Aetheric Chronicles: Reborn As An Extra

"N-No... I...ylll... tayk..." the assassin sputtered, struggling to form coherent words as the pain overwhelmed him.

Adrian raised a hand, signaling his guard to stop mid-strike. The blow halted just inches from the assassin's ribs, leaving him gasping for breath.

"Go on," Adrian urged, his voice devoid of warmth.

The assassin's eyes were wide with desperation, but as he was about to speak, Adrian interrupted, his tone sharp and knowing. "It was Nymera, wasn't it?"

The man's reaction was almost imperceptible, but Adrian caught the brief widening of his eyes before he quickly shook his head in denial.

"No! It wasn't her! It was Mr. Kall!" the assassin insisted, his voice filled with panic.

Adrian's lips curled into a cold smile. "Mr. Kall? You mean the bald, fat-bellied fool?" He chuckled, as though the idea was absurd. The assassin hesitated, then nodded rapidly, eager to seize the opportunity to shift the blame.

Adrian let out a low, mocking laugh, stepping closer to the man. "So, you want me to believe that Mr. Kall sent you?" His voice turned icy as he leaned in, his gaze piercing the assassin's defenses. "Tell your master—Black Widow—not to test my patience. I'm not as soft as I may appear."

The assassin's face paled at the mention of Nymera's alias. "No, no! I swear it wasn't Milady Nymera!" he protested, his voice trembling. "It was Mr. Kall! I was only following his orders!"

Adrian's eyes narrowed in disdain, his earlier amusement fading into something more dangerous. "Tch," he clicked his tongue in annoyance. "Do you take me for a fool?" His voice dropped, low and venomous. "You didn't even flinch when I insulted your so-called 'master' with no hair and a fat belly. But the moment I mentioned Nymera, you tried to deny it. Clear as day, you're lying."

The assassin's face drained of color, his eyes darting around in panic. He opened his mouth to speak but no words came out. It was as though the weight of Adrian's accusation had crushed whatever lies he had prepared.

Seeing the man falter, Adrian gave a subtle glance to his guard. Before the assassin could react, a swift blow landed at the back of his head.

His eyes rolled back, and with a dull thud, he collapsed, unconscious.

"You are really amazing Young Master." The guard spoke, his voice mixed with admiration and respect. "You discovered everything from a few little details."

"You are overestimating, Sir Dorian." Adrian smiled slightly. "I am not that smart, there are many who can easily outdo me. But that is why I love to improve."

"Haha, right, that reminded of something," Dorian muttered after a chuckle. "Student Adrian's similar to you as well. I guess he is trying to copy you. And I must say, he is really good at it."

"Haha, you don't say." Adrian smiled back while feeling a bit nervous and awkward inside. 'Was I that obvious? Then, I should create a difference between real me and this persona.'

"What should I do with him? Should I give him to the officials?" Dorian then asked turning to the unconscious man.

"Hmm... Let's just leave him here. He needs to deliver my message after all." Adrian smiled and walked away.

Dorian also did the same after giving one last glance.

_____ ___ _

Adrian parted ways with Dorian after ensuring that no one else was following them. He observed his surroundings carefully, using Phantom Step occasionally to blend into the shadows, his senses sharp as ever. Once he was sure he had shaken off any lingering tails, he exhaled quietly and headed towards one of his discreet safe alley houses.

Inside the safehouse, Adrian wasted no time in reverting back to his true self. With practiced ease, he removed the Shadow Veil mask and pocketed the face-changing amulet. His once-mysterious aura dissipated as he discarded the layers of disguise that had allowed him to navigate the dangerous world of elites unnoticed.

He glanced at his reflection in the cracked mirror near the door. Adrian's face was back to its usual self—calm, composed, and determined. 'Time to get back,' he thought, already anticipating the familiar walls of the Celestial Arcane Academy.

But, as if the world had other plans, Adrian's journey back proved far from simple.

As he exited the alley and merged with the busy streets, a man bumped into him—hard.

"Watch where you're going!" the man grumbled, brushing past Adrian without so much as an apology.

Adrian narrowed his eyes, silently noting the odd behavior, but shrugged it off. 'Just another careless stranger,' he thought. Yet, only moments later, he found himself narrowly avoiding another collision, this time with a man wearing a hoodie. What made it more strange was another person bumped right into both of them the next second, the first hoodie man was left angry and bewildered.

Adrian shrugged and continued on his way. However...

The strange incidents didn't stop there.

As Adrian continued down the cobbled road, a loud creak from above caught his attention. Instinctively, he stepped aside, just in time to avoid a wooden sign that had come loose from its post, crashing down where he had been standing mere seconds before.

'That was close… too close,' he thought, a nagging feeling growing in his chest.

A few streets later, his foot caught on a loose stone, nearly sending him sprawling. He managed to catch himself, but his unease deepened. His eyes scanned his surroundings more cautiously. 'Something is definitely wrong.'

As Adrian reached the busier market square, a horned horse-drawn carriage barreled down the street at a reckless speed. The driver seemed to lose control as the horse veered dangerously close to the sidewalk where Adrian stood. He leaped back just in time, narrowly avoiding the trampling hooves.

His heart pounded, his instincts now screaming that these were not mere coincidences.

'I'm being targeted… definitely,' he realized grimly, though the method was far more subtle and frustrating than a direct attack. It was as though someone—or something—was setting up a series of misfortunes in his path, hoping to wear him down or catch him off-guard. 'Or am I really that unlucky today?'