The Extra's Rise-Chapter 84: Warped Destiny

Rachel hadn't left her room since the mid-terms ended.

Not because she was worried about her performance—she wasn't. Rachel Creighton, Saintess of the Creighton family, didn't worry about exams. Nor was it lingering fear of the demon they'd faced, though anyone else might have spent the next year flinching at shadows. No, her battle against Vespera wasn't the issue.

The issue was what happened after.

Her mind replayed the scene for what must have been the hundredth time, each detail as vivid as if it were etched into her skull. She could still see herself standing there, the words tumbling out of her mouth—her fantasies, of all things, dragged into the light and spoken aloud. And, of course, Cecilia Slatemark, ever the opportunist, had recorded the whole thing.

Rachel buried her face into her pillow, her cheeks so red she was sure they'd combust. She hugged the pillow tighter against her chest, as though it might shield her from the memory. It didn't.

"A-Arthur doesn't know, so it's fine," she muttered, though the words felt more like an incantation against her rising panic than any genuine reassurance.

But even as she told herself that, her mind refused to stop spinning. The confession hadn't just been embarrassing—it had forced her to confront feelings she hadn't fully understood until now. Feelings she wasn't even sure she wanted to understand.

Arthur. He was—how could she even begin to describe him? Smart, talented, hardworking, of course. But it was more than that. There was something about him that drew her in, something she couldn't ignore. Something kind and... real.

She hadn't expected to fall for someone like him. But she had. And now, there was no pretending otherwise.

The moment that stood out most wasn't even during the battle—it was on the Isle of Azure Breeze. He had shown her something she didn't think anyone could. Something that broke through the carefully constructed walls around her heart.

Arthur cared. For her. Not as a Saintess or a Creighton or some lofty ideal, but her.

And yet—Rachel groaned into her pillow. "It's so embarrassing!" she cried, her voice muffled and pitiful.

The memory of that stupid confession wasn't just stuck in her head—it had wrapped itself around her, an endless loop of humiliation. How could she face him now? How could she face anyone?

And worst of all—Cecilia had the recording. Somewhere, the Slatemark princess was no doubt laughing her head off, replaying the clip like it was her favorite new drama.

Rachel rolled over, burying her head under her pillow this time. Maybe if she stayed here long enough, she could avoid the outside world altogether. It wasn't a long-term solution, but it felt like the best option for now.

Of course, hiding in her room forever wasn't an option, much as Rachel would've liked to try. Soon enough, it was time to return to the Creighton estate. With a sigh of resignation, she finished packing her bags, stuffing them into her spatial ring with the precision of someone whose brain was elsewhere entirely. She straightened her uniform, took a deep breath, and stepped out of her room.

And naturally, the first person she saw was Cecilia Slatemark.

"Hey, Ray-Ray~," Cecilia said brightly, her smile wide enough to power a small city.

Rachel froze mid-step, her face already starting to heat. "H-how?" she stammered.

"It's easy to predict someone like you, Ray-Ray," Cecilia replied with a smirk that could've been patented as a weapon. "Anyway, were you really planning to sneak off home without saying goodbye to Arthur?"

Rachel turned an impressive shade of red as Cecilia continued, undeterred. "You know, Arthur. The boy you want to—"

"SHUT UP!" Rachel screamed, bolting past her as fast as her legs would carry her.

Cecilia didn't miss a beat. She caught up effortlessly, settling into the hyperloop seat beside Rachel with the casual confidence of someone who knew they'd won this round. "Hey, Ray-Ray," she said, leaning back as though they were discussing the weather. "Here's some honest advice: if you want Arthur, you're going to have to get past this embarrassment."

Rachel clenched her fists, her voice dropping to a mutter. "I'm the Saintess."

"And?" Cecilia retorted, tilting her head. "You're not planning to follow that crazy Lucifer's ideals, are you?"

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Rachel glanced at her, startled by the venom in her voice.

"I hate that guy," Cecilia said bluntly, her crimson eyes flashing. "Forcing his ideals on us just because some prophecy claims he's the 'Second Hero.' Like that's reason enough to turn the rest of us into his tools. I won't follow him. Not ever."

Rachel's expression darkened. "Cecilia, this is serious."

The air around them shimmered faintly as their mana wove a barrier of silence, cutting off the world outside. This wasn't a conversation for public ears.

The prophecy.

It was a secret shared only with the seven superpowers of the world, handed down by the seer from Liam Kagu's era. It foretold a threat even greater than the First Calamity—the Heavenly Demon—a calamity that would require the rise of another Hero. According to the prophecy, a person with the same talents as Liam Kagu would be born, but that person wouldn't become the Hero.

And then came Ren Kagu, born into their generation, bearing the exact same talents as the legendary Liam Kagu. But when Lucifer Windward emerged—brilliant, powerful, seemingly unstoppable—the world quietly decided he was the Second Hero who would save them all.

"We need to serve the Hero," Rachel said, her voice steady but distant. "Even though our parents are Radiant-rankers, they won't be enough. The Hero will need us."

"And what if Lucifer isn't the Hero?" Cecilia shot back, leaning forward. "Honestly, that Arthur is more of a Hero than Lucifer will ever be. He can even take our powers—albeit inefficiently. Do you really think Lucifer, with all his arrogance, could do the same?"

"Lucifer is strong," Rachel said softly, as though trying to convince herself as much as Cecilia.

"Arthur will surpass him," Cecilia said with absolute certainty. "I believe in that. Do you?"

Rachel hesitated, the words catching in her throat. In just three and a half months, Arthur's strength had grown at an incredible rate. His determination, his adaptability—it was like watching someone outrun the horizon. And yet... it was still Lucifer. The Second Hero. The one the world had already decided on.

"I want him to surpass Lucifer," Rachel admitted, her voice trembling slightly. "But I don't know if I can hope for it."

"Hope for it," Cecilia said firmly, her gaze unwavering. "Don't just be the Saintess who lights the way for someone like Lucifer Windward, who treats all of us like tools to be used and discarded. You're more than that. You deserve more than that."

Rachel's eyes narrowed slightly, her tone sharpening. "Why are you telling me this?"

Cecilia shrugged, leaning back with an air of practiced nonchalance. "I can't say I like you, Ray-Ray," she said, though her smirk had softened into something less pointed. "But even then, I don't want to see you lose your light because of Lucifer. He's not worth it."

For a moment, Rachel didn't respond, her thoughts churning too quickly to form words. But as the hyperloop sped toward the warp gate, her gaze drifted out the window, the faintest flicker of something resembling hope glinting in her sapphire eyes.