The Extra's Reincarnation

Chapter 87: Choice

Pushing open the grand doors of the hall, I stepped out into the empty reception area. My eyes scanned the room,

I’m sure they could stay until the academy arc began...

"I... I don’t understand,"

"It’s a long story," Nivel said in a low voice.

"We’ll explain everything later. But for now... Lady Ophelia is waiting for you."

He looked at Ezekiel with his expression softening.

"Come, Ezekiel."

Ezekiel nodded silently, his gaze fixed on the floor.

They walked past me with their footsteps echoing in the hallway.

I watched them go, and I felt a strange emptiness growing within me.

I guess they have somewhere to be then...

"Julian."

Lady Ophelia’s voice startled me. I turned to see her standing in the doorway with her unreadable expression. How typical.

"Come in," she said. "We have much to discuss."

Walking through the door, she gestured me to take a seat in front of her and I did so without fuss. I even straightened my back to show that I was attentive.

"So, Julian, I trust you had an... eventful day yesterday?"

I shifted uncomfortably in my seat, knowing this confrontation was inevitable.

"Yes, Lady Ophelia. Very much."

"And how did you do in the Royal Blade Challenge?"

"I came in second," I mumbled, feeling a blush creep up my neck.

"Second?" she echoed, feigning surprise.

"My, my, it seems my ’nephew’ is quite the talented young man. To think you nearly bested all those other prodigies."

I winced at the word nephew. It took me back to yesterday when Meredith claimed that the Florence family was my sponsor, even though we told the receptionist that I was her nephew.

"Well, about that..."

I hesitated, unsure what to say, so instead I think it was in my best interest to talk about forfeiting the final match.

"I was... outmatched," I finally admitted. "In every way."

Ophelia chuckled.

"Outmatched, you say? I would’ve thought there wasn’t anyone who could’ve beaten you head on no? It seems there are even more monstrous talents than I had expected. What a fascinating world we live in."

She paused, pondering out the sunny window, but her expression turned even more serious.

"But Julian, even though you didn’t become the Royal Blade, your performance did not go unnoticed."

My ears perked up.

"Oh?"

"Indeed, I received a rather interesting message this morning. It seems the Inheritor’s Association has taken a keen interest in you."

My heart dropped when I heard those words. The Inheritor’s Association… The very organization I had been trying to avoid since yesterday.

"They specifically requested that the child sponsored by the Florence family—one Julian Ryker Uzziel—attend one of their open days in the coming months."

As she held the letter written assumingly from Meredith, I was gritting my teeth nervously, seeing how I could’ve done better to avoid these complications.

"Although, I don’t recall mentioning any sponsorship I only had you as my ’nephew’, I guess the girl at the desk knew I didn’t have any kind of relative, how smart."

She emphasised the word nephew again sarcastically and I can’t help but curse that receptionist from yesterday. She absolutely bamboozled us.

I could practically hear Meredith’s smug laughter echoing in my ears.

That cunning, manipulative witch!

She not only outsmarted me, but she took the time to write a letter straight after our talk?

I could understand why she was an excellent schemer in politics.

"Haah... I can’t believe It. Now I’m not the only one that knows of your capabilities… but it can’t be helped. Someone was bound to find out eventually,"

Ophelia clasped her hands together with a serious expression, and I couldn’t tell whether that was a good thing or a bad thing.

But still… entering the Royal 8 Challenge was something I didn’t regret, since Marcus’s story remained the same.

"Indeed, it seems so,"

I slumped back in my chair.

"Now, now, don’t look so glum. It’s not the end of the world. Though it might be the beginning of a rather interesting chapter."

I couldn’t help but crack a small smile. She was right. As much as I dreaded the thought of being dragged into the world of the Inheritors, it was undeniably an opportunity.

An opportunity to learn more about this world, about my powers, about the threats that would soon doom this very world.