Reborn as an Extra Chapter 591: Elisia Mistilteinn, The Dragon Who Bent Reality. Part-1.
Previously on Reborn as an Extra...
Two and a half years earlier, following the chaos in the Lava Lake Dungeon, Liam and Ellie returned to Aldif Mansion temporarily.
In contrast to students such as Rio and Link, who tangled with the demon prince, or the teachers who clashed with his demonic underlings, Liam avoided any such encounters entirely.
He merely crossed paths with the corrupted form of Jiang, yet even then, Liam refrained from battling him.
To Liam, the whole Lava Lake ordeal felt like a simple stroll through the dungeon; the sole event that shattered everything for him was Kira's treachery.
Kira, formerly a clever and sharp-minded young woman, had turned utterly myopic after falling for Fade Crest, ultimately shattering his heart beyond repair.
However, Liam refused to wallow in defeat.
He remained composed and sharp-witted by nature; he wasn't one to drown in excessive sorrow over a rejection from the girl who captured his affections.
Indeed, he harbored feelings for Kira, but that wouldn't drive him to abandon his dignity, begging her to return after she'd plainly selected another and turned him away.
This realization prompted Liam to let go and press forward.
On that fateful day, Liam remained oblivious to the fact that Kira had already fallen under the demon prince's control as a mere puppet, a truth that escaped him even when he was dragged into the Spire of Ascension against his will.
Without Ellie's intervention, he would have perished in ignorance of the harsh reality.
Yet, even armed with that knowledge, he held no power to alter the events of the past.
During the initial sting of betrayal, though not devastated, a subtle wave of disappointment still washed over him.
"How long do you plan to dwell on this?"
Ellie gazed at Liam, lost in thought on the swing, gently rocked by the breeze as it pushed him to and fro.
"Those cookies you baked turned out delicious... why not share them with me?"
As she uttered those words, Ellie reclined against the back of her chair.
One foot propped on the tea table, she contentedly munched on the sugary treats, pausing now and then to sip from her glass of juice.
"Sigh... I'm making an effort, alright... My heart got shattered just yesterday; allow me a moment to sigh and grieve that lost affection..."
At Liam's response, Ellie shook her head and commented.
"That wasn't real love, just your one-sided fantasy, wasn't it? She hardly spared you a look~"
"Truth be told, I always knew she wasn't the right one for you; you simply wouldn't heed my warnings~"
Liam let out a helpless sigh upon hearing Ellie's remark.
"I suppose... I was just fooling myself... maybe..."
"It's just... such a shame that a bright and gifted girl like her wound up that way.... Life truly holds so many twists..."
A chilly gust brushed against Liam's face, tousling his hair and enhancing his already striking features.
Even in moments of sorrow and melancholy, his visage retained its captivating handsomeness.
"Cheer up! Don't mope around like this; constant worry will etch wrinkles into that good-looking face of yours!"
The praise caught Liam off guard, leaving him puzzled.
"Handsome, huh?... I once believed dragons and humans judged beauty differently..."
"Now that I think about it... what traits do shadow dragons seek in a mate?"
Ellie paused briefly at the inquiry before offering an evasive reply.
"Haha, well... you could say we value the luster of their scales!"
"But honestly, I prioritize personality above all else..."
In that instant, Ellie resorted to fibbing to Liam.
The shadow dragons faced extinction; burdened by an unending curse of torment, they struggled to preserve their minds, let alone seek companions.
As the sole remaining rational shadow dragon of her kind, Ellie couldn't hope to find another coherent member of her race, much less an ideal partner.
Truthfully, after a millennium of isolation, her own thoughts had grown unsteady.
It was only through Liam's summoning and their mutual contract as equals—treating her as a true companion—that she could linger in the material realm for so long, a first in ages!
Over the past centuries, Liam stood as the individual Ellie had shared the most time with!
Naturally, his upbeat spirit, strategic mind, and genuine concern for his summoned creatures captured her devotion and affection.
Liam captured Ellie's heart not merely due to their shared plight, but through his inherent honesty and warmth.
Ellie had resolved long ago to lay down her life for Liam should the need arise, though she never imagined his own father would emerge as his greatest foe.
"Personality, eh?... Hmm, but you mostly just eat and lounge about... hold on... don't tell me all dragons are essentially oversized, plump lizards forever napping and idling?"
Ellie awkwardly rubbed the back of her neck at Liam's query and answered,
"Haha, th-that could be spot on... enough about dragons! We were discussing you!"
"You're dodging the subject!"
Ellie had never visited the Dragon Valley, leaving her clueless about authentic dragons.
Her kin endured ceaseless agony and decline each day; idle bliss was a distant dream for them.
Still, she couldn't possibly weigh Liam down with such woes, knowing aid for her race lay beyond reach.