Aetheric Chronicles: Reborn As An Extra

The days following the Reckoning were quiet, but Ria couldn't shake the lingering thoughts from the grand hall. She had felt an unexpected surge of recognition for the brown-haired young man, and the unease that had settled in her chest was still present, simmering just below the surface.

Sia seemed to sense it, her gaze sharp when Ria didn't quite meet her eyes.
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"You've been distracted," Sia said one morning as they prepared for a quieter, private Reckoning. "I think it's time for you to undergo yours."

Ria froze, the cloth she had been folding slipping from her hands.

"My Reckoning?" Ria echoed, her voice tinged with surprise. "I thought... I thought the Reckoning was only for the city's youth."

Sia smiled gently but with a touch of seriousness that made Ria feel the weight of the moment. "You're not just anyone, Ria. You are one of us too. The Reckoning is for you as well. And since you have no memories, I've arranged it privately, just for us." She paused, then added softly, "It's time you knew what you're capable of."

Ria's stomach fluttered with apprehension, but she nodded, wordlessly accepting the invitation to discover something about herself.

They walked together to a secluded chamber within Sia's home, far from the bustling streets and curious eyes of the city. The room was dimly lit, with only a few candles flickering along the walls. At the center of the room sat a small, glowing black stone, its surface rippling like liquid, undisturbed by the air.

Sia took her place beside it, her expression calm yet expectant. "Place your hand on the stone, Ria. Let it show you what you are."

Ria hesitated for only a moment before she stepped forward, her palm hovering just above the stone's surface. As she made contact, the stone seemed to pulse under her skin, and a surge of energy rushed through her veins. Her vision blurred, and an array of colors exploded in her mind—fiery reds, swirling blues, deep greens, and vibrant yellows. The colors seemed to align themselves, forming intricate patterns, before a message appeared before her eyes.

Affinities: Fire, Water, Earth, Wind, Lightning

Talent Rank: 5 Stars

The information hung in the air, glowing softly. Ria's breath caught in her throat. Five affinities. Five elements. It was rare, beyond rare. She could barely comprehend it. And then, there was the Talent Rank—5 Stars.

Before she could take it all in, the stone's surface flickered and shifted, revealing a second screen.

The weapons. They stirred into life, floating around her in a slow, deliberate circle, as they had with the young man. The atmosphere seemed to crackle with tension, as if the very air held its breath. And yet, none of the weapons drew closer to her.

Ria swallowed hard, but a strange sense of relief washed over her. It wasn't failure, but something akin to... peace.

Sia's soft voice broke the silence. "It's okay. They won't choose you—not yet, anyway."

Ria looked up at her, confused. "Why? Shouldn't they?"

Sia gave her a knowing look. "You're not ready for them. Not yet."

Ria stepped back, the weight of the moment sinking in. "But I have five affinities, and five stars. Shouldn't that be enough?"

Sia shook her head slowly. "There's more to becoming a Hunter than just power. The weapons choose those who are truly prepared for what lies ahead." She paused, her expression darkening. "There's always a price."

Ria's mind was spinning, but she had no time to process the flood of thoughts before Sia guided her back to the city square. As they moved, Sia spoke of the young man and the girl, her words laced with a touch of distant bitterness.

"The brown-haired boy you saw at the Reckoning," Sia began, her voice a little teasing now, "he's famous. His name is Kael. He was an orphan—one of the youngest, and yet the strongest among the city's youth. He saved that girl, the one who clung to him so affectionately, from monsters during a recent raid."

Ria listened intently, her mind still swirling. "The girl?"

Sia's lips curled into a small smile. "She's the third daughter of the city's lord. Her name's Bella. And because of Kael's actions, the city lord has arranged their engagement."

Ria's heart sank at those words, a strange and unpleasant feeling rising in her chest. She clenched her fists at her sides. "An engagement... because he saved her?"

Sia's eyes glinted with something sharp. "Yes. The city's power plays are not as simple as they seem. The marriage arrangement was likely a reward for Kael's bravery—and a political maneuver. But they'll never admit it."

Ria's face twisted in disgust. "That's... repulsive."

Sia nodded, her gaze unreadable. "I thought you might feel that way. Kael is being used by the city lord, and Bella... well, she has her own reasons for accepting. But I think she probably likes the boy. Well, who wouldn't fall in love with a person who saved their life."

As they continued their walk, Ria's mind remained heavy with the revelation. She couldn't shake the thought of Kael and Bella, the forced union, and the strange feeling that she should care. But why? She didn't even know them. Or... did she?

The city itself was imposing. As they reached the city's edge, Sia began to explain its true nature.

"This city is called Black Star City," Sia said, her tone somewhat detached. "It's the heart of this world, surrounded by smaller towns like ours. We live in a place called the Outer Town, but there are two other cities beyond the Black Star City—farther out, but still within the Black Star Lord's domain. It's the most powerful city in this region."

Ria frowned, taking in the weight of Sia's words. "And the Black Star Lord?"

"He rules this city," Sia replied simply. "He's a figurehead of great power, though not much is known about him. There are rumors... but that's not important now."

Ria's curiosity was piqued. "And the Hunters? You said you're one of them."

Sia's eyes softened at that, a rare vulnerability flashing across her face. "Yes. The Hunters are... well, they're the protectors of this world. They venture into the Black Holes—places where the fabric of our reality is thinnest—to defend against the creatures that would otherwise destroy us. They are the highest rank in the world. The weapons at the Circle of Blades are their source of power and soul. Only those acknowledged by the weapons can become Hunters."

Ria felt a chill crawl down her spine. "And you're one of them?"

Sia smiled faintly. "Yes. My weapon..." She paused, then uncoiled a chain from her sleeves. The end of it shimmered with a blade, its gleaming surface catching the light. "This is my weapon. A chainblade, forged in the heart of a Black Hole."

Ria stared at the weapon in awe, her admiration for Sia growing. "It's... beautiful."

Sia's lips quirked as she watched Ria's expression. "It is. And it's deadly. But it's not the weapon that makes a Hunter. It's what's inside."

Ria nodded silently, still processing everything she had learned. She wasn't sure what the future held, but she felt a flicker of determination. She had her affinities. She had her potential. But now, she had to find out what kind of person she was—and if she would become a Hunter.

'Moreover...'

'I need to find out about that voice...'

'The voice said that will find me...'

She felt that she would recover her memories and find out the truth after finding the one who said those words.

And...

'Kael's voice sounded similar...'