Aetheric Chronicles: Reborn As An Extra

Adrian left the Valerian Hall since he didn't want to stay where that dangerous woman was. He sensed someone following after him, his only hope was it wasn't Nymera.

The person kept following him even after he exited the gate, to his luck, there was no carriage nearby, so he just continued walking at a normal pace, while the person continued following after him.

'Is it an assassin?' He thought but quickly denied the idea. 'Assasins won't make their presence this obvious.'

'Then let's find out who they are.'

Adrian moved through the streets, finally stopping at one where no people could be seen.

Then he turned around, facing the figure who was walking directly to him.

'Eh? Isn't he...'

Adrian narrowed his eyes as the figure approaching him stepped into the light. It was the young man Nymera had been toying with earlier—the one whose emotions had seemed to shift unpredictably under her influence. The man's face was flushed with anger, his lips curled in a sneer as he stalked toward Adrian.

"Hey, you!" the young man called out, his voice trembling with frustration.

Adrian remained still, the realization of who it was dawning on him.

Of all the people he expected to follow him, this one had been at the bottom of his list. He had thought perhaps it would be someone more formidable—maybe Mr. Fat Belly or one of Nymera's associates. Well, this young man could still be considered hers in a way—a mere toy in her twisted games.

Clearing those pointless thoughts from his mind, Adrian's eyes hardened as he coldly addressed the young man. "Why are you following me? Did Nymera send you?"

The young man's beautiful eyelashes trembled, and his hands clenched into fists. His expression twisted with indignation at Adrian's words. "How dare you call my darling by her name!" he spat out, venom in his voice. "You don't even deserve to speak of her, let alone be in her presence!"

Adrian stood unmoved, though his mind quickly pieced together the situation. This was a case of jealousy, plain and simple. The young man, though beautiful and refined in appearance, clearly had a fragile mentality—a possessive, obsessive one that had been warped by Nymera's manipulations.

His erratic behavior and the trembling rage in his eyes indicated he was the kind of person Adrian despised: the psycho type.

The man continued to rant, his words becoming more nonsensical. "You think you can just walk away after being in her company? You think she even notices someone like you when she has me? You'll never be close to her. You don't understand her like I do!"

Adrian cut him off sharply, his voice like ice. "Enough."

The young man froze, startled by the sudden shift in Adrian's demeanor.

"I don't have time to play along with your delusions," Adrian said, his tone utterly cold. "Whatever fantasy you've built around her, keep it to yourself. Now, if Nymera didn't send you, leave before you regret it."

The young man's face contorted with fury, but there was also something else in his expression—a flicker of fear. It was clear now that he had no real plan, no real power behind his threats. His emotions had gotten the better of him, and he was spiraling into a pathetic tantrum.

"You—" The man's voice faltered as he realized Adrian wasn't intimidated in the slightest. His words were losing impact, and for a brief moment, uncertainty flickered across his features.

Adrian took a step forward, his gaze piercing and unforgiving. "I'll say it one last time. Stop following me, and stay out of my way. And bear this in mind - I have no interest in either Nymera or Evangeline. Now, get lost."

The young man's bravado crumbled under Adrian's unwavering stare. He hesitated, then turned on his heel, retreating into the shadows with a muttered curse.

Adrian watched him go, shaking his head slightly. Another nuisance dealt with. He resumed his walk down the now-empty street, his thoughts already shifting to more important matters.

Like the second presence that had been stalking him.

'Now,' he thought, his senses on high alert.

Before he could fully process the thought, a shadow darted behind him, the glint of a dagger aimed straight for his neck. But Adrian was faster. A smile tugged at his lips as he activated Phantom Step, his form flickering out of sight. In an instant, he reappeared about seven meters away, his silhouette solidifying under the dim streetlight.

The assailant, clearly caught off guard, stumbled for a moment, his dagger swiping through the empty air where Adrian had been. His surprise didn't last long, though; the attacker quickly recovered and resumed his pursuit, determined to finish the mission. Adrian, still smiling coldly, tilted his head slightly.

"Don't kill him," Adrian said quietly, his voice carrying an unsettling calm.

The assassin hesitated at the strange request, his focus faltering. That split second of confusion was enough.

Swoosh-!

Bang-!

With a sharp bang, the assassin's body was suddenly slammed into the ground, the impact reverberating through the empty street. A shadowy figure loomed over him, gripping him firmly by the neck and lifting him effortlessly off the ground as if he weighed nothing.

Adrian approached slowly, his eyes narrowing as he reached for the mask that covered the assassin's face. He tugged it off, revealing a man with disheveled dark hair, his expression filled with defiance and fear.

Adrian's gaze was cold as he surveyed the man's state. "Whose man are you?" he asked, his voice low and dangerous.

The assassin clenched his jaw, refusing to speak, his eyes filled with stubborn resistance.

Adrian's expression remained unreadable as he turned to the figure holding the assassin. "Hit him again."

The figure, obedient and without hesitation, nodded and delivered another brutal blow to the assassin's stomach. The man gasped in pain, his body convulsing, but still, he refused to answer.

Adrian stood before the assassin, his icy demeanor unwavering. "I don't have time for games. Either you talk, or this will get much worse for you." He leaned closer, his voice dropping to a near whisper. "Believe me when I say, you won't like the alternative."

The assassin spat out blood but remained silent, his eyes flickering with a mixture of pain and loyalty to whoever had sent him. Adrian's patience was wearing thin.

He stepped back slightly, nodding once more to the figure holding the man. "One more time. Make sure he feels it."

The figure gripped the assassin tighter, preparing for another blow, while Adrian simply watched with cold indifference.

"N-NO... Iylll.. tayk..."