Extra's Ascent

The woman stood on the podium, her presence dignified and gracefully maintained despite her age.

She was flanked by several other women, each of similar standing and elegance.

On the steps below, to the left, stood the young ladies in their white dresses, ready for the glamorous cotillion.

Opposite them were the young men, aligned in anticipation.

The leading woman held a note and began reading the names of the young ladies, announcing each one and identifying their family lineage.

The list was long and, for Aldrich, positioned with the other young men, frustratingly so.

Yet he was oddly enjoying this part of the evening, contrary to his usual inclinations.

In the original novel, this was the point where Dante, the main character, would spot Fiona.

Despite being dressed for the occasion, she would be standing alone, apart from the crowd.

Dante, true to his audacious nature, would then dramatically rise from his seat, drawing everyone's attention as he approached Fiona to ask for her hand.

But that scene wasn't playing out now, leaving Aldrich intrigued by the unfolding mystery.

"If I remember correctly, this is followed by a surprise attack—a band of rogues in black interrupting the festivities with chaos and commotion," he mused, the memory surfacing as he braced himself for what was to come.

The attack was a planned twist, a departure from the slice-of-life tone that had dominated the early chapters.

It was the author's way of injecting high-stakes action and fantasy into the plot, an abrupt shift to remind readers of the story's true nature.

That it wasn't just a slice of life novel but with more to offer. Action included.

As Aldrich recalled, the action would erupt in the middle of the cotillion, as the maidens took to the stage to dance with their partners.

A group of rogue mystics, opportunists hoping to steal from the wealthy gathering, would appear out of nowhere.

With gold and diamonds flaunted like trivial trinkets, this event was too tempting a target for them to resist.

Their fate, however, was sealed.

They would be thwarted by Dante, who would seize this moment to showcase his mystic prowess and establish his presence as someone not to be trifled with.

This attack wasn't just a heist attempt but a set-up to glorify the protagonist's capabilities and introduce his powers to the readers.

So Aldrich felt no immediate worry about the impending chaos.

The rogue mystics's purpose was to serve the plot, to introduce genre diversity not to pose a genuine threat.

But considering the deviations from the original storyline so far, he began to wonder: could this change affect the plot in ways he hadn't anticipated? Would the rogue mystics still arrive?

"Selina Von Degure, daughter of the Von Degure household. Accompanied by Edward Henderson of the Henderson family."

The new names pulled Aldrich's attention back to the present, and he turned toward the figures that matched them.

Selina was a girl with ashen hair, standing about 5'5", though her heels brought her closer to 5'7".

Beside her stood Edward, a tall, striking young man with pale skin, alluring dark hair, and a handsome face that captured everyone's gaze.

The two met at the centre of the podium, approaching from opposite directions.

With a chivalrous gesture, Edward extended his hand toward Selina, inviting her with the courtly elegance of a gentleman seeking a dance.

She curtsied gracefully, holding her gown as she reached out and took his hand.

Hand in hand, Edward led Selina to the dance floor, and the two began to move in sync with the soft, flowing rhythm of the music.

They captivated the crowd, and Aldrich, watching them closely, felt a familiar recognition.

"Edward, the one with a crush on Fiona, and Selina, her best friend," he realized, their names alone unveiling their identities.

It was surreal to see these characters—ones he'd only read about—come to life before him.

"They're major characters in the novel alongside Dante," he thought, excitement sparking in him at this unexpected encounter.

"Fiona Helmswoth, daughter of House Helmswoth, accompanied by Aldrich Aldaman, son of House Aldaman."

The announcement snapped Aldrich out of his reverie.

His name was being called, and he suddenly realized he and Fiona were the last remaining pair.

He made his way to the podium, the murmurs in the crowd following him as they noted his unfamiliar name.

It was no surprise; the Aldaman family was from Midstate, lacking the grand estates, hotels, or large business ventures that made a family's name known.

At the centre of the podium, he met Fiona, who was waiting for him with a warm smile.

"May I have this dance, milady?" Aldrich teased, adding a playful touch to his formal tone as he offered his hand with a small bow.

She chuckled, her eyes sparkling. "You may," she replied, placing her hand in his with a friendly enthusiasm.

Aldrich led Fiona to the dance floor, where they joined their peers, moving in graceful harmony to the music.

His eyes briefly glanced in search of Dante to make sure that he was around.

And surely enough, he was.

There was a worry that since he didn't get the dance part with Fiona, he might disappear from sight.

If that happened, Aldrich worried how they would stop the rogue mystics who were to appear next.

Meanwhile, Dante was there sipping a drink, surrounded by old men sucking up to him with agendas of their own.

Aldrich breathed a sigh of relief to see him around. Only then did he feel safe to carry on with the event without worries.