Shattered Innocence: Transmigrated Into a Novel as an Extra - Chapter 543

Chapter 543: A ride
Lucavion handed the stable owner a small pouch of coins, the quiet clink of metal filling the air as payment exchanged hands. The man gave a quick nod of gratitude before stepping back, letting them be.

Aeliana, watching the entire process with mild disinterest, turned her gaze back to Aether.

She reached out, fingers hovering just above the sleek black coat, intending to brush them gently against the horse’s side—

Only for Aether to shift, flicking her ears away from the touch, a subtle movement that spoke volumes.

Aeliana blinked.

Then—

She hmphed, crossing her arms.

Lucavion chuckled under his breath. “She’s particular.”

Aeliana scoffed. “So is your cat.”

Lucavion exhaled sharply, shifting his gaze ever so slightly—

And, sure enough, there she was.

Vitaliara.

At some point—probably when they were still walking through the city—she had appeared on him, settling comfortably against his shoulder, her small body nestled against his neck.

Aeliana smirked, her golden eyes locking onto Vitaliara’s eerie, pale gaze.

“Her gaze is particular as usual.”

Lucavion tilted his head slightly, glancing toward the small creature curled against his shoulder. “She’s annoyed a little bit.”

Aeliana raised a brow. “For what?”

Lucavion coughed lightly, looking away. “Ahem… she’s like this. Don’t worry about it.”

Aeliana scoffed. “For a mere cat, she looks pretty rude to me.”

Lucavion’s smirk returned. “You shouldn’t think of her as a mere cat.”

Aeliana hummed, tilting her head in mock thought. “She looks like one to me.”

Lucavion exhaled lightly, shaking his head.

Aeliana, grinning, lifted a hand and ran her fingers over the delicate hairpin in her hair—the one he had gotten her.

“But,” she mused, her voice carrying a teasing lilt, “I’ll overlook it.”

The moment the words left her mouth—

SCREEEEEEECH!

Vitaliara suddenly stood, fur bristling slightly, her long tail curling in agitation.

Aeliana blinked—then smirked.

“Heh… mad?”

Vitaliara’s icy eyes glowed faintly, her small, feline body tense as she glared at Aeliana.

Lucavion sighed. “Tch. You really don’t know when to stop.”

Aeliana merely grinned, entirely unbothered.

But Vitaliara, after a long, narrowed stare, huffed—and then, just as suddenly as she had gotten riled up, she settled back down.

Aeliana let out a low chuckle. “Tch. What a temper.”

Aeliana’s gaze flickered over the scene before her, and for a moment, she simply observed.

Lucavion, standing in the center, holding Aether’s reins with ease.

To one side, the obsidian-coated warhorse, sleek and powerful, her piercing blue eyes brimming with intelligence.

To the other, the small, white-furred feline, perched effortlessly on his shoulder—her temperament unpredictable, her icy gaze unwavering.

And in the middle of it all—

Lucavion himself.

Dark-haired, dark-eyed, his sword resting comfortably at his side, exuding that ever-present, lazy confidence.

Each of them—Aether, Vitaliara, Lucavion—shared nothing in appearance, yet there was something about them that simply fit.

Aeliana couldn’t help but chuckle.

Tch. Figures.

Of course, these two were the kinds of companions Lucavion would have—an untouchable, proud horse and an arrogant, temperamental cat.

How very him.

Lucavion glanced at her then, amusement flickering in his gaze before he effortlessly swung himself onto Aether’s back.

The motion was smooth, practiced—second nature.

Once seated, he leaned slightly forward, running a slow, careful hand down Aether’s strong neck. His voice dropped into something softer, something only the horse could hear.

“This lady,” he murmured, voice low, “will be on your back. So don’t throw her off.”

Aether huffed.

Then, ever so slowly, she turned her sharp blue gaze toward Aeliana—staring at her, assessing her.

Aeliana met her gaze head-on, lifting a brow. “What?”

Aether flicked an ear—

Then scoffed, turning her head away as if the very idea of acknowledging Aeliana further was beneath her.

Lucavion chuckled. “That,” he mused, “is her way of accepting you.”

Aeliana blinked—then laughed.

Tch.

Of course.

Of course this horse had an attitude.

Lucavion extended a hand toward her, palm open, his dark eyes glinting under the lantern light.

“Come on,” he murmured.

Aeliana exhaled lightly, reaching out.

Her fingers slipped into his—warm, steady—before she swung herself up onto Aether’s back behind him, settling into place.

Lucavion barely glanced back, but his smirk curled ever so slightly.

“Hold tight,” he murmured, shifting the reins in his hands.

Aeliana scoffed, looping her arms around his waist without hesitation. “Tch. Don’t have to tell me twice.”

Aeliana tightened her grip around Lucavion’s waist as Aether moved beneath them, the powerful muscles of the horse shifting smoothly with each step.

She wasn’t unfamiliar with riding, but—

This felt… different.

Closer.

Lucavion’s warmth pressed against her, his posture relaxed but firm, the steady rhythm of his breathing noticeable even in the cool night air.

She exhaled, settling into the ride as they left the stable behind.

The streets of Stormhaven were still alive, lanterns flickering along the pathways, casting golden light over the cobbled roads. They couldn’t simply gallop through the city—so Lucavion kept Aether at a steady, controlled pace, guiding her smoothly along the designated horse roads.

Aeliana’s gaze wandered over the streets as they passed, the familiar sights of her childhood bathed in moonlight.

Then—

Her attention flickered back to Aether.

She studied the sleek black coat, the piercing blue eyes, the way she carried herself with such effortless grace and power.

“…This horse,” Aeliana murmured, resting her chin lightly against Lucavion’s shoulder.

He tilted his head slightly, as if to indicate he was listening.

“Aether.” She ran her fingers briefly over the smooth leather of the saddle. “How did you find a horse like this?”

Lucavion exhaled lightly, adjusting the reins.

“Well, she was a reward…”

Lucavion’s smirk lingered as he adjusted Aether’s reins, his voice casual.

“Well,” he murmured, “she was a reward.”

Aeliana frowned slightly. “A reward?”

Lucavion nodded. “From a tournament.”

Aeliana’s eyes narrowed. “What tournament?”

Lucavion exhaled lightly, his tone amused. “You’ve heard your father call me ‘Sword Demon,’ haven’t you?”

Aeliana blinked. “Yeah. What about it?”

Lucavion chuckled. “I earned that title in the Martial Tournaments organized by Marquis Ventor.”

Aeliana’s brow furrowed slightly. Martial Tournaments?

She wasn’t particularly familiar with them, but—Marquis Ventor.

That name, that she knew.

The Ventor family was a powerful noble house in the west, far from the Central Territories and even farther from the Thaddeus Duchy, which resided in the east. Naturally, their paths had never crossed much, but their influence was undeniable.

A large noble state, known for its independent governance, extensive trade, and something else…

Horses.

Aeliana’s gaze flickered toward Aether, realization dawning.

“Wait,” she murmured, running her fingers lightly over the leather of the saddle. “Marquis Ventor—he’s the one who raises those horses, right? The Ventorian Chargers?”

Lucavion nodded. “That’s right.”

Aeliana hummed, piecing things together.

“So, you’re telling me,” she began slowly, “that this horse—the one you just told not to throw me off—was a prize?”

Lucavion smirked. “More or less.”

Aeliana exhaled sharply.

She had heard of the Ventorian Chargers. Even in the Central Territories, they were known as some of the finest warhorses in the kingdom, bred for endurance, speed, and battle. And Aether…

Her golden eyes traced the sleek, obsidian-black coat beneath her, the powerful frame, the intelligent blue eyes that gleamed under the moonlight.

‘Tch. What kind of ridiculous reward is this?’

She couldn’t imagine just handing an animal like this to someone, no matter how skilled they were.

Lucavion must have really left an impression on them.

Aeliana shook her head, muttering under her breath, “Unbelievable.”

Lucavion only chuckled, nudging Aether forward as they continued their slow pace through Stormhaven.

Aeliana glanced at him.

“So?” she prodded. “What’s the rest of the story?”

Lucavion smirked. “Oh, it’s a good one.”

And with that, he began to tell her how he really got Aether.