Alchemy Conference (11)
The fact that the Blue Tower Lord was set to unveil new research results at the Alchemy Conference was common knowledge. It was the hottest topic of the entire event. Highlights always save the best for last, so it was only natural the lecture was scheduled right at the end. I'd hyped it up beforehand with "You won't be disappointed," drawing even bigger crowds. Pretty tragic that the real star couldn't take the stage herself, though.
The real issue was the overflow of wizards—only pre-registered attendees could get in. I vented my pointless frustration at Terria. "Does this even make sense? It's my research."
Even I—who'd been playing Ariel's assistant—couldn't enter the lecture hall. Officially, I still wasn't on the books. "They said too many wizards signed up ahead of time."
"You're the one presenting it, not me. I figured I could at least watch." I pulled the most aggrieved face imaginable. Terria just gave me that soft smile of his—the kind that made him look like a saint to anyone who didn't know better.
"Worried I'll botch it?"
"A little? But nah, you wouldn't. Never seen you break a promise."
"Exactly. So relax."
Come to think of it, Terria always followed through once he gave his word. I decided to let that worry go. No point stewing over it anyway.
"It's not worry. It's just annoying."
"I get it."
"You don't look nervous at all, though."
"What's to be nervous about? We rehearsed yesterday."
These past few days, we'd prepped the lecture in our room. Terria's run-throughs were flawless, of course.
"Still, you never know. I've always gotten jitters before."
"Told you, don't worry. I'll handle it."
Terria dropped the classic "I'll handle it"—the line every nagging mom has heard a million times. I'd heard it plenty myself. Never said it, though.
The lecture hall was on the basement level, but first we had to meet conference officials and handle a bunch of other stuff. Once prep wrapped, we headed to the hotel lobby. Terria chatted with the key figures while I stood quietly off to the side. Until someone came barreling up from behind and threw their arms around him.
"Ariel—!"
"Uh...?"
A woman rushed in, grinning ear to ear, and squeezed "me" in a bear hug. Terria turned and hugged her back gently.
"Missed you!"
It was my fiancée, Clechia. What the hell was she doing here all of a sudden? But that wasn't the point. Terria and Clechia gazed at each other with pure affection.
"No heads-up—what's the occasion?"
"Don't sound so hurt. I heard my Ariel's lecturing today, so I came to watch. Surprised?"
"Hell yeah, I am. You snag an invite? Place is packed."
"You gave me one ages ago. Ring any bells?"
Terria scratched his head, clearly caught off guard, then pivoted fast. "Right, yeah. Should've said you were coming—we could've grabbed dinner."
"After the lecture. I'm crashing here anyway."
Anyone watching would've pegged them for the perfect couple. The air practically turned pink. Clechia's eyes were dripping honey, and Terria's matched.
I just stared, dumbfounded. This is all an act. He's playing Ariel to perfection. That reunion-with-your-lover face? Acting. Those ingrained, lovey-dovey gestures you pick up after years together? Acting. It was his first time seeing Clechia since the swap, but he nailed it without a hitch.
"Crashing? You book a room?"
"Duh! Conference wraps the day after tomorrow. We can head back together."
No, that's not Ariel acting. I'd never made a face like that at Clechia. Terria was pulling off stuff I'd never done. She had no clue the "Ariel" she was swooning over was actually Terria. She was being played. So it shouldn't bother me. Doesn't bother me. But something twisted in my chest anyway.
"Sounds good. Long trip—not tired?"
"Nope! How could I be when I'm seeing Ariel? Hehe. But... who's this?"
She finally clocked me and scowled. She'd always hated Ariel's pretty little slave. I could only stand there like an idiot. What was I supposed to say? She knew I was the slave. Slaves don't butt into noble chit-chat.
Terria hemmed and hawed like he was scrambling for an answer, so Clechia snapped, a bit peeved. "A slave...? Why'd you bring her?"
"...Prep got more complicated than expected. Tons to do at the conference. Brought her as an assistant and for odd jobs. She knows a fair bit of alchemy—actually useful."
"That's really all? Seems fishy... Ariel never dragged her to stuff like this."
"Not what you're thinking. Wouldn't happen."
The lobby was filling with that pink haze, drawing stares from passersby wondering what was up. The Blue Tower Lord was infamous for stingy PDA—made it seem like Clechia's crush was one-sided. And honestly, it kinda was. I couldn't lie, so everything I'd done with her had been real. But now? People were second-guessing the "one-sided" bit.
Is he doing this on purpose? I needed to bail before things got messy. Then, to top it off, a tall, sturdy guy waved from across the lobby and approached.
"Ariel! Keeping well?"
"Master, it's been ages."
The man extended his hand like an old buddy. Terria grabbed it and shook hard. His palm was rough—scarred from years on the battlefield, the kind only veterans get.
"Told you, call me Cain."
"Haha... 'Cain' just doesn't roll off the tongue."
The man was my mentor, Cain. He'd raised me from a kid. Twelve years older, but he didn't look it—top-tier magic kept him looking early twenties even in his late thirties.
"Heard you've got a lecture today?"
"Yeah. But I thought you were swamped with work..."
"My own disciple's research? Had to come."
"Don't hype it up. It's not that impressive."
He was drop-dead handsome, yet single—that was a hot topic among imperial mages. Half a year since I'd last seen Cain. Always buried in work, so seeing his face again made my heart skip.
"Nah, rumors are wild. Folks say it's the conference highlight."
"Even if you say that..."
"Don't sweat it. Oh, Clechia—looking good? Long time."
"Always! Long time no see, Cain."
Cain and Clechia knew each other too. They greeted like old pals. These three were pretty much my entire social circle. And there I was, feeling like a total outsider. I should be the one in that spot, not Terria.
"Cain, doesn't Ariel seem... different? Softer maybe? Hotter, even?"
"Hm? What do you mean?"
"Dunno. Just vibes."
"Probably those rose-colored glasses."
Clechia blushed and giggled at that. Terria just scratched his head sheepishly. For a second, I thought she'd caught on—disappointing when she hadn't.
Cain turned to me. "You're... Terria, right? Doing okay?"
"Ah, hi... Y-yeah, fine..."
His gentle tone nearly brought tears—I stammered to hold it together. Just call me Ariel, for fuck's sake. Cain rarely visited the lab over three years, but when he did, he'd check on the slave. Pointless kindness, really.
"You look peaky. Ariel still giving you hell?"
"N-no... He's treating me better now."
"Cain, come on," Terria muttered, brushing it off.
Cain probably thought he was being thoughtful, but with me right there? Epic fail. Pre-swap, if Terria had whined "Master bullies me," I'd have shut that down. Now? No point saying it—Terria wouldn't retaliate, but why bother? I gave a vague answer.
Mages are like this. Zero empathy. Hits different when you're the one on the receiving end.
They chatted like long-lost friends, ignoring me completely. A thought bubbled up: They act like they know each other so well—how do they not see Ariel's really Terria? Is that even "knowing" someone? If you're truly close, you'd sense a soul-swap instantly. But Cain, Clechia, nobody noticed. Depressingly sad.
Should've opened up more. Regret's useless, though. Terria's acting was flawless—could fool parents. All I could hope was the performance didn't turn real. Hell, faking a ten-minute chat wasn't even hard. Rationalize it, Ariel.
"Cain, time's up—gotta head out. Clechia, catch you at the hall." Terria bowed out with a wave.
Cain glanced at me, still standing there. "Not watching the lecture?"
"...No seat. Master said wait in the lobby."
"Got it."
He left with Clechia. Lecture time already. I dragged my feet to a dim corner of the lobby and sank down. Lost in thought.
Time to think seriously. The drug I'd invented was the devil's handiwork. Its implications. What body-swapping really meant.
I'd heard tales of demons who secretly kill, steal bodies, and impersonate the dead. The victim watches helplessly from the heavens. Just like me now.
In the end, Terria had killed me and stolen my body. He was the demon. And I was alive... but as good as dead.