The Extra's Rise-Chapter 404: Four Pillars (2)

"But now," Rachel said softly, pulling back just enough to meet my eyes, "we need a proper explanation." Her gentle tone couldn't mask the steel beneath. "What happened in Vryndall? What took over you? Why did you disappear for nearly a year?" Her voice cracked slightly. "Please... tell us everything."

The room fell silent. Four pairs of eyes fixed on me, waiting for answers to questions they'd likely been asking themselves for eleven agonizing months.

I drew a deep breath, organizing my thoughts. There was no easy way to explain something I barely understood myself.

"There's another soul inside my body," I said finally.

The words hung in the air for a moment. Rose's eyes widened, her usual composure momentarily shattered. Seraphina grew completely still, her jade eyes narrowing in concentration. Rachel's hand tightened around mine, while Cecilia's expression darkened dangerously.

"What do you mean, another soul?" Rose asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

"As you know, my Soul aspect reached the Aspect wall—I couldn't advance further," I explained. "But during the battle in Vryndall, when we faced the Bishop... I wasn't the one who defeated him."

"We saw the change," Seraphina observed quietly. "Your fighting style, your presence—everything shifted."

I nodded. "This... other soul took control. I still don't fully understand what or who it is. But after defeating the Bishop, it didn't relinquish control. Instead, it determined I was too weak for what lay ahead."

"Too weak?" Cecilia's eyes flashed crimson. "You were already extraordinary."

"Not enough, apparently," I said with a grim smile. "This entity took me to a place called the Well of Miasma to make me stronger."

"The Well of Miasma?" Rachel repeated, horror seeping into her voice. "What is that?"

"A training ground," I said, the words inadequate to describe the hell I'd endured. "It is formed by very concentrated miasma that causes certain effects, almost like a dungeon imposed on reality full of miasma."

"Such a place exists beyond the Northern border?" Rose asked, her calm returning though her face remained pale.

"It's hidden," I explained. "Protected by the Umbravale Covenant."

"Souls are notoriously difficult to understand," Seraphina said thoughtfully. "The Mount Hua research has only managed to theorize fragments of soul theory. Most of it is speculation at best."

"Could this... possession happen again?" Cecilia asked, cutting straight to the heart of the matter.

I hesitated, remembering the original Arthur's warning—that he would intervene at least once more in the future.

"Yes," I admitted finally. "I believe it will."

The room grew tense, the implications of my words settling over us all. Another disappearance. Another period of separation and uncertainty.

"Then we'll be prepared next time," Cecilia declared, her tone brooking no argument.

"You can't fight this," I warned. "It's not something that can be stopped by conventional means."

"We're hardly conventional," Rose pointed out with quiet confidence.

Rachel squeezed my hand. "Whatever happens, we face it together now. No more secrets. No more solitary burdens."

Seraphina nodded in agreement. "The sect teachings say that shared knowledge is the foundation of proper preparation."

I looked at each of them—their determination, their unwavering support despite the strangeness of what I'd revealed. How had I earned such loyalty? Such love?

"Together, then," I agreed, knowing the original Arthur might have other plans, but unwilling to push away the connection I'd found with these four extraordinary women.

"Could you fill me in on everything that happened while I was gone?" I asked, realizing how disconnected I felt from the world I'd left behind.

Rachel's eyes lit up. "Well, the Martial King became a senior professor at Mythos Academy."

I blinked in shock. "The Martial King? At Mythos?"

'That is seriously insane,' Luna commented in my mind.

I couldn't help but agree. My master, the Martial King, was widely regarded as the strongest person in the world at this point in time. For him to take a teaching position was unprecedented.

"I heard he specifically requested the position," Rose added, her calm voice carrying a hint of curiosity. "No one knows why."

"Other than that, we reached our third year at Mythos Academy," Rachel continued. "Last year of our lower years before specialization begins."

"Lucifer Windward became the Student Council President," Rose said. "Rachel was originally slated to become Vice President, but she declined the position."

"Too busy searching Northern territories," Rachel admitted softly.

"So I took the position instead," Rose finished.

I nodded, recalling the academy's strict rule that the President and Vice President had to be of opposing sexes. With Lucifer as President, the Vice President had to be female. Cecilia was never interested in student politics, and Clana preferred to focus on combat training. That left Rachel, Seraphina, and Rose as the likely candidates.

"We're starting our second semester of third year now," Cecilia said, her crimson eyes studying me intently. "You are coming back, right?"

"Yes," I confirmed. Despite taking nearly a full year away, I wanted to return to Mythos Academy—to resume some semblance of normalcy.

The four women exchanged glances, relief evident in their expressions.

"Also," I said, making a decision, "there's something else I need to show all of you."

Cecilia's eyes widened slightly in recognition—she alone already knew what I was about to reveal, having glimpsed it yesterday.

I summoned my mana, feeling the familiar golden warmth of Lucent Harmony ignite across my skin. The qilin sigils began to glow, intricate patterns spreading across my forearms and hands.

"Luna," I called softly. "You can come out now."

A small figure materialized above my palm—her hair shimmering like a fountain of molten amethyst, her eyes sparkling like orbs of pure gold.

"This is Luna," I explained to the astonished faces of Rachel, Rose, and Seraphina. "The qilin who's bonded to me."

Rachel gasped, her hand covering her mouth. "A qilin? But that would mean—" Her eyes darted to my glowing arms, then back to Luna. Understanding dawned in her expression. "Your Gift... Lucent Harmony. It's not actually a Gift at all, is it? It's her power—a qilin's will."

I nodded, impressed by her quick deduction.

"Wait," Seraphina interjected, her composure momentarily forgotten. "Does that mean you're the destined Emperor of the World? The sovereign chosen by the qilin?"

"No," Luna spoke before I could answer, her voice melodious despite her diminutive form. "He is not. He is Fateless, which is why I chose him."

The room fell silent as the three women processed this revelation. Cecilia moved closer to me, her hand finding mine in a gesture of support—she'd had time to absorb this information already.

"Fateless?" Rose repeated, her eyes bright with interest. "I've never heard of such a concept." freēwēbnovel.com

"It means his future cannot be read or predetermined," Luna explained, floating gently above my palm. "Even by one such as myself, who can see the threads of destiny."

Rachel's expression softened. "That explains so much about you, Arthur."

"You're not surprised?" I asked.

"After everything else?" Cecilia laughed softly. "A qilin companion seems almost expected for someone like you."

"Though it does raise many questions," Rose noted, leaning forward to study Luna with fascination.

"Questions we have plenty of time to answer," Rachel added, squeezing my hand. "Now that you're back."

I felt a weight lift from my shoulders—one I hadn't even realized I'd been carrying. These women, each extraordinary in her own right, continued to accept me despite every strange revelation.

Luna settled comfortably on my shoulder, her tiny form radiating warmth. "I told you they would understand," she whispered, just loud enough for me to hear.