Aetheric Chronicles: Reborn As An Extra

Alex leaned back slightly in his chair, his expression calm yet tinged with gravity. "That's the situation," he said, his voice steady but gentle. "The Black Star Lord's forces are already in motion. So is ours."

Isabella sat in silence, her hands resting on her lap, her gaze fixed on the floor. The weight of Alex's words hung heavily in the air.

After a long pause, Isabella looked up, her eyes searching Alex's face for any hint of deception. "So," she said slowly, her tone contemplative, "I just need to listen to you and use my ability on the enemy forces when you give the signal? That's it?"

Alex nodded, his expression softening. "Yes. That's all you need to do."

Isabella tilted her head slightly, her brow furrowing in thought. Then, she straightened, a faint determination flickering in her eyes.

"Alright," she said firmly. "I'll do my best."

A small smile crossed Alex's lips, though it didn't quite reach his eyes. "Thank you," he said quietly. Then, after a beat, he added, "I'm sorry."

Isabella blinked, confused. "Huh? What do you mea—"

Her words were cut off as her vision suddenly went dark. Alex had moved with precision, striking the pressure point at the base of her neck. She crumpled forward, unconscious, and Alex caught her before she could fall to the ground.

For a moment, Alex simply stood there, holding Isabella's limp form. His expression was unreadable, a complex mix of emotions flickering behind his calm exterior.

He glanced over at Z'yna. "Can you open a portal to somewhere secluded near the rebels' entrance?" he asked. "I need to return her back to the Lord."

Z'yna arched a brow but didn't question him. With a subtle movement of her fingers, a faint blue glow appeared, spiraling into the air before forming a swirling portal. "It's ready," she said, stepping back.

Alex adjusted Isabella in his arms and started toward the portal. Just as he reached its shimmering edge, the Queen's voice stopped him.

"Why didn't you tell her the whole truth and lie to her instead?" she asked, her tone lilting with curiosity. She sipped her tea, her piercing gaze fixed on him.

Alex paused, turning his head slightly to glance back at her. A faint, enigmatic smile tugged at the corner of his lips.

"You'll know when the time comes," he replied cryptically. Then, without another word, he stepped into the portal, disappearing with Isabella.

The room fell silent again.

The Queen tilted her head, an amusing smile playing on her lips. "Intriguing," she murmured, her gaze lingering on the now-empty portal.

Z'yna crossed her arms, her expression thoughtful. "He's up to something."

The Queen chuckled softly. "When isn't he?"

______ __ _

Black Star Castle.

Near the entrance, a lone guard stood rigid, his voice steady but tinged with nervousness as he addressed the figure shrouded in the pitch-black void of the throne.

"My Lord," the guard began, bowing low, his voice echoing faintly in the cavernous hall. "We managed to save one of your daughters—Lady Bella—from the kidnappers."

The silence that followed was deafening, stretching on for what felt like an eternity before the guard dared to continue. "It was thanks to one of the hunters reacting in time, but… we lost the kidnapper."

From the darkness came a low, rumbling chuckle. It was a sound that reverberated through the hall, cold and unsettling. The Black Star Lord's voice followed, deep and smooth yet filled with sinister amusement. "I know."

The guard blinked, hesitating for a moment. "You… knew?"

"Did you reward the hunter as instructed?" the Lord asked, his voice carrying a chilling calmness that only heightened the tension in the room.

The guard straightened, eager to deliver the good news. "Yes, my Lord. We provided the rewards you mentioned, including the special Hunter Advancement Token."

"Good." The Lord's tone held a note of satisfaction, as though pieces of a grander scheme were falling into place. "Continue."

"We also located the entrance to the base of the Killers hidden within our city thanks to the incident." the guard reported, his confidence growing slightly. "A unit of hunters has been sent to track the kidnapper and the Killers down. If everything goes as you anticipated, we will soon engage in a large-scale fight with the Killers… and the Fugitives."

The hall fell silent again, the guard nervously awaiting the Black Star Lord's reaction.

From the shadows, the faint outline of a figure shifted—a glimpse of gleaming armor and glowing crimson eyes breaking through the darkness. The sound of fingers drumming lazily on the armrest of the throne echoed faintly.

The Black Star Lord let out a quiet, mirthless laugh. "As I anticipated…" he mused, his voice laced with an eerie mix of amusement and menace. "The rebels or the fugitives, they are so predictable. Like moths drawn to the flame, they'll come right into my grasp."

The guard hesitated before speaking again, his voice faltering slightly. "My Lord… if I may ask, what are your orders once the fight begins?"

The Black Star Lord leaned forward slightly, though his form was still shrouded in darkness. The faint glow of his eyes intensified as he spoke, his voice dripping with authority. "Just do as you told. And when the time comes - enjoy the spectacle."

The guard bowed deeply. "Understood, my Lord."

As the guard turned to leave, the Black Star Lord's voice stopped him. "One more thing."

The guard froze in place, his breath catching. "Y-yes, my Lord?"

"Make sure to tell me when Bella wakes up," the Lord said, his tone deceptively soft, though the sinister undertone remained. "I will speak with her soon. After all, she experienced a dangerous event. Isn't it my duty to console her?"

"Of course, my Lord," the guard replied before retreating, the sound of his footsteps fading into the distance.

Continue reading at My Virtual Library Empire@@novelbin@@

Once the guard was gone, the Black Star Lord reclined back into the shadows, a smirk curling on his lips.

"Everything is falling into place," he murmured to himself, his glowing eyes narrowing. The image of the 'hunter' who delivered Bella came to his mind.

"Hehe, if you think you can fool me, you are gravely mistaken."

"Even so, I'm excited."

"About this game of death."