The Summoner's Rebirth: Awaken, Milady

Now that she had created a connection with Alena, she had nothing left to do.

Aria went back home and this time, she was received not only by Lein, but two other people.

Sung-ha and Arin. Of course, Lein was there too.

The trio's heads turned towards Aria's way upon noticing her arrival.

Aria lightly waved as she got inside the house and stood in place because she felt rather awkward.

"We need to talk," Sung-ha said with a stern glare. His facial expressions seemed controlled, but it was worsening by each second as Aria entered the atmosphere.

Nodding, Aria had been preparing herself for this event from the very beginning when she first got into trifles with [Lichte], so she was composed.

She sat down on the opposite side of Sung-ha and Arin. Lein was beside her, his slender fingers tapping on his tablet screen as he sat unbothered by the surroundings.

Aria regulated her breathing. Somehow, her heart was racing faster and faster, even though she hadn't actually done anything wrong. She was not guilty, so she did not actually have to fear anything. And yet, what was this vexing feeling?

"Where is Jin-kyung? Or Yoo Jin? I haven't seen those two," Aria calmly poured a cup of tea for herself and sipped it as she looked at Sung-ha, who had a rather bad expression right now.

"I don't think that really matters right now? When the clear main topic we should be discussing is.. what is going on with you these days. Clearly something is wrong. For a good cooperation, I.. as the leader of [Golden Insignia] and as your acquaintance, want to seek an answer for you," Sung-ha sounded so formal that Aria herself was slightly taken aback.

Aria stilled for a moment. She had prepared several answers.

She lightly coughed. "I am just testing the waters. I recall that when I first joined you guys, a few months back, the deal was that I have the freedom to do whatever I want as long as I don't cause any trouble that might inflict you guys as well?" Aria asked, keeping her standpoint on the matter.

"That is indeed true. However, shouldn't you.. Haah. I must have been blind. It is my fault to think that.. you would be the perfect permanent addition to our team," Sung-ha was speaking his mind out.

Even though the start was rocky, where he wasn't fully trusting of Aria and her actions, time proved his sentiments to be wrong.

He became quite familiar with this woman, and respected her for the gifts she was able to bring to the table. The talents she offered. He valued her for what she was, and no longer viewed her as a detached member, but rather a quite close acquaintance.

But with Aria's recent actions, it seemed like time proved his sentiments wrong once again.

Aria was very clear in her goals. Although she never spoke up about what her end goal was, it was clear that she had something in mind. Amidst her mysteries and hidden qualities, Aria also had this mystical goal that they couldn't put their minds upon.

He was certainly disappointed, but he could not blame the woman because their relationship was nothing more than just a casual cooperation.

He was someone who prized those close to him, and truly cared for them. Aria was on the path to becoming someone he could fully trust.

However, he was then informed of the things that happened, and his mood became squished.

"..Are you displeased?" Aria's eyelashes fluttered as she stared at the three around her.

She broke into a laughter.

"You may call me all sorts of bad words. I don't mind, it won't affect me in the slightest. If it will help you sort out your emotions, then feel free to do so. Since you must have already learned of what I have done recently.. after all, it would not be that hard to research the matter, especially with Lein on your side. I won't hide. Yes, I did associate myself with [Lichte], and that was why I was away from the base for quite some time. I went inside a dungeon and even indirectly caused the death of one of their members. And you know? Even after that, they still offered an invitation for me to join them," Aria summarized the events that went on.

"I then came across another person who valued me. She needed my power. I did not accept anything permanent with her yet, but I have built a connection with her," Aria continued. "I don't even know why I attract so much offers, but I guess I should be happy for it? Happy that they.. all of you included, are able to accept me even after knowing I clearly hide secrets like none other,"

Aria made a long sigh before leaning forwards and tapping on the table with her finger.

"I am no longer [Golden Insignia]'s exclusive member. I have mingled with outsiders. That is where I come clean," Aria ended her speech.

Silence ensued.

"I don't mind if you kick me out. I will not forget the favor you all have given me, the help you extended, but if our values differ.. then it would be wise to separate right now before anything larger happens in the future,"

Aria kept spouting stuff that came straight out of her mind.

"Of course, it wouldn't mean that we have to end on a bad note. And I will even extend my help to you all if needed. The things you all have given to me.. I will definitely find the chance to repay it. As for my departure, we could just accept it as a failed cooperation.. After all, we aren't tied with each other very strongly.. yet," Aria added.

She felt bad, but she knew that she could not keep lying to herself. She was going to separate in the future either way, and although jumping ships the way she did was slightly despicable, it would hold the best outcome.

It was like the concept of the drink Arin served to her when they first met. The one that she accepted as part of her gains in the contract, the one that ended up teaching a strange lesson to her.

A drink that was everchanging. Because its qualities depended on the ones who drunk it, it could change over time and yield different results. Time always worked in different ways for people.

After the contract went on, Aria went to investigate what it was that made Arin's drink special. Peculiar.

Turns out, it was very simple.

The drink had a Unique Magic imbued to it. The magic was relevant to people's minds, and the drink that she drank was basically based off a mirror. A reflection of yourself. Just by changing a few traits and adhering different qualities, you could change your reflection. Severe or light.

It was like painting on a canvas. Your experience was the paint, your life was the canvas. If that was the case, then the drink was the painter that translated the experiences into a concrete work that could be realistically felt.

The main base of it all was the unique magic, so in truth, she still could not make the drink even to this day.

There was one thing that she learned. The mixture of colors, and how well she could manipulate it.

That day, the experienced she went through reminded her of the past. But as time passed, she grew to learn that it was very easy to twist and turn things to your own benefits, 'paint' your reflection in a slanted way from the truth.

It was very easy to depict yourself as a completely different individual with different sets of practically everything.

This was also when she realized that she might have poised herself with a different truth all along. A lingering suspicion that never left her brain, one that stayed as a lesson for her.

That was why, to Aria, it was such a grand discovery. It was such an eye opening thing for her to learn about the concept behind the drink.

And she could not help but go back there a couple times to try and mix her 'colors'. To form the Aria Schreiner she believed she was. It was like a therapy, a form of training, and a thrilling activity all at once.

"No, you do not need to leave. I was just curious," Sung-ha rubbed his temples as he stood up from the chair, ruffling his hair.

Aria's eyes trailed his movements, watching as the man grumpily went over to the sofa and turned on the television screen to distract himself.

Sung-ha started up the conversation with not only curiosity to find out the truth, but also hope and denial for Aria's case.

He still wanted to believe that what was relayed to him was not the complete truth. He wanted to hear it from Aria.

And he heard it. The truth from Aria.

Sometimes, the truth would be far from what you want it to be. And it would not be pleasing to hear.