Chronicles of Forgotten Extra

Alden stared at the woman who for some reason knew his name.

His vision blurred from pain but her voice was way too clear to be imagined.

"Alden."

What the hell?

How does she know my name?

He couldn't trust her. Not here. Not now.

This dungeon was already a twisted nightmare. He had seen time distortion. Heard voices that didn't exist. A woman showing up after the boss fight, calling his name like she knew him?

It fits the pattern.

But for some reason it didn't feel like a trick.

Her golden eyes held warmth. Familiar warmth. Like someone searching for something lost… and thinking they found it.

That look—

No. Don't fall for it.

Alden thought it was an illusion. A trap. A way to break his already cracked mind.

Still, a tiny voice in the corner of his heart whispered something else.

She looks like her…

His mother.

That face—no, not just the face—the presence reminded him too much of her.

But it didn't make sense.

Why would a dungeon use something like this now?

I'm nearly at death's door. There's no need for mental games anymore.

His body was broken—shattered beyond recognition. Even with [Limit Break] active, he was barely standing. It wasn't strength that held him up anymore.

Just stubbornness.

And hate.

Move. Move, damn it—

The woman took a step forward.

Alden's instincts screamed.

His grip tightened on the hilt of his sword as his arms swung forward.

It was a wild and uncontrolled slash—not even close to what he was capable of.

But even that took everything he had.

His legs gave out.

The woman didn't even blink.

The blade passed by her like it meant nothing. She walked gracefully, dodging it without flinching. Without reacting.

Alden's body, however, wasn't so unresponsive as it screamed with pain.

Cracks formed across his body like shattering glass.

[Limit Break] wasn't helping anymore. It was consuming him.

Then, out of the corner of his eye—

[Dungeon Collapse – 8 Minutes Remaining]

His mind flickered.

Eight minutes…

If he could stall her for just eight minutes, he'd be ejected out of this hell.

It was a rare phenomenon. Only happened in unstable and corrupted dungeons.

But this was one of those cases.

Just stall her. I don't care if she's an illusion, a relative or the damn dungeon core herself.

He looked at her again.

She's hesitating. That's my chance.

He remembered how she hadn't attacked after nearly killing him.

She could've finished him when he collapsed after the last hit. But she didn't.

It doesn't matter why.

I can use it.

Suddenly, the woman raised her hand and snapped her fingers.

Alden's instincts flared again—but it was too late.

Mana swirled in the air.

White flames engulfed him.

He clenched his teeth—

Wait—

There was no pain.

No burning.

Only… warmth.

The flames moved gently.

It danced along his shattered body like they were alive.

Slowly, the cracks on his body began to close.

Muscles knitted back together. Bones straightened. Blood stopped its endless flow.

Healing.

True pure healing.

Why?

Why would she…?

Alden stared at her, lost in thought.

He was confused.

But he now understood one thing.

Whoever she was, she's not part of the dungeon… She can't be.

So what the hell is she?

And then his gaze snapped to the side.

Kyun.

She still held Kyun in her hand, who kept trying to break free.

And just like that—

The woman released her.

Kyun flew straight to him, her body wrapping protectively around his neck.

'Everything's fine…'

Alden tried to console her as he felt her emotions.

She didn't fully believe it.

But it helped.

She calmed down slightly.

His fingers closed around his sword again.

His throat was still wrecked.

The blow she landed earlier had crushed parts of his vocal cords. He couldn't speak.

But he didn't need to.

He just watched her.

Waited.

She wasn't attacking. She was… asking him questions.

Over and over.

"Who are you?"

"Are you really Alden?"

He wanted to answer.

Not because he trusted her—but because he needed to stall for time.

But he couldn't. His throat refused to move. Even breathing felt like scraping knives.

Still, she didn't stop.

Her voice trembled slightly. A whisper of emotion hidden beneath her calm.

Tch. If you want answers, try not beating someone's throat into pulp first.

His thoughts burnt.

His anger kept him grounded.

But the tension in his shoulders began to fade.

She wasn't hostile. At least for now.

And she wasn't from this world.

He knew that instinctively.

The aura she carried… the feel of her magic… It didn't belong to Eryndor.

So when the collapse hits… she'll vanish.

She'll be thrown back to wherever she came from.

His [Limit Break] had long since turned off. His realm also fell by one rank.

But the white flames helped him, standing straight.

Alden watched the timer again.

[3:00]

Three more minutes.

Just keep talking. Just a little more—

But then her eyes began to glow.

A faint golden light. Familiar, yet alien.

What now—?

She moved again. Step by step, until she stood directly in front of him.

For the first time, Alden got a clear view of her face.

And the resemblance struck him like thunder.

She does look like my mother.

The same golden eyes.

The same way of looking at him.

But younger.

Who is she…?

He tried to think but his mind felt sluggish.

Exhaustion and mana drain were catching up fast.

Just then— the woman stretched out her hand.

Alden tried to move—to resist—to react.

But the white flames around him restrained him. Not painfully. Just… gently, but with unshakeable force.

Her fingers touched the pendant around his neck.

Wait—

It began to glow.

An otherworldly light pulsed from it, brighter than anything in the dungeon.

And then—

Silence.

Time stopped.

Sound vanished.

Even Kyun's presence faded for a heartbeat.

And then—

Darkness.

—

He opened his eyes.

He was standing in a familiar room.

The ceiling above him was painted with silver runes.

This place…

It was his room back in the Draven Estate.

He looked around instinctively.

He didn't feel any pain or wounds.

His body was whole again. Limbs intact. Strength restored.

He just felt slightly disoriented.

She's here too.

He wasn't alone.

The woman from the dungeon was beside him.

She stood unmoving and silently.

Looking at something… someone.

A woman with gentle green hair sat, brushing her strands absentmindedly, by the dressing table.

Alden's eyes widened. He recognised the woman.

She was his mother.

Was this another memory? Another illusion, like when I bought a footwork technique?

He turned—and noticed something odd.

The woman from the dungeon was staring at his mother.

With eyes filled with sorrow, regret and love.

And then—

The voice of his mother echoed in the space.

"Alden… Caera… my children… "Are you here?"

Silence fell.

Alden's thoughts collapsed in on themselves.

Children…?

What did she say?

Caera?

The woman beside him—the one who beat him, healed him and called his name—

Turned to look at him.

And in her eyes, he saw the truth.

All the pieces fell together.

She's… my sister?

His mind stopped.

This wasn't just a memory.

This was something far deeper.

___

Author's Note:

If this story gave you even one good moment, help me out — drop a review and let future readers know what kind of chaos they're signing up for. 😉

Once we hit 100+ reviews, I'll drop a 5-chapter mass release as thanks.