just hiding something. You’re protecting it.”

The words struck a chord, but Aetrial forced herself to stay calm. “You’re imagining things.”

Cain smirked, but there was no malice in his expression. “Maybe. Or maybe I’m just good at seeing through people.”

As he turned to leave, he paused, a thoughtful expression crossing his face.

“I should stop calling you ‘she’ in my head,” Cain murmured, almost to himself. “If you want the world to see you as him, I’ll play along. For now.”

Aetrial blinked, unsure of what he meant, but Cain gave her one last smirk before walking away.

---

Cain’s Reflection

As Cain returned to his quarters, he couldn’t shake the feeling that he was on the verge of uncovering something significant.

“She’s not what she seems,” he murmured to himself.

For the first time in a long while, Cain felt genuinely intrigued. Whatever Aetrial Ranolf was hiding, he intended to find out.

---

End of Chapter 33