ARIA

"Aether arts?"

As Deryl delved into the secrets of Aether, a continent shrouded in mystery and magic, I listened intently.

I had believed Aether was tied to the Fiend/Demon continent, but Deryl revealed its origins lay in an enigmatic realm known as the Basilisk Continent.

"Wait, what, this doesn't make sense,all this time I thought its origin is from the Fiend Continent.

And this Basilisk continent, I've never heard of it, let alone hear, I remember looking at the Map and could only see masses of land, marked correctly—-

{SENTIENT LANDMASS}-- Human Continent

{ABYSSAL LANDMASS}-- Demon/Fiend Continent

My mind raced with questions and possibilities as he spoke. But before we could continue our conversation, an unexpected interruption shattered the flow.

The grand chamber doors swung open gracefully, and a figure entered that immediately caught my attention.

Draped in elegant white robes befitting royalty, the girl exuded an air of poise and power.

Her ebony hair cascaded like a waterfall down her shoulders, framing a face graced with entrancing sapphire eyes that held an intensity I couldn't ignore. This was Aria, Deryl's daughter.

Her entrance disrupted the ambiance, and for a moment, I found myself caught in her striking beauty.

As I extended my hand for a handshake, I couldn't help but offer a nervous smile. Our hands met briefly, but her response was cool and detached, causing a twinge of awkwardness to shoot through me as she withdrew her hand almost immediately.

"Dammit, I messed up," I muttered under my breath, cursing my inability to make a good first impression.

Deryl addressed Aria, letting her know that her mother was in the flower garden.

She brushed it off, her attention solely focused on her father's presence.

Without further ado, she declared her intention to head to the royal library for studying, departing as quickly as she had arrived.

Left in her wake, I felt a mixture of disappointment and intrigue.

"Nice to meet you!" I called after her, but my words fell on deaf ears.

Deryl reassured me that Aria's cautious behavior with new people was customary and that gaining her trust was a challenge.

I chuckled nervously, trying to regain my composure.

"No worries. I've got a godly charisma," I joked, though the anxious scratching of my hair betrayed my unease.

Memories of my past life, where my romantic experiences were practically nonexistent, didn't exactly bolster my confidence.

With a hearty laugh, Deryl gave me a friendly pat on the back. "Best of luck with that, my boy. Aria's a force to be reckoned with."

Left to my own devices, I decided to explore the expansive palace.

Its architecture was a breathtaking blend of opulence and artistry, and I wandered through halls that seemed to stretch into infinity.

The marble floors echoed my footsteps as I marveled at the intricate details that adorned every corner. The palace was like a realm unto itself, a testament to the splendor of the royal family.

As I rounded a corner, I caught sight of Aria again.

Intrigued, I decided to follow at a discrete distance, navigating the corridors with careful steps.

Yet, as I turned another corner, I was met with an empty hallway, devoid of any trace of Aria's presence.

Perplexed, I glanced around, trying to make sense of her sudden disappearance.

Before I could react, a sudden gust of wind enveloped me, lifting me off the ground and into the air.

Panic surged through me as I struggled against the unseen force, only to be abruptly dropped to the ground. I winced as pain shot through my body from the impact.

The sunlight that had shone on me was suddenly blotted out, replaced by a shadow.

Looking up, I met the gaze of the person responsible for my abrupt aerial journey—Aria. Her intense blue eyes bore into mine, leaving me momentarily breathless.

"What are you doing, you pervert?" Her voice dripped with accusation, her expression a mix of annoyance and amusement.

Caught off guard, I stammered, "I-I wasn't... I mean, I was just... uh..."

Before I could answer I was lifted again and effortlessly floating on thin air.

Aria's lips quirked into a faint smirk, her control over the wind releasing me. I landed less gracefully than I'd hoped, but at least I was no longer suspended in mid-air like a puppet.

Her stern gaze softened slightly, a hint of curiosity replacing the severity. "Who are you, anyway?"

"I'm Jay,.....we met earlier at the Throne Room" I managed to reply, feeling a blush creep up my cheeks.

"Michael Ayden's son, here with my family."

Aria's scrutiny lingered for a moment, as if searching my face for something.

Finally, she nodded in acknowledgment. "Well, Jay, why are you following me?"Aria asked.

"I….I…uh…"

"Come on Dumbass, think of an excuse or she'll think you're an absolute pervert," I said to myself.

"I was also looking for the Royal Library," I said laughing nervously.

"Seems like a lie to me," Aria said glaring at me.

"Whatever you do, I don't care, just don't follow me like a creep, or you'll regret it.

I nodded, my heart still racing from the unexpected encounter.

As Aria turned to leave, I couldn't shake off the mixture of fascination and apprehension that clung to her.

//// NEXT CHAPTER: THRUST AND CUT////

Edited by: JJ