The Extra's Rise-Chapter 193: Seraphina Zenith (1)
"So, what’s the amazing news?" I asked, looking between my parents as we sat down for breakfast. Given the way they were practically vibrating with excitement, I assumed it was something important. Or at the very least, something they expected me to find important.
"Yes, yes," my father said, his smile so wide it looked like it was about to break free from his face. "Aria managed to get into Slatemark Academy! We got the acceptance email this morning."
My mother beamed. "We’re so proud of her!"
I turned to Aria, who was radiating smug satisfaction.
"That’s great," I said with a grin. "Congratulations, Aria."
"Obviously," she said, nodding as if it was the most natural outcome in the world. Then she shot me a look, half-accusing, half-exasperated. "But brother, can you not be so amazing? I mean, you even won the title of Sovereign in the greatest year of Mythos Academy! Do you know how many of my friends asked me about you?"
I chuckled, shaking my head. "I’m just getting started."
And I meant it.
Slatemark Academy had some of the strongest students outside of Mythos, but Mythos was the pinnacle. I wasn’t at the top out of sheer luck—I had fought for it. And yet, I knew better than to be complacent.
"If I’m not careful, I’ll be overtaken," I added, my voice turning a shade more serious.
Lucifer was still the biggest threat. And while I was currently ahead of Ren, thanks to Erebus and his Gift, that gap could close at any moment.
"But son," my father cut in, watching me carefully. "I was surprised you made a Lich."
I didn’t miss the way my mother tensed slightly. Necromancy had a reputation. Even in an age where technology and magic intertwined seamlessly, there were still some things that made people uncomfortable.
"How did that happen?"
I scratched the back of my head, carefully outlining the process—conveniently leaving out certain minor details, such as how I got my hands on a Basilisk Heart. Some things were better left unsaid.
"The Skull of the Arch Lich from 2035," my mother murmured under her breath.
That got my father’s attention. His brows furrowed as he leaned forward. "That Arch Lich decimated a branch of the Adventurer’s Guild in the Northern Continent," he said. "A branch considered equal to a Gold-rank guild here in the Slatemark Empire."
His eyes flickered with something between admiration and concern. "You got an amazing item."
"I did," I agreed, nodding.
Though, that didn’t mean I was done wringing more out of Alastor.
’A deal is a deal,’ I thought, suppressing a smirk.
My mother, ever the one to get things back on track, changed the subject. "So, you’re going to Mount Hua Sect now?"
I nodded. "I need to train there. About three weeks, give or take. Then I’ll return for a bit before heading to the Tower of Magic."
"You could also come to Minerva," my father added, mentioning his guild.
Ah, Minerva. A respectable, if somewhat unimpressive, Bronze-rank guild. My father was its guild master, a mid Integration-ranker, which gave him enough influence to keep it running comfortably. While it wasn’t exactly making headlines for world-shattering achievements, it still brought in a steady flow of wealth.
I nodded. "Yeah. That could be useful."
After all, I needed to start laying the groundwork for the future.
The Empire was headed for disaster, and I knew exactly how it would unfold.
Crown Prince Valerian Slatemark would be engaged to Elara Astoria, a political move meant to solidify alliances. But behind closed doors, Valerian—jealous, insecure, and cruel—would slowly break her. And when Archduke Astoria finally discovered the truth, he wouldn’t settle for diplomacy.
He would kill the Crown Prince in his rage.
That would tear the Slatemark Empire in half, igniting a civil war at the worst possible time.
And that war would weaken humanity’s hold over its moon base, allowing the demons to seize it effortlessly.
I couldn’t let that happen.
For that, I needed power. A lot of power.
And I had an idea of how to get it.
The key lay in Aetherite—a resource that wouldn’t be discovered until much later on the moon. It was a game-changer, a substance that would revolutionize mana-tech and alchemy, reshaping the very foundations of power.
If I could get my hands on Aetherite early, before the world even realized its true value, I wouldn’t just be strong—I’d be untouchable. I could monopolize the industry before it even began.
Of course, this wasn’t something that could be rushed.
I had plans—long-term ones. Strategies that would take years to execute. But when the time came, when Aetherite was finally revealed to the world…
I intended to be the only name that mattered.
My parents had bought me a ticket to the Eastern Continent, and the very next day, I was on a plane, bidding farewell to my sister and parents.
It was a quick goodbye—Aria was still sulking over something I’d done (or hadn’t done, I wasn’t entirely sure), and my mother had given me the kind of look that promised we’ll talk later. My father had simply clapped me on the shoulder and told me not to cause an international incident.
Solid advice. No guarantees I’d follow it.
Stepping off the plane, I took a deep breath, adjusting to the feeling of the East. The mana here was different—sharper, older. It hummed in the air, in the ground, in the bones of the land itself.
What I hadn’t expected was the welcoming committee.
Standing at the terminal, waiting for me, was Seraphina Zenith—wearing jeans and a white t-shirt that, despite its casual simplicity, did absolutely nothing to hide the fact that she looked good.
And next to her, my master. Li Zenith.
Well. This was unexpected.
"I wasn’t expecting this," I said, striding towards them.
Li gave me a calm, amused smile, while Seraphina—who had clearly been the instigator of this little airport retrieval mission—looked distinctly unimpressed with my lack of reaction.
"Hello, Master," I greeted, offering a respectful bow.
"Hello, Arthur," he said, his smile widening ever so slightly. Then he tilted his head toward Seraphina. "And this one nagged me to come pick you up."
"I didn’t nag," Seraphina said immediately, crossing her arms. "I just suggested we pick him up."
"A thousand times," Li added, as if making an objective observation about the weather.
Seraphina’s eyes narrowed into very clear warning slits.
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Li, entirely unfazed, looked between the two of us. And then he just… stood there. Expectantly. As if something was supposed to happen.
He waited.
We waited.
Finally, he sighed. "Come on. Aren’t you going to hug?"
Seraphina blinked, looking deeply taken aback, as if the very concept had never once crossed her mind.
I held back a laugh. Barely.
She turned to me, pursing her lips, clearly debating whether to commit to this insanity or not. Then, after a long, suffering sigh, she opened her arms stiffly.
"Hug," she said, voice flat.
And yet—somehow, in some ridiculous, unfair way—it made her look impossibly cute.
I stepped forward and wrapped my arms around her.
She was taller than Cecilia and Rachel, but still shorter than me. She was also very much aware of our master watching, because the hug lasted approximately 1.5 seconds before she pulled back like she had a schedule to keep.
"Okay. Done," she declared, turning around immediately.
I caught the faintest hint of red dusting the tips of her elven ears.
Li chuckled. "Ah, young love."
Seraphina’s shoulders stiffened.
I wisely decided to say nothing.
