Aetheric Chronicles: Reborn As An Extra

Chapter 198: Trial [1]

"Welcome to the trial, Alex." Seraphiel's voice echoed in Adrian's—no, Alex's—mind. His eyes instantly widened, his heart beating faster. Did she call me... Alex? he muttered inwardly.

He tried to remain calm, but his mind was racing. His real name was known only to himself and those who had been part of his life on Earth, before he was reborn into this world. How could she possibly know it?

"Who... who are you talking about?" he stammered, attempting to feign ignorance. "My name is Adrian."

"!"

In an instant, Seraphiel was right in front of him, her eyes close to his. The intensity of her gaze was almost unbearable. "My eyes never lie," she said softly but firmly. "I know you are Alex."

Alex's mind whirled. He had to stay in control. He couldn't afford to let her see his fear. "What are you talking about? My name is Adrian," he repeated, trying to sound confident.

Seraphiel's expression softened slightly, but her gaze remained piercing. "No one can see us, Alex. No one," she assured him.

Alex tried to mask his rising panic. "Are you talking about the monsters?" he asked, hoping to steer the conversation away from his real identity.

"You know exactly what I meant," she replied, cutting him off. Her eyes seemed to see right through him, as if she could read his every thought.

Alex's eyes widened once more, his heart beating uncontrollably, cold running down his spine. He took a deep breath, trying to calm himself. "Who are you?" he asked, his voice steadier now. There was no need to feel fear since the angel, or knight, whoever she was, possessed power beyond his imagination. It was like she had broken the fourth wall of the game, of the world.

'So, is this a real world?' He thought since no other suitable explanation came to his mind.

"No, this isn't a real world." Once again reading his mind, Seraphiel answered. "But, it's not a fake world either. You may call it an Echo from the past, from the past of this world. You are the 'Harbinger of ******', aren't you?"

"What? Harbinger?" Adrian muttered confused. "I have never heard of it."

"...I see," Seraphiel muttered. "Sorry then. I must have been mistaken."

"Let me introduce myself again." Seraphiel straightened, her ethereal presence looming over him. "I am the guardian of the Relic of Forbidden Light," she said. "And I am here to ensure that only the worthy can claim its power."

Alex swallowed hard, his mind racing. He had come too far to back down now. He needed to face this trial, whatever it entailed, and prove himself worthy of the relic. If he could acquire the real relic, then his strength might improve, right?

"What should I do?" he asked, his voice filled with determination.

Seraphiel's gaze softened as she looked at Alex. "To prove yourself worthy of the Relic of Forbidden Light, you must pass the trial. And the trial has already begun."

Before Alex could ask any more questions, Seraphiel vanished, and his surroundings shifted once again. Darkness enveloped him, a suffocating, all-consuming void. The silence was oppressive, broken only by the sound of his own heartbeat.

Alex took a deep breath, trying to steady himself. He knew he had to stay calm and focused. As he stood there, the darkness began to lift slightly, revealing a faint, distant light. It was a small, flickering beacon in the vast emptiness, and it seemed to be moving towards him.

Curiosity and a sense of purpose drove him forward. He walked cautiously, his footsteps echoing in the void. As he moved closer, the light grew brighter, illuminating the path ahead. The sensation was surreal, as if he was walking through a dream.

After what felt like an eternity, he reached the source of the light. It was a figure, standing in the middle of the darkness, bathed in a soft, ethereal glow. As Alex approached, he felt a strange sense of familiarity. The figure turned to face him, and his breath caught in his throat.

It was him. Or rather, it was Adrian, the persona he had adopted in this world.

Alex's heart pounded as he stared at the other Adrian. His mind raced with possibilities. Was this some kind of mirror trial? A doppelganger meant to test him?

"Who are you?" Alex demanded, his voice trembling slightly. It was as if his sensing was being stimulated.

The other Adrian looked at him with a piercing gaze, a mixture of curiosity and confusion in his eyes. "I AM Adrian," he replied, his voice calm and steady. "But who are you?"

The question struck Alex like a physical blow. He stumbled back, his mind reeling. The other Adrian's words echoed in his head, each syllable a reminder of the duality of his existence.

"I..." Alex began, struggling to find the right words. "I am Adrian too. I mean, I was Alex, but now I'm Adrian. I'm here to prove myself worthy of the relic."

The other Adrian shook his head, a faint smile playing on his lips. "You may call yourself Adrian, but deep down, you know you are still Alex. This is not just about proving your worth. It's about confronting the truth of who you are."

Alex felt a chill run down his spine. The other Adrian's words resonated with a truth he had been avoiding, a truth he had buried deep within himself. He had adopted the persona of Adrian to survive and thrive in this new world, but the essence of Alex still lingered within him.

Well, it had to. He couldn't, wouldn't ever forget his own self.

"The truth is you are a thief."

"!"

"That's right, a thief," the other Adrian stated again, his voice carrying a weight that made Alex's heart sink. "You stole my identity, my life. You think you can hide behind my name Adrian, but deep down, you know the truth. You can't escape who you really are, thief."