Aetheric Chronicles: Reborn As An Extra

The tall, imposing building of the TWAO loomed over the bustling street below. A steady stream of people flowed in and out, most wearing dark, formal attire that gave off an air of serious business. The interior was just as formidable, with polished marble floors and walls that seemed to gleam under the bright overhead lights.

Several agents, clad in black and blue uniforms with the TWAO emblem on their shoulders, were escorting a muscular man through the lobby. The man had a thick mustache and a furious expression, his hands bound by sturdy chains.

"Release me! Why are you doing this?" he shouted, his voice echoing off the walls. "Do you know who I am? I am the owner of Golden Dragon Sanctuary!" His eyes darted around, desperately searching for someone who might listen, someone who might care.

As they moved through the corridor, two figures walked past them. One of them, a young man with short brown hair and an indifferent expression, paused to glance at the mustached man.

"Yo, it\'s you." A small smile tugged at the young man\'s lips as he gestured for the agents to stop for a moment. "I told you I was fighting because I could win, right? But you didn\'t listen, and here you are... Mr. Hawke."

The muscular man\'s eyes trembled, his fury evident as he recognized the speaker. "Y-you damn student!" he growled, trying to lunge forward, but the agents held him firmly.

Before Mr. Hawke could say anything more, the agents tightened their grip and continued leading him away, his protests growing fainter with each step.

"You\'ll pay for this!"

"Damn... student!"

"Wretch... Adrian..."

The young man, Adrian, watched the scene unfold with a faint, satisfied smile on his face. His eyes remained fixed on Mr. Hawke until the man disappeared from view.

Beside Adrian, another man, slightly older and with a composed demeanor, turned to him. "So, Mr. Lucien\'s enemy is finally taken care of, right?"

Adrian nodded, the smile still lingering on his lips. "That\'s right, Mr. Dorian. Thanks for the help."

Mr. Dorian gave a curt nod. "It was nothing. But you should know, Sir Adrian, you are really talented in many ways. I guess that\'s why Mr. Lucien took an interest in you."

\'Haha, how would he react when he knew that I am Mr. Lucien? I can\'t imagine that.\'

Adrian\'s smile faded slightly as he considered Dorian\'s words. "Haha, you are flattering me," he replied, his tone thoughtful. "But, I\'m just glad this is over."

Dorian nodded again, understanding the weight of Adrian\'s words. "Indeed. Let\'s hope the rest goes as smoothly."

Adrian glanced down the corridor, his thoughts momentarily drifting back to Mr. Hawke. "It never does," he muttered under his breath, his expression once again turning serious. "But we\'ll handle it. One step at a time."

With that, Adrian and Dorian turned and walked away, their footsteps echoing through the grand halls of TWAO.

____

About 5 or 6 minutes later, the duo finally reached the top floor of the TWAO headquarters. Adrian and Mr. Dorian stepped out, their footsteps muffled by the plush carpet that lined the hallway. The atmosphere here was different from the bustling lobby below; it was quieter, almost solemn, with large windows that offered a panoramic view of Eldoria City.

As they approached a set of heavy double doors, Dorian paused and knocked twice, a sharp and practiced sound. A voice from within promptly responded, granting them permission to enter.

Pushing the doors open, they stepped into a spacious office that exuded simplicity and cleanliness. The room was tastefully decorated, with a large mahogany desk at its center and several high-backed chairs arranged in front of it. Behind the desk stood a tall bookshelf, filled with numerous volumes, and a large map of the continent adorned one of the walls.

But it wasn\'t the grandeur of the room that caught Adrian\'s attention; it was the woman standing by the window. She was facing away from them, her long, black hair cascading down her back, glistening slightly under the soft glow of the ceiling lights. Enjoy new chapters from mvl

\'She totally looks different than in the academy...\' Adrian thought noticing her features.

As the woman heard them enter, she turned around gracefully, her eyes immediately locking onto Adrian\'s.

"..."

For a moment, there was a flicker of surprise in her deep, blue eyes, a reaction that was quickly masked by a composed, professional expression. Adrian, however, caught it and couldn\'t help but smile.

"I didn\'t think I would meet you here, Instructor Ardent," Adrian greeted, a hint of amusement in his voice.

The woman—Instructor Ardent—allowed a small, knowing smile to touch her lips as she regained her composure. "The same could be said to you, Mr. Adrian," she replied smoothly. "So, you are the student Mr. Darius mentioned."

Adrian chuckled softly, giving a slight nod. "Yes, that\'s right. And this is Mr. Dorian who helped me."

Instructor Ardent nodded and gestured toward the chairs in front of her desk. "Please, have a seat."

Adrian and Mr. Dorian took their places, sitting comfortably in the high-backed chairs. The atmosphere was formal, yet there was an underlying sense of respect and acknowledgment.

"Thank you both for your help in capturing such a notorious criminal," Instructor Ardent began, her voice steady but warm. "Exposing Mr. Hawke\'s activities wasn\'t easy, and it took a lot of courage and strategy to pull it off. You\'ve helped us immensely in securing the proof and witnesses."

Dorian shook his head modestly. "I didn\'t do much, to be honest. It was all students Adrian\'s work and plans. I just provided some support where needed."

Instructor Ardent looked at Adrian with a sincere smile, her eyes reflecting genuine gratitude. "Well, it seems you have quite the knack for this kind of work, Mr. Adrian. Thank you again for everything you\'ve done. Your efforts have not gone unnoticed, and you should know that both the TWAO and the city security will be rewarding you for your contributions."

Adrian nodded, a humble smile forming on his lips. "Thank you, Instructor Ardent. I\'m just glad we were able to bring Mr. Hawke to justice and save the Wild Heart Sanctuary in the process. It wasn\'t something I could have done alone; everyone\'s support was crucial as well."

"..." Mrs. Ardent stared at Adrian. "It seems I had a wrong opinion about you till now, but you changed it drastically today. Good job, Mr. Adrian."