Extra's Ascent

Aldrich sat in his chair, feeling a wave of nausea.

Everything around him felt off as if he were a stranger to this world.

The table before him was lined with an array of delectable treats and sparkling drinks, and the people around him laughed and dined, glasses clinking in celebration.

But none of it clicked.

The tie felt like it was choking him, and the coat weighed on him like a leaden burden.

Picking up a glass of wine, he took a small sip, doing his best to fit in among the elite.

"It's official: fancy events for rich people are definitely not my scene," he muttered to himself, taking another sip and scanning the room.

He let his eyes wander, searching for anyone who might resemble the main characters from the novel but then realized that would be harder than expected trying to identify them through description alone.

After all, he met the female lead and couldn't even recognize her until she said her name before he pieced it together.

But no worries, he was going to meet them either way.

The beginning of the story takes place in Upstate, centring around the protagonist and the other crucial characters who are the focal point of the book.

"Now that I think about it," he mused, "this must be the opening scene, where Fiona, the female lead, meets Dante the male lead."

Just then, the entire hall fell silent, a hush blanketing the room as the festivities stilled.

All eyes turned to the entrance, where a new figure appeared, capturing everyone's attention.

As he walked into the room, an air of effortless confidence trailed him, inspiring awed murmurs and gasps from the crowd.

Each step was measured and regal, his very presence exuding charisma and command.

"Like a vision out of a legend: long, golden hair shimmering under the lights, an aura that drew both admiration and respect."

Aldrich recited the opening phrase for when the male lead first appeared in the novel, his eyes trailing the newly arrived.

"To his friends, he would be a mountain too towering to ignore; to his enemies, he was the embodiment of justice and strength."

He was reminded of the phrase when he set eyes on him, a striking resemblance to how he carried himself in response to the novel's description.

"Charismatic? Cool and rational? A natural leader with a relentless drive to conquer, no matter the odds?"

Aldrich could barely breathe. "It has to be him," he whispered, his gaze glued to the young man who had so effortlessly captivated the room.

The figure scanned the hall, searching for a place to sit.

Immediately, several older, well-dressed gentlemen stepped forward, ushering him to a table they had reserved for him, and treating him with the utmost reverence.

His arrival and the attention he commanded left Aldrich in awe.

"This is real. This is actually real!" Aldrich muttered, a mix of excitement and disbelief flooding him as he realized he was witnessing the main character of his favourite novel in the flesh.

At that moment, Fiona joined him, gliding over in her flowing white gown.

She took the seat next to him, a warm smile lighting up her face. "Sorry about that. Took longer than expected, didn't it?"

"It's fine. I mean, I'm fine." Aldrich leaned in, his curiosity barely contained. "Say, that guy who just walked in… Do you know who he is?"

Aldrich was convinced by the golden hair alone. But jumping straight to a conclusion without any form of verification wasn't exactly proper.

Fiona glanced over, intrigued by his question. "Not exactly. But with that golden hair, he must be a member of the Pendragon family."

'Right,' Aldrich thought. 'The Pendragons are the only ones with golden hair. But that alone doesn't prove he's the main character.'

He recalled that the Pendragon family was vast, with many descendants scattered around.

This young man could easily be just one of the clan's many relatives.

However, there was something about him, something unmistakably magnetic.

Everything about him seemed to align with the description of the protagonist in the novel.

'And if I remember right, Fiona Helmsworth was supposed to attend this event alone, until Dante Pendragon, the main character, surprised everyone by asking to be her partner. That's how they met.'

Seeing Dante Pendragon took Aldrich back to the early chapters of Arthdal Chronicle.

He was a thousand chapters plus ahead in the novel so the early phase of it was fuzzy, sort of.

But if memory serves right, Fiona Helmswoth and Dante Pendragon would have their first meeting on this very day.

Before this, Fiona had disappeared from society for five years and had only recently returned.

Also, due to being made an outcast by her childhood friend Selina, Fione couldn't get a date until Dante came along as the knight in shining armour.

Now, though, things were different. Aldrich was here, attending as Fiona's date, and Dante is now without a partner.

It was a strange twist that could impact the novel's storyline.

Not just a minor plot point; it was the anchor, the starting phase that set everything else into motion.

He swallowed, panic creeping in. 'This could actually disrupt the storyline… or even create an entirely different story.'

Fiona took his hand, bringing him out of his thoughts. "Enough about the mysterious stranger. There's someone I want you to meet."

Aldrich followed as she guided him through the crowds, her elegant gown trailing behind her as she navigated through the maze of tables and chatting guests.

In his mind, he ran through the events of the novel. 'Fiona should be alone tonight. Then Dante would approach her, asking to be her partner, sparking their fated connection.'

But here he was, standing in Dante's place, and if Dante didn't meet Fiona tonight, then the story would be thrown off course entirely.

He could feel his pulse quicken once more as the implications sank in.

'Damn it. I've messed things up—big time.'