Aetheric Chronicles: Reborn As An Extra

The eerie stillness of Evangeline's domain clung to the air as Adrian walked through the thick, shadow-filled landscape. His mind was racing, calculating every possible move they could make while keeping a close eye on the remaining abominations and Evangeline herself.

'Not long now,' he thought, clenching his fist in his pocket. Aurelius's life was at stake, and even though Evangeline's methods were twisted, Adrian knew they needed her to finish stabilizing him. Without it, Aurelius's illness would consume him sooner rather than later. That's right, this would serve as blessing in disguise for Aurelius, a part of his hidden plot armor.

But there was more at play here.

Adrian's mind flashed back to the disturbing conversation he'd overheard between Evangeline and Veda. The cryptic words about the past, then the contract with Kalin, and Evangeline's desperate wish to bring her sister back. It was all starting to come together now—her "masterpiece" wasn't just a weapon.

It was a vessel.

A vessel for her sister.Nôv(el)B\\jnn

The pieces clicked, and Adrian's gaze darkened. "So that's why she made the contract," he murmured under his breath.

He wasn't sure if Evangeline fully understood what she had gotten herself into. Kalin wasn't a benevolent force; it was a manipulator, just like herself, using her grief and obsession to achieve its own ends. Kalin's goal was simple—ascend one of its avatars into a perfect, nearly indestructible body. If they let her complete the masterpiece, the consequences would be catastrophic.

Adrian stopped in his tracks, his sharp gaze narrowing in the direction where Evangeline's aura was strongest.

'Just a little more time… we'll let her stabilize Aurelius,' he thought, his resolve hardening. 'But we can't let her finish the final step.'

The lives of everyone, not just in the domain but beyond, depended on it.

Ahead, the faint sound of footsteps alerted him. He turned to see Cedric, Ceil, Aria, and Elara making their way toward him, their expressions tense but focused.

"Is it time?" Cedric asked quietly, his voice barely breaking the heavy silence of the domain.

Adrian nodded slowly. "Soon. We'll wait until she finishes stabilizing Aurelius. But the moment she moves to complete her experiment, we strike. We can't afford to wait any longer."

Ceil's eyes darkened as she spoke. "We can't beat her. There's also that black beast protecting the area."

Adrian gave a tight smile. "I know. But I already considered it."

"We just need to wait till the right time comes..."

The others looked at him, confused why he was acting so calm and confident despite the mess they were in.

Crackle-!

Crackle-!

Suddenly, a deafening crack of thunder reverberated through the domain, followed by a flash of lightning that illuminated the sky. The dark, twisted landscape was briefly washed in stark, white light as another bolt struck down in the distance—directly where Evangeline's aura was strongest.

Adrian's eyes snapped to the horizon, the bright flashes marking the spot. His chest tightened.

"It's starting," he muttered, his tone low and serious.

He knew this scene all too well, recalling the vivid memory from the novel—the part he had dreaded since they arrived. He could almost picture it: the lightning striking Aurelius's body in rapid succession, each bolt sending waves of searing energy through him.

His muscles would seize, his nerves would burn, and his body would convulse as he struggled to remain barely conscious through the agony. It wasn't just torture—it was Evangeline refining him, pushing his body to its absolute limit, molding it into something… more.

Something beyond human.

Adrian's eyes darkened with resolve.

He had no choice but to let it happen—for now.

It was for Aurelius's good anyway... Yeah...

He turned back to the others, their anxious faces reflected in the flashes of light. Each one of them understood the stakes, but their fear and uncertainty were palpable.

"Listen closely," Adrian said, his voice sharp as the thunder echoed once more in the distance. "When the lightning stops striking..." He started explaining.

"That's all you need to do."

There was no need to explain further.

They already knew what had to be done.

"..."

The group fell into a tense silence, each of them processing Adrian's words with heavy hearts. Aria's expression wavered the most, her hesitation obvious as she bit her lip, glancing down at the ground. Elara let out a long, frustrated sigh before nodding slowly, her hand gripping her staff a little tighter.

"I'll get Cedric and Ceil ready," she said quietly, motioning for them to follow her. "We'll be prepared."

With a reluctant glance back at Adrian, Elara led the others away, her shoulders tense but steady. She was an instructor, supposed to lead the students and protect them, yet... Yet...

She could only put her trust in one of those student for now.

___ __ _

Aria remained rooted in place, her eyes locked on Adrian, as the flashes of lightning continued to strike in the distance. She looked conflicted, struggling to come to terms with what was about to happen. What was Adrian going to do...

'...'

Adrian turned to her, his chest tightening at the sight of her troubled expression. He hesitated for a moment before stepping closer, his voice gentle but heavy with regret.

"Aria..." he began softly, "I-I'm sorry, I—"

He stopped mid-sentence as Aria closed the distance between them. Her lips pressed against his, silencing him completely. The suddenness of it caught Adrian off guard, but he didn't pull away. The world around them seemed to fall away, the flashes of lightning and distant thunder fading into the background as her warmth enveloped him.

For a brief, fleeting moment, there was no mission, no danger, no Evangeline. Just them.

When Aria finally pulled back, her gaze softened, and a small, sad smile tugged at the corners of her lips.

"Don't apologize, Adrian," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "We both know it wasn't your fault… and let's just pretend nothing happened back then, okay?"

Adrian stared at her, speechless, his heart hammering in his chest. The weight of everything they had faced—everything that still lay ahead—pressed down on him like a storm. But in that quiet moment, all he could think about was the feel of Aria's lips against his, and how much he wished things could be different.

But Aria wasn't finished.

She wrapped her arms around his neck, staring into his eyes.

"And don't ever forget..."

"You are mine."

"Mine alone."