Aetheric Chronicles: Reborn As An Extra

Adrian's jaw tightened. Whoever was behind this, they were trying to rattle him, but they had clearly underestimated his resilience.

'So what, I can just anticipate them and counter...'

But...

He was very wrong. Very...

Incidents kept happening, unexpected, bizarre, and continuous.

Finally, after what felt like an unnecessarily hazardous journey, Adrian reached the gates of Celestial Arcane Academy. He glanced up at the imposing structure with a mixture of relief and happiness.

'F-Finally... I am here... Damn my luck...'

The unsettling series of events still lingered in his mind.

As he stepped through the gates, a thought crossed his mind: 'If this was no coincidence and not because of my luck issue… who could be behind it?'

'Assasins from the Black Hand?'

His eyes narrowed in thought.

For now, he was safe within the academy's protective wards, but Adrian couldn't shake the feeling that this was just the beginning of something far more sinister.

Pushing the unsettling thoughts aside, he entered the familiar dorm of the academy.

As he entered his room, he saw Aria already finishing the dinner preparations with Noxy wandering around her.

"Oh, you are back, did you finish your business?" Aria turned around and asked with a smile.

"Yeah, thanks," Adrian replied.

"But, why are you late? I started cooking since I thought you would be hungry."

Adrian chuckled wryly at Aria's question, rubbing the back of his neck. "Don't even start. Today might just be the unluckiest day of my life."

Aria tilted her head, curiosity glimmering in her eyes as she finished setting the table. "Oh? That bad, huh? What happened?"

Adrian took a seat, leaning back in his chair as he recounted the strange events on his way back. "Where do I even begin? First, I nearly got knocked over by some guys in a hurry, then almost got hit by a falling sign, and to top it all off, a runaway carriage nearly ran me over in the market square. It was like the universe had a personal vendetta against me today."

Aria's eyes widened slightly, though her expression remained composed. "That sounds… bizarre. Are you sure it wasn't just a series of unfortunate accidents?"

Adrian scoffed lightly, shaking his head. "Honestly, I'm not even sure at this point. It felt like something—or someone—was trying to mess with me. But there's no way all of that could just be a coincidence. I bet someone cast a bad luck spell on me, haha."

Aria's smile never wavered, though a mysterious glint passed through her eyes as she gazed at him. "Maybe it was just bad luck."

"Maybe," Adrian muttered, though he wasn't entirely convinced inside.

Aria approached him, her voice soft and playful. "Well then, let me end your bad luck, shall I?"

Adrian raised an eyebrow at her. "How exactly do you plan on doing that?"

Without answering immediately, Aria moved behind him and gently placed her hands on his shoulders. Her touch was surprisingly soothing, and as she massaged his tense muscles, Adrian felt a sense of calm slowly wash over him.

"There," Aria whispered, her voice carrying a teasing lilt. "Sometimes, all you need is a little good energy to chase the bad luck away."

Adrian chuckled, leaning into her touch, the tension from the day's events melting away.

'If only it were that simple,' he thought, though a part of him couldn't help but admit that her presence always had a way of calming him.

Aria continued her light massage for a few more moments before stepping back. "Feel better?"

"A lot actually," Adrian replied, smiling up at her. "Thanks."

"You're welcome." Aria smiled back, though the flicker of something unreadable still lingered in her eyes.

Noxy scurried over, nosing at Adrian's leg as if sensing the shift in atmosphere. Adrian reached down to pet the hedgehog, feeling the last remnants of his earlier unease slowly fade.

As the quiet moments stretched between them, Adrian couldn't help but wonder if Aria knew more than she let on. There was something in the way she had spoken earlier, as though she understood his troubles without needing an explanation.

But for now, he let it go. The day had been long enough, and he was more than ready to enjoy the peace of being back in familiar surroundings.

"Come on," Aria said, gesturing toward the table. "Let's eat. Maybe your luck will turn after a good meal."

Adrian smirked. "Let's hope so."

As they sat down to eat, the strange events of the day faded into the background, though Adrian couldn't shake the feeling that something—whether bad luck or something more sinister—was still lurking just out of sight.

After the dinner and a bit of bonding time, Aria left Adrian's room and returned to her own. As Aria sat down on her couch, she reached for her communication bracelet, tapping the surface lightly. A small holographic figure shimmered to life above the bracelet, bowing slightly as it greeted her.

"Young Master," the figure spoke in a respectful tone, its translucent form hovering in front of Aria.

Aria's expression remained calm and composed as she nodded in acknowledgment. "Did someone try to do it?"

The holographic figure straightened, replying swiftly, "Yes, Young Master. Two attempts were made today. The first involved a group attempting the old trick of bumping into him. We took care of them before they could succeed."

Aria's eyes narrowed slightly, though she showed no surprise. "And the second?"

"They employed a runaway carriage tactic in the market square. Our men managed to intervene and prevent any harm at the last moment. Both attempts were dealt with swiftly."

Aria sat back, her fingers tapping lightly against her bracelet in thought. "I see. Continue the mission as planned, but be more cautious. Do not let him notice any involvement."

"Understood, Young Master," the figure responded without hesitation.

"And investigate further," Aria added, her tone sharpening slightly. "I want to know if anyone in the city is capable of casting a bad luck spell or something similar."

The holographic figure nodded again. "As you wish, Young Master. We will look into it immediately."

With that, Aria tapped her bracelet once more, ending the communication. The hologram flickered out of existence, leaving her alone in the dimly lit room.

She exhaled softly, her eyes distant as she considered the day's events. The failed attempts on Adrian's life were troubling enough, but the possibility of a bad luck spell or even possibly a curse only deepened her concerns. Whoever was targeting Adrian clearly had a plan, one that was becoming more complex with each step.

But Aria had her own resources, her own ways of protecting him—ways that Adrian remained blissfully unaware of.

"I won't let anything happen to you," she murmured to herself, her gaze hardening with resolve. "Not while I'm around."

Aria leaned back on the couch, allowing a moment of quiet before preparing for the next steps.

For now, she would continue watching, protecting from the shadows. But soon, the real players would reveal themselves, and when they did, Aria would be ready.

The soft glow of the room cast long shadows around her as she contemplated the days to come. Even though Adrian wasn't oblivious to the dangers circling him, Aria would make sure those dangers never touched him—no matter the cost.

She closed her eyes briefly, a small, knowing smile crossing her lips.

'Let's see how far you'll go, whoever you are. You won't get him that easily.'