I reincarnated as an elf .......and married the yandere villainess.-Chapter 21:slight increase

Atheline’s footsteps accompanied by his attendant echoed softly down the empty hallway like music. They were heading to the new Aether well that his father had given him.

Their house had eight aether wells since one of the biggest world tree roots passed through their home. That’s why his family built there.

Aether Wells, were naturally forming well from an accumulation of concentrated Aether. They’re mainly found near the world tree which carries most of the raw world Aether.

Aether wells are restricted and every Aetherion lord takes care of their own wells in their territory. Atheline’s family managed the highest number.

"How has your training been like master?" Luther asked.

Atheline smiled.

"It’s been good, I’ve learnt a few new things that would have eventually helped me at my training.....Luther, do you know that I’ve been commanding my power treating it like a servant, " he chuckled softly," It’s never felt like that but I’ve been told I’m forcing the wind."

Luther though not fully understanding nodded.

"It’s really never felt like that during all our training master but I suppose an untrained eye like mine cannot catch such things. "

Atheline waved his hand to him in dismissal.

"Stop with the downgrading yourself, you’re a warrior not an Aether manipulator, understandably, you can’t see the limitations in my casting....Come to think about it, maybe I should ask my mother about this after my training in the well."

They walked in silence and came to a stop in front of the door at the end of the hallway. Luther pushed it open, and they were greeted by the wave of Aether too thick that it felt suffocating.

"Should I go inside with you master?" Luther asked his gaze fixed in the semi-dark room.

Atheline shook his head.

"No that’s fine, as always keep watch on the door. If you notice father call me okay."

What he was going to attempt was reckless and he didn’t want his father to know.

Atheline knew this world ran with power, while he was talented among Elves or even among the other species, he still had this sense of crisis that if he didn’t work hard enough, he would eventually be left behind.

With the protagonist breathing down his neck and an abnormally strong woman stalking him, he had to grow strong.

"I hope this doesn’t get back on us, Grandpa, " he murmured to himself as he shut the door behind him," just hope I can make the leap today."

Atheline was determined to reach the peak of A+ one way or another. To do that he would have to force his core to expand.

This won’t be the first time he has attempted this. He had been stuck on A for two years and only managed to break through to A+ after forcing his core forward.

His growth was already considered too fast but before he got the few memories he had, he hadn’t felt any sense of urgency to increase his power.

Just like his mother’s estimate, he had given himself a hundred years or so to get really powerful since he was still under his parents’ protection.

But right now with the oncoming disaster that was the villainess, he couldn’t wait around for a natural progression.

’I have to risk it even if it means getting corrupted’

The door closed behind him sealing his fate.

Inside the empty room the aether well, located at the centre, bubbled as it released Aether in concentrated bursts.

Atheline removed his outer robes and stepped into the near-freezing well. He could feel his body stagnate for a second from the cold before Aether started to penetrate through his pores providing the much-needed warmth.

The contrast between the two states was jarring. The cold started to dissipate as he started to circulate the Aether through his channels.

He closed his eyes and let himself fall into the hypnotic rhythm of his heartbeat.

Above his heart the core the size of a table tennis ball rotated slowly.

His core carried the status and appearance of his power. It looked like a small storm that was compressed to form a table tennis ball.

A few cracks that were noticeable on the surface started to expand as Aether flowed into his core from the channels.

The Aether channels were akin to blood vessels but invisible to everyone but the wielder. They formed a golden line mapping around his body from every pore in his skin leading to the core.

"Shit!"

A small groan escaped Atheline as he absorbed the Aether past his threshold. Cracks on his core became wider but that didn’t stop him, he powered on with the picture of the oncoming doom painted in front of him.

’This is more painful than last time’

His hair was plastered against him but he didn’t care, he pushed forward through the pain.

The aether wells bubbled in response to his determination. Aether in the air gathered around him reflected by the sun coming from the small window on the right side of the moon.

A few hours later, warmth flowed through his body healing every injury from the forced core expansion. Atheline smiled while looking down at his now crack-free clear core.

"This feels so good." He mummbled to himself as he clenched his fists feeling the power in his hold.

It hadn’t expanded in size since he had only moved from lower A+ to high A+ but it was a very large leap in both power and control.

His Aether channels had also expanded allowing a better absorption of Aether in the air and control.

"Lucky I didn’t get corrupted. "

Since corruption is mainly caused by greed. If he had continued and tried to become an S-class recklessly he would have ended up in that state.

’Greed is a sin’

Atheline left the Aether room an hour later after his body had gotten used to his power. He closed the door behind him and turned to Luther and asked.

"How long has it been?"

"Eight hours master."

Atheline nodded.

"My absorbing speed is getting faster."

"Yes master, last time it took you twelve hours just to move from B class to A class," Luther said his voice filled with awe.

How could he not, his master was one of the few talented ones and he was honoured that he had been chosen to serve him.

He followed behind Atheline as they left the hallway and headed for his bedroom.

"I feel like cooking today, tell the butler I’ll prepare today’s dinner as a celebration."

"Will you be telling the mistress about your increase in power?"

Atheline smiled thinking about his kind and perspicacious mother.

"She’ll probably know the moment she sees me."

They reached his room as they talked aimlessly. Atheline pushed open his door and came to a stop before he stepped in.

His eyes widened in shock the moment he saw who was inside.

He closed the door again and turned to Luther who was about to follow behind him while bearing the door with his body.

"I’ll be taking a bath by myself today."

Luther looked at him puzzled before he nodded and left. Atheline waited until he entered the elevator before he closed his eyes and leaned against the wall.

’Just why is she here, i thought she’d given up’

Lily hadn’t come to see him yesterday and today as a whole, he had assumed she was either busy or had gotten tired of the new toy she had found.

He took a deep breath and opened the door.