Aetheric Chronicles: Reborn As An Extra

The royal balcony offered a perfect view of the arena, but Alina barely noticed the splendor of the surroundings. Her focus was entirely on the masked man in the center of the ring.

He moved with precision and fluidity, evading the Brawler earth mage's powerful strikes with almost casual grace. Alina's blue eyes sparkled with awe as she leaned forward, her fingers clutching the gilded railing.

"Look at him," she murmured, her voice barely audible over the crowd's cheers.

Beside her, Princess Isabella of Valendria sipped from her glass of drink, her posture calm and composed. Though she watched the fight with interest, she lacked the same fervent admiration as Alina. The masked man's tactics and swordsmanship were undeniably impressive, but Isabella's mind was elsewhere—specifically, on the upcoming matches where her brother, Cedric, and then Adrian would take the stage.

Cassandra, the calmest and quietest of the three princesses, rested her chin on her palm, her eyes glimmering with quiet amusement. She, too, appreciated the battle, though not to the extent of Alina's enthusiasm. "He's good," Cassandra admitted softly, glancing at her twin sister. "Though I doubt he'd let you spar with him, Alina. He doesn't strike me as someone who fights for sport."

Alina huffed, sitting back in her chair as the masked man secured his victory.

His final move—a feint so well-executed that it left the earth mage sprawling—drew a deafening roar of applause. The crowd erupted, chanting his title, "The Masked Man," while Alina clasped her hands together, visibly awestruck.

"I don't care what he fights for," she said earnestly. "I just want to test myself against him. Did you see how he countered every move? How did he use his spells that no one else would think of? He could teach me so much—if he'd just say yes!"

Cassandra laughed, shaking her head. "You're unbelievable, sister. One match, and you're already fantasizing about dragging him to the training grounds. And you are overpraising him way too much."n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

"I'm serious!" Alina shot back, her voice firm

But before Cassandra could respond, the herald announced the next match. Isabella's smile dimmed, her grip tightening on her glass as her brother, Cedric, strode confidently into the arena. His opponent, a young knight from the royal cavalry, bowed respectfully before the fight commenced.

Alina's excitement faded instantly, her expression hardening as she observed Cedric. "Here we go," she muttered under her breath.

The match began, but it was clear from the outset that Cedric had no intention of treating it with dignity. His strikes were calculated to humiliate rather than challenge, pushing the young knight to the edge of the arena repeatedly without granting him a chance to recover. The knight, though clearly skilled, was outmatched by Cedric's brutal, unrelenting style.

Isabella watched in silence, her eyes narrowing as her brother sneered at his opponent. "Pathetic," she murmured, shaking her head. Her voice was soft, but there was no mistaking the disdain in her tone. "He's using this match as an outlet for his grievances against the crown prince."

"Does he hate the prince that much?" Cassandra asked, though she already suspected the answer.

"Of course," Isabella replied, her lips curving into a bitter smile. "Cedric's resentment has consumed him for years. And now he vents it on anyone he can. Honestly, he embarrasses himself more than anyone else."

"He's still your brother," Cassandra pointed out gently.

"Unfortunately," Isabella muttered, though her voice lacked malice.

Alina, however, was visibly upset, her fists clenched as Cedric continued to demean his opponent. When the knight faltered under a particularly harsh blow, Cedric's mocking laugh echoed through the arena.

"That's enough," Alina hissed through gritted teeth. "This isn't a duel—it's a farce. A knight deserves respect, no matter the outcome."

Cassandra reached over, placing a calming hand on her sister's arm. "We're guests, Alina," she said softly. "This is Isabella's banquet, remember."

"But..." Alina said, her voice trembling with suppressed anger.

The match finally ended, with Cedric emerging victorious amid the applause of the crowd. The young knight bowed stiffly despite the humiliation he had endured. Read exclusive content at empire

As the arena was prepared for the next match, an unmistakable tension settled over the balcony. The herald's voice rang out again, announcing the long-awaited duel: "Velina versus Adrian!"

Anticipation surged through the audience, and even the princesses found themselves leaning forward.

Alina's lips twisted into a faint smirk as she muttered, "I just hope he won't spend the entire match dodging again."

Cassandra chuckled, shaking her head. "You'll change your tune soon enough. You always do when someone proves you wrong. Besides, you've never seen him fight with his full strength, so stop judging others without proof, sister."

Alina frowned but said nothing, her gaze fixed on the arena. 'Hmph, so what if he is holding back...'

Isabella, however, remained silent, her expression calm but thoughtful. Her thoughts were her own as she awaited the match, her focus entirely on Adrian. This was someone she respected despite the complex relationship their families shared. He was someone who fought with a purpose beyond spectacle. She had no doubt that he would prove himself once again.

And so he did.

"I think I understand his style now..." Cassandra murmured as Adrian left the fighting arena slowly. "He probably doesn't like to show off, either he doesn't want attention or he just prefers efficiency rather than a wasted use of power and raw strength..."

"...he's also incredibly sharp," Cassandra continued, her eyes bright with understanding. "The way he makes split-second decisions that end fights before they truly begin or drag on. He reads his opponents' movements and minds as if he can see into the future itself. He's really something extraordinary."

Alina, who had opened her mouth to make another comment about Adrian's supposed tendency to dodge, fell silent. The words died on her lips as she reflected on the match she had just witnessed, suddenly aware of all the nuances she had missed due to her petty grudge.

Her cheeks colored slightly as she nodded to herself. "I... I should apologize properly," she murmured, more to herself than the others.

Isabella nodded in agreement with Cassandra's assessment, her eyes still fixed on Adrian's retreating form. "He's remarkable in other ways too," she added, her voice taking on a softer quality. "The way he maintains his composure regardless of the situation, always cool and calm. He never stops thinking of solutions, always considering others in his decisions." A small smile graced her lips as she continued, "He treats everyone equally, from the highest noble to the lowest servant. He's just that... good."

Her voice trailed off, lost in thought as she spoke about Adrian. It took her a moment to notice the knowing looks Cassandra and Alina were exchanging, their lips curved into matching smiles. Even Alina, usually dense when it came to matters of the heart, could see it plain as day – Isabella didn't merely view Adrian as a respectable older brother figure.

But the warmth in Isabella's eyes dimmed slightly as reality crept back in. Her smile turned bittersweet as she straightened in her chair, composing herself once more. The weight of their positions, their families' expectations, and the complex political landscape hung heavy in the air between them. Some things, no matter how deeply felt, had to remain unspoken.

Cassandra reached over and squeezed her friend's hand gently, offering silent support. Alina, for once, showed remarkable tact by turning the conversation to the upcoming matches, though her eyes held a new understanding as she regarded Isabella.

"Hey, who do you think will win if the Masked Man and he fights for real? I really want to see it."

"Now that you mention it... We are curious too."