Bloodline Evolution: I Can Choose Opposing Paths-Chapter 96: The Echoes Afterward (2)

Aren leaned back slightly against the wall, his gaze drifting once more toward the couch where Miu lay sleeping beneath the blanket. His mind was trying to process it all, pretty much tuning out the small conversations the others were having.

But his mind kept lingering around a single word:

Demonic...

Except she wasn’t.

Demonic cultivators always left traces behind, almost like rot spreading through the air. Anyone who had fought one before could recognize it instantly.

The Siren felt dangerous sure, yet it didn’t feel like that. It never felt ’unstable’ to the extent he’d associate with being demonic.

Which meant something didn’t add up.

Aren exhaled slowly through his nose, rubbing the back of his neck as the memory replayed itself in his mind until it stopped at a certain point.

The man had thrown himself forward without hesitation, almost like he had been planning to die from the very beginning. Aren had cut him down before he could reach her...but not before the syringe had grazed her arm with the serum.

His gaze slowly lifted from the floor.

"...Wait."

The word slipped out quietly, but it was enough to make the others pause.

Daniel glanced over first. "Something up?"

Aren straightened slightly, his eyes shifting toward the unconscious girl again.

"The cleaner on the stage," he said slowly. "The one who stabbed Miu."

Emily blinked. "You mean the guy who tried to inject her with something?"

Aren nodded once.

"Yeah," he continued. "He had the same syringe."

"Same as who?" Luna asked.

But that was when Daniel’s eyes widened as he put two and two together.

"Like those guards!" he yelled out. "From the highway!"

"Exactly."

Daniel slowly scratched the back of his head, his brow furrowing as he thought it through.

"Hold on," he said. "Those guards we fought took the whole syringe, right?"

"Yeah."

The room grew quiet again.

Emily frowned slightly while Luna glanced nervously between them, clearly trying to follow the logic.

Professor Voss, however, had already gone still. Her fingers rose to adjust her glasses as her expression slowly sharpened.

"...Because she didn’t take the whole thing."

The professor folded her arms as her gaze shifted toward Miu.

"If the serum is meant to corrupt or stimulate a Bloodline," she said slowly, "then injecting a full dose into an unprepared body would cause exactly what you witnessed with those guards."

"Complete instability."

Aren’s eyes narrowed slightly.

"...But Miu didn’t react like that."

"Correct."

Voss nodded faintly.

"Which suggests her body had already developed some level of tolerance."

Daniel blinked again.

"...You’re saying she’d been exposed to it before?"

"Repeatedly," Voss replied. "Likely in small doses."

Emily’s eyes widened.

"You mean like... medication?"

"Or food," Voss added matter-of-factly. "Or drinks."

That’s when it all clicked for Aren. He pushed off the wall immediately as his eyes widened.

"So that’s why she said she’s been hearing voices," he said quickly. "Her Bloodline was being constantly stimulated..."

Then Luna suddenly shot to her feet.

"Wait a second!" her eyes widened with shock as the implication finally hit her.

"You’re saying someone’s been poisoning her this whole time?!"

Emily’s face had gone pale. "...Her company!"

"They’re terrible!" Luna snapped.

"Exploitative!" Emily added. "She should switch to another agency!"

That was when Principal Virel sharply chimed in. "Unfortunately for her...this probably means her idol career is over."

Both Luna and Emily froze.

"...What?" Luna said quietly.

Virel leaned back in his chair as if he had merely stated a simple fact.

"Tonight, tens of thousands of people witnessed the event live," he continued. "Many got hurt. And even if they didn’t, well...it’s clear her talent agency is going to drop her after the incident."

Luna slowly turned to look at Miu again.

"...That’s not fair."

"No," Virel said simply.

"It isn’t."

Professor Voss cleared her throat gently, drawing everyone’s attention back toward her.

"For now, the most important matter is her recovery," she said, glancing toward the unconscious idol on the couch. "Her ether channels were severely strained, but there doesn’t appear to be any permanent damage."

Luna visibly relaxed at that.

"So she’ll wake up soon?" she asked.

"In time," Voss replied. "I will personally monitor her condition for the next few days."

Her expression softened slightly as she looked at Miu.

"But if she wishes to move forward after this...there is only one path available to her."

Everyone waited.

"She will have to learn how to control her Bloodline."

Emily blinked. "...You mean like a Mystic?"

"Precisely."

Voss folded her arms.

"A Siren Bloodline is far too dangerous to leave unattended. If she doesn’t learn to control it, another incident like tonight will inevitably occur."

Daniel let out a quiet whistle.

"...From idol to combat training. That’s a career shift."

Before anyone else could comment, Principal Virel rose from his chair.

The movement alone seemed to shift the atmosphere of the room.

"But that," he said calmly, "is a problem for later."

His gaze settled squarely on Aren.

"For now, we should focus on someone else’s next step."

Aren blinked.

"...Mine?"

"Indeed." The principal sighed softly. "You cannot remain in Imperial City right now."

"Too many people are sniffing around at the incident, and will undoubtedly find your connection to the whole thing."

Aren’s jaw tightened slightly.

"...So what do I do?"

The principal clasped his hands behind his back as he began pacing slowly across the room.

"Well," Professor Sterling said casually as she stepped forward. "I suppose this is where I come in."

"You remember the Urban Hunting Club’s expedition next week, right?"

Aren nodded slowly.

"...Yeah."

Daniel looked at the professor with his eyes wide. "Don’t tell me..."

"Yup," she shrugged slightly. "It’s not next week anymore."

"So prepare quickly, fresh meat of the Urban Hunting club!" she smirked softly. "To a place where all types of dangerous perils and endless treasure awaits!"

She threw her hands in the air dramatically before spinning and pointing her finger at Aren.

"We’re going to the Wildlands."