After the drama and Nil's brush with death, Aeren left her to Jarek and dismissed their existence from his mind.
Ellie continued glaring at Nil from a distance. Because of her, she had been humiliated by Empress Hyliana and mocked by everyone present.
She turned to Aeren, who sat calmly watching the ongoing awakenings.
"Don't you feel anger?"
Ellie studied his silence, sensing it was the calm before a storm, and questioned him.
Aeren looked at her without emotion. "Why should I feel anger?"
His response irritated her, but she concealed it. "Jarek humiliated you, called you a coward, and disrespected our family by taking your maid. Are you telling me you feel nothing about this?"
She began doubting his understanding of life. If it were her, she would have done something to remind Jarek of his place. But Aeren had simply allowed it all to happen.
"Who said I felt nothing?"
Aeren continued watching the stage as people came and went, though none displayed anything unique or rare after Jarek. Even comparing them to Jarek would insult him.
Ellie was stunned by his answer. She'd never thought him capable of feeling anything—she'd never seen him smile or show any emotion. She'd doubted he could feel at all. But now... Did I hear wrong, or did Aeren say he felt something?
"What did you say?"
Aeren glanced at her but didn't reply, turning his attention back to the stage. When she didn't get an answer from Aeren, she tried asking in a different way that would be easier to understand.
She pressed on. "What did you feel?"
Still watching the ground where no one special had entered, he replied, "I feel nothing."
What does that mean? That nothing is a feeling, or you feel nothing?
Ellie continued studying him when her eyes accidentally fell on the butterfly on his head. She felt confused about it and became mesmerized...
Ellie slipped deep into her daydream, nearly losing touch with reality, when a voice suddenly pierced her reverie.
"Ellie, come out."
His voice snapped her from her trance. She turned to him in a daze.
"What happened?"
Aeren's eyes moved to her. "You were talking to my spirit."
Understanding dawned, but confusion remained. "This butterfly is your spirit?"
She pointed at the butterfly, having never seen anything so beautiful in her entire life. She'd always wanted to be a spirit user but hadn't received one during her trial.
"Yes. This butterfly is a spirit, and his name is Swapn."
Ellie stared at both Aeren and Swapn. Thought, When did Aeren get a spirit? How didn't I notice? Did I miss his trial?
"How did you find this spirit?"
She was thoroughly confused about Aeren now. She remembered him going to the stage but couldn't recall what had happened there. This confused her more—why couldn't she remember his awakening? What color had the stage shown?
Not only had she forgotten, but everyone in the Magic Tower hall had forgotten about Swapn and Aeren's awakening. Some thought he hadn't even gone on stage.
Aeren knew this would happen—even if they wanted to remember, they'd forget in a day or two.
He wasn't surprised and replied, "During my trial."
Ellie grew more surprised and wanted to ask more about his butterfly, but the moment she was about to speak, she forgot and turned her head to the ground.
Nil began walking toward the stage where everyone had gone.
She lifted her head to the VIP room and saw both Aeren and Ellie staring at her, then looked at Jarek, who had taken her with him and promised to help her achieve what she wanted.
She'd agreed but didn't believe everything he'd said.
Taking a deep breath, she exhaled and watched from a distance before walking to the stage. Reaching the center, she closed her eyes...
First, white light shone, then blue. Everyone watched with awe, waiting for the next color, but saw two elements—Water and Fire.
A few seconds later, purple light appeared. Everyone turned to Jarek, who had just chosen this girl. They'd all thought he'd fallen for her beauty, but seeing the purple color—and knowing that besides Ellie, no one had reached purple—they reconsidered.
They were watching Jarek when it happened again—purple light shattered like snow, all four elements appeared, and gray light blazed forth.
Half the hall was suddenly captured by darkness, half by brilliant light. This miracle stunned and shocked everyone present.
They looked around at their surroundings—half bright as day, half dark as night.
"What's happening?"
"What is this?"
People were shocked by the scene, forgot about Nil's awakening, and became alert. But nothing happened for half an hour, and both day and night disappeared.
Everyone in the Magic Hall sighed in relief and turned to the VIP room where the Empress and Aeren were staring at the stage while Viviana and Ellie remained seated.
Seeing them relaxed, everyone followed their gaze to Nil, who had two spirits circling her with four elements swirling around.
Finally, they saw the gray color—another herald of the new era.
They were so stunned they forgot to breathe, falling silent as they turned to Jarek. He smiled while staring at Aeren, basically saying, See what you get for bullying others without knowing their value.
Aeren noticed the stare but thought nothing of it, simply watching.
Ellie was shocked by the scene, never having imagined Nil could achieve so much. She thought, It would have been better if she had died.
She turned to Empress Hyliana, who also seemed displeased, watching with anger.
The Empress had let her go because she hadn't thought much of it, but now the situation had changed. Now they could be a threat to Aeren...
Empress Hyliana stood, about to take action, when Aeren saw her and stopped her with a shake of his head.
"They're too dangerous, Aeren."
He listened and remained silent for a moment. "No, they're not."
The Empress and Aeren locked eyes, communicating silently. She stood briefly, and everyone in the hall prepared to flee.
Seeing Aeren's expression, she returned to her seat. "They'll be stronger than me soon, Aeren. Then I won't be able to help."
Aeren heard her statement, already knowing this, and still didn't care.
But others also heard the Empress's cold words and understood their meaning. Everyone looked at Jarek and Nil with new eyes—seeing opportunity.
Jarek and Aeren's eyes met briefly before Aeren turned away.