Aetheric Chronicles: Reborn As An Extra

Their gazes met.

Time seemed to freeze as Adrian's heart skipped a beat. Her 'emerald' eyes locked with his for just a second—brief, fleeting, yet enough to stir a storm of recognition within him.

Her features were familiar, painfully so. His mind raced as he tried to place her, his pulse quickening.

The woman turned away almost immediately, resuming her unconvincing act of wandering aimlessly. But Adrian remained rooted to the spot, staring after her with wide eyes.

'Is it you?' he thought inwardly, his grip tightening around the drink.

His gaze fell to her left hand, and his breath caught when he saw it.

A golden ring gleamed faintly on her finger.

It wasn't just any ring. It was the counterpart to his own—a perfect copy of the silver ring he wore.

A whisper escaped his lips, barely audible yet laden with emotion.

"I... found you."

_____ ___ _

"They found me."

"They saved and brought me back home, so please listen to their words Elders."

The large circular chamber was carved from the very heart of the giant tree, its walls glowing faintly with an emerald hue. At the center, a group of elderly and middle-aged Elvins sat cross-legged on a raised platform, their expressions varying from stern to indifferent.

The young Elvin man stood before them, his posture respectful yet uneasy.

Behind him, a group of humans and otherworlders—clearly not native to the Elvin territory—stood silently, their presence causing ripples of discomfort among the council.

One of the elders, a thin, wiry man with a long, greenish beard that nearly touched the ground, frowned deeply. His sharp features twisted in disdain as he pointed a gnarled finger at the young man.

"Presumptuous!" he bellowed, his voice echoing off the chamber walls. "Why have you brought these intruders to our sacred town? And now, you dare ask us to listen to their words? Have you lost your mind, Eltheris?!"

The elder's green eyes burned with intensity, his beard quivering as he leaned forward. "Have you forgotten our ancestors' teachings? Never trust intruders! Especially not otherworlders like them! Or—" His voice turned sharper, more accusing. "Have you been brainwashed after being kidnapped by them?!"

Eltheris lowered his head, his lips pressed into a thin line.

He was used to his grandfather's temper—had grown up with it, in fact—but this outburst still stung. He couldn't bring himself to look up, not out of shame, but out of respect for the man who had raised him.

Still, his silence was not born of acceptance. He would not stand idly by when those who had saved his life were being insulted. And not when the situation was this complex.

Just as he opened his mouth to protest, a new voice cut through the tension. It was low but firm, carrying the weight of authority and wisdom.

"Stop it already, Ethranel."

The elder's head snapped around to glare at the speaker—a tall, regal woman whose age was betrayed only by the faint lines on her face and the silver streaks in her flowing green hair.

Her eyes, however, were sharp and commanding.

"You're embarrassing us in front of our guests," she continued, her tone leaving no room for argument while sounding like a gentle grandma. "Shouldn't you be thanking them for rescuing your grandson instead of berating him for doing what he thought was right?"

Ethranel gritted his teeth, his hands trembling slightly as he clenched them into fists. "Hmph," he muttered, looking away with a scowl. "Of course, I'm glad my grandson has returned safely. But my distrust of otherworlders will not vanish just because of this."

He narrowed his eyes at the group behind Eltheris, his voice dripping with suspicion. "You can't convince me. Never."

"Hmph!" With a cold look, he turned away, his beard following like his hair.

"Hmm..." The woman sighed, clearly exasperated. She turned her gaze toward the group of outsiders, her expression softening slightly though still keeping the suspicion.

"I must apologize for my husband's behavior," she said. "Ethranel has always been... cautious. And while his methods leave much to be desired, his concern for our people is genuine."

"Grandma-!" As Eltheris was about to reply, a hand landed on his right shoulder as a silver-haired handsome young human walked to his side.

The silver-haired human's voice was calm but carried an undercurrent of strength that silenced the room. His blue eyes gleamed faintly in the emerald light, meeting the elder woman's gaze with unwavering resolve.

"You don't have to apologize," he began, his tone steady and a bit diplomatic. "We understand your intentions and reasons. Protecting your people is a duty we all respect. But we ask that you listen to our words."

He paused, letting the silence settle before continuing, his voice softer but no less impactful. "Before we begin, I'd like to tell you something. We're not as different as you might think. In fact…" He glanced at Eltheris briefly, then back at the council. "…we are similar to your grandson, your kin. We were also taken from our world—some of us unwillingly, others crossing the dimensional hole by choice, driven by the desire to save our own kin."

A murmur spread through the council members at his words. Ethranel scowled but remained silent, his piercing gaze fixed on the young man.

The silver-haired human took a small step forward, his voice carrying a deeper resonance as he continued. "Like you, we've struggled with trust. We've faced betrayal, loss, and danger. But the situation we all face now is dire and complex. It's something none of us can handle alone. That's why we must work together."

He let the words hang in the air, giving them time to sink in.

The elder woman studied him carefully, her expression unreadable. Finally, she spoke, her voice softer than before but still cautious. "You speak with conviction, young man. And though your words carry truth, they also raise questions. What is this dire situation you speak of? Why have you come to us, of all people?"

The silver-haired man exchanged a glance with Eltheris, who nodded subtly.

"It's not just your people who are in danger," the man said, turning his gaze back to the council. "The other races and kind of your world, our world, and other worlds are in danger as well."

"In danger of losing themselves, becoming puppets with either fake memories or puppets with no free will or worse... slaves ."

"I am sure you wouldn't want that." Continue reading on empire

"Just like us."