After what felt like an eternity, I finally reached the inn and collapsed onto the bed. I hadn't returned to the mansion—there was no reason to. I had already dismissed the servants from their duties. Only one of them had refused to leave.
Staring at the ceiling, my thoughts wandered aimlessly as I tried to gather the memories still lingering in my mind.
Chronicles of the Fallen World.
That was the game's original title. On the surface, it was a simple RPG—filled with characters, branching choices, and exploration through what remained of a dying world swept by the Abyss. The Academy was merely one part of the narrative, visited only if certain character routes were chosen.
Pushing myself off the bed, I made my way to the mirror.
Aether Asteria—son of the Blue Tower's magic master—was never meant to be a permanent recruitable character. Only when specific, hidden requirements were met would he temporarily join the party. But when he did… he was absurdly strong. A cheat character, honestly.
The reason became clear as I stared at my reflection.
Two bright blue eyes that seemed to cradle the stars themselves—the Eyes of the Cosmos. proof that someone had inherited one of the ancient magic forms that governed the stars.
I didn't even understand how pupils could take such a shape. Platinum-blue hair fell loosely to my shoulders. The face staring back was beautiful, yet pale—marred by deep, dark circles beneath the eyes.
The face reflected in the mirror was familiar.
No—to be precise, it was mine from the original world.
Aether was supposed to be an easter egg version of myself in the game, so Isabel designed him to resemble me closely. It could've been better if she hadn't kept the dark circles though.
"Haha—"
My hollow giggle was abruptly cut off as the glass shattered, scattering shards in every direction as blood spilled onto the floor. I continued staring at the broken mirror, unmoving.
Knowing that I existed here—my face, my body—brought a strange sense of peace. Yet with it came memories I wished would stay buried.
Hearing the noise, Joseph rushed into the room. His eyes scanned the mess before landing on me. A disappointed look crossed his face as he approached.
"Come on, Joseph, don't look at me like that. It's not a big deal, you know," I smiled weakly, trying to lighten the mood.
He didn't seem impressed at all. Kneeling beside me, he began removing the glass shards with a pair of tweezers, ignoring my words completely. Only when he finished applying the bandages did he finally speak—his soft tone completely betraying his usual composed demeanor.
"Aether… we grieve for you, and for what you're becoming."
He lifted his head, his amber eyes meeting mine as he continued gently,
"I may not fully understand what you're going through, but I know that none of the people you're hurting for would want to see you like this."
Lucas… and now Joseph.
Deep down I knew what they said was rational. Logical. True.
Yet the more they spoke, the more irritated I felt. Some of that irritation wasn't mine—
Joseph had always been a parental figure to him. But because of Aether's hatred toward Lucas—and Joseph's loyalty to that man—some of that resentment had bled onto him as well. Understanding that didn't make it magically disappear but I knew to make the better judgment
I forced a bitter smile. "I'll… try my best."
Joseph smiled faintly in response and stood. He retrieved a set of clothes from the drawer, then paused at the doorway. Turning back one last time, he spoke.
"Aether… I do not expect there will ever come a day when you forgive Lord Lucas."
His voice hardened.
"Nor me. But this old man's only wish is to see you doing better. So… move forward."
His words lingered as I slowly undressed.
One last glance at the shattered mirror revealed a frail body—skin pale enough for the ribcage to show, black web-like scars spreading across it. Even through the fractured reflection, my eyes could no longer be seen.