Aetheric Chronicles: Reborn As An Extra

Cassandra's sharp eyes flickered between the absurdly dressed envoy standing in the clearing and the young elvin beside her. Her mind raced as she struggled to process the strange resemblance.

The floral-adorned figure spoke with an air of forced authority, but she saw through the veneer. Beneath the gaudy disguise and deeper voice, she recognized him.

Her ability rarely lied. It allowed her to see through facades, illusions, and disguises, but this… this couldn't be right.

She muttered, her voice low but trembling with incredulity, "Young Master… you don't have another twin sibling, a twin brother, do you?"

Adrian, standing beside her in his elvin guise, froze mid-thought.

His elvin ears caught the unusual edge in her tone, and he turned to her with a startled expression. For a moment, his eyes held suspicion before confusion bled into them.

"Why do you ask?" His voice was calm, but the undertone carried a guarded edge.

Cassandra hesitated, her gaze darting back to the envoy standing in the clearing, then returning to Adrian. She studied him intently, as if trying to confirm something, her mind running circles.

'Am I imagining things?' she wondered internally. 'Or is my ability failing me for the first time?'

'Or perhaps the envoy is tricking me?'

'Wait, that could be possible, he immediately looked at me when I used my 'eyes'...'

Shaking her head lightly, she forced a smile and replied, "No, sorry, I must have been mistaken."

Adrian's eyes lingered on her for a moment longer before he nodded. On the surface, he seemed to accept her answer, but internally, he knew better. He understood why she was acting this way.

His gaze shifted to the envoy.

Their eyes met across the clearing, locking together like two predators assessing one another. In that fleeting yet intense moment, a silent dialogue passed between them, unspoken but undeniable.

'So,' Adrian thought inwardly, his expression betraying nothing. 'We meet again…'

'Alex…'

'The past me…"

For a moment, the air around them seemed to still, the world narrowing to just the two of them. But before either could act further, a voice cut through the tense silence.

"It's your turn!" one of the other elvins called out hurriedly, breaking the moment.

Cassandra glanced at Adrian, snapping out of her thoughts, and nudged him gently. "They're calling you," she said softly, her tone still carrying a trace of lingering doubt.

Adrian nodded subtly, stealing one final glance at the envoy.

His lips twitched into the faintest shadow of a smile, a silent acknowledgment. Then, with measured steps, he moved forward toward the glowing cocoon, ready to take the 'test.'

The envoy, Alex, watched him intently, his floral crown tilting ever so slightly as the two figures passed each other.

And so, the threads of fate continued to weave their intricate patterns.

______ __ _

The test divided everyone into three groups subtly but deliberately, causing murmurs of curiosity and tension among the gathered young elvins. Time passed as they were quietly directed into separate sections of the clearing. Few understood the reasoning behind the separation, though speculation was rampant.

Cassandra glanced at Adrian, who stood with a composed expression among the second group. Her gaze swept over the others, noting the faint unease in the air. Adrian, however, had his thoughts elsewhere.

The envoy, Alex, now standing at the center of the clearing, raised his hand to command attention. His voice carried easily over the gathered crowd.

"You've all been divided into three groups based on the results of your tests," Alex declared, his floral crown gleaming under the light. His tone was calm, yet there was an underlying authority that silenced whispers. "This arrangement reflects your strengths and aptitudes. It is for efficiency in the coming blessings."

The explanation was simple and logical, planting just enough seeds of doubt to keep them distracted. Most of the young elvins accepted it without question, though a few exchanged wary glances.

Adrian's gaze, however, sharpened. He knew better than to trust blindly. The truth lay beneath the surface.

The first group consisted entirely of real young elvins, their innocence apparent in their wide-eyed wonder.
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The second group held those who were not as they seemed: brainwashed hunter trainees and, among them, Enthralis with Aurelius's group. Adrian's sharp eyes lingered on them briefly before shifting to the final group.

The third group, as Adrian suspected, was made up of full-fledged hunters, their movements too deliberate and their eyes too calculating to belong to true elvins or beginner Hunter Trainees.

Since there were three batches of Hunter Trainees who came to this world from three different portals, the Hunters must have used another portal as well.

Still, the envoy's explanation quelled outward protests. The reasoning sounded plausible enough to avoid immediate action. But Adrian could sense the rising tension among the hunters.

'They know,' he thought. 'They've been found out.'

Yet they played their parts, their faces betraying nothing. Adrian's suspicions deepened as he recalled the info about the Black Star Lord. 'So this was his order—wait until the Queen of Elvins or Nature appears.'

Alex, as if sensing the rising tension, raised his voice again. "And now," he said, his tone reverent, "prepare yourselves. The Mother Nature shall grace us with her presence and bestow her blessings."

A ripple of awe passed through the crowd.

"To ensure your safety and show respect," Alex continued, "you are all to remain at least 10 meters away from the cocoon."

All eyes turned to the glowing cocoon at the center of the clearing. Its radiant green light pulsated rhythmically, as if alive, mesmerizing everyone.

The anticipation in the air was palpable. Whispers of excitement and reverence swept through the crowd as they eagerly awaited the Queen's arrival.

Adrian stood still, his expression unreadable. His instincts screamed at him that something was wrong.

Then, the cocoon began to open.

Gasps filled the air as the brilliant green light intensified, casting an ethereal glow across the clearing. The hushed crowd waited with bated breath.

The cocoon unfurled its petals, revealing its core…

For a fleeting moment, the envoy's serene expression faltered, his lips twitching into what could have been a smirk—or perhaps a sneer.

It was so quick that most might have missed it, but to those watching closely, it was as if he knew exactly what was coming.

"!"

_____

( Author Note:

Hello readers!

To celebrate the end of 2024, I'm excited to release 10 chapters of

Aetheric Chronicles: Reborn As An Extra

today!

I want to express my sincere gratitude to all of you for your continued support. Your enthusiasm and feedback mean the world to me. I hope you'll continue to join me on this journey as the story unfolds.

I wish you all a successful and fulfilling 2025!

And get ready to embark on a new adventure soon – the story of a world-traveling soul is coming your way.

With love and appreciation,

Peace_in_Chaos.

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Other chapters are coming soon as well! )