As the Aberrant took its final breath, the rupture began to dissipate.
Small cracks started forming in the space around them, as thin, jagged fissures that looked like fractures in glass.
Crack.
One fracture branched out rapidly, creating a web-like pattern that expanded across the entire landscape.
Brandon's eyes shook in awe 'What the...?'
The cracks deepened until and with a deafening *shatter*, the space around them collapsed entirely.
The dark, distorted world of the rupture disintegrated instantly, and they were abruptly thrown back into their familiar surroundings.
Fresh air rushed in and Brandon took a deep breath as the cool breeze from the park washed over him like a wave of relief.
He turned his gaze skyward, watching the trees sway gently in the wind.
"We're out..."
Looking around, his gaze narrowed 'So, we need to kill all the monsters inside the rupture to destroy it and escape.'
'Like a stage in a game...'
Calistra, meanwhile, had already rushed over to Eira.
The short blonde woman was pale and trembling and Calistra crouched beside her, gently supporting her weight as she helped her to her feet.
"Eira... are you alright?" Calistra's usually sharp voice was soft now, filled with genuine concern.
Eira gave a faint nod and leaned against her friend "Mhm... I'll be fine."
Calistra didn't look entirely convinced, but she shifted her focus back to Brandon for a moment.
Her gaze was thoughtful as she looked at him 'He was a huge help back in the rupture...'
Her thoughts were interrupted by a sudden hum and faint mechanical noise filled the air.
All three of them raised their heads to see a mini-flying ark descending toward them.
The mini-ark hovered above them for a moment and its sleek, metallic frame glowed with blue ether energy.
It was about the size of a small shuttle, but its advanced design made it clear that it wasn't meant for civilian use.
Brandon raised an eyebrow in surprise 'For normal people... something like this would be ridiculously expensive.'
'With ether energy, the technology is also quite advanced... and awakeners can easily access stuff like this.'
Calistra let out a sigh of relief. "Finally, the emergency reinforcements are here..."
The mini-ark descended smoothly, landing on a patch of grass a few meters away.
As its doors slid open with a soft hiss, a woman stepped out, wearing the dark blue uniform of the Academy.
The woman stepped toward Calistra and Eira "Calistra, you gave an emergency signal."
Her gaze flickered briefly to Brandon, who was standing a short distance away 'Hm? A civilian?'
Calistra didn't waste any time and stepped forward, still supporting Eira. "More than that, Senior... I need to tell you about him."
Meanwhile, Brandon quickly took his mobile out and saw that his signal is back.
He knew exactly how bad this situation could get.
Calistra and Eira might not have attacked him, but now that Academy officials were involved, things could escalate quickly.
'They're going to ask questions...'
The Sovereign Circle would be all over him. If word got out, he'd be hunted down, captured, and experimented on.
And even if he managed to escape, his life would be ruined.
'Shit.' he cursed under his breath.
Without wasting another second, he quickly dialed Elize's number.
Elize who was getting ready for breakfast looked at the phone which was ringing in her pocket.
Taking the phone in her hand, a smile bloomed on her face looking at Brandon's name.
"Oh, Kael..."
"Aunt Elize, listen to me... I'm in trouble. Big trouble. I'll explain everything, but I need you and Big Sister's help."
"I can somehow use ether-"
But before he could finish, a hand suddenly snapped the phone away from him.
Huh? He turned back to look at the woman who was looking at him with a suspicious gaze "You will be taken under the Solvryn Academy's custody."
(ー_ーゞ
Brandon stared at her blankly 'Welp, I am fucked...'
---
Sitting inside the Shuttle, Brandon looked at the sky outside through the small reinforced glass window.
'Fuck, they took my mobile...'
His gaze narrowed in thought 'I have already told Aunt Elize and with Charlotte's help... atleast I can be kept alive I guess.'
A deep sigh escaped his lips as he ran his fingers through his black hair 'In the first place, why can a man like me use ether?'
He closed his eyes again thinking what happened earlier.
'I felt the ether in my body after giving that woman CPR... I think I somehow absorbed the ether from her body.'
His finger absentmindedly tapped against the window as his thoughts spiraled 'So, I can't absorb the ether from the air myself like women... but I can absorb from women by kissing and even copy their skills?'
Thinking about the abusrdity of the situation, he closed his eyes and leaned back on his seat 'What the fuck...'
'Maybe not only kissing, coming in close contact with a woman... I can absorb ether from them and even copy their skills?'
'Yeah, I am getting killed...'
Using ether is one thingy, but even copying the woman's skill is so absurd.
'Fuck, Fuck, Fuck...'
As he was thinking, he heard footsteps and raised his gaze to look at the two woemn entering the chamber he was in.
Calistra and Eira exchanged glances as they turned to look at Brandon.
Eira walked and sat in the seat across Brandon and Calistra followed suit.
With a small nervous smile, Eira spoke first "Hi, my name is Eira Bleaufort."
Calistra had her usual indifference face and muttered "Calistra."
Brandon nodded his head and replied "Brandon Kael..."
There was an awkward pause before Eira spoke again. "Thank you, Brandon. For helping me back there..."
A faint blush creeped her cheeks as she raised her hand, her fingers gently touching her lips "Even though it was embarassing... Thank you."
Brandon glimpsed at Eira's reaction 'She seems like a shy type and her.. well, she seems indifferent.'
"It's okay."
Eira nodded, but her eyes didn't quite meet his eyes and darted around "I heard from Calistra that you used ether. And... my skill."
Letting out a sigh, Brandon spoke "Even I don't know what happened at that time..."
There was another heavy pause. Then, as if eager to escape the situation, Eira stood abruptly "Well, we just wanted to say thank you. We'll leave now."
She hurriedly gestured Calistra.
Calistra glimpsed at Brandon for a second before standing up and leaving the chamber.
As they left, Brandon 's gaze squinted as he looked outside 'I am sure as of now, the entire Sovereign Circle should be in chaos hearing that a man can use ether...'
...
Meanwhile, Elize's eyes trembled from the bits she heard from over the phone 'Kael... using ether?'