Chronicles of Forgotten Extra

Perfect.

Alden thought as he looked at himself in the mirror.

It had been a day since the storm called Amyra dropped her proposal on him like lightning out of a clear sky.

He was still shaken.

Her affection burned too brightly—too fiercely—for someone like him.

Someone who wasn't used to such extreme emotions.

So, he just ignored it. Love was a battlefield he had no intention of stepping into again.

He knew how much that hurt.

He had tried that once. It ended in death, grief and a version of himself he never wanted to see again.

It took him death to recover from it.

So no. Love could wait. At least until he was strong enough to protect the people he cared about.

Amyra was his friend. That was all.

He slapped his cheeks once, twice and studied his reflection again.

Jet-black hair neatly combed. Crimson eyes calm as ever. A sleek black suit that matched with the black shirt and slacks.

He didn't wear a tie… he found it suffocating.

He looked like someone ready for a royal banquet.

And he was. The one Amyra invited him to.

He could've refused. Should've, maybe.

But fate doesn't ask for permission.

An official invitation arrived at his door just yesterday evening.

Not just any letter but one pressed with the Emperor's seal. An honor. A warning.

It didn't just name him as a guest.

It named him as the official disciple of Jeremy Voidforge. And Alden wasn't foolish enough to say no to that.

Let's see what the banquet has in store for me.

He walked towards the exit of his apartment.

Kyun was still perched on the window, exactly where she does all the time. Watching the clouds. Pretending not to care.

"Kyun…" Alden paused by the door, one hand on the handle. "I'll be back soon. We'll go see the stars tomorrow."

His voice softened at the end, just slightly.

After yesterday's mess, he had made a silent promise.

Tomorrow would be for Kyun. No training, no missions, nothing.

The white crow tilted her head at him and let out a low, drawn-out chirp.

"Kyu–n."

Alden's lips twitched.

He understood that tone perfectly.

It wasn't just a sound.

It meant: "Hmph…it's not like I care or anything."

Alden blinked.

Since when did she start acting like a tsundere?

He sighed, shaking his head faintly as he stepped out and shut the door behind him.

_

It didn't take Alden long to arrive in Valloria—the capital city of the Empire.

He had used one of the academy's official teleportation portals. There weren't any other means of travel out of Astralia after all.

He exited the teleportation hub as the evening sky of Valloria greeted him. It was as welcoming as always.

But he didn't have time to take in the view.

The moment he stepped outside, a butler in a crisp white uniform approached him and bowed with practiced grace.

"Welcome, Young Master. Sir Jeremy sent me to escort you to the banquet."

Alden recognized the butler.

They'd met once before—during the introductory banquet Jeremy had hosted for him and Nyx a few months ago.

The man hadn't changed. Same crisp uniform, same unreadable expression and same perfect bow.

Alden gave a short nod in return.

"Lead the way."

He guided Alden toward a sleek black car waiting just outside the teleportation hub.

Alden slid into the back seat.

The door clicked softly behind him as the butler followed a moment later, taking the passenger seat up front without a word.

The car sped forward with a gentle hum, its quiet magic-powered engine picking up speed as it merged into the flow of traffic.

As the cityscape blurred past the windows, the butler reached into a small case beside him and handed Alden a silver storage ring.

"This contains the gift prepared by Master Jeremy for the Emperor and Empress," he said evenly.

Alden turned the ring over in his hand.

A gift? Is Jeremy not attending?

"Is the Master not attending?" He asked.

The butler shook his head slightly. "No, Young Master. Due to the preparations for the Inter-Academy, Master Jeremy will not be present tonight."

So, Jeremy is the one in charge of this year's inter-academy.

Alden nodded slowly.

"What about Nyx?" he asked after a pause.

For the first time, the butler hesitated.

"Young Miss Nyx has not confirmed her attendance. She has not sent a word either."

Alden frowned.

What's happening with her?

She hadn't even replied to my messages yesterday.

Is she in some kind of trouble?

I'll just ask her once I meet her.

Before he could think more, the butler pulled out a thin folder and handed it back to him.

"This contains a list of notable guests attending tonight's banquet," he said. "Master Jeremy advised that you review it before arrival. There are names you should be cautious of… and others you may wish to greet personally."

List of names?

Alden scanned through the folder once before putting it in his storage ring.

He absolutely had no intention to play politics with some old snakes.

He was just going there because of Amyra's condition.

She asked for three dates, right? I guess this one could count as one.

His lips curled up with the thought.

He'd show up, have something to eat, exchange a few words with the Emperor like she asked… and then leave.

Simple.

Hopefully.

The car came to a smooth stop.

In front of a towering skyscraper.

Alden stepped out and glanced up.

It was a hotel. Of course.

Guess even the Empire doesn't want to risk hosting a banquet in the castle these days.

The circular driveway was already buzzing with activity—sleek, high-end vehicles arrived up one after another, their doors opening to reveal nobles, officials and even other race dignitaries.

Some were surrounded by attendants. Others by guards.

All of them wore masks—not the literal ones but the polished and practiced expressions of people who had learned long ago how to smile without showing their teeth.

Alden exhaled quietly.

Let's just hope the banquet passes without a problem.