Chronicles of Forgotten Extra

Somewhere within a deep and dark void, a little girl stood calmly.

Her midnight-black hair was darker than the void around her and her deep blue eyes were cold enough to freeze molten lava.

Dark crimson blood stained her hands but her face didn't change.

Not even a single trace of emotion was present on her face. She had no need for them. She had been taught to suppress them.

And she obeyed.

With quiet precision, she wiped her hands against the edge of her armor and walked forward.

Her job wasn't done yet.

A man lunged from the shadows, his twin daggers flashing towards her arm.

She tried to dodge but it was too late. The blades sliced cleanly through her arm.

"Arghhhhhhh!" Her scream echoed through the void but there was no time to cry.

The man came again, his daggers aimed at her throat now.

But she stayed calm and raised her hand. Her ability activated. In an instant, her body vanished, swapping places with another figure hiding nearby.

The attacker's blades stabbed through the wrong man, killing him instantly.

The girl still didn't rest, her arm was in pain… too much to bear for her little mind. But she gritted her teeth and moved.

For survival. For the chance to see her mother's smile again.

The attacker charged one more time.

But this time, she was ready.

She snapped her fingers, as a torrent of spatial mana collided with the man, shredding his whole body apart.

The girl stumbled forward, panting. Her blood pooled at her feet.

She didn't cry. She just wanted this hell to be over.

By now, the floor was littered with bodies. All of them were crippled criminals tossed here to die.

That should've made it easier but it didn't. Their blades still cut. Their fists still broke bones.

And she—she was still just a little girl.

Her small body was riddled with injuries now. Cuts traced her limbs, her lip was split and one of her eyes was nearly swollen shut.

She limped forward—barely.

Her knees buckled every few steps but she forced herself to stay upright.

Keep walking.

Don't fall.

Don't show weakness.

She kept repeating in her mind. She didn't even know how much time had passed since she had been thrown here.

There was no sun in this place. No rest. No time. Only darkness and death.

Her breath came out in ragged. Every inhale hurt. Her mana reserves were hanging by threads.

But the moment she paused—Another enemy emerged from the black.

She clenched her fists, stepped forward and struck first. Her movement was slower this time. The figure slashed across her thigh before she could finish her spell.

She screamed again, collapsing to one knee but still didn't stop. She couldn't.

The girl's hand gripped the void itself and with one desperate push, she sent a sharpened spatial spike straight through his chest.

His body collapsed, lifeless.

She sat there, panting. Her hands trembled. Her body was at its limit and yet, somehow… the void still whispered more.

She wasn't sure if this was training or punishment anymore. Or maybe it had always been both.

_

Finally a tunnel of light appeared in front of her… the only source of hope.

She ran… with all she had.

Her body barely kept it together, her skin blue with all the blood loss.

She didn't look back.

She didn't care about those who died anymore.

Finally she crawled out of a small tunnel.

Blinding light assaulted her. Her eyes stung, but she didn't shield her eyes. She wasn't allowed to.

In front of her stood an authoritative man, his cold blue eyes eerily similar to her own.

He was the Clan Master. Her father. But in his eyes, there wasn't a single trace of warmth.

Still, the girl was happy… in some corner of her heart, she hoped he would praise her… tell her that she did good.

So, she held on. Even as her legs trembled… she held on.

"What's the score?" He asked coldly, scanning her like a tool.

A man appeared out of shadows, bowing before the clan master. "The Princess neutralised seventeen crippled criminals."

"Hmm," The clan master nodded. "Increase the difficulty next time."

He turned away as if already losing interest.

Before leaving, he said one last thing. "Your mother is dead."

The voice held no emotions even as spoke about his own wife.

With a snap, the girl's injuries healed. Her severed arm returned as if it had never been cut.

But she didn't care.

Mom… is gone?

She dropped to her knees, like a puppet with its strings cut.

Her mind went blank.

The light hurt more than the darkness ever did.

__

In a quiet room, a beautiful girl opened her deep blue eyes.

Huff… puff…

Her breath was shallow. Tears streamed down her cheeks unconsciously, soaking the pillow beneath her.

"That nightmare again." Her voice was dry.

She sat up in one fluid motion, wiping her face without hesitation.

Her gaze wandered toward the window. A clear sky greeted her.

She hadn't dreamt of that memory since coming to this world.

So why now?

Why… today?

She stared at her hand—she could still feel the crimson blood on her hand vividly.

Her fingers trembled just once. Then stopped.

Before she could think more, her ManaSync buzzed on the table beside her bed.

Nyx reached for it, trying to distract herself.

But the name that flashed across the screen made her pause.

__

[Alden]

→Hey Nyx, you okay?

→You didn't come to class today. Just checking…

__

She stared at the message for a long second.

Then, despite everything, a small smile appeared onto her lips.

A soft and unguarded smile but just as quickly… it faded.

"Is this what the nightmare was trying to tell me?"

Her voice was barely a whisper.

"To not get closer to anyone…? That these expectations… are also meant to turn into disappointment."

She looked at Alden's name again. The smiling faces of her friends clashing with the nightmare she just had.

Then gently placed the device down without replying.

She didn't know the answer… But she couldn't go against the human tendency to hope.

Even if it hurt.

Even if it shattered her again.

Hope was cruel. But so was living without it.

__

Author Note:

Hey guys, thanks for sticking with me this far.

Do you feel like you understand Nyx a little more now? If you felt that pain… if you want to cry with Nyx, drop a 😭 in the comments. She'll receive every single one

And be real with me—do you think hope is still worth it, even when it hurts?

Let me know in the comments. And if this chapter hit you… you know the drill—stones, tickets, or just a kind word. That's what keeps this author's hope alive 🖤