Aetheric Chronicles: Reborn As An Extra

As the students stepped off the ship and into the dense forest, they were greeted by a group of seasoned Awakeners from the Red Dragons Guild.

The air buzzed with energy as the guild members, clad in their signature red and black uniforms, welcomed the students with warm smiles and friendly nods. At the front of the group stood a tall, handsome man with sharp features and a commanding presence. His dark hair was neatly styled, and his deep-set eyes exuded a mix of authority and warmth.

"Welcome to the field, students of the Celestial Arcane Academy!" the man said in a smooth, confident voice. "I am Gaston, team captain of the 3rd Squad of the Red Dragons Guild. We're pleased to have you join us on this mission."

Mrs. Ardent nodded respectfully, gesturing for the students to return the greeting. "Thank you for your support, Captain Gaston. Our students are eager to learn and contribute."

Gaston smiled, his gaze sweeping across the group of students. "We'll be working together closely from today. My squad has twenty members, including myself, so we've planned to split into five teams. We'll be picking three students each to join our teams, and then we'll head to our assigned Ruins."

The students listened intently, some exchanging nervous glances, while others stood tall with anticipation. Gaston glanced at his team, who were already grouped and prepared to select their new teammates.

Without hesitation, Gaston turned back to the students and spoke, his voice calm but decisive. "I'll make the first choice. —you three ladies, you, you, and you will be joining my team." He said pointing at Irithel, Aria, and Aurelia.

The three girls stepped forward, their expressions a mix of surprise and reluctance. Aria gave Adrian a brief, 'don't worry' glance before she joined Gaston, while Irithel and Aurelia nodded in acknowledgment to him, Ren, Lila, and Aurelius.

Aria stood behind Gaston's team, giving off her 'don't approach me' aura. Aurelia and Irithel followed suit, standing by her side.

Darius smiled at the trio, a strange glint passing through his eyes. "I look forward to working with you. Let's give it our best."

With a final nod to Mrs. Ardent and the remaining students, Gaston turned on his heel and led his group away, moving with purpose and confidence. Adrian watched them go, his face calm and composed, but his mind was racing with thoughts he kept hidden.

'That two-faced bastard,' Adrian thought, his irritation barely contained behind his neutral expression. 'He always knows how to play the part of the charming leader, but I've seen, no, I meant I've read, what lies beneath that mask. I really hate this kind of characters, they always ruin stories.'

As Gaston's team disappeared into the trees, the remaining students were quickly sorted into the other groups.

5 minutes later.

Adrian was left with Nora and Lyra, both of whom appeared noticeably less confident than the others. Their eyes darted nervously between each other and their assigned leader—a beautiful young woman in her early twenties.

She had a gentle but firm demeanor, her dark hair falling in soft waves around her shoulders, and while she wasn't as striking as Aria or Aurelia, she had a quiet charm that was hard to ignore.

The woman sighed, her eyes briefly scanning the trio before her. Nora and Lyra looked uneasy, clearly intimidated by the situation, while Adrian stood with an indifferent expression, his posture giving off an air of aloofness and 'I couldn't care less' vibe.

'Great, I got the loner and two girls who look like they might faint at any moment,' she thought, though she kept her expression neutral. 'That bastard intentionally did it... Giving me the weakest team members and the left over students... Sigh... Let's hope everything goes well.'

"I'm Thalia, your leader for this mission," she introduced herself, her tone professional yet kind. "We'll work together to clear our assigned Ruins, and I expect each of you to do your best."

Nora and Lyra nodded nervously, their nerves evident in their stiff postures. Adrian, on the other hand, gave a simple nod, his face still unreadable.

Thalia sighed inwardly again but maintained her calm exterior. "Alright, let's move out. Stay close, and follow my lead."

Adrian watched as Thalia started to lead the way. He looked at Mrs. Ardent and said something and then started walking behind his group, his thoughts a mix of frustration and plans. He knew the mission ahead wouldn't be easy, and with this particular group, he would need to stay sharp.

'Looks like I'll have to carry this team,' Adrian mused, his eyes narrowing as they ventured deeper into the woods. 'In terms of strategy that is...'

_____ __ _

Adrian silently observed as Thalia asked questions from the girls and him.

"What are your main positions in combat?" Thalia asked smiling at Nora and Lyra.

"I'm an alchemist," Nora replied shortly. "I can use basic healing magic as well." She added after a pause.

"I can use water magic and ice magic, I can protect myself as well," Lyra replied hesitantly.

"Oh, mage and a healer, good, you will provide support from the back then." Thalia smiled cheering them up.

Adrian could see her relief, she probably was happy she wouldn't have to deal with inexperienced front liners.

Then she looked at him. "What about you, Mister."

"The name is Adrian," Adrian replied calmly. "I'm both a swordsman and an assassin."

"A-Aha, good, then you will help me on the frontline."

Adrian nodded in response to Thalia's instructions, keeping his expression neutral as he adjusted the straps of his sword. He knew he'd have to play along for now and make the best of the situation. However, a thought nagged at him, one that had been bothering him since the group assignments.

"How far are we from the Ruin?" Adrian asked suddenly, his voice cutting through the silence that had settled over their group. "And why don't we have any kind of transportation like the other teams?"

Thalia's smile faltered for a moment, a flicker of awkwardness crossing her face. She quickly composed herself, though Adrian could see the hesitation in her eyes. "Our group's assigned Ruin is nearby," she replied, trying to keep her tone light. "That's why we don't need transportation. The other teams were sent to areas farther away, so they needed to be dropped off."

Nora and Lyra exchanged glances, seeming somewhat reassured by Thalia's explanation, but Adrian wasn't convinced. He had caught the slight tremor in her voice and the way she avoided making direct eye contact. The same went for her other guild members. He could tell they were hiding something, but he decided not to press the issue. At least, not yet.

"Alright," Adrian said, keeping his tone casual. "Just wondering since it felt like we were the only ones left without any clear direction."

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Thalia's smile returned, though there was still a hint of unease in her eyes. "Don't worry, we'll be there soon," she assured him. "Stay alert and keep an eye on your surroundings. This forests can be unpredictable, and it's best not to let our guard down."

Everyone nodded and heightened their senses. Nora and Lyra threw a few glances at Adrian from time to time for reasons unknown to himself.

'This is going to be a long mission,' Adrian thought, his eyes narrowing as he scanned the dense forest around them. 'But I have to make sure we all get through it in one piece...'

'For that... I have to win over her first...'