Aetheric Chronicles: Reborn As An Extra

Before they parted, Aria pulled Adrian close one last time, her lips finding his in a tender, lingering kiss. The gesture carried an undercurrent of worry that made Adrian's heart ache.

"Keep yourself safe," she whispered against his lips, her voice carrying both command and plea. Then she stepped back, her silver hair catching the ethereal light of the distant lightning strikes, strands dancing in the domain's restless wind.

Adrian watched her retreating form until she disappeared into the shadows, his mind still processing their exchange when—

Cough.

The sudden sound nearly made him jump out of his skin. But as he remembered something, a wry smile crept across his face. He turned to find an all-too-familiar figure standing to his side.

There stood Lloyd Fawger, his blond hair immaculate as ever, his handsome features schooled into perfect expressionlessness as he regarded Adrian. The silence stretched between them, Adrian clearing his throat awkwardly as he struggled to find words to explain what Lloyd had surely witnessed.

"Don't worry," Lloyd spoke first, his tone neutral. "I didn't look."

"Haha..." Adrian let out a laugh that was more nerves than humor, grateful for the out Lloyd had provided. "Mr. Lloyd," he said, seizing the chance to change the subject, "is 'that' ready?"

The question seemed to shift something in the atmosphere. Lloyd gave a slight nod, his expression remaining carefully controlled. "Yes and as you said, we can only wait for now."

Adrian nodded back, relief washing over him—both from successfully steering the conversation away from his moment with Aria and, more importantly, from Lloyd's confirmation.

Everything was falling into place, piece by piece.

____ __ _n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Adrian and Lloyd moved swiftly through the twisted shadows toward Evangeline's domain, their steps purposeful and silent. Just as they anticipated, a black figure loomed in the darkness, blocking their path.

It was Abby, the Arkot beast who managed to get away from Seraphelis's Domain.

Adrian glanced at Lloyd, and Lloyd gave him a reassuring nod. "Don't worry," he said with calm confidence.

From Lloyd's shadow, something began to rise—a sleek, white-furred creature with a tiger-like build. Its coat was a soft, luminous white, a striking contrast to the dark landscape around them. The beast's piercing eyes took in both Lloyd and Adrian before settling on Abby, who snarled, taking a menacing step forward.

Lloyd spoke, his voice steady and commanding. "Azura, take care of him."

Azura gave a subtle nod, its gaze shifting back to Abby, unfazed by the Arkot beast's hostile stance. With graceful, powerful strides, Azura moved forward, muscles coiling as it prepared to engage Abby. Its eyes held an eerie calm, as if already foreseeing the next steps of the encounter.

Watching Azura advance, Adrian couldn't help but admire the creature's confidence. "You're sure it can handle the Arkot?" he asked, though he already trusted Lloyd's judgment.

Lloyd nodded, a slight smirk playing at his lips. "Azura can handle it. Arkots can teleport through darkness and wield incredible strength, but Azura has a way to counter it."

Adrian inclined his head, no further questions needed.

He knew Azura's secret ability—a gift both unique and formidable. Unlike his own Chrono Vision, which showed him glimpses of the future without his control, Azura could actively see a few seconds ahead, predicting every move Abby might make as long as it had enough aether reserves.

"Impressive," Adrian murmured, watching as Azura and Abby closed in on each other, the tension in the air thickening.

He felt the faint pull of his own Chrono Vision, that familiar sense of an impending vision tugging at his awareness. It often came unbidden in the heat of dangerous situations—and he had a feeling it was only a matter of time before it showed him something crucial.

But if it does, it means his plan won't probably go as intended.

"Come on, let's go," Lloyd's voice cut through Adrian's focus, his words brisk.

Before Adrian could react, Lloyd's hand shot out, shoving him backward. Adrian's balance faltered, and he stumbled, the ground seeming to give way beneath him as he fell. Darkness swallowed him, pulling him into a vast, empty void.

Lloyd watched the spot where Adrian had disappeared, his expression unreadable. Then, with a final glance toward the ongoing clash between Azura and the Arkot beast, he dissolved into fragments of shadow, dispersing into the thick, restless dark.

---

Adrian floated in the blackness, disoriented yet oddly calm. He couldn't see, hear, or feel anything tangible around him, just an all-encompassing void. So this is Lloyd's domain, he thought with a strange sense of awe.

The sensation was oddly comforting in its cool, silent stillness, like being submerged in a bottomless, midnight ocean. Lloyd's ability had always been shrouded in mystery, but now Adrian could feel its subtle intricacies firsthand.

His thoughts drifted back to the mansion at Veda. Just before leaving, he'd reached out to his allies, discussing the unfolding situation with both Lloyd and Yor.

Together, they devised a plan above Adrian's plan: Lloyd would accompany Adrian, assisting him in confronting Evangeline, while Yor would remain in the shadows at the Academy, ready to hold off the monkey Sezar if it tried to make a move.

Since that moment, Lloyd had silently followed Adrian, moving through the darkness as a shadow at his side, always watching. The unique nature of Lloyd's skill—Shadow Dominion—was still something Adrian marveled at.

It practically gave Lloyd another new unseen affinity: shadow manipulation. Combined with his innate control over darkness, Lloyd's powers rivaled those of even formidable adversaries like Seraphelis. And yet, Lloyd had always kept himself in the background, his quiet strength something Adrian had come to rely on without question.

In the depths of the void, Adrian took a breath, mentally preparing himself for whatever was to come. He knew Lloyd's shadow would guide him through this strange, intangible world, but there was a faint, steady pulse in his mind—the signal of his Chrono Vision, lying in wait.

Still, he pushed any lingering doubts aside, feeling a renewed sense of resolve.

'Yeah, there is still one more person...'

'But I can only hope she will come...'