Aetheric Chronicles: Reborn As An Extra

The realization brought a bitter taste to his mouth.

"Darn, paying for something I didn't eat..."

"But who could it be?" Adrian muttered under his breath, his voice barely audible in the oppressive stillness of the forest. His hand instinctively brushed against the hilt of his dagger, as if drawing strength from the cold steel.

He had asked himself that question a hundred times, but the answer continued to elude him. Whoever the impostor was, they weren't just imitating him. They were erasing him. Overwriting his existence, step by step. Every vision he'd seen, every action that should have been his—it all felt like a piece of his identity slipping through his fingers.

And only one person could do it like that...

The only possible answer has already been formed in his mind.

Long ago, the moment he realized it wasn't him living in those visions.

That was the first guess that came to his mind.

"It can't be… really him?"

"...Right?"

"..."

He took a deep cold breath and let it out chuckling.

"If so..."

"Wouldn't I be the impostor?"

"..."

"Darn it..."

"..."

"Well, whatever. It's not like I liked being 'him' anyway..."

"An extra with no real power."

"So, what if he has a future-seeing ability."

"Can he see his own death?"

"If so can he prevent it? Does he have the power to do it?"

"No!"

"He's weak as hell even to run away from danger, darn it."

"..."

"What's the point of trying this many times..."

"..."

"Hmm..."

"Huf..."

"Hmm..."

"Huf..."

Adrian—or rather, Alex—stood still, his breath uneven, his hands clenched into fists at his sides. The emotions surging through him like a storm finally began to ebb as he closed his eyes, focusing on the cold air brushing against his face.

He inhaled deeply, letting the forest's earthy scent fill his lungs, then exhaled slowly.

"Whatever," he muttered under his breath, a smirk tugging at his lips despite the turmoil still simmering beneath the surface. "I'm gonna meet him soon anyway. And when we do... I'll finally get the answers I've been searching for. The ones that have haunted me for so long."

His voice dropped to a near whisper, a mixture of curiosity and bitterness lacing his tone.

"Like, why am I 'him'? Who is he, really? Is he the real Adrian? And most importantly..." Alex's eyes darkened, his smirk fading as his hand brushed against the hilt of his dagger. "Why the hell did I become him?"

"It's definitely not because I wanted to read the rest of the story... right?"

For a moment, the forest fell silent again, the weight of his questions pressing down on him. He let out a dry laugh, shaking his head. "Yeah, right. He better not disappoint me..."

Alex's thoughts shifted, his mind finding some bitter amusement as he addressed something unseen.

"...Like you, you white adorable thing," he mocked silently, his lips curving into a sardonic grin.

His inner voice carried a teasing edge, but no answer came.

"Right. You don't like to talk unless it's important, huh? My bad. I forgot I—or my problems—weren't important to you." His smirk softened into something more resigned, a flicker of his frustration dissolving.

The silence stretched on, but Alex didn't press further. He had always known the limits of the one he addressed. That unwavering presence in the back of his mind, always there but rarely interfering.

"Okay..." Alex muttered, drawing in one last deep breath. He straightened his posture, his expression now calm and composed. "Now that I've calmed down, it's time to focus. There's still a mission to complete, after all."

His tone carried a faint self-mockery, but determination burned in his eyes as he continued. "This world needs saving. Someone has to stop it from being destroyed, right? And you told me I should do it..."

A single word echoed in his mind, soft yet resolute.

"Yes."

The voice wasn't his, but it was familiar—cold, distant, yet somehow comforting in its certainty.

It had always been there, from the moment he 'agreed' to its contract or whatever it was called.

Alex chuckled under his breath, shaking his head in self-amusement. "Of course, you'd answer now," he murmured, his lips curling into a faint smirk.

With his thoughts finally settled, he adjusted the hood of his black robe, his gaze shifting toward the heart of the forest. The path ahead was shadowed and ominous, but his destination was clear.

Without another word, Alex began walking, his steps steady and purposeful. He didn't need Chrono Vision to know that what awaited him at the forest's heart was no ordinary encounter.

The event would take place there.

______ ___

Black Star City – Black Star Castle.

The Black Star Castle loomed over the city like a shadow incarnate, its spires piercing the ever-clouded sky. Inside its vast, desolate halls, darkness reigned supreme. The only source of light was the faint red glow emanating from the throne at the center of the main hall.

The Black Star Lord sat upon the throne, his cold, glowing red eyes fixed on the massive screen suspended before him. The flickering display revealed the dense greenery of the Elvin Forest, its vibrant hues contrasting sharply with the stark darkness of the chamber.

He watched in silence, his sharp, clawed fingers tapping rhythmically against the armrest of his throne. The screen shifted, following a figure cloaked in black as it navigated the forest. The faint smirk tugging at the corner of his lips suggested amusement, but his glowing eyes betrayed something far more calculating.

"Trying to rebel, huh?" he muttered, his voice a low, chilling drawl that echoed across the empty hall. A cold chuckle followed as he leaned forward, his fingers dancing across the control panel embedded into the throne.

The screen responded instantly, the view shifting and zooming as the Black Star Lord manipulated the image. The dense foliage and maze-like trails of the forest gave way to a large clearing, a natural expanse that seemed to pulse with life.

It was a heart—a heart carved into the forest itself. Old tree buildings stood proudly amidst the clearing, their structures intertwined with nature, while ancient statues loomed like sentinels guarding a sacred sanctuary.

The Black Star Lord's smirk widened as he focused on the clearing. With a swipe of his hand, the screen zoomed further, stopping at the very center of the heart-shaped glade.

And there she was.

The Queen of Nature.

Her form radiated an ethereal beauty, her skin a luminous shade of green that shimmered like sunlight through a canopy. Her hair cascaded like vines, adorned with blossoms that seemed to bloom with her every breath. Her eyes, deep and knowing, glowed faintly as if holding the essence of the forest itself.

She was no ordinary being. She was the First Elvin—the ancient queen of the forest and its undying heart.

The Black Star Lord's expression darkened, his amusement replaced with cold determination.

"How quaint," he murmured, leaning back into his throne. His glowing red eyes narrowed as he studied her, his mind already racing with strategies.

"Let's see how long you can protect your precious forest... Queen of Nature."
Enjoy exclusive adventures from empire

With a final tap, the screen froze on her image. The Black Star Lord leaned forward, resting his chin on his steepled fingers as his cold chuckle echoed through the darkness once more.

"After all, the true target of the Hunt is you..."