The Extra Who Shouldn't Exist Chapter 2: A light within the darkness
Previously on The Extra Who Shouldn't Exist...
Dawn's sunlight slipped through the curtain gaps, enveloping the modest chamber in a warm, golden glow.
By the window, Alex gazed at the serene landscape outside. A tempest of reflections churned inside him, circling the recollections and sentiments of the existence he now claimed.
No longer a mere game. This was reality. He was Alex Dragonheart, the forsaken orphan, the youth stripped of all.
Yet, a profound burden of duty weighed upon his chest—for a beloved soul.
His eyes drifted to the room's corner, where a humble wooden desk stood. A framed image seized his focus—a youthful girl with sparkling eyes and a radiant grin, Lily. His little sister.
Confined to bed for over a year, she battled desperately for survival. Anguish pierced Alex's heart with every thought of her. His whole world had centered on her rescue, on scraping together funds for her care no matter the cost.
Yet now, with reality inverted, tomorrow loomed shrouded in doubt.
Alex reclined, massaging his temples. As thoughts meandered, they circled inevitably to Etheron Chronicles—the game.
Innumerable hours he had poured into it, lost in realms of sorcery and combat. Yet one element always dominated.
The Chosen of the Goddess
Ethan Williams.
The name reverberated through his mind, igniting a brief surge of irritation in Alex. Ethan Williams stood as the lead—the champion of Etheron Chronicles.
From the illustrious House of Williams, a noble lineage brimming with riches and authority, he was selected by the Goddess of Light as Etheron's deliverer.
She granted him boundless promise, a formidable divine physique, and an epic bloodline.
Awakening would unleash his invincible might, with strength exploding exponentially. He possessed it all—prodigy, might, and a fate etched among the heavens.
Alex, by contrast, was simply... insignificant.
Devoid of mighty bloodline. Absent legendary physique. No celestial boon.
Yet this scenario rang false. As a mere background extra, why the unawakened bloodline and physique? Why the talent named Dual-Soul Resonance?
Answers eluded him for the moment. But Alex vowed one truth—he would not idle while Ethan claimed the spotlight.
His mind swung back to Lily.
Her illness had gripped her for a full year, her frailty deepening each day.
Medical costs had devoured their meager savings, driving Alex to endless menial labors just to stay solvent.
He tackled it all—hauling freight at the wharves, fetching for traders, even risking illicit wagers for spare coin.
Still, it fell short. Her required care demanded fortunes beyond a lowly commoner's reach.
The old Alex had teetered on despair's edge.
Circumstances had shifted now.
Gamer's memories armed him. Secrets others lacked were his. With cunning moves, perhaps— just perhaps—destiny could flip.
Drawing a steady breath, Alex summoned his Status Screen once more. The luminous azure panel shimmered into view.
---
[Status Window]
Name: Alex Dragonheart
Age : 16
Rank: Novice (Low)
Bloodline: [Unawakened]
Physique: [Unawakened]
Class: None
Talent: [Dual-Soul Resonance] (Enhanced learning speed, intuition, and adaptability)
Strength: F
Agility: F+
Endurance: F-
Mana: F
Mana Capacity: F+
Will: B
Charm: B+
Luck: ???
Skills: [Basic Swordsmanship (F)], [Basic Mana Control (F)], [Dodge (F)], [??? (Sealed)]
---
Alex squinted, poring over the display with intent.
Strength (F): Raw bodily force. F rank left him feebler than a typical drilled fighter.
Agility (F+): Speed of motion and reactions. The + indicated a slight edge over standard F, though marginal.
Endurance (F-): Stamina and toughness. F- meant swift fatigue and brief endurance in battle.
Mana (F) & Mana Capacity (F+): Magical aptitude. Tiny reserves paired with feeble command.
Will (B): An unexpected standout. This governed mental fortitude, defense versus psychic magics, and sheer resolve. B rank explained his swift adjustment to this new reality.
Charm (B+): A curious metric. Beyond appearance, it shaped perceptions, sway in talks, and social fortunes. B+ offered paths to charm free of binds.
Luck (???): The enigma supreme. Sky-high boon or dire curse? Impossible to gauge.
Alex exhaled. "At least my Will and Charm aren't trash."
Even so, power was essential. To shield Lily, weakness could not persist.
Knock! Knock!
A sharp knock on the door shattered his concentration.
"Who could that be?" Alex muttered while rising to his feet.
He swung open the door to see a postman clutching an envelope. The fellow offered a courteous nod.
"Delivery for Alex Dragonheart."
Alex grabbed the envelope, his heartbeat quickening just a touch.
A striking emblem marked the wax seal—a golden tower crowned from above.
His eyes bulged in shock.
Zenith Academy.
The empire's top-tier academy.
Why dispatch a letter to a nobody like him?
Trembling faintly, his fingers cracked the seal and spread the letter open.
---
Dear Alex Dragonheart,
We are delighted to notify you of your selection as an enrollment candidate at Zenith Academy. Owing to special conditions, a conditional scholarship and the chance to attempt the Entrance Examination have been granted to you.
Four months remain for your preparation prior to the exam. Failure to attend within this period will result in the revocation of your candidacy.
May the Goddess bless your journey.
Sincerely,
Headmaster Aldric Verlane
---
Alex's breath caught sharply.
Four months.
An opportunity to join Zenith Academy?
For commoners, such a feat was nothing short of a fantasy. Nobles or prodigies with immense talent were the only ones admitted. Then why him?
Suddenly, his eyes locked onto a key phrase.
"Due to unique circumstances."
Something felt amiss.
Yet this might prove his golden ticket.
Gaining entry to Zenith Academy could unlock vital resources—wealth, secrets of power, and possibly a path to rescue Lily.
He gripped the letter with fierce determination, his decision solidified.
Four months stretched before him.
Every second would be seized and maximized.