Chronicles of Forgotten Extra

Today was one of the days when Alden had training schedule with family assigned mentor.

Alden was struggling again. Sweat dripped from his brow as he tried to keep his sword steady, his hands trembling from exhaustion. The mentor was relentless, barking orders at him with no compassion.

"Why are you hesitating again, Alden? Is this all you're capable of?" The mentor sneered, his tone dripping with contempt. "You're no Draven. You're a disgrace."

Alden gritted his teeth, trying to ignore the sting of the words. He could feel the pressure mounting—both from the mentor and the weight of his own uncertainty. His only hope was that he could get through this.

"Focus! You're wasting my time," the mentor continued, pacing back and forth, eyes narrowed.

Alden gripped the sword tighter, willing himself to get the form right, but it wasn't enough. He felt like every move he made only cemented his failure. His body was sore, and his spirit was beginning to crack under the pressure.

That's when the doors to the courtyard slammed open with a crash.

"Is this the level of training we're giving our family's blood? Pathetic."

Cedric's voice echoed across the courtyard, sharp and commanding. His presence alone seemed to suck the air from the room. He strode into the space with an air of superiority, his gaze cold and disapproving.

"Young Master Cedric," the mentor greeted, bowing low, his voice overly flattering. "Forgive me for not meeting your expectations. I'm working with Alden, but he's proving difficult. His progress is… slower than expected."

Cedric gave a dismissive wave. "Spare me the excuses. I don't care what you're teaching him. It's obvious you're wasting time on someone who doesn't deserve it." His eyes flicked over to Alden, narrowing. "You should know better than to think you can keep up with someone like me."

Alden clenched his jaw, refusing to let Cedric's words break him. But the tension in the air was thick, and Cedric wasn't done. He moved closer, eyes scanning Alden like a predator sizing up prey.

"You'll never be good enough," Cedric sneered, his voice dripping with disdain. "You don't belong here. You were never meant to be a Draven."

With a quick movement, Cedric shoved Alden aside, sending him stumbling to the ground. The mentor didn't say a word, standing by obediently as if waiting for Cedric's approval. Alden could feel his chest tightening, the burn of humiliation stinging in his gut.

But before Cedric could push him further, something unexpected happened. A cold, authoritative voice cut through the tension.

"Enough."

Ellara's figure appeared from the shadows, her presence sudden and commanding. Cedric stopped, his eyes flashing with a mix of surprise and confusion. He had never seen her before. She stood with her arms crossed, her gaze locked onto him with an unflinching calm.

"Who are you?" Cedric's voice was sharp, but there was a note of curiosity beneath his anger. "And why are you interrupting me?"

Ellara's eyes glinted. "You are Cedric Draven, I presume?" Her tone was almost mocking. "I don't recognize you as anyone worthy of wasting my time on. Leave Alden be."

Cedric blinked in disbelief. "What are you, some servant of his?" he spat. "I don't need your interference."

Her lips twitched into a thin smile, but it was cold, devoid of any warmth. "I'm no servant," she said evenly. "And I won't stand by while you belittle someone who's under my protection."

The mentor stepped forward, nervous, trying to placate Cedric. "Young Master, please, this is—"

"Quiet," Ellara snapped, her voice sharp like a whip.

Cedric's eyes darkened, but there was hesitation in his step now. Ellara's presence was unnerving, even to someone like him.

"Do you really think you can stand in my way?" Cedric sneered, though his posture was less confident now.

"I think you'd be wise to leave," Ellara said, her tone hardening. "You've done enough damage here today."

Alden watched in awe as Cedric, for the first time, seemed unsure of himself. The young master of the Draven family, the one who always seemed to have control, was being challenged—by someone he didn't even know.

Finally, with a frustrated growl, Cedric spun on his heel. "This isn't over," he hissed, his voice seething with barely contained rage. "I'll make you regret this."

Ellara didn't flinch as he stormed out, her gaze never leaving his retreating form. She waited a moment, then turned to Alden, her expression softening slightly as she approached him.

"Are you hurt?" she asked, her voice much gentler than before.

Alden blinked, still recovering from the shock of the encounter. "I… I'm fine."

Ellara offered him a hand, helping him to his feet. "Good," she said simply. "Now, we get back to training. Forget about Cedric. He's not worth your time."

Alden, still trying to process everything, nodded slowly. As much as he had hated Cedric's words and actions, it was Ellara's protection that had truly shocked him. For the first time, he felt like he wasn't just a forgotten son, but someone who mattered.

After the incident, Ellara's role in Alden's life began to shift. She no longer acted solely as a mentor or guardian of the Codex; she became his protector in ways that extended beyond the physical. In those small, quiet moments when Alden would return to the library to train, she offered words of encouragement—and sometimes, silence—but always with an unspoken understanding that she was there for him.

The mentor, for all his sycophantic behavior, wasn't willing to cross Ellara. And Cedric, though powerful, had been forced to retreat. The power dynamic between them had shifted in Alden's favor—if only just. But it was enough to show him that Ellara wasn't just a spirit bound to a Codex. She had become something far more important to him.