Rebirth: Awaken, Milady

14 - The Beginning (1)

"I'm... finally out," Aria saw the outside world for the first time in months.

It was like taking a breath of fresh air. She felt free.

Once again, she unlocked her phone and checked the date.

Originally, she had around 24 months.

14 months were wasted for the Training Ground, while speedrunning the floors took her 5 months in total.

Most of it was thanks to the tenth floor. Although the time flow was different in Rael's world, the amount of time she spent there was still equivalent to a lot of time in reality.

In short, she still had 5 months remaining before the first gate.

...I really hope that there's 5 months.

Aria was not a firm believer of a certain theory called butterfly effect, but seeing how Dion had awakened earlier than he was supposed to, Aria was wary.

"First and foremost.. I should probably return to my family..." Aria browsed the internet with her phone.

She blinked repeatedly.

'Aria Schreiner, the Lady of Schreiner Family still in search.'

'Where on Earth could the Young Lady of Schreiner dissapeared to?'

'Lady Aria's search party baffled after getting absolutely no clues pertaining to her disappearance.'

'A picture of Lady Aria's last note: Was she forced to write it?'

'Schreiner Conglomerate have joined hands with a classified family.'

'Aria Schreiner: Dead or Alive? Scientists and psychologists' take on this matter.'

Aria's facial expression stiffened.

With her current agility, it took her 10 minutes to get from the bridge to the Schreiner's mansion.

Upon arriving, she was greeted with the familiar faces she knew and loved... and a familiar feeling she despised.

A turbulence occured.

Aria knew what this feeling was. She was overly familiar with it.

A gate's birth.

Determining the location, she ran straight to the gate at full speed.

And there it was.

A gate was emitting lightning sparks right in the middle of a living room, with Julius covering his parents and looking at the oval membrane warily.

"WHAT THE HELL?!!" Aria couldn't resist cursing whoever behind this a thousand deaths.

Aria looked at her family, whose attention was now directed at her. She bit her lips.

"Brother! Take mother and father away!"

"What about you?!"

"Trust me this once! I'm confident!!"

Julian wanted to refute, but he then saw the determination brewing in Aria's eyes. Clicking his tongue, he decided to trust his little sister.

Although Aria was troublesome at times, she had never lied to them.

Just like how she came back just as written in the note, she was a terribly honest person when it came to important matters.

"Now... this is.. An F-ranked Gate," Aria felt the disturbances around the gate and analyzed it. 

Aria equipped the armor. She was surprised to see that it was invisible. However, she could clearly feel the weight and sturdiness of the metal plate.