Aetheric Chronicles: Reborn As An Extra

The days passed quietly, marked only by the routine of simple meals and the mundane tasks Sia gave her. Ria found herself growing accustomed to this life, though a dull emptiness persisted in her chest. She moved through each moment like a leaf caught in a gentle current, drifting without direction or purpose.

Sia was kind and patient, never pressing her to remember anything. Yet, Ria couldn't shake the sense that she was meant for something more—that she was missing something vital, though she couldn't name what it was.

Today was different, however.

"Come on, Ria," Sia said with a smile as she handed her a simple cloak. "There's something important happening in the city today. It'll be good for you to get out for a bit."

Ria hesitated but eventually nodded, pulling the cloak around her shoulders.

The city wasn't far, and as they walked along the cobbled streets, Ria noticed how alive everything felt despite the strange, foreboding atmosphere. The air was cool and carried the faint scent of rain, though no droplets fell.

The sky above was black, not with night but with thick, swirling clouds that seemed to press down on the world below. It wasn't the oppressive darkness she'd woken to days ago, but it wasn't comforting either.

The streets were bustling with people, all moving with purpose. It was a city well-kept but unremarkable, neither modern nor particularly magical in appearance. The buildings were sturdy, their stone facades worn but clean. A few vendors lined the streets, calling out to passersby, but the crowd's energy was focused elsewhere, their movements converging toward a single direction.

"What's happening?" Ria finally asked, her voice soft but curious.

Sia glanced at her, a spark of excitement in her dark eyes. "Today's the Day of Rendition," she said. "Young ones—those of age—undergo their Reckoning."

"Reckoning?"

Sia smiled gently. "You'll see."

They followed the flow of the crowd until they reached a large hall at the city's heart. The structure loomed tall, its exterior dark and imposing, with intricate carvings etched into its stone walls. Inside, the atmosphere was charged with a palpable energy.

At the center of the grand hall stood a massive black crystal, its surface smooth and gleaming like obsidian. It pulsed faintly, emitting an otherworldly hum that resonated in Ria's chest. Around the crystal, the crowd had gathered—more than five hundred people, all roughly the same age as her, give or take a year.

Sia leaned closer, her voice low enough to be heard above the murmur of the crowd. "The Reckoning is how they determine affinity and talent. Each of the youths will approach the crystal, one by one. When they touch it, a screen appears above, displaying their attributes."

Ria stared at the crystal, transfixed. Something about it, the process itself seemed familiar to her, though she didn't understand why.

"And after that?" she asked, tearing her gaze away to look at Sia.

"After that, they'll sit within the Circle of Blades," Sia explained, gesturing toward a ring of chairs surrounding the crystal. Around the circle floated dozens of weapons, each forged from black metal and gleaming faintly in the dim light. "The weapons are enchanted artifacts and they will choose those they deem worthy. Each weapon is unique and powerful."

Ria's eyes widened slightly. This process sounded strange, almost surreal, but the crowd around her didn't seem fazed. This was normal to them, a tradition ingrained in their lives.

Sia nudged her gently. "Come on, let's move closer so you can see better."

They edged forward, weaving through the throng until they had a clear view of the proceedings.

At the base of the crystal, a young man approached, his movements stiff with nerves. He extended a trembling hand, placing it against the crystal's smooth surface.

The screen above shimmered with vibrant text as the young man's affinities—

Lightning, Fire, Wind

—lit up in bold hues. Below them, a second line of text displayed his

Talent Rank: 4 Stars

. The crowd murmured, some impressed, others quietly comparing him to previous participants.

The young man stepped back from the crystal, his expression a mix of relief and quiet pride. He walked toward the

Circle of Blades

, his footsteps steady now as though he'd found his courage. Ria's gaze followed him, but as he entered the circle, she managed to catch a glimpse of his face.

Her breath hitched.

A strange feeling surged through her, like the faint echoes of a forgotten memory. She knew that face—familiar yet unfamiliar, tethered to a part of her she couldn't grasp.

The floating weapons began to stir as the young man sat in one of the chairs. They moved deliberately, circling him with an almost predatory grace. After a tense moment, a sleek

black spear

with jagged, crimson-etched designs stopped in mid-air before him, vibrating as though alive.

Gasps rippled through the crowd, followed by applause.

Sia leaned closer, her voice soft but filled with approval. "He's been acknowledged. Not everyone is so fortunate. The weapons are selective—they only choose those they deem worthy of wielding them. For one to succeed means they have the potential to become a

Hunter

."

"Hunters?" Ria echoed, her voice barely audible above the commotion.

"The most admired profession," Sia explained. "Hunters are warriors, protectors, even legends in some cases. Without them, the city wouldn't survive the dangers that lie beyond its borders."

Ria nodded silently, her eyes fixed on the young man as he accepted the spear with reverence. The crowd's cheers swelled, celebrating his accomplishment, but Ria's focus wavered. The strange feeling persisted, a whisper in the back of her mind that she couldn't shake.

As more participants approached the crystal, Ria noticed something unusual. Several others gave her the same sense of déjà vu—the sense that she knew them somehow. Their faces stirred something deep within her, yet they were strangers, utterly unfamiliar in every way that mattered. Especially the red-haired girl with pointy ears.

The process repeated: affinities displayed, talents revealed, and some chosen by the weapons while others left disappointed. Ria tried to stay attentive, but her interest waned.

Until the next individual stepped forward.

He was a young man with short brown hair and calm brown eyes. His movements were unhurried, almost unnervingly composed. The moment he touched the crystal, Ria felt her heartbeat quicken for no discernible reason. Her eyes remained glued to him, her chest tightening with each passing second.

The crystal pulsed, but the screen above displayed something unexpected—

No Affinity Detected.

Gasps and murmurs spread through the hall. It was rare, perhaps even shameful, for someone to lack any affinity. Yet before the crowd could dismiss him entirely, the next line appeared:

Talent Rank: 5 Stars.

The murmurs turned to hushed awe. Talent of that caliber was exceedingly rare, regardless of affinity.

The young man remained stoic, unaffected by the crowd's reaction as he walked toward the Circle of Blades. But then, something extraordinary happened.

The moment he entered the circle, nearly every weapon began to vibrate violently, their blackened forms trembling in unison as though they sensed him. The air grew heavy, charged with a strange energy that made the hair on Ria's arms stand on end.

The crowd held their breath, expecting one of the weapons to choose him. But none of them moved closer. They simply continued to vibrate, almost as if... unsure.
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From beside her, Ria heard a quiet chuckle.

She turned to see Sia staring intently at the young man, a keen interest glittering in her dark eyes. It was a look unlike anything Ria had seen from her before—sharp, almost predatory.

Ria raised her eyebrows, unsettled. This wasn't the warm, patient Sia she had come to know. Yet when Sia glanced back at her, her expression softened into its usual kind demeanor.

"Are you alright?" Sia asked, her voice gentle.

Ria hesitated, then shook her head, forcing a small smile. "I'm fine. Just... wondering what is happening."

"I see..." Sia smiled knowingly but said nothing more.

Back in the circle, the young man finally stood and left the stage, his expression calm despite the bizarre outcome.

As he exited, a beautiful young girl with flowing silver hair and striking violet eyes immediately appeared at his side. She clasped his arm, her voice gentle yet insistent as she said, "It's alright. You don't need them to prove your worth. You're already extraordinary."

Ria's chest tightened again, this time with a feeling she couldn't name. She didn't like the girl—didn't like the way she clung to the young man, her touch lingering in a way that felt too familiar.

The young man responded politely, his tone cool but distant as he gently shrugged off her hold. "Thank you, but I'm fine."

'His voice too...'

The girl pouted but didn't press further, though she remained close to him.

Ria's discomfort grew. She tried to push the feeling aside, telling herself it didn't matter, but her gaze remained fixed on the pair as they moved away from the stage. The young man's calm presence continued to linger in her mind, and she couldn't understand why.

For the first time in days, Ria felt something stir within her—a question, a flicker of something more. She didn't know who he was, but she couldn't shake the feeling that she needed to find out.