Aetheric Chronicles: Reborn As An Extra

The dimly lit Lord's Hall of Black Star Castle exuded an oppressive aura. Shadows seemed alive, dancing faintly across the blackened stone walls as if whispering secrets of their own. The air was cold and heavy, silence reigning over the room save for the faint crackle of a distant fire.

Three figures stood at the entrance of the hall, heads bowed low. Their postures conveyed respect—if not fear—toward the figure seated on the dark throne at the far end. Cloaked in shadows, the Lord of the Black Star was little more than a silhouette, their features hidden by the ambient gloom. The throne itself seemed part of the darkness, carved from an obsidian-like material that swallowed all light.

After a long, drawn-out silence, the first figure—a woman dressed in a sleek black uniform adorned with silver trims—stepped forward. Her hair was tied tightly back, her sharp features marked with discipline and control.

"My Lord," she began, her voice even but edged with reverence, "this month, we have brought back 2,587 seeds from the hunting grounds. After the preliminary selection process, 20% of them have been deemed suitable for training as Hunters. Another 35% were chosen to become citizens to serve the city and its functions. The remaining—those deemed unsuitable—have been sent to the Underworld for disposal."

Her report was clinical, devoid of emotion, but there was a glint in her eye as if she took pride in her work.

The Black Star Lord's figure shifted slightly, their presence radiating authority even without words. A low, measured voice emerged from the darkness.

"When will this batch of Hunters be ready for deployment?"

The woman didn't hesitate, though a flicker of unease crossed her face as she replied. "In two months' time, my Lord, they will be fully trained and conditioned."

A faint hum of approval escaped the Lord. "Good. And… the seeds? They are not showing any suspicious signs, are they?"

For the first time, the woman faltered. Her silence hung in the air for a moment too long before she finally spoke, her tone careful, measured.

"Everything appears to be in order, my Lord. However…" She paused, her gaze flicking to the floor before continuing, "...one of the Black Seeds was acting unusually. We investigated immediately, and the issue has been resolved."

The Lord leaned forward ever so slightly, the motion stirring the shadows around them. "Unusual how?"

The woman tensed but maintained her composure. "They were… resistant to the conditioning, my Lord. It seemed they were attempting to recall fragments of their old life. But rest assured, they have been re-educated thoroughly."

The Lord regarded her in silence, then leaned back into the throne. "Hmm. See that it doesn't happen again."

"Yes, my Lord." She stepped back into line, her head bowing once more.

The second figure, a tall, broad man with a scar running down one side of his face, stepped forward next. His armor bore scratches and dents, a testament to his time on the field. He inclined his head respectfully before speaking, his voice gruff but steady.

"My Lord, the Hunts this month yielded favorable results. Of the Hunters deployed, we recovered over 300 seeds from prime locations. However…" He hesitated, his jaw tightening. "We lost 17 Hunters during the process, and an additional eight… vanished."

The Lord's voice darkened slightly, a faint edge creeping into their tone. "Vanished?"

"Yes, my Lord. We believe it to be the work of the Killers. They've likely brainwashed those we lost, turning them against us."

The hall fell into an oppressive silence as the Lord mulled over this information. Finally, a low, sinister chuckle broke through the quiet.

"The Killers are bold," they murmured, their voice carrying a quiet menace. "But their boldness will be their undoing. Increase surveillance on the outer hunting grounds. Ensure no more of our Hunters fall into their grasp."

"As you command, my Lord." The man stepped back, his head bowing low once more.

The third figure, a petite woman draped in flowing dark robes, practically glided forward. Unlike the others, her movements were relaxed, almost playful, and a sly smile danced on her lips. Her tone, when she spoke, was lighter, carrying a strange mixture of amusement and malice.

"My Lord," she began, her voice lilting with mock reverence, "there's some interesting news from the seeds this month. Our little dragon boy—one of the Black Seeds—is still refusing to join the Hunters. Can you believe it?" She let out a soft laugh, the sound echoing faintly in the cavernous hall. Stay connected with empire

The Lord's gaze fixed on her, though they said nothing, allowing her to continue.

"It seems the new life we gave him isn't enough to educate him properly. But don't worry," she added, her smile widening, "he's powerless to act as long as I hold his heart. He'll fall in line eventually. They always do."

She paused, her eyes glinting with mischief. "Ah, but there's something else. Another Black Seed—a boy named Adrian. At first, he didn't seem special, so we gave him a new life. But later, we discovered he was the strongest among his batch. Naturally, we couldn't let that go, so we took away both his lives." She giggled, a chilling sound. "The funny thing is, he's pretending to have a new life now. Poor boy doesn't even realize I'm watching him… all the time."

The Lord's chuckle joined hers, a deep, resonant sound that filled the hall and sent shivers down the spines of the other two figures.

"Well done," the Lord said finally, their tone laced with dark amusement. "It seems our seeds are as entertaining as they are useful."

The woman's smile deepened, and she bowed low. "Always a pleasure to serve, my Lord."

As she stepped back, the hall fell silent once more, the weight of the reports lingering in the cold air. The Black Star Lord remained still, their shadowy figure an imposing presence as they considered the next moves in their grand game.

_______ ___ __

The moon hung low in the sky, casting a pale silver light across the cobblestone streets as Adrian strolled toward his house. The quiet of the night wrapped around him like a familiar cloak, yet his thoughts felt distant.

'Sia wouldn't be home today,' and their conversation—one he had been planning for—was now postponed until tomorrow. He shook his head slightly, disappointment flickering across his face for a moment before his usual composure returned.

As his boots clicked softly against the stones, a faint movement in the shadows caught his attention. His sharp senses tingled, but he continued walking as if unaware.

His posture remained relaxed, his pace even, though his eyes darted briefly to the corners of his vision. Whatever—or whoever—it was, they were skilled at hiding. Still, Adrian's instincts rarely failed him.

Just as he passed a narrow alley, he pivoted suddenly, his movements quick and precise. But before he could act, a white cloth was pressed against his nose and mouth.

His eyes widened as he inhaled sharply, a sharp chemical scent overwhelming his senses. He struggled, but the fumes acted fast. His vision blurred, darkening at the edges until he succumbed to the encroaching void.

____ __ _

The first thing Adrian noticed was light—blinding and harsh. He blinked rapidly, his eyes struggling to adjust. His limbs felt heavy, his head throbbing faintly. As his vision cleared, he became aware of his surroundings.

The room was bare and clinical, its walls a stark gray save for the brighter light overhead. On the opposite side, shadows pooled in an unlit corner, leaving half the room in oppressive darkness.

"You've woken up," came a rough, gravelly voice, cutting through the silence. It belonged to a man somewhere in the shadows, though Adrian couldn't make out his figure clearly.

Adrian blinked again, forcing a look of disoriented surprise onto his face. He shifted slightly, glancing toward the darker part of the room. "W-Where am I?" His voice carried just the right amount of unease, his tone unsteady.

The man chuckled softly, the sound both amused and condescending. "You're at the Killers' base."

Adrian widened his eyes, feigning shock. " T-The K-Killers?" he stammered. "You mean the rebels? The ones… killing our mighty Hunters?" His voice rose slightly in pitch, as though the revelation had struck him with fear and disbelief. "You damn scoundrels, going against the Black Star Lord is a crime!"

A pause lingered, the man's silhouette shifting faintly in the shadows. Then came another low chuckle, darker this time, filled with scorn. "So, you believe in those petty fake rumors about us?"

Adrian furrowed his brows, narrowing his eyes just enough to sell his confusion. "Petty? Fake?" he echoed, his voice trembling slightly. "Everyone knows what you've done… attacking all three cities, kidnapping the citizens, sabotaging the training grounds, killing our Hunters."

The man didn't answer immediately, but Adrian could feel his scrutiny, the weight of his gaze piercing through the darkness. Then, with deliberate slowness, the figure stepped forward just enough for the light to catch the edge of a mask covering his face.