Aetheric Chronicles: Reborn As An Extra

"What do you think?"

Alex's mind whirled with questions, the gravity of the situation pressing down on him. He looked at Adrian, who stood there with a faint, enigmatic smile.

"My heart says you're the real Adrian," Alex began slowly, his voice tinged with uncertainty. "But my mind says you aren't. But then, if I've taken your body, then... are you the soul of Adrian?"

Adrian's smile widened slightly, his eyes twinkling with a knowing glimmer. "Go on," he urged softly.

Alex took a deep breath, trying to piece together his thoughts. "I get this weird feeling, like I know you somehow. Do you know why or how I ended up taking over your body?"

Adrian's smile faded into a more thoughtful expression. He crossed his arms, his eyes never leaving Alex's. "There are forces at play beyond our understanding, Alex. You were brought here, into my world, into my body, for reasons we may never fully grasp."

"But how?" Alex pressed, frustration creeping into his voice. "How did I end up here? Why was I chosen?"

Adrian sighed, his gaze becoming distant, as if he was looking into a past that Alex couldn't see. "All I can say to you is one thing - You are thinking too much."

"I am... thinking too much?" Alex asked confused.

"Well, my time is up, thankfully, I got to know everything I wanted." Ignoring Alex, Adrian muttered looking at the air. "You already passed the trial a while ago, so don't worry, and don't hold a grudge against me."a

"Huh? What are you talking about?" Alex became even more confused.

"See you next time then," Adrian waved his hand at Alex his form blurring. "Though it might not be this self of me and you will probably forget what happened soon..."

"Good luck,"

As Adrian's figure faded, one last word echoed through the area, through Alex's mind.

"IAmTheStrongestReader."

"!" Alex's eyes widened instantly as this word was eerily familiar to him.

"You are! You!"

"Who are - ?"

"Hmm?" Alex blinked as the surroundings around him shifted once more. The cold, dark chamber dissolved into a brilliant light that seemed to engulf him. He found himself standing in an ethereal, glowing space, and in his hands, he held the relic. It was warm and pulsed with a soft, golden light.

A sudden, excruciating pain shot through his head. Alex's eyes widened in shock as the memories of his encounter with Adrian started to slip away, like sand through his fingers.

"N-no!" he shouted, desperately trying to hold onto the fragments of their conversation. But it was too late. The details, the emotions, the profound realizations—all of it began to fade.

Confusion clouded his gaze. "What... what am I doing here?" he muttered, his voice weak and uncertain.

Before he could process anything further, he heard an angelic voice behind him.

"Congratulations, Alex," Seraphiel said, her voice filled with warmth and grace. "You have passed the trial."

Still dazed and disoriented, Alex turned to face her. "Eh... ah..." he stammered, nodding slowly. His mind was a haze, struggling to make sense of what had just happened. The weight of the relic in his hands grounded him, reminding him of the significance of his journey, even if the details eluded him now.

Seraphiel stepped closer, her eyes shimmering with a mixture of pride and compassion. "You have proven your worth and your resilience. The Relic of Forbidden Light is now yours to wield and also to protect."

Alex glanced down at the relic, its glow reflecting in his eyes. Despite the confusion, he felt a deep sense of accomplishment and responsibility. He had come this far, faced difficult challenges, and now he might be holding the key to protecting those he cared about.

"However, I must tell you the history," Seraphiel said, her tone becoming serious as her gaze locked onto Alex's. "Hear the story of the Relic of Forbidden Light carefully, for its power comes with great risk and responsibility."

Alex straightened, holding the relic tightly as he nodded, the weight of Seraphiel's words pressing down on him.

"The creation of the relic began in a time of great turmoil," Seraphiel began, her voice steady and resonant. "It was a time when darkness threatened to engulf this world, and hope seemed all but lost. A powerful mage, whose name has been lost to history, envisioned a way to harness light to counter the encroaching shadows.

This mage believed that light, in its purest form, could be a beacon of hope and a weapon against the forces of darkness."

She paused, her eyes reflecting the weight of the history she recounted. "The mage gathered the most skilled artisans and scholars from across the lands. Together, they embarked on a journey to create a relic that could contain the essence of pure light. After years of tireless work, the Relic of Forbidden Light was forged, a symbol of hope and resilience."

Alex listened intently, the relic in his hands feeling even more significant as Seraphiel continued.

"But the power of the relic was immense and uncontrollable. It had the ability to illuminate the darkest corners of the world, to purify and heal. However, it also had the potential to blind, to burn, and to destroy if wielded without caution. The mage who created it realized the dangers too late. The very light they had harnessed began to consume them, threatening to turn hope into ruin."

Seraphiel's expression grew more somber. "To prevent further catastrophe, the relic was hidden away and bound with powerful seals, becoming known as the Relic of Forbidden Light. Only those deemed truly worthy and capable of bearing its burden were allowed to seek it."

She stepped closer to Alex, her eyes piercing into his. "You may have proven yourself through the trial, Alex but know this: the relic's power comes with consequences. It will test you, challenge you, and demand great sacrifices. If misused, it could bring about destruction rather than salvation."

Alex felt the gravity of her words settle into his bones. He looked down at the relic, its glow seeming to pulse with a life of its own.

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(A/N: I hope you got a few answers from the recent chapters but also more questions.

Anyway, here is the bonus announcement:

I will mix a redemption code in the next chapter for both Nebula and Stellar Tier updated chapters. You can use it to claim 10 Fast Passes. You can redeem it on the webnovel app's profile redeem section. It is only usable for 9 times, 1 time for one user. Wait for it then! 🙂 )