Chapter 16 - 16: Professor Aurelia

Back in the Grand Hall of Trials, students began to appear one by one, their bodies materializing in flashes of light. The room buzzed with a mix of relief, exhaustion, and excitement as the candidates realized they had survived the grueling exam. Lucian Aetheris, the principal, stepped forward, his presence commanding silence. His golden eyes scanned the room, lingering briefly on Cedric before moving to other students. Finally, his gaze settled on Kyle for a moment, a flicker of curiosity in his eyes before he addressed the crowd. "Congratulations to all who have passed," he said, his voice calm but carrying an undeniable weight. "You have completed the entrance exam. The results will be posted shortly. For now, rest and recover. You've earned it." Kyle sighed, knowing his performance had drawn attention. Sёarch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Defeating two Silver-rank monsters wasn't something that could be easily overlooked. As the students began to disperse, Kyle started walking toward the exit, his mind already racing with thoughts of what lay ahead. 'The results will be posted tomorrow,' he remembered from the novel. "Hey, Kyle!" a familiar voice called out. He turned to see Luna and Reo jogging toward him, their faces lit with smiles. "Give us your caller ID," Reo said, pulling out his phone. "We should stay in touch." Kyle hesitated, pulling out his phone but instantly feeling embarrassed. "Uh… I don't actually know how to check my caller ID," he admitted, scratching the back of his head. Luna and Reo exchanged a look before bursting into laughter. "You act so smart, but you can be pretty dumb sometimes, Kyle," Luna said, still giggling. "Here, just give me your phone." Kyle handed it over, his face red. 'How was I supposed to know how this thing works? This isn't my world,' he thought, feeling a pang of frustration. Just as Luna was saving their numbers, an instructor approached the trio. "Kyle Valemont," he said, his tone formal. "Follow me. Instructor Aurelia has summoned you." Kyle's heart skipped a beat. "May I know the purpose behind it, if you don't mind?" he asked, trying to keep his voice steady. The instructor shrugged. "Don't know. Just follow me." Kyle turned to Luna and Reo. "Guess I'll see you guys later," he said, forcing a smile. "Good luck," Luna said, her tone teasing. "Don't get into too much trouble." Kyle chuckled nervously before following the instructor. As they walked, Kyle's mind raced. 'Why did Instructor called me? Did they find out about my multiple affinities? Or is it something else?' He couldn't shake the feeling of unease. **** The instructor stopped in front of an office door. "We're here," he said, gesturing for Kyle to enter. "Good luck," he added, his tone oddly sympathetic. Kyle frowned. 'Good luck? What does that mean? And why does he keep looking at me like I'm some tragic figure?' 'Now that I think about it, he's the same instructor who gave me that pitying look at the academy gate,' Kyle thought. Before he could overthink it, he knocked on the door. A smooth, melodic voice responded. "Who is it?" "Kyle Valemont, ma'am. You called for me" he replied, his voice steady despite his nerves. "Yes, come in." Kyle stepped into the office, his heart pounding. The room was simple but elegant, with bookshelves lining the walls and a large desk at the center. Behind the desk sat a woman with long black hair and striking blue eyes. She was beautiful—stunning, even—but her expression was cold, her gaze sharp as it landed on him. Before Kyle could say a word, she was on her feet. In an instant, she was in front of him, her movements so fast he barely had time to react. She grabbed him by the collar, her grip firm, and glared at him with a mix of anger and something else—something deeper. "Where have you been?" she demanded, her voice trembling with emotion. "Do you have any idea how worried I was?" Kyle's eyes widened. 'Aurelia Valemont,' he thought, remembering her full name. From the novel, he remembered her as the homeroom teacher of the protagonist's class—a strict but kind instructor. But now, standing here, he realized she wasn't just a character in a story. 'I… I don't know what to say,' Kyle stammered, his mind racing. He didn't have the memories of the original Kyle, but he could see the pain in her eyes, the relief mixed with anger. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to disappear like that." Aurelia's grip on his collar tightened for a moment before she let go, stepping back. She crossed her arms, her expression hardening. "Sorry? That's all you have to say?" "You vanished for a month, Kyle. A month!" "Do you know how many nights I spent worrying about you?" "Thinking something terrible had happened?" "You left that letter in your room, saying 'I'll be back in a month.' Do you have any idea how that felt?" Kyle's heart sank. 'A letter?' He had no memory of it. He didn't even know the original Kyle had left one. He looked down, guilt washing over him. "I didn't mean to make you worry. I… I was training." "I got lost in the forest, and I couldn't find my way back." "I didn't realize how much time had passed." Aurelia's eyes narrowed, her anger flaring. "Training? In the forest? Alone?" "Do you have any idea how dangerous that is?" "You could've been killed!" "And why couldn't I contact you?" "Your phone was off from the day you disappeared." "I thought… I thought something had happened to you." "Like… like what happened to Mom and Dad." Her voice cracked on the last words, and Kyle felt a pang of guilt. He didn't know the details of their parents' deaths, but he could see how much it still haunted her. "I-I broke my phone there," he said, making an excuse. "I didn't mean to cut you off. I just… I didn't think." Aurelia's jaw tightened, and for a moment, Kyle thought she might hit him. Instead, she took a deep breath, her expression darkening. "You didn't think," she repeated, her voice low and dangerous. "That's the problem, Kyle. You never think." Before he could react, she grabbed him by the arm and dragged him to the center of the room. "Sit down," she ordered, her tone leaving no room for argument. Kyle hesitated, but the look in her eyes made him comply. He sat in the chair, his heart racing. Aurelia stood over him, her arms crossed. "You left without a word," she said, her voice cold. "You disappeared for a month." "Do you have any idea how worried I was?" Kyle opened his mouth to respond, but she cut him off. "Don't. Just don't." She stepped closer, her eyes blazing. "You're going to sit there and take this, Kyle." "This is for your own good." Then, without warning, she cracked her knuckles, the sound echoing in the quiet office. Kyle's eyes widened. "Aurelia, wait—" "Don't you dare 'Aurelia, wait' me," she snapped, her voice low and dangerous. "You think you can just disappear for a month, leave me worrying myself sick, and then waltz back in with some half-baked excuse?" "This isn't just about you, Kyle. And if you ever pull something like this again, I swear I'll—" She didn't finish her sentence. Instead, she lunged at him. The office was filled with the sound of Kyle's yelps and the occasional thud. **** Finally, after what felt like an eternity, she stepped back. Kyle's face was swollen, his cheeks puffed up like an overripe tomato, and his arms ached with every slight movement. 'Fuck you, Kyle,' he cursed inwardly, blaming the original Kyle for putting him in this mess. Aurelia stood over him, brushing her hands off as if she'd just finished a hard day's work. Her expression was a turbulent mix of emotions—anger, frustration, but beneath it all, a faint glimmer of relief. "Don't you ever do that to me again," she said, her voice trembling with barely restrained emotion. "You're all I have left, Kyle." "If you ever disappear like that again, I'll hunt you down myself," Aurelia said, her voice low and deadly serious. Kyle nodded, his throat tightening as he swallowed hard. "I won't," he replied, his voice tinged with a hint of fear. "I promise." Aurelia took a deep breath, her shoulders relaxing slightly as she regained her composure. "Good," she said, her tone firm but calmer now. "Now, sit down. We need to talk." Kyle obeyed, wincing as he adjusted in the chair. Aurelia sat across from him, her sharp gaze never leaving his face. "You've got a lot of explaining to do," she said, her tone firm. "Start from the beginning—what happened during that one month? How did you awaken your affinity? And how did you manage to take down that Silver-rank squid? I already saw what happened with the boar." Kyle nodded, his mind racing as he prepared to weave a mix of truth and lies about what had happened during the past month. He began recounting his story, carefully omitting details about his transmigration and the blessing. He told her about how he had stumbled upon ancient ruins in the forest, where he had awakened his affinity for lightning. He explained how he had trained relentlessly, pushing himself to his limits, and how he had narrowly survived encounters with dangerous monsters, including the Silver-rank squid. He described the fight in vivid detail, emphasizing his quick thinking and resourcefulness, but left out the part about his other affinities. 'I'll reveal my multiple affinities to her gradually,' he thought. Aurelia listened intently, her sharp eyes never leaving his face. She didn't interrupt, but Kyle could tell she was analyzing every word, searching for inconsistencies. When he finished, she leaned back in her chair, her expression a mix of pride and suspicion. "You've always been stubborn," she said, her tone softening. "But I'm glad you made it back in one piece." 'One piece? Yeah, right,' Kyle thought, wincing as he touched his swollen cheek. 'I feel like I've been put through a meat grinder.' "Just… don't do something like that again without telling me. Understood?" "Understood," Kyle replied, feeling a mix of relief and guilt. "Whatever happens, whatever you're going through, you come to me. Understand?" Kyle nodded, his throat tight. "I understand. And… thank you, Aurelia. For everything." Aurelia smiled faintly, her sharp features softening. "You're my brother, Kyle. I'll always be here for you." Kyle chuckled, feeling a weight lift off his shoulders. For the first time since arriving in this world, he felt like he wasn't alone anymore. **** A/N: "Add this to your library, toss me some Power Stones, and show me some love—because let's be real, creativity is hard. Seriously, I've lost count of how many times I've edited this chapter draft. So, you know, a little appreciation would go a long way… or at least help me afford more coffee to keep this train wreck on the rails!"