The Extra's Rise-Chapter 93: New Year’s Party I

It was announced in an email from Mythos Academy that the updated ranks would be disclosed once we returned. Naturally, this left me in a state of mild suspense. Not because I was unsure of my standing—I had a fairly solid idea of where I would land—but because waiting for something you already knew was an exercise in patience I wasn't particularly fond of.

Based on my performance across the three practical evaluations, I was almost certain to be Rank 2. Realistically, I should be Rank 1, but that spot would, without a doubt, go to Lucifer. Professor Nero would ensure it, and honestly, it wasn't unfair. Lucifer was stronger than me... for now.

But Lucifer was also a textbook example of "too much, too fast." He had rushed headlong to White-rank, breaking the record by achieving it in eight months, a feat so absurd it made headlines across the seven superpowers. The price, however, was heavy. He'd sacrificed long-term growth for short-term glory. His rushed ascent slowed his future progression, particularly towards Integration-rank, and while he was grappling with that bottleneck, the rest of us would have a chance to catch up.

In the meantime, though, he was still the strongest among us. Annoying, but true.

After some fussing from my mother—mostly directed at ensuring Aria had a dress that met her rigorous standards of elegance—we were finally ready to leave for Luminarc, the city that housed the Creighton estate.

Avalon to Luminarc was a considerable distance, but the marvels of this futuristic world made the journey far less daunting. Supersonic planes, many times faster than the ones in my previous world, made it possible to traverse such distances in mere hours. What would have been an all-day ordeal back then was now a comfortable five-hour flight. Of course, comfort was relative, as Aria spent most of the flight swinging her legs in excitement and peppering me with questions about the Creighton estate.

When we landed in Luminarc, the city was as stunning as I remembered—its sleek skyscrapers gleaming under the afternoon sun, the streets alive with activity but perfectly organized. Everything about the place screamed wealth and power, yet it somehow managed to maintain an air of understated elegance.

A self-driven car awaited us, booked in advance to take us directly to the Creighton estate. Aria, ever curious, spent the first ten minutes poking at the car's holographic dashboard, much to my annoyance. "Stop messing with the settings," I grumbled, nudging her hand away from a particularly ominous-looking button.

"I'm not breaking anything," she retorted, rolling her eyes before settling back in her seat. "So, tell me more about this estate. What's it like?"

"You'll see soon enough," I said, smirking. I wasn't about to ruin the surprise.

The Creighton estate was nothing short of breathtaking. Nestled just outside the main city, it spanned miles of lush, meticulously maintained land. High, imposing gates marked the entrance, flanked by guards who stood as still and sharp as statues. As we approached, I pulled out a sapphire plaque Rachel had given me—a token of trust that served as a direct invitation to the estate.

The guards noticed the plaque immediately, their expressions shifting from wary professionalism to polite respect. "Welcome, Sir Nightingale," one of them said, inclining his head slightly before signaling for the gates to open. The plaque, it seemed, carried more weight than I had initially realized.

"Wait," Aria said, her voice tinged with disbelief as we drove past the gates. "You have a sapphire plaque? From Rachel? That's... that's insane! Do you even know how rare those are? She has to really trust you to give you something like that."

"It's just a plaque," I muttered, though I could feel the tips of my ears heating up under her scrutiny.

Aria wasn't having it. "No, no, you don't get to brush this off. A sapphire plaque is like... huge. It's basically her saying, 'Hey, this person is important to me, let them in.'" She paused, then grinned slyly. "Are you sure you're just friends?"

"Aria," I said, my tone warning.

"What?" she said innocently, though her grin only widened. "I'm just saying, she did give you a token of trust that's nearly impossible to earn. And she's the Saintess. People would sell their souls for a fraction of that kind of recognition."

I sighed, resisting the urge to bury my face in my hands. "Can you stop making it weird?"

"I'm not making it weird," she said, her tone far too gleeful. "You're making it weird. I'm just stating facts."

Thankfully, the car pulled up to the main entrance of the estate, sparing me further teasing. The Creighton estate loomed before us, a sprawling masterpiece of architecture and nature seamlessly intertwined. As we stepped out of the car, I couldn't help but feel a sense of awe.

Aria, for her part, looked like she was ready to faint from sheer excitement. "This... is going to be amazing," she whispered, her eyes wide.

And for once, I agreed.

we were greeted by a familiar sight: Rachel Creighton, the Saintess herself, standing at the base of the grand staircase leading into the estate. Her golden hair glimmered in the soft afternoon sunlight, and her sapphire eyes sparkled warmly as she waved at us.

"Welcome, Arthur, Aria," Rachel said, her voice as bright and cheerful as ever. She walked down the steps to meet us, her steps graceful and light. "I'm so glad you could come."

"Thank you for inviting us," I said, stepping forward to shake her hand, but Rachel surprised me by leaning in for a quick hug instead. It was brief, polite, but undeniably warm.

Aria, however, was not so composed. "Oh my gosh, this place is huge," she whispered loudly, craning her neck to take in the full scale of the estate. "And you're even prettier in person, Rachel. I mean, I knew that already, but wow."

Rachel laughed softly, her cheeks tinged pink. "Thank you, Aria. You're sweet. I hope you'll enjoy your time here." Then, turning back to me, she added, "I've arranged for individual guest rooms so you can relax and freshen up before the party starts. It'll be a little while before everyone else arrives."

"Sounds perfect," I said, nodding appreciatively.

Rachel led us inside, and Aria's awe only grew as we passed through the grand entrance. The interior of the estate was just as breathtaking as its exterior, a seamless blend of opulence and warmth. Chandeliers hung like glittering constellations from the high ceilings, and the floors gleamed with polished marble. Yet despite the grandeur, there was an inviting quality to the space—likely a reflection of Rachel's own personality.

"You'll find everything you need in your rooms," Rachel said as we walked. "If you need anything else, just ask one of the staff or call for me. Arthur, your room is just down this hall, and Aria, yours is next to his."

"Thank you, Rachel!" Aria said, already spinning around to soak in every detail of the corridor.

Once inside my guest room, I took a moment to take it all in. The room was spacious yet not ostentatious, with soft lighting and a color palette that leaned toward calming blues and silvers. A large bed stood against one wall, and a walk-in closet held an array of hangers ready for use. On a nearby table sat a welcome tray with refreshments, along with a note in Rachel's elegant handwriting: "Make yourself at home."

I smiled faintly and got to work changing into the formal wear my mother had insisted I pack. The outfit—a dark suit with subtle silver detailing—fit the occasion well enough, though I felt a little out of place wearing something so fancy.

Once I was ready, I stepped out into the hall and found Aria already waiting, her eyes bright with excitement. She had chosen a sleek black dress that suited her well, paired with a simple necklace.

"You clean up well," I said with a small grin.

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"You don't look too bad yourself," she shot back, smirking. Then she leaned in and whispered, "Think Rachel will be impressed?"

"Stop it," I muttered, rolling my eyes as I walked past her.

Rachel was waiting for us in the main hallway. She had changed into an elegant yet understated dress in shades of cream and gold, her hair swept back in a loose braid. She smiled when she saw us. "You both look great."

"So do you," Aria said quickly, practically bouncing on her heels. "I mean, obviously you always do, but—"

"Aria," I interrupted, my tone warning, though Rachel just laughed.

"Shall we head to the living room?" Rachel said, gesturing for us to follow. "That's where the party will take place. It's still early, so we'll have some time to chat before everyone else arrives."

The living room turned out to be an expansive space with floor-to-ceiling windows that offered a stunning view of the sprawling estate gardens. Plush sofas and armchairs were arranged in small clusters, and a long table near one wall held an impressive spread of appetizers and drinks. Despite its size, the room had a cozy atmosphere, the kind that made you want to sit down and stay for hours.

"Feel free to make yourselves comfortable," Rachel said as she led us inside. "The others should start arriving soon."

Aria wasted no time claiming a seat near the window, gazing out at the gardens with wide eyes. I, on the other hand, found myself glancing at Rachel, who was busy adjusting some of the arrangements on the table. There was a quiet efficiency to her movements, a sense of purpose that was hard to miss.

"You're really good at this," I said, stepping closer.

Rachel looked up, her expression curious. "Good at what?"

"Hosting," I said simply. "Making people feel welcome."

Her smile softened, and for a moment, she looked almost shy. "Thank you, Arthur. That means a lot coming from you."

And just like that, the air shifted again—warm and easy, like the beginning of a night that promised to be memorable.