Aetheric Chronicles: Reborn As An Extra

"No..."

"But I will say it again, the forest and everyone is in danger."

The grove remained silent after the Queen of Nature's last words, her declaration hanging heavily in the air. The elders exchanged uneasy glances, unsure how to proceed with the information—or lack thereof—that she had shared.

Finally, the Queen spoke again, her tone softer, almost maternal. "I understand your concerns. However, I cannot reveal more about their true intentions or their origin—at least, not yet. It would only burden you unnecessarily."

Her glowing figure exuded a calming warmth as her gaze swept over the council. "For now, heed my warning. Be cautious and vigilant. Should anything happen to this forest, I expect you all to protect it with your lives."

The elders bowed their heads in unison, murmuring their agreement.

Ethranel, despite his earlier bravado, now appeared more somber. "And the children in the forest, Mother? What should we do about them?"

The Queen's serene expression didn't falter as she replied, "Leave them to me. I will handle them personally as intended."

There was no room for argument in her words, and the elders knew better than to question her judgment. They nodded in compliance, each silently glad to relinquish that particular responsibility.

Just as the Queen prepared to leave, her glowing form turning slightly translucent, she paused. Her gaze, sharp and knowing, turned back toward the council.

"What do you think of that silver-haired human?"

The question caught them off guard. For a brief moment, the elders were stunned, their composure slipping. Ethranel's mouth opened as if to respond, but he hesitated, casting a questioning glance at their leader. He didn't want to offend the Mother by badmouthing the boy.

The leader of the council straightened her back, her composure quickly returning. Her voice was steady as she replied, "He is a good child—responsible, compassionate, and unwavering in his convictions. His strength far surpasses that of his peers. A prodigy, without question."

The Queen's lips curved into a faint, almost imperceptible smile, though her eyes remained contemplative. "I see. So, you didn't notice it, then."

The elders exchanged confused looks, but none dared to ask for clarification.

The Queen's gaze lingered on the leader for a moment longer, her thoughts veiled. "I suppose I expected too much."

Without another word, her glowing form began to dissolve, her spirit fading into the air like mist under the morning sun. The warmth of her presence dissipated, leaving the grove feeling colder, quieter, and somehow emptier.

The elders sat in silence for a long while, their thoughts heavy with questions they dared not voice. Finally, Ethranel broke the stillness, his tone more subdued than usual. "We should begin preparations, just in case."

The leader nodded. "Yes, and let us keep an eye on that silver-haired human as well. There may be more to him than we realize."

______ ___ _

Adrian, or Alex, tugged at the hem of his tunic, adjusting the snug fit around his shoulders. His brown hair glinted faintly under the pale light filtering through the dense canopy of trees. Standing at the edge of the Queen's heartland, he took a deep breath and ran a hand through his hair, forcing his thoughts into order.

Two days had passed since the Trial of Blessings started, and now Alex found himself at the precipice of Mother of Nature's domain. He had arrived yesterday evening, his journey fraught with enough tension to wear even his nerves thin. The forest seemed alive here—not just with animals or plants, but with an ethereal energy that whispered in the wind and crept along the ground.

The weight of what lay ahead pressed down on him.

The heart of the forest was not a place one entered lightly. He had chosen to spend the night outside its borders, gathering his thoughts and formulating his plan. There were reasons for his hesitation, ones he didn't dare ignore.

Adrian glanced back at the path behind him. The others would arrive soon. The event was nearly upon them—the Rebellion of Freedom.

He tightened his gloves and adjusted the thin black armor strapped to his chest. It wasn't much, but it was the best he could manage. He couldn't help but scoff quietly at the irony of his position.

How does someone like me, armed with scraps and half-baked plans, hope to stop a disaster orchestrated by the Mother of Nature herself?

He knew the story all too well.

The Rebellion event was one of the more chaotic and harrowing moments in the original novel. On the surface, it started as a competition—a clash between the young Elvins and the Hunter Trainees, watched over by the Mother of Nature herself.

The Hunter Trainees, oblivious to the true stakes, thought they were participating in a final exam to prove their worth, to become Hunters.

As for the Elvins, it was a trial of strength and survival.

And for the Mother of Nature?

It was a game—a test of Aurelius, the protagonist, to see if he could rise above the chaos and prove himself worthy. If he was suitable to receive her blessing.

But Adrian knew better.

She wasn't the benevolent entity she appeared to be. She cared little for the lives of those involved.

To her, they were pawns, and the stakes of her test were the survival of her world.

The Black Star Lord's forces would ambush at a critical moment, sowing destruction and death.

Many would perish—both Elvins and Trainees alike—and the small world she protected would be destroyed by her own hands in her bid to stop the invaders.

But Adrian had no intention of letting the story play out that way.

He had a contract with the fluffy white thing.

He tightened his fists, his jaw set.

'I may be weak, but I still have my mind and knowledge.'

His plan was risky, bordering on reckless, but it was the only chance he had. If he could intervene before the event began—if he could confront the Queen of Nature herself and sway her somehow—there might be hope.

Of course, this wasn't his real plan.

Adrian glanced toward the heart of the forest.

The air shimmered faintly, a sign of the dense, otherworldly energy that marked her territory. He had delayed long enough. Waiting any longer would only heighten the risks and shorten the time for others to arrive.

Mustered by a surge of courage—or desperation—he stepped forward. His boots sank into the soft, grass-covered ground as he crossed the threshold into the Queen's domain. The temperature dropped slightly, and the air grew heavier, as though the forest itself was holding its breath.

'No turning back now.'