Aetheric Chronicles: Reborn As An Extra

He wasn't sure what to make of the boy standing before him—a young man who didn't seem the least bit intimidated by his size or anger, and who had just dismissed the woman at his side without a second thought.

Finally, after a tense moment of silence, the man's rage seemed to subside, replaced by a grudging acceptance. He spat on the floor near the coin, his face twisted in a mix of anger and resentment.

"You're not worth the trouble," he muttered, turning on his heel and stalking out of the tavern, shoving a few chairs out of his way as he went. It seems he wasn't like those cliche brainless characters.

The woman, still stunned, lingered for a moment longer before she too hurried after him, her earlier bravado gone.

"H-Honey, w-wait for me!"

As the door slammed shut behind them, the tension in the room slowly began to dissipate. The patrons returned to their conversations, though the earlier energy was replaced by a more subdued atmosphere.

Adrian ignored the curious glances thrown his way, his attention now on the blue-haired boy, who was still sitting on the floor, staring up at him with a mix of awe and gratitude.

Adrian bent down and offered the boy his hand. "Are you alright?"

The boy hesitated for a moment before nodding and taking Adrian's hand, allowing himself to be pulled to his feet. "T-Thank you, M-Mister," he whispered, his voice trembling with emotion.

Adrian gave a small nod. "Just be careful next time. This world isn't kind to those who show weakness."

The boy nodded again, his eyes wide as he looked up at Adrian. "I-I will, sir."

With that, Adrian turned and walked back to his table, his mind already shifting back to the task at hand. He had come here for a reason, and now that the distraction had passed, it was time to focus on finding Dorian.

Just as Adrian settled back into his seat, a tall, muscled man wearing thin but clean clothes approached his table. The man's steps were heavy, and he carried two mugs of ale, setting them down with a deliberate thud. Adrian's gaze snapped to the man, his senses on high alert, wondering if this was yet another troublemaker.

The man had a serious and stern expression, his jaw set as he stood towering over Adrian. For a moment, the tension that had just dissipated seemed to creep back into the air. Adrian didn't flinch, meeting the man's intense gaze with his own, his demeanor calm but ready.

"What do you want?" Adrian asked, his tone even, not betraying any hint of unease.

The man remained silent, his face a mask of unreadable intensity. The seconds stretched out, the tavern once again holding its breath as the two men stared at each other. Adrian's mind raced, assessing the situation, trying to determine if he should be preparing for another confrontation.

But then, something unexpected happened. The man's expression suddenly brightened, his stern features softening into a warm, genuine smile. He extended his hand toward Adrian, his eyes gleaming with gratitude. "Thank you," the man said, his voice deep and sincere.

Adrian blinked, momentarily dumbfounded. He hadn't anticipated this turn of events. Internally, he felt a flicker of confusion, his mind scrambling to process the sudden change in demeanor.

After a brief pause, Adrian shook the man's hand, his grip firm but cautious. As he did, he took a closer look at the man, something about him triggering a distant memory.

The man's hair, dark and slightly disheveled, his eyes sharp yet kind, and his muscular build all seemed familiar. The way he spoke, the sincerity in his voice—it all began to connect in Adrian's mind.

His eyes widened slightly as recognition dawned.

'Isn't he…?'

'Dorian!?'

Adrian's eyes widened slightly, the realization settling in as he connected the dots. The man before him was none other than Dorian, the very person he had come to find. But before he could fully process this revelation, he needed confirmation. .net

Maintaining his composed demeanor, Adrian released Dorian's hand and leaned back slightly in his seat. "Who are you?" he asked, his tone measured but laced with curiosity. "And why are you thanking me?"

Dorian chuckled, a deep, resonant sound that matched his imposing physique. "Ah, sorry about that," he said, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly. "I guess I got ahead of myself. I haven't introduced myself properly, have I?"

He straightened up, his smile widening as he extended his hand once more, this time with a formal introduction. "Nice to meet you. I'm Dorian."

Adrian felt a surge of satisfaction as his suspicions were confirmed. This was indeed the man he had been seeking, but the situation had unfolded in a way he hadn't anticipated. He shook Dorian's hand again, this time with a sense of purpose, his mind already shifting gears to adapt to this new development.

"And as for why I'm thanking you," Dorian continued, releasing Adrian's hand and gesturing toward the blue-haired boy who was now standing a few feet away, watching them with wide eyes. "That boy over there—he's my nephew. You saved him back there. I owe you one."

Adrian's gaze shifted to the boy, who was still trembling slightly but had a look of awe and relief on his face. The pieces of the puzzle were starting to fit together. The boy, likely having gotten into trouble, had unknowingly led Adrian straight to his target. Fate, it seemed, had a strange way of guiding him.

'Haha, it seems the talk about only MCs having this kind of luck is fake.'

Dorian's expression softened as he looked at his nephew, then back at Adrian. "He's a good kid, but sometimes he gets himself into situations he can't handle. If you hadn't stepped in… well, let's just say things could have gone a lot worse."

Adrian nodded, understanding the weight of what Dorian was saying. "I just did what anyone would have done," he replied, though he knew that wasn't entirely true. Not everyone would have intervened, and certainly not in the way he had. "And... You would take care of it eventually.'

Dorian chuckled again, shaking his head. "No, not everyone would have. You handled that situation like a pro. You've got guts, young man. And, I only arrived just a few seconds before you intervened, so I wouldn't be able to help in time. So, thanks once again."

Adrian gave a small, appreciative nod, though his mind was already shifting toward the next steps. Now that he had found Dorian, he needed to figure out how to steer the conversation toward the topic he needed.

Fortunately, they became close more quickly than he expected.

"Then, I should introduce myself as well. Nice to meet you, Mr Dorian. I am Lucien."

"Let's celebrate our first meeting with a drink, Lucien."

Dorian chuckled as he picked up one of the mugs, extending it towards Adrian. "Here, let's celebrate our first meeting with a drink, Lucien."

Adrian glanced at the mug, a faint smile tugging at the corners of his lips. He appreciated the gesture but knew he had to decline. With a shake of his head, he raised his hand apologetically. "I appreciate the offer, Mr. Dorian, but I don't drink."

Dorian's eyes widened slightly in surprise, but then he laughed heartily, a deep, booming sound that filled the tavern. "Ah, a man of discipline, I see! That's a rare quality these days. It's a shame, but it's good. Keeps the mind sharp and the body strong."

Adrian nodded, a subtle acknowledgment of Dorian's words. It was a small relief that Dorian wasn't offended by his refusal. It seemed the fact about the man respecting those who stood by their principles was true, and it would play in Adrian's favor as their conversation progressed.

Dorian took a swig from his mug, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand as he set the half-empty mug back on the table. "So, Lucien," he began, his tone casual but laced with curiosity, "What brings you to this part of the city? Not many folks come here unless they're looking for something—or someone."

'Oh, it seems luck is truly on my side today.' Adrian smirked inwardly as Dorian switched to the topic he wanted to talk about. 'Then, I should use this opportunity to its fullest.'

_________ ____ ___

(Author: I just started writing a new novel. Go check it out.

Its name is - The Tale of Two Legendary Fools.

I'm sure you will like it. Don't forget to write your opinions about it.

And, we will be starting the climax of this arc soon. So, stay tuned.)