Extra's Ascent

Chapter 90 90: Appeal To Be Normal... Be Average!

Aldrich and Aydin stood in quiet awe, gazing at the tiny creature curled up in the remnants of its shattered eggshell. The newborn familiar used the broken pieces as a makeshift nest, its small body rising and falling with each peaceful breath.

"Pick it up," Aydin urged, his voice filled with excitement. He was eager to see the familiar up close.

Aldrich hesitated. Witnessing the birth of a life firsthand stirred something deep within him. It was overwhelming, but in a way that left a warmth lingering in his chest. Slowly, he extended his hand and gently cupped the delicate creature, lifting it with the utmost care.

"It's... beautiful," he murmured, captivated by the small, slumbering form. The soft fur, the rhythmic breathing, it was so fragile, so pure.

Before he could dwell further on the moment, the door to their dorm swung open abruptly. Saldrich stepped inside, her expression tense with urgency.

"Al... there's something you need to see," she said, her tone leaving no room for delay.

---

Aldrich moved swiftly through the crowded halls, barely registering the faces he brushed past in his haste. His heart pounded with anticipation as he neared his destination.

Reaching the door, he placed a hand on the handle, hesitated for a fraction of a second, then pushed it open.

And there she was.

Fiona.

She was awake.

Though still in bed, she was sitting up, her upper body no longer confined to unconsciousness.

"Fiona!"

Relief surged through him like a crashing wave. Without a second thought, he crossed the room in a heartbeat, falling to his knees beside her and pulling her into his embrace.

"Aldrich…"

She uttered his name softly, a hint of exhaustion in her voice, yet it carried the same relief he felt.

"Oh, thank the Lords... you're okay."

His arms tightened around her, one hand resting against her back, the other securing her close. He could feel her warmth, her presence real, alive. The fear that had gnawed at him for days threatened to spill from his lips.

"I was afraid you'd never wake up again," he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper, thick with unspoken emotion.

For a moment, they remained like that, two souls finding solace in each other's presence. But Fiona, always direct, always

He shrugged. "Because I'm irresistibly handsome?"

Fiona rolled her eyes and swatted his arm. "Hardly."

Then her expression softened. "Because you were... normal. You weren't trying to impress me. You weren't part of that world. You were just you, a guy unaware of who I was, of my identity as Fiona Helmswoth."

Aldrich exhaled, a weight lifting ever so slightly.

"Being average isn't wrong, Al. But being strong doesn't mean you have to lose yourself, either."

He let her words settle.

"Thank you, Fiona," he finally said, covering her hand with his.

Their eyes met, and for a brief moment, the world outside ceased to exist.

Without thinking, Aldrich leaned in, closing the space between them.

And this time… he didn't hesitate.

Their lips met, slow at first, tentative. But as Fiona responded, the hesitation melted away, replaced by something deeper. His hand found its way to her neck, pulling her closer, their breath mingling as they lost themselves in the moment.

For the first time in a long while, Aldrich wished time would stand still.

If only for just this moment.