Don't Want to Be Ordinary Even Though I'm an Extra Character

The morning started much like the ones before, filled with the cool air of dawn and the faint rustling of leaves as the camp stirred to life. After my usual morning exercise and washing up, I returned to the camp feeling slightly more refreshed. As I changed into a clean set of clothes, I noticed the subtle glances from my companions.

Garren, ever the joker, raised an eyebrow. "Changing clothes again? What are you, a noble?"

Mila, busy inspecting her bowstring, chuckled softly. "Arkan, you know out here, most people only change when their clothes are shredded or smell so bad they're unbearable."

I offered a sheepish grin. "Old habits die hard," I replied while straightening my shirt. "Besides, staying clean is important."

Garren let out a booming laugh. "You're like a spoiled noble lady!"

I shook my head, deciding not to fuel the banter further. Odd as they found it, wearing fresh clothes helped me feel grounded—a small but vital remnant of my life back on Earth. In a world like this, maintaining a sense of control, no matter how small, felt necessary.

We gathered for a modest breakfast of dry bread and leftover rations before preparing to set off for the day. As the group settled into a quiet rhythm, I glanced at Rainer, sitting slightly apart from the rest with his sword in hand.

"Rainer," I ventured, hoping to spark a conversation. "Where are you headed after this?"

He turned his gaze to me, his calm yet piercing expression unchanging. "To the Marquis' manor," he replied simply.

That answer wasn't surprising. If this world followed the plot of Warrior Destiny, then Rainer was indeed on his way to Marquis Arleon's manor for a pivotal mission. Hearing it from him firsthand, though, sent a subtle chill through me.

"And what are you planning to do there?" I pressed, attempting to mask my curiosity with casual interest.

Rainer studied me for a moment before returning his attention to his blade. "I'm just… following the wind. There's no other reason."

His words lingered, heavy with meaning. "Following the wind," I echoed under my breath, realizing how untethered he truly was. Just as the story depicted, Rainer had lost his purpose, drifting wherever fate took him.

"And what if the Marquis gives you a task?" I asked, probing gently.

This time, he offered a faint, weary smile. "If he has a job for me, I'll take it. As long as I can keep moving, I don't care what it is."

The hollow nature of his reply left a weight in my chest. He wasn't striving toward anything—he was simply trying to fill the void left by his past.

The journey would take about another week to reach Marquis Arleon's manor. I resolved to use this time to learn more about Rainer. He was, after all, the story's main protagonist—a man burdened with scars far deeper than he let on.

At first, Rainer was reluctant to speak. My attempts to draw out details about his past were met with curt responses or deflections. Yet over the course of the long journey, whether through familiarity or exhaustion, he began to open up bit by bit.

One night, while we rested by the fire, I approached him with two pieces of bread in hand and sat down beside him. Without a word, I offered him one.

"Thanks," he murmured, accepting it with a slight nod.

I took a bite of my bread and casually asked, "I've been wondering, Rainer. You mentioned you're from the Empire. What brought you to a place like this?"

He paused for a moment, chewing his bread slowly before answering. "I'm from a lower noble family in the Empire," he said at last. "My home was destroyed in a border skirmish. After that, I had nowhere to return to, so I decided to become a mercenary."

I nodded thoughtfully, pretending to absorb the story. But deep down, I knew he wasn't telling the whole truth.

As a reader of Warrior Destiny, I knew Rainer's background was far more complex. While it was true he hailed from the Empire, he was no minor noble. He was the third son of one of the most powerful Dukes in the Empire.

His full name was Rainer von Astoria.

This twist was one of the great revelations introduced in the novel around its fourth volume. For much of the early story, Rainer's true identity remained hidden, only to later reveal that he was a member of the prestigious Astoria family—a name synonymous with military and political dominance.

Rainer von Astoria had been a rising star of his generation, a prodigy destined to command armies and carve his legacy. But he threw it all away, abandoning his title and responsibilities.

Why? Because of a catastrophic event etched into the history of the Empire.

The Failed Dragon Expedition

As the story unfolded, Rainer was revealed to have led a military expedition under orders from his family. Backed by the Empire itself, the mission aimed to eliminate a dragon deemed a dire threat to the borderlands.

The result? Utter failure.

Rainer, newly appointed to a major command, watched helplessly as his forces were decimated. Almost every soldier under his banner perished, including his closest friends. The dragon that was supposed to die emerged unscathed, leaving devastation in its wake.

The Empire, humiliated and angered, demanded accountability. Rainer bore the brunt of the blame, his family's honor tarnished. Facing not only shame but the threat of execution, he fled, leaving his name and homeland behind.

The trauma of failure and the weight of countless lives lost haunted Rainer deeply. It wasn't just his reputation that crumbled—it was his sense of self.

I looked at Rainer as he sat near the dwindling firelight, his gaze distant. The silence between us hung heavy, broken only by the occasional crackle of the embers. His clipped words disguised something much larger, much heavier than he let on.

I knew his story. I knew why he was here, in this far-flung corner of the world. But I also understood that it wasn't something he was ready to confront. He hadn't healed enough to reopen those wounds.

Still, I couldn't help but admire him. Beneath the grief and loss lay a man still moving forward, no matter how aimlessly. Whether by fighting as a mercenary or merely surviving day by day, he hadn't surrendered entirely.

"Rainer," I said softly, ensuring my tone wasn't intrusive.

He glanced at me, raising an eyebrow slightly. "Yes?"

I offered a faint smile, choosing my words carefully. "I don't know much about your past, and I won't ask you to share it. But I just want you to know… I believe something greater lies ahead for you."

For a few seconds, he studied me, then turned his gaze back to the fire. "You're too optimistic, Arkan," he said flatly.

"Optimism is free," I replied, trying to keep the mood light. "And I think you need someone a little optimistic around."

A faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips, fleeting but real. It didn't last, but it was enough for me. It was a reminder that even now, there was still a spark in him waiting to be reignited.