Transmigrating as an Extra, But the Heroine Has Regressed?!

There was no reply this time.

Elysia waited a little longer, hoping he might change his mind, but the sound inside remained still.

Finally, she sighed and turned away.

As she walked back toward the entrance, Jin’s mother was waiting at the end of the sitting room, concern etched across her face.

"Did he say anything?" the woman asked.

Elysia shook her head slowly. "Only a few words. He doesn’t want to talk right now."

Jin’s mother’s shoulders slumped. "He came home late last night and as I assumed, I saw bruises. He didn’t say a word to me. Just locked himself in room."

Elysia’s eyes widened slightly. "Bruises?"

The woman nodded. "He said it was training... but I know my son. Something else happened."

Elysia didn’t respond. Her mind raced back to Kael’s bandaged body, to Cecelia lying pale on her bed.

Something had happened between them—something serious.

"I understand," she finally said, bowing politely. "Thank you for letting me see him. Please... take care of him."

Jin’s mother smiled faintly, though it was filled with worry. "I will, dear. Be careful on your way back."

Elysia nodded and stepped outside.

She looked back once at the closed door before walking away.

(He’s alive... at least that’s a relief,) she thought to herself.

(But why won’t he talk? What happened between him and Cecelia?)

On the next day, there were some rumors.

Some said Jin had been ambushed by beasts outside the city.

Others whispered that Cecelia had been attacked while returning home late.

But the loudest rumor, the one everyone repeated behind cupped hands, was that Kael Ashford had something to do with it.

Elysia walked through the courtyard.

Students glanced at her, then quickly looked away. Everyone knew she was close to Cecelia — and that she wasn’t the type to let something like this go unanswered.

(Jin shut himself away. Cecelia couldn’t even speak... And Kael, covered in bandages the day after? It’s too much of a coincidence.)

She clenched her fists. The memory of Kael’s calm words from yesterday echoed again.

"If you want to know, go and see for yourself."

She had seen. Cecelia’s injuries weren’t something caused by a simple spar or accident.

They were deep, brutal, as if the fight had been to the death.

Elysia didn’t want to believe Kael was capable of such cruelty, but every piece of evidence pointed to him.

As the first bell rang, the students began to gather near the mana field.

The morning light filtered through the high windows, casting long shadows across the training ground.

Dozens of students stood in formation, chatting quietly, waiting for the instructor’s arrival.

Kael was standing near the back.

His expression was tired, and his eyes carried the weight of sleeplessness.

He’d trained again the night before — pushing his body beyond its limits — trying to drown out the chaos building around him.

When he saw Elysia striding toward him, his posture stiffened immediately.

He knew that look in her eyes.

The whispers began even before she reached him.

"Elysia’s going to confront him..."

"About Cecelia and Jin?"

"Of course. Who else could it be about?"

"Do you think Kael actually did it?"

"No way. He’s too weak to even defeat rank 50 in a duel."

Elysia stopped a few steps away from Kael.

"Kael Ashford."

Kael turned to face her. "Elysia."

She didn’t waste a moment. "I’ll ask this once — what did you do to Jin and Cecelia?"

The entire courtyard went silent.

Kael blinked, clearly taken aback by her bluntness. "What are you talking about?" he asked.

"You know exactly what I mean," Elysia shot back. "Jin’s injured, Cecelia’s unconscious, and you’re the only one who came back the same day covered in bandages. You think I wouldn’t notice?"

Kael sighed, running a hand through his hair. "You’re making it sound like I—"

"Don’t play dumb!" she snapped. "Everyone knows you had a fight that night. You think you can hide it from me?"

The crowd began to murmur again.

Some students exchanged nervous glances, while others looked between them with anticipation like spectators at a duel.

Kael’s expression hardened. "Even if I did fight them, do you think I could win?" he said flatly.

"What?"

"How am I supposed to injure those two?" he continued, his voice rising so everyone could hear.

"They’re ranked among the top heroes of the first year. And me?" He pointed at himself.

"You’ve seen my rank. My mana capacity is below average. My swordsmanship is mediocre at best and I can’t even use magic."

The murmuring grew louder.

"He has a point..."

"Yeah, no way he could beat Jin in a fight."

"And Cecelia? She’s a healer prodigy."

"Then what really happened?"

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Elysia faltered slightly, caught off guard by how calmly Kael spoke.

His reasoning made sense. But her instincts screamed that there was something he wasn’t saying.

"Then explain your wounds," she said.

"You were covered in bandages. Don’t tell me that’s just from ’training.’"

Kael’s lips tightened. "And what if it is?"

Elysia’s eyes narrowed. "I don’t believe you."

Kael shrugged faintly, the corner of his mouth twitching with dry frustration. "You don’t have to. Believe whatever you want."

Some students were watching with wide eyes, while others whispered nervously, trying to guess whether a fight would break out.

Then a firm voice cut through the noise.

"Enough."

The crowd parted slightly as Edwin stepped forward.

"Elysia," he said, glancing at her, "you’re letting emotions cloud your judgment."

Elysia frowned. "You’re defending him?"

"I’m stating facts," Edwin replied calmly.

He turned toward Kael. "His strength is nowhere near Jin’s or Cecelia’s level. He couldn’t injure them like that even if he wanted to."

"He is too weak that even my seven year old little sister can defeat him"

(Have you thought of insulting me this way by protecting me as a hero?) Kael thought.

Kael lowered his eyes slightly.

He didn’t like being called weak, but at least it cleared him from suspicion — partially.

The murmuring changed tone again, this time leaning toward sympathy.

"So Edwin agrees..."

"Then maybe Kael’s innocent."

"Yeah, Elysia’s probably just worried about Cecelia."

But Elysia didn’t back down. She folded her arms.

"Even so, he’s hiding something. I can tell."

Edwin looked at her seriously. "Elysia, sometimes believing in your instincts too much leads to the wrong conclusions. I know you’re angry, but Kael isn’t the type to—"

"You don’t know him like I do!" she shouted suddenly.

The words slipped out before she could stop them, and for a moment, everyone froze — even Kael.

Elysia quickly looked away. "I mean... I’ve seen him fight. I’ve watched him. He’s not as helpless as you all think."

Kael blinked.

He sighed quietly and turned to face her fully. "Elysia," he said, "I don’t know what happened to them. But if you think I’m involved, then prove it. Until then, stop blaming me for things I didn’t do."

Elysia could sense no guilt in his words, and that confused her more than anything.

Then she stepped back, lowering her gaze. "Fine. But if I find out you’re lying..."

Kael gave a tired half-smile. "Then I won’t stop you next time."

"Enough," Edwin said again, crossing his arms.

"Both of you. We’re in the academy, not an arena. Whatever happened outside, leave it to the instructors to investigate."

Kael nodded silently. He was tired of explaining himself.

Elysia, however, clenched her fists. "If the instructors won’t, I will," she said to herself.

Later That Day

When the mana class finally began, the students gathered.

Even though Professor Orwen tried to maintain order, the undercurrent of rumors buzzed faintly through the hall.

Elysia sat near the front, tapping her quill against her notebook, barely paying attention to the lecture.

Her mind drifted constantly back to Kael.

Every time she glanced over her shoulder, he was sitting quietly in the back row — listening, not speaking, his gaze distant.

(He looks calm... ) she thought.

(If he’s innocent, why doesn’t he try harder to defend himself?)

(But why am i so weak to kill him instantly... he is getting stronger and stronger..... )

The words Edwin said earlier echoed faintly in her head.

"Sometimes emotions cloud judgment."

She frowned. She hated that he might be right.

When class ended, most students quickly packed their books and left, relieved to escape the awkward silence.

Only a few lingered, Elysia among them.

She turned slightly and caught sight of Kael again, walking toward the exit with his usual quiet step.

He paused briefly when he noticed her watching him, but didn’t speak.

Instead, Elysia stood and followed.

They met again just outside the classroom doors.

"Kael," she said.

He stopped but didn’t turn around. "Now what?"

"I..." she hesitated. The anger that had fueled her earlier was gone, leaving behind confusion and guilt.

"I might have gone too far this morning."

Kael turned slightly. "You’re... apologizing?"

"Don’t push it," she said quickly, crossing her arms.

"I just don’t like misunderstandings. But don’t think that means I trust you."

Kael let out a small chuckle. "Wouldn’t expect you to."

Elysia sighed and looked away.

"Cecelia means a lot to me. Jin too. If anything happens to them again, I’ll find whoever’s responsible."

He nodded. "So will I."

That simple response caught her off guard.

"You?" she asked. "Why would you care?"

"Because I’m tired of being blamed for things I didn’t do," he said quietly. "And because... they don’t deserve what happened."

Elysia watched him for a moment, her expression softening slightly, though she quickly masked it.

"You better mean that, Kael Ashford."

He gave a faint smile. "I do."

"But I should warn you... to not be near Cecelia. Otherwise things won’t go easy between us" Elysia said.

"We have another quest to clear demons... let’s make this clear... Just leave Cecelia alone"