Aetheric Chronicles: Reborn As An Extra

"So, that was really a lie then?" Lila muttered in realization.

Adrian looked at her guessing she also bought his act.

"Come on, let\'s take care of the other three quickly and head to their hideout." Adrian hurried them. "We will interrogate another one to check if the previous one told us the truth."

The group nodded and accelerated till they arrived near the second scout\'s hidden place. And it seems this one was good at hiding, if not for Ardel\'s ability it would be hard to detect this scout.

The team moved with practiced stealth, closing in on the second scout. Adrian and Kairen approached from the left, while Aria, Lila, and Ardel flanked from the right. Within moments, they had the scout surrounded, leaving no room for escape.

With swift, coordinated movements, they subdued the scout. Adrian wasted no time in interrogating him, his voice cold and demanding. The scout, initially resistant, broke under the pressure and a bit of well-placed torturing.

He confirmed the information Jarek had provided: the hideout was indeed a large cave hidden within the mountains, and the bandit leader was as dangerous as they had been told.

Satisfied with the information, Adrian signaled the team to move on. They swiftly dealt with the remaining two scouts, ensuring that no alarm would be raised. With the immediate threats neutralized, they regrouped to plan their next move.

Adrian was cautious, knowing that finding the hideout might not be as straightforward as it seemed. Despite Ardel\'s abilities, locating the waterfall that the scouts had mentioned proved difficult. The dense forest and rugged terrain created numerous potential hiding spots.

The team ventured deeper into the mountains, expanding their search area. They navigated through narrow paths and thick underbrush, their senses alert for any signs of the hidden cave.

After an hour of searching, the team found themselves on the other side of the mountains. Ardel paused for a moment, his eyes brightening suddenly. "I sense a water source nearby," he said, his voice filled with certainty.

Adrian nodded, gesturing for the team to follow Ardel. They moved stealthily, staying concealed as they navigated through the dense foliage. After about five minutes, they emerged in a clearing with a medium-sized waterfall streaming down from the top of the mountains. The scenery was breathtaking, with the sun casting a golden glow on the cascading water.

However, there was no immediate sign of the cave. Just as Adrian was about to suggest they search the area more thoroughly, a soft singing voice caught their attention.

They turned to see a stunning woman stepping out of the water. She was wearing a simple medieval swimsuit, her long hair cascading down her back. Her beauty was striking, but not exaggerated—she had a natural, enchanting presence.

Adrian, caught off guard, was about to move into hiding when the woman noticed him. Their eyes met, and for a few moments, they stared at each other in surprise. The woman blushed deeply, sinking back into the water until only her head was visible.

"W-Who are you?" she asked, her voice a mix of curiosity and embarrassment. "And what are you doing here? Are you some kind of pervert?"

Adrian coughed awkwardly, raising his hands in a gesture of apology. "S-Sorry Miss, I didn\'t mean to startle you. I\'m just a herbalist, and I lost my way searching for water."

He discreetly gestured to the rest of his team to stay hidden with a movement of his fingers, maintaining the facade. "I was just about to leave when I stumbled upon this waterfall."

The woman\'s eyes narrowed suspiciously, but she seemed to relax slightly. "A herbalist, you say? Well, this isn\'t exactly a common place for gathering herbs."

"I know," Adrian replied, his tone questioning. "But this isn\'t exactly a common place for bathing too, is it?"

The woman\'s eyes narrowed, but she couldn\'t hide a hint of a smile. "Touché. This place is indeed quite secluded." She eyed Adrian cautiously. "So, are you alone?"

Adrian maintained his calm and yet awkward demeanor, knowing that any sudden movement could escalate the situation. "Yes, I am. I lost my way from my group about two days ago, I was searching for a water source for quite some time. When I returned my friend and others were nowhere to be seen. I have been searching for them since then, not to mention I already used up all my food and drinks."

"Ah... I see..." The woman nodded searching for any falsehoods in his reply. She looked at Adrian, who had a somewhat exhausted and tired expression. She also noticed him glancing at the waterfall and her from time to time. \'So, he is just a young man after all...\'

"Ah, are you an herbalist too, Miss?" Adrian asked. "Isn\'t it dangerous for you to be wandering alone? You are a woman after all. And a beautiful one too...." Adrian purposely muttered the last sentence in a low voice.

The woman smirked at Adrian\'s comment, her eyes gleaming with amusement. "Oh? Are you going to attack me, a lonely and weak woman?" she teased, standing up slowly, letting the water cascade off her body. She moved with a seductive grace, her posture confident and alluring.

Adrian, feeling the heat rise to his face, gulped and quickly turned away, his expression shy and flustered. The woman chuckled softly at his reaction, clearly enjoying his discomfort.

But she hadn\'t noticed the coldness in Adrian\'s eyes and expression after he turned away, a glint of calculation hidden beneath his facade.

"I-I\'ll take my leave now," Adrian stammered, taking a step back. "I didn\'t mean to intrude."

"Wait," the woman said, her voice soft and allurinh. She moved closer, the water lapping around her ankles. "You said you\'re a herbalist, right? Maybe you can help me with something."

Adrian stopped, turning slightly to glance at her over his shoulder. "H-Help you? With what?"