Aetheric Chronicles: Reborn As An Extra

Sia took a deep breath and lowered her head, bowing it slightly in a gesture of humility. "Mr. Adrian," she began, her voice quiet, almost trembling with sincerity. "I owe you an apology. For everything. For what we did. For what I did."

Adrian's sharp gaze didn't waver. His posture remained relaxed, but his eyes betrayed his suspicion. "Go on," he said coolly.

"We had no choice," Sia continued, her hands clasped tightly in front of her as if steadying herself. "The Black Star Lord... he has 'eyes' and 'ears' everywhere. He's always watching us, every move, every decision. If I hadn't done it, another member of our group would have. And they wouldn't have been as... gentle."

Adrian leaned back slightly, his tone still calm but piercing. "Then why did you stab me through the heart?"

Sia winced, the memory clearly troubling her. She raised her head, her fiery passion dimmed by regret. "I had to maintain the image of a loyal Hunter—a ruthless servant in his eyes. If I showed any hesitation, it would have raised suspicion. But..." She hesitated, meeting Adrian's gaze with a flicker of hope. "It didn't hurt, did it? I made sure the chainblade wouldn't touch your body. It phased through you. You felt it, but it never really pierced you."

Adrian tilted his head, his lips curving into a faint smile that didn't reach his eyes. "Right. My body didn't hurt. But my mind did."

Sia flinched as if the words themselves cut deeper than any weapon. She knew what he meant.

Adrian's voice remained steady as he pressed further. "Fine. Let's say you were forced to do it. That still leaves another question." His gaze hardened, his tone turning sharper. "Why are my other friends—like Aria and Irithel—here? They weren't even present when the incident happened. And what about the others? Ren, Lyra, and my sister? They were present at the incident but I haven't found them in the city. Are they in one of the other cities? Or..."

Sia froze, her eyes widening slightly. His questions hit home, piercing through the layers of secrecy she had carefully maintained. She didn't answer immediately, her silence revealing more than words could.

Adrian's eyes narrowed. "I'm guessing this is something I'm not supposed to know."

She exhaled heavily, her expression shifting between hesitation and admiration. "You're... good at this," she admitted, almost grudgingly. "Asking the right questions. Cutting right to the heart of things."

Adrian didn't respond, his unyielding gaze silently urging her to continue. He didn't know whether he could be so confident and certain if he didn't know any of this info beforehand.

Sia straightened, her demeanor hardening as she made her decision. "Alright. I'll tell you. But only under one condition."

Adrian raised an eyebrow.

"You'll lend us your hand. You don't have to swear loyalty or make promises. But I need to know that you're willing to help us stop the Black Star Lord."

For a brief moment, Adrian didn't respond. Then, with the barest hint of a nod, he agreed. "I'll listen."

Sia took a deep breath and began. Stay tuned with empire

"The Black Weapons. The Black Star Lord enchanted them himself. He gave the Hunters techniques or abilities to control them. They're not just weapons—they're tools designed for something far more sinister."

Adrian's eyes sharpened, but he said nothing, letting her continue. He needed to act curious and was honestly doing a good job.

"As you have experienced yourself, they can become intangible. Phase through physical objects. But when they touch someone while intangible, they leave a mark—an invisible one, something you can't see or feel unless you know what to look for. And those marks... they're the key. Only those who are marked can be sucked into the dimensional holes the Black Star Lord creates."

Adrian's expression didn't change, but the tension in the room grew heavier.

Sia pressed on, her voice lowering as if the walls themselves might betray her words. "The purpose is clear—it makes kidnapping the young, the weak, easy. The victims never see it coming. It's been their method for countless worlds. And it works, almost every time."

"Almost?" Adrian's tone was calm, but there was a sharp edge to it.

Sia hesitated. Her gaze dropped momentarily, but when she spoke again, her voice was quieter, almost haunted. "There was a talk. About avoiding marking people with... great power. People who could fight back. There was a theory that it could lead to the city's destruction. But it was just that—a theory. No proof. So we, the Avengers... tried it once."

Adrian's fingers tapped lightly against the table, a slow rhythm that matched his methodical thinking. "And the result?"

Sia's voice cracked slightly, but she forced herself to continue. "The dimensional hole... it collapsed. It destroyed itself while our people—and the 'victims'—were passing through. They all..." She swallowed hard, her eyes shadowed with guilt. "They all perished."

The silence that followed was suffocating. Adrian finally broke it, his voice as calm as ever. "So, what you're saying is... it's not just about kidnapping the weak and the young. It's about ensuring the strong don't become a threat to this system and world, right? Black Star-Lord doesn't want to, allow strong individuals to cross to this world and overthrow his rule, does he?"

"...Yes, you are right."

"From what I have heard and seen so far, he is also the strongest individual in this world, capable of opening and controlling dimensional portals, has large brainwashed soldiers and mysterious, sinister origin and purposes. In short, he is the Big Bad Guy. But, doesn't this make him nearly invincible in this world? How do you plan to defeat him and overthrow his tyranny?"

Sia became quiet, the weight of Adrian's question sinking into her. The answer wasn't simple, and she knew it.

How could they defeat the Black Star Lord? Was it through rebellion alone? That hadn't gotten them far—it only turned them into what they despised. Rebels fighting shadows, taking lives to save others, and dying useless deaths for a cause that seemed increasingly hopeless.

Her lips pressed into a thin line before a faint, mysterious smile crept onto her face. It wasn't one of triumph or confidence, but one that carried the weight of secrets and unspoken plans.

"In fact, it's simple..."