Aetheric Chronicles: Reborn As An Extra

One day later.

Evening.

Adrian and his team finished another 5 Ruins today, two of them being Bronze Tier while the rest Silver. Since students would have to attend classes, they would return to Eldoria City, while the Red Dragons would meet their real team members.

"We have arrived at the meeting place. Let's enter the place." Thalia stopped everyone as they came in front of a large building.

She pushed open the doors, leading the way inside. Adrian and the others followed, and the sight that greeted them made their stomachs rumble—a grand hall filled with long tables, all brimming with food. The aroma of roasted meats, fresh bread, and vibrant fruits filled the air, a stark contrast to the two days of travel and the meager rations they'd endured.

The hall was already occupied by two other teams. Adrian immediately noticed Emeric and the team he was with, casually seated around a table, talking and eating. Maybe noticing his and a certain girl's gaze, Emeric turned his back to look at them. They looked at each other for a moment, before turning away. Adrian's attention was quickly drawn to the other side of the room.

There, standing at the center of attention, was Captain Gaston. He wore the same proud, almost smug expression he always carried, his chest puffed out as he stood in front of a group of girls.

Adrian's eyes narrowed as he recognized the faces of Aria, Aurelia, and Irithel—the three of them had been picked for Gaston's team, much to everyone's surprise.

Gaston, in typical fashion, was trying to offer food to the girls, his voice dripping with gentlemanly charm. "Come now, young ladies, you must try this roast—it's the finest you'll find here." His smile was the kind of flirty, overconfident grin Adrian found instantly off-putting. "Consider them a gift for your excellent work in the ruins."

Aria turned away from Gaston ignoring him completely, her expression was much colder than usual and she seemed totally uninterested, while Aurelia and Irithel exchanged uneasy glances, clearly uncomfortable.

Gaston, oblivious or uncaring, continued to push the food toward them, his voice filled with flattery. "Oh, refusing isn't nice, you know. But being cold really suits you, Miss Aria. It makes you even more charming."

"Damn you." Adrian's fists clenched, his jaw tightening at the sight. He found Gaston's behavior disturbing—manipulative, even. His mind flashed back to their encounters, and he had always disliked the captain's arrogance and personality, but now it was more than that. The way Gaston was acting towards the girls made his blood simmer.

One was his girlfriend, one his sister, and the other his close friend.

"Crackle..."

"Hmm?"

Next to him, Adrian noticed Thalia's body tense, her usually calm expression hardening into one of quiet disgust. Her eyes narrowed, and for the briefest moment, Adrian saw something deeper—something personal in her reaction. A trace of disdain lingered in her gaze, something old and unresolved.

'!'

Adrian's gut churned. He had seen Thalia handle every challenge with unwavering strength and resolve, but this reaction told him something had happened between her and Gaston in the past. Something that went beyond mere leader and subordinate.

'Could it be...'

As he connected the dots, the pieces fell into place. Gaston had given Thalia weak team members, forced her through the most difficult ruins, and clearly held some kind of power over her.

It wasn't hard to imagine why. Gaston's overconfident, self-important behavior screamed of entitlement.

He had probably tried to flirt with Thalia, tried to have his way with her, but she refused—because of course she would—he had retaliated in the pettiest way possible. The rest was the typical cliche Adrian had seen before.

He didn't know the full story, but he could guess enough.

"Thalia..." Adrian whispered, but she didn't turn toward him. Her focus was solely on Gaston, her gaze sharp as a blade.

"Let's sit," she said in a low voice, leading the team to an empty table far from Gaston's group. But the tension lingered in the air, thick and heavy.

"Ok, I will be back in a moment," Adrian replied while walking directly toward Gaston's group's table.

'I am gonna become villains' hatred magnet at this rate...' He smiled wryly. 'But it's not that bad. As long as I can do what I want.'

Adrian's small, mysterious smile remained as he approached Gaston's table. His hands gently settled on the shoulders of Aria and Aurelia, and his presence instantly changed the atmosphere.

"Hi girls, guess who's back?" Adrian's voice was calm, but his tone carried a warmth that contrasted the tension in the air.

"!"

Aria's eyes widened in pure joy as she immediately turned around, her cold expression melting away into one of genuine happiness. "Adrian!" She called out his name with a bright smile, her previous discomfort completely forgotten. Without hesitation, she stood up and hugged him tightly, her face radiating joy.

Aurelia, who had been equally uneasy moments ago, mirrored her reaction, her relief palpable as she softly exclaimed, "Brother Adrian." She, too, stood and hugged him, though her demeanor was more reserved than Aria's, her gratitude clear in the way she held onto him for a moment longer.

Even Irithel, who had been silently enduring Gaston's unwanted attention, brightened at the sight of Adrian. Her ever-faithful companion, Ignis—the fire salamander—had been unusually quiet until now, but the little creature perked up, its flames burning brighter as it sensed Adrian's presence. Irithel smiled softly, her voice filled with warmth as she addressed him.

"Sir Adrian," she said with quiet admiration, standing with a respectful nod.

The entire room fell into a brief, stunned silence. The transformation in the girls' demeanor was so immediate and obvious that it drew the attention of everyone around them.

Emeric, seated at his own table, clenched his teeth as he watched the scene unfold, his gaze hardening as Aria's happiness washed over her. His expression was a mix of frustration and bitterness, emotions he couldn't fully conceal. He knew now what Adrian really meant to Aria—and that knowledge stung.

Nora and Lyra, seated a few tables away, exchanged shocked glances. Nora raised an eyebrow in surprise, while Lyra bit her lip, her thoughts clearly racing as she saw Emeric's reaction to the scene. In fact, she knew Emeric had feelings for Aria, it has been that way since their childhood... But seeing it like this... It hurt her.

Thalia, meanwhile, sat frozen, her eyes wide with both surprise and concern. The casual way Adrian placed his hands on Aria and Aurelia, the natural affection between them—it was a stark reminder of how deep his connections ran, far deeper than she had initially guessed.

She shifted uneasily, her earlier disgust for Gaston now mixing with a new worry for Adrian. How far would this go? That bastard wouldn't do something to him, right? No... You could expect anything from him.

As for Gaston, he had seen everything.

His smile faltered for the first time, his face twitching as he struggled to maintain his composure. Adrian's casual entrance, the way he touched the girls without hesitation, their immediate change in mood—it all stoked a burning fury within him. The polite, gentlemanly facade he maintained slipped ever so slightly, revealing the venom beneath.

A strange glint passed through Gaston's eyes, dark and filled with hidden malice. The anger simmered just below the surface, boiling into something far more dangerous.

He kept his composure, but it was clear to anyone paying close attention that something had shifted in him. His pride, his control, had been challenged, and he wasn't the kind of man to let that go lightly.

A few members of Gaston's guild, who were seated nearby, snickered quietly to themselves, clearly imagining Adrian's fate for having the audacity to approach their captain's table so boldly. One of them muttered under his breath, "He's done for."

But Adrian, completely aware of the eyes on him, remained unfazed. He knew exactly what he was doing, and that was part of the charm that made the girls gravitate toward him. His gentle smile lingered as he met Gaston's eyes across the table. There was no fear, no hesitation—just a quiet confidence that unsettled Gaston even more.

"I hope I did not interrupt you," Adrian said smoothly, his voice carrying just enough weight to imply that he didn't care if he was.

"No, we were waiting for you."

Aria, Aurelia, and Irithel stood close to him now, their trust and affection toward him clear for everyone to see. Aria also returned to her indifferent and calm expression.

Gaston's eyes narrowed, his voice coming out low and restrained. "Not at all. In fact, I was just about to offer these ladies some fine food. You're welcome to join us... if you're not too full of yourself."

The thinly veiled insult hung in the air, but Adrian didn't take the bait. Instead, he smiled even more mysteriously, his eyes never leaving Gaston's. "I think the ladies have had enough for now." He turned back to Aria, Irithel, and Aurelia. "Come on, girls. Let's go and eat?"

Without another word, the three girls nodded, their trust in Adrian absolute.

"Have a good meal, mister." Adrian coldly smiled at Gaston before turning away.

As they walked away, leaving Gaston simmering in silent rage, Thalia's eyes followed Adrian with a mixture of pride and concern. She knew this wasn't over.

Adrian knew it as well.

But he didn't care. He wasn't someone who would just watch when those who were dear to him were being made uncomfortable.

He would do everything, and he didn't care about the consequences.

He would deal with them when the time came.

Adrian had the heart of a Protector and the Mind of a Hunter, emphasizing his gentle and protective nature paired with his calculated, ruthless approach when necessary.