Chereads / Insignificant Extra's Rise / Chapter 2 - Awakened

Chapter 2 - Awakened

In a faraway galaxy, on the planet Unfairania, inside the Blackthorn Palace, a young boy with black hair and jet black eyes can be seen in the palace lobby. In the distance, a grey-haired old man can be seen holding an old black book in his hand.

As the young boy gazed with awe at the black book, the old man couldn't help but notice the intense curiosity burning in his eyes. With a kind smile, he asked, "Would you like to take a closer look, my boy?" The boy's head bobbed up and down in a frenzied nod, his eagerness palpable.

As the book was passed over to the boy, a sudden, terrifying aura emanated from its pages, covering the entire palace lobby in a shroud of darkness. Even the old man, who was no stranger to power, felt a bead of sweat trickle down his forehead as he realized the danger he had unwittingly unleashed.

For a moment, he regretted his decision to hand over the book to the child. He had never felt such an overwhelming energy before, even in the presence of the most powerful beings in the world. The old man quickly assessed the situation, and his eyes darted towards the boy, who was paralyzed with fear and didn't even blink once.

Thankfully, all the dark energy seemed to be sucked back into the book, or so it appeared. In a sudden turn of events, the boy collapsed to the floor, unconscious. With lightning speed, the old man snatched the book away and rushed to the boy's side.

As he examined the boy, relief washed over him like a warm wave. The child was only unconscious, and he would recover soon. "Take him to his room," the old man instructed a maid standing nearby before disappearing from the scene.

Deep in thought, he pondered what could have caused such a powerful disturbance. He knew that he needed to investigate the book further, as it held a power that could either save or destroy the world. The old man knew that he had to be careful and not make any more mistakes, for the stakes were higher than ever before.

***

The luxurious room was bathed in the radiant beams of the sun, enveloping the space in a comforting and inviting aura. Seated on a grand black chair that resembled a throne, a man in his mid-thirties exuded an air of power and authority. With dark hair and piercing black eyes, he held himself with a regal demeanor that bespoke his position as a leader.

Before him knelt an elderly man, referred to as Shadow Captain, who spoke in a low voice without meeting the man's gaze, "Yes, my lord. Nothing dangerous happened."

The man's expression twisted into a scowl, "So, my child froze due to fear. At the age of five, he cannot even comprehend his abilities? He brings shame to our family. Shadow Captain, remove his shadow guard protection. It would be a waste to use one on him."

He continued, irritation evident in his voice, "And do not invite him to the Rising ceremony of his brothers. He will only bring dishonor to my bloodline."

The Shadow Captain nodded in compliance but hesitated before asking, "What about the book, my lord? I recall sensing dangerous energy from it."

The man leaned back in his chair, stroking his chin in contemplation, "Lock it away for now. Studying artifacts of this nature takes time. We will need to consult to an artifact identifier."

"As you command, my lord." The Shadow Captain bowed before departing from the room, leaving the man in his thoughts.

***

The young boy lay in the king-sized bed, his dark hair tousled and his small body huddled under the covers. Suddenly, his eyes shot open and he let out a blood-curdling scream. "NOOOOOOOOOO!" he yelled, his voice echoing through the luxurious room.

As he looked around, his expression was one of pure anxiety. "How can that be possible? I will not believe this, What transmigration it's bull shit" he muttered to himself. Tears began to flow from his eyes, and his nose started running like a fountain. As much as he wanted to deny this fact, he knew deep down that this was his new reality, and he had to face it.

Just then, there was a knock at the door. The boy froze, unsure of what to do. He watched as the maid entered his room after a gentle knock. She took one look at his pitiful state and froze for a second, before finally finding her voice. "Please be ready for dinner, young master," she said softly.

The boy's response was a shout. "Get lost!" he screamed, his small body shaking with anger and fear. The maid tremble for a second, then left the room without turning away.

Once the door was shut and locked, the young boy lay back down on the bed and tried to calm his racing heart. He closed his eyes and focused on his breathing, trying to convince himself that it had all just been a bad dream. He tried to recall all the memories that could help him gather the courage to fight his new reality.

***

"I'm so afraid, Neha. I've never spoken in front of so many people before. You know I always avoid public speaking," I admitted, nervously fiddling with my tie.

"Don't worry, I know you can do it. Your speaking skills are good enough," she reassured me with a warm smile.

Despite her encouragement, I couldn't shake off the feeling that my boss had intentionally put me in this situation. I imagined him laughing at me if I were to mess up.

Neha seemed to read my mind and said, "I also think he did it on purpose, but not to mock you. He believes you can do it better."

Her words made me pause and reconsider. "You're right," I acknowledged, still trying to fix my tie in vain.

Neha walked towards me, a soft smile on her face, and gently took my hands away from the tie. With deft fingers, she fixed it and said in a soothing voice, "Listen, you are too underconfident. You just need to believe in yourself a bit more, and everything will be fine."

She put her hands on my shoulders, looked me in the eye, and said, "Take a deep breath and focus on the things you can change, not the things you cannot. Got it?" She playfully flicked my forehead with her finger.

Her words and touch instantly calmed my nerves, and I felt more confident about the upcoming presentation. I thanked her, and we both walked towards the conference room.

***

As I slowly opened my eyes, I was compelled to offer an apology to Neha, but the weight of inevitability that burdened my mind could not be lifted. My thoughts were consumed by this unshakeable force that had taken hold of me. "I'm sorry, Neha," I murmured, my voice heavy with the weight of my preoccupations. "I just can't seem to escape this overwhelming sense of inescapability." As the days had worn on, my hunger had become a distant concern, eclipsed by this unyielding preoccupation. With a heavy heart, I closed my eyes once again, lost in my contemplations. I tried to forget about the present reality and immerse myself in my memories to find a solution to this seemingly unsolvable problem.

***

As I gazed up at the towering statue of Shri Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, I couldn't help but wonder why he was so revered by my mother and so many others. Sensing my curiosity, my mother turned to me with a gentle smile on her face, her eyes filled with admiration and respect for the great Indian warrior.

"Well, my dear," she began, "Shri Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was a man of great character, a fearless warrior, and an inspiring leader. But do you know what I admire most about him? He never backed down, no matter how dire the circumstances. Even when faced with overwhelming odds, such as when he led his thousands of soldiers against the hundreds of thousands of Mughal soldiers, he stood his ground and fought with unwavering courage."

I listened intently, captivated by the stories of this remarkable man. My mother's voice grew serious as she asked me a question that caught me off guard.

"All great people have one thing in common," she said. "Do you know what it is?"

I furrowed my brow, searching my mind for an answer. When I came up empty, I looked to my mother for guidance.

"They never back down," she said, her eyes locked onto mine. "No matter what the odds, they fight on. Remember that, my dear. Always fight, even when it seems like the world is against you."

I nodded, taking her words to heart. As I stared up at the towering figure of Shri Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, I knew that his spirit of unwavering courage and determination would stay with me always.

...

As I awakened, I became conscious of the unbearable swelling around my eyes, a poignant reminder of the countless tears shed in my despair. A full week had passed without a single meal, yet my gaze exuded an unyielding tenacity, unshaken by my physical condition. Summoning my strength, I spoke in a faint voice, declaring with unbreakable conviction, "I shall make my way home, no matter the cost."