Extra's Ascent

Something was wrong. Or rather, something had gone wrong.

Reflecting on the cotillion arc, Aldrich Aldaman couldn't shake that disturbing feeling.

The arc was meant to be a narrative showcase for the main characters—a stage to display their abilities and set the tone for their development.

Dante Pendragon, Fiona Helmswoth, Selina Von Degure, and Edward Henderson—these were the central figures from Upstate Sector One, whose introductions were pivotal to the story.

Saldrich Aldaman, his younger sister and a character from Midstate, was slated to appear later in the storyline, post-resumption at Eldora Institute.

She began as Selina's lackey but rose through grit and mastery of her clan's unique Art.

The arc had unfolded as it should.

Well, mostly.

Except for one glaring anomaly.

One of the robbers had regained consciousness and launched another attack.

That event? It wasn't part of the script.

It wasn't part of the novel's ordained storyline and should not have happened.

That it did mean something had gone wrong.

And Aldrich, ever the meticulous thinker, suspected the cause.

It was him.

An extra. An anomaly. A character who should not have been in the picture.

He shouldn't have survived the coma and certainly was not supposed to attend an event meant for the main characters, or ever be entangled with the primary female lead.

In the novel's original timeline, Aldrich Aldaman was a tragic figure—a character whose death served only to provide Saldrich with a poignant backstory.

Yet here he was, alive and breathing, disrupting the natural flow of events.

"It's clear now. My mere existence is causing ripples. The more I interfere, the greater the risks become. And those risks… they could be fatal, not just for me, but for others too."

His survival from the knife attack was a stark reminder of that fact.

The blade had been aimed with deadly intent, and by all rights, it should have ended him.

But at the last moment, his mana core had instinctively awakened, sending mana surging through his veins.

The physical reinforcement provided from mana circulating through his veins had saved his life, stopping the knife before it could pierce any deeper.

"Without that, I'd have died," he mused grimly. "No, worse. Fiona would have."

She was the target, and if not for his interference, Fiona Helmswoth—a key main character—might not have survived the arc.

The implications of that possibility sent a chill down his spine.

Aldrich shook his head, forcing his thoughts to focus.

"Eldora Institute."

His gaze lifted to the massive emblem mounted high above the towering structure before him—a large inverted "V" that gleamed in the sunlight, boldly announcing its presence.

It was a symbol of power, of prestige, and of the future, he was determined to seize.

Raising his arm, he flexed it experimentally. T

The wound that had nearly claimed his life was gone, erased by the advanced healthcare system of Arthdal.

With healer mystics and cutting-edge medical technology, injuries like his were treated with ease.

The scar was gone, but the memory lingered.

Since his recovery, Saldrich had taken it upon herself to oversee his training.

From combat techniques to mana manipulation and the fundamentals of their clan's unique Art, she had prepared him as best she could.

Now, it was time for the next step.

"The new term starts in a month. If I pass this assessment, I'll join the first years already admitted. Sure, I'll miss out on the lessons from the first session, but it's worth it."

The thought was enough to propel him forward, his resolve hardening with each step.

Aldrich had made the journey alone, travelling from Midstate to Upstate, where Eldora's main building stood.

Saldrich had offered to accompany him, but he had declined.

This was something he needed to do on his own.

For the past month, his family had kept a close watch on him.

His father, Eric, and Saldrich both hovered like shadows, always alert for any signs of discomfort.

He understood their concern—waking from a five-year coma was no small matter.

But their constant surveillance was suffocating.

He wasn't a child, and he didn't need to be treated like one.

So, when the opportunity arose to take this trip, he seized it without hesitation.

It was a chance to break free, to breathe, and to prove to himself—and to them—that he was capable.

"Okay, Eldora. Here we come."

He muttered the words to himself as he approached the grand entrance.

Yes, his presence might jeopardize the main characters.

Yes, his very existence was an anomaly that could end up spiralling the story he knows out of control to create a new one, one with stark menial differences.

But who could resist the chance to see this world—the world he had only ever read about—up close?

The risks were great, but the rewards?

They were worth it.

He wasn't about to leave things to fate.

He had no intention of sitting idly by while repercussions loomed on the horizon.

Life itself is all about endless struggle and his struggle just so happens to be the transparent type.

Aldrich Aldaman woke from the coma. The mere fact of that alone has changed the storyline.

Not only that, Aldrich interfered with Fiona and Dante's meeting.

Believe it or not, the storyline is screwed as it is.

It cannot get any worse since the anomaly has occurred, and there is no turning back from it.

Aldrich can only hope to see it through knowing that there are risks involved... Risks he would have to shoulder.

Besides? He is never one to play by fate anymore, not after fate had almost screwed him over by taking away his arm and rendering him unable to do archery.

Not this time.

He has a chance to see the events of his favourite novel unfold in real-time. Not just as a reader but as someone who can physically interfere.

That is a chance he wouldn't pass up. Not for some risk that has yet to come and certainly not out of fear.

Besides, if the risks do come, he has no intention of staying still.

He had best it once by stopping the worst from happening with Fiona. He can do it again.

Aldrich would fight back.

He had to.

This life, this second chance wasn't something he would squander.

And If he were to face the consequences of his existence, he would need power—power to protect, to survive, and to thrive.

"This is a step toward great strength," he whispered as he crossed the threshold into the building.

The interior was even more awe-inspiring than he had imagined.

High ceilings, intricate carvings, and walls lined with the banners of Eldora's storied history.

Everywhere he looked, there was an air of prestige and purpose.

Aldrich clenched his fists, his heart pounding with anticipation.

This was it.

The first step he can never shy back on.