Reincarnated as an Energy with a System

Chapter 447: Followed

Ning looked into the eyes of Rachel, the girl he had been sitting next to in class. He wasnʼt really close to her, but he would like to believe that they had established a base level of friendship over the last few weeks.

Still, he questioned that thought when he saw the fearful look in her eyes. It was like she had seen a ghost.

ʼDid I hurt her?ʼ Ning wondered and reached out to her.

”Are you hurt somewhere?” he asked.

Instead of accepting his help, the girl scrambled backward. Ning was surprised by the act, but he did realize that she wasnʼt hurt.

ʼRight,ʼ he thought. ʼShe doesnʼt like physical interaction very much. Well, it wasnʼt me who bumped into her, so it should be alright.ʼ

Rachel walked back to her corner of the area and started training again, but throughout the rest of the class, she kept staring at Ning.

Ning saw her staring at him from time to time but wondered why that was so. ʼDid I offend her by offering help? No way right?ʼ he thought.

The flight training lasted for half an hour more. By this time, most of the students were very capable of flying.

”Okay, thatʼs it for today. Iʼll see you guys on the 1st day,” the teacher said and left the room.

The kids returned back to the class for the rest of their studies, while Ning and the others were free to go home now.

ʼTomorrowʼs the weekend, huh?ʼ he thought. He walked out of the tower and walked back to the palace.

However, along the way, he saw someone following him from behind.

ʼWhatʼs this girl up to?ʼ Ning thought when he saw her behind him, following all the way through.

At some point, Ning stopped and decided to confront her.

”Rachel, why are you following me?” he asked as he slowly turned around.

Rachel was shocked to see him find it out. ”Ho-How did you know I was following you?” she asked.

”Iʼve been keeping track of you for a while now,” Ning said. ”So, why are you here? It canʼt be because of what happened in the training right? You do know you were at fault for crashing onto me there, right?”

Rachelʼs eyes changed a bit, and a guilty look appeared on it. However, she didnʼt say it out loud.

”Ning…” She said. ”Who are you?”

Ning was a little surprised to hear such a question.

”What do you mean by that?” Ning asked. ”You arenʼt implying that Iʼm using a fake name, right?”

She didnʼt answer immediately and looked at him up and down. ”Are… are you really okay?” she asked.

”Hmm?”

That was a question he wasnʼt expecting. ʼAm I fine? Of course, I am. What does she mean?ʼ he wondered.

”Donʼt worry, you didnʼt break any of my bones back there,” Ning said with a chuckle.

”No, thatʼs not what I meant,” Rachel said. ”Are you feeling well?”

”Iʼm feeling perfectly fine,” Ning said. He was starting to wonder where this line of questioning was going.

”Wh-what about your Aether?” she asked.

”My Aether?” Ning was even more confused. ”My Aether is fine. What do you mean?”

Her eyes went back to being frightful once more. ”Who are you?” she muttered.

Fortunately, it was noon and not a lot of people were out on the street to hear this odd conversation.

Ning scratched his ears as he asked, ”I supposed youʼre not asking for my name, are you?”

Rachel said nothing, waiting for him to answer.

”I… am a part-time guard at the palace for now,” Ning said.

”Eh?” Rachel was surprised. ”A guard? You?”

”Of course,” Ning said. ”Part-time only though. I still need to continue my studies after all.”

”Wait, wait, wait,” Rachel couldnʼt wrap her head around it. ”How the hell are you a guard?” she asked.

”Well, through a bunch of coincidences really,” Ning said.

”No way, you canʼt be a guard. Are you a Head-guard?” she asked.

”Nope, just a random guard,” Ning said.

”What?” Rachel gasped when she heard that. ”Even if it is the Royal family, they wouldnʼt dare employ an Aether Emperor as a mere guard.”

Ningʼs eyes suddenly changed. He slowly walked up to her and asked, ”Aether Emperor? Why would you say Iʼm an Aether Emperor?”

Rachel started fearing for her life right now. She was an Aether Magister. At her age, that was an accomplishment that was hard to come by anywhere else in the world.

Only the lucky noble children with tons of resources for themselves could match her speed. However, even then, in front of an Aether Emperor, she was nothing.

Ning could handle her like a fly buzzing around him.

Ning walked up closer to her and asked, ”Why did you make that assessment?”

Rachel had a secret that she promised herself to never tell anyone lest they come to use her for some malicious purpose. She always believed that she could keep the information to herself.

However, right now, she was fearing for her life. She didnʼt know if she could survive an attack from an Aether Emperor.

Suddenly, she grabbed Ningʼs arm.

”Hmm?” Ning looked at her grabbing his arms and was very confused. ”What are you doing?” he asked.

”You will see,” Rachel said with an angry face. Ning waited for a few seconds, but he didnʼt ʼseeʼ anything.

”I thought you hated contact. Why are you touching me now?” he asked.

”Eh? Whatʼs going on? How… how are you still okay?” she asked. Suddenly, a thought came to her mind.

”No way!” she said. Her eyes were as wide as a pigeonʼs egg. ”Yo-you are not an Aether Emperor, are you? You are an Aether S—”

”Ning?” Someone called him from the side. Rachel jumped a little in surprise.

Ning turned to see Fiona and Jamie walking together.

Fiona saw Rachelʼs hands-on Ningʼs hands and immediately put on a sour expression.

”I thought you were going to the tower to learn about Aether,” she said as he shook her head.. ”Turns out, you were just trying to find yourself a girlfriend.”