Aetheric Chronicles: Reborn As An Extra

As the smoke thinned and the breeze carried away the lingering ash, Alex and the Queen began to make their way back through the charred remnants of the forest. Each step felt heavier, the weight of the destruction echoing in their silence.

The Queen's multicolored eyes scanned the devastated landscape, taking in the fractured trees and scorched earth. Her expression was thoughtful, but her voice broke through the quiet with a tinge of frustration.

"But," she muttered, "what are you going to do with those who were knocked out cold? There are so many of—" She stopped mid-sentence, her gaze narrowing as confusion crossed her face. "Eh? Where did some of them go?"

She turned sharply to Alex, her suspicion evident. "Did you do it? Where are they?"

Alex met her gaze with a faint smile, his tone light as if he were sharing a simple truth. "Remember the last portal opened by my 'friend'?"

The Queen frowned slightly, nodding. "Yes."

"I sent them all back to their world, the world I came from," Alex said casually, as though it were the most natural thing in the world.

The Queen's eyes widened, her sharp gaze locking onto his. "Back to their world? You mean… they were from the same world as you?"

Alex nodded, his smile softening. "Yes. Their intention and mission were just to rescue their friends, and I simply lent them a hand. They don't have to meddle in this any further."

Her gaze lingered on him, her expression a mix of understanding and curiosity. Meanwhile, Alex's thoughts drifted to a fleeting moment amidst the chaos—a glimpse of the others stepping through the portal.

He could still see it clearly: the familiar figures of his 'sister,' Aurelius, Aria, and the rest as they crossed into the swirling light of the portal. Relief had washed over him then, knowing they were safe and out of harm's way.

They wouldn't play a significant role in the battle against the Black Star Lord anyway, he reasoned. Aurelius had received a share of the core's power and got an almost permanent buff, ensuring he would be fine. And as for the rest…

A small smile tugged at his lips as he refocused on the present.

The Queen, noticing his brief distraction, gave a quiet nod. "I see. It's true those children didn't have the power to participate in this mess. But still…" Her voice trailed off, a hint of regret flickering across her features.

Alex caught her tone and raised a brow, chuckling softly. "Why? Do you regret giving away your precious blessings?"

The Queen's gaze snapped back to him, narrowing slightly as if she were about to refute the claim.

But Alex's knowing grin softened her expression.

Her blessings were, indeed, extraordinary. They were tied to her essence—unique gifts that stayed with the recipient as long as she lived or until she chose to take them away.

However, they had to be in the same world as her for her to take them away - which meant those children she gave blessings would have it till they meet again or she dies.

"They were probably your most powerful blessings." Alex continued, his tone lighter, teasing. "I didn't think you would believe my words and give them away."
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The Queen sighed, shaking her head. "As I said, I don't regret my decision. And they were a great help as you said - and I have a feeling we will meet again. That silver-haired boy and golden-haired girl... Our fate is connected in some way or another."

"...I see." Alex nodded, recalling the knowledge of the novel.

'You will indeed meet again. Not in this form but in your real self.'

However, it wouldn't happen anytime soon.

Aurelius and others would become adults by then.

Meaning - it would happen only after they graduated from the academy.

'They should have returned to the academy by now. After all, 'her' portals are faster than the Black Star Lord's.

'But...'

'Why do I feel like something went wrong...'

'...I need to check it for myself if they all truly escaped.'

'Now, let's see where she is...'

Alex activated his Chrono Vision and then deactivated it after seeing what he wanted. He would find her in about 10km distance afar in the vision, and now, he knew where exactly he needed to go to find her.

'Alas I can't see the past, or else all of this wouldn't be necessary...'

'But I guess, it would make me really OP in a sense, right?'

_____ ___ _

Aurelius's unease grew as the white light dissipated, leaving behind the eerie silence of the battlefield. His golden eyes narrowed as he scanned the vast horizon, catching sight of something unsettling—a faint, blackish entity hovering in the far distance where two figures - Mother Nature and the masked guy could be seen.

The black entity wasn't moving, but its growing presence alone sent a cold shiver down his spine.

Something was wrong.

"Aurelia," he looked at Aurelia who just regained her consciousness, his voice low but firm, "stay close to Aria and the others. Your brother must be safe."

Aurelia nodded, though her brows knitted in concern as she followed his gaze toward the distant figure.

All around them, the ground was littered with unconscious bodies. The avenger members who had betrayed them were sprawled out like broken puppets, and the hunter trainees who had sided with them were no better. Dragon Boy and Eltheris were among the fallen, their appearances adding an unexpected comical touch to the grim scene.

Dragon Boy bore the distinct red mark of a slap across his face, while Eltheris's eyes were swollen and bruised—a matching pair of blue circles that looked like someone had punched him, twice, with precise intent.

Aria stifled a laugh as she stepped closer to Aurelia. "They deserved this," she muttered guessing who the culprit might be. "Trying to harm Aurelia… had I not intervened, who knows what they would have done?"

Aurelius's lips twitched, but he managed to keep his expression neutral. "Right," he said, scanning the area again. He also guessed the culprit.

'It's probably her brother...'

'Adrian.'

'Hm?'

Suddenly, he froze, sensing a presence behind him. Without hesitation, he spun around, summoning his dual swords—one glowing with ethereal light, the other cloaked in shadowy darkness.

The two blades crackled with energy as he raised them, prepared to strike.

But the tension in his body eased as soon as he recognized the figure standing before him.

"Adrian," he said, his voice betraying both relief and confusion.

Adrian stepped forward, his calm demeanor intact despite the chaos surrounding them. "I told you to protect the others," he said, his tone matter-of-fact, as if this were nothing more than a minor inconvenience.

"You disappeared," Aurelius said, still holding his swords, though they dimmed slightly. "When the light blinded us, you were gone."

Adrian nodded, glancing over the unconscious figures littering the ground. "I had something to take care of. Looks like I came back just in time."

"Care to explain what happened to them?" Aria asked, gesturing toward the knocked-out traitors. Her tone was equal parts curious and amused.

Adrian smirked faintly. "Let's just say someone made sure they wouldn't be a problem for now. Dragon Boy and Eltheris?" He tilted his head, noting their pitiful appearances. "Collateral damage."

"Brother..." Aurelia muttered. "What are we gonna do now?"

"First, we need to get away from here as far as possible." Adrian replied. "Then, we can talk-!"

Adrian abruptly stopped mid-sentence, his head turning sharply to the side. The others instinctively followed his gaze. A figure emerged from the fading haze of battle, her steps quick and nimble, the sound of her boots crunching against the debris unnervingly steady.

She was cloaked in a dark robe, her long hair flowing like strands of shadow behind her. The mask she wore bore striking similarities to the one worn by the man who had shattered the Queen's core—sleek, black, and faceless save for faint, glowing etchings that pulsed with energy.

Adrian's sharp intake of breath was subtle, but Aurelius caught it.

His blue eyes narrowed, and his grip on his dual swords tightened. Beside him, Aria instinctively stepped in front of Adrian, ready to assist.

The figure stopped a short distance away, her presence commanding yet strangely calm. She tilted her head, her mask tilting slightly downward, as if studying Adrian and Aurelius. Her gaze lingered on them for a moment, then briefly swept over the rest of the group.

"Follow me," she said, her voice deep and mature, carrying an air of authority. "Quickly."

Her words echoed ominously in the silent clearing. No explanation. No context. Just a demand.

Adrian took a single step forward, his expression unreadable. "Why should we?" he asked, his voice steady but cautious. "You look a lot like someone we recently fought."

The woman remained silent for a long moment before replying. "If you wish to ensure their safe return to your world, you'll follow me. There is no time for debate."

"It's his words."

Adrian's eyes glinted as he understood the meaning behind her words. 'So, this is 'her' Queen detected a while ago.'

He then turned to his companions, his voice calm yet firm. "It's okay. We will follow her."