Aetheric Chronicles: Reborn As An Extra

The moment Adrian, Aria, and Aurelia stepped out of the principal's office, they were greeted by an eerie emptiness. The hallways, usually filled with the sound of bustling activity, were silent. Even the secretary's desk, which was normally occupied at all hours, stood vacant. It felt as though the entire building had been abandoned.

The only sound that reached their ears was the faint hum of the magical wards protecting the academy.

"This… isn't normal," Aurelia whispered, her voice echoing in the stillness. "Where is everyone?"

Adrian exchanged a glance with Aria, his mind racing. While the academy was on lockdown, he hadn't expected such a total absence of staff in key areas like this. Well, it might be normal as well.

"Let's move quickly," he said, his tone sharp. "We don't have time to waste."

They slipped through the hall and exited the building. Once outside, however, they were greeted by a completely different sight. The academy grounds, though typically serene, were now filled with students. Some familiar faces rushed by, their expressions tense and their steps hurried, while others—strangers to Adrian—moved with equal haste.

"Looks like the academy's already in full response mode," Aria murmured, her eyes scanning the students. Her calm demeanor remained intact, though her gaze sharpened as she tried to pick out anyone she recognized. Discover hidden tales at empire

Adrian stayed quiet, taking in every detail. The faces, the urgency—it all pointed to the gravity of the situation. But they couldn't afford distractions. "The teacher's building is this way. Let's go," he said, leading the way.

As they moved through the grounds, keeping their heads low to avoid drawing unnecessary attention, a familiar voice called out to them from behind.

"Junior! Aria!"

Adrian stopped, turning to find Claire rushing toward them. Her normally carefree expression was replaced with one of concern, her brow furrowed as she hurried over. "I've been looking everywhere for you all. Come with me—there's a meeting going on in the main hall. Most of the instructors and important students are already there."

Aurelia exchanged a nervous glance with Adrian, but Aria simply nodded. " Please, lead the way."

Without another word, Claire led them through the academy's winding paths, avoiding the crowds of students who were frantically discussing rumors of the lockdown, the weremonkeys, and the abominations. It didn't take long before they arrived at the large hall where the academy's elite had gathered.

The atmosphere inside the hall was thick with tension.

Screens lined the far wall, displaying various views of the academy—some showed different sections of the grounds, others depicted the sealed entrances, and a few even showed the perimeter where weremonkeys prowled. Around the room, groups of instructors and top students were engaged in hushed conversations, their eyes flicking between the screens and each other.

As the three of them entered, heads turned. Whispers rippled through the room, though most of the attention was on Aria. Recognizing her as the principal's granddaughter, many of the attendees seemed relieved to see her safe.

Adrian quickly scanned the room, taking note of the important figures present. At the head of the gathering was the Vice-Principal.

Beside him stood Instructor Ardent, the Branch Leader of TWAO, and Professor Sibilus, a master of enchanting who rarely left the confines of his workshop. Also present was Kiri, Sibilus's assistant, and Instructor Elara, the Monstrology expert who had been instrumental in the academy's defense during previous attacks.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

Among the students were several familiar faces: Anthony, the academy's top fighter; Ella, a quadra element mage; Ceil the Dragon Maiden, Layla The Shadow Phantom, and Cedric Radiant Guardian, each exceptional in their own fields. Their expressions were a mix of determination and uncertainty as they watched the situation unfold on the screens.

The Vice-Principal's eyes lit up as soon as he saw Aria. His normally stern face softened with a smile of relief. "Lady Aria, thank goodness you're safe," he said, stepping forward. His gaze then shifted to Adrian and Aurelia, nodding in acknowledgment before settling back on Aria. "We feared the worst."

Adrian stayed silent, allowing Aria to speak, but the Vice-Principal's attention soon turned to him. His expression became more serious, and he stepped closer, lowering his voice. "Student Adrian, I'm glad to see you're unharmed as well. But I have to ask… Where are Instructor Darius and Instructor Doome? Didn't you take them with you? Are they safe?"

"Don't worry about their safety, Sir." Adrian calmly replied. "They are in a safe place and condition but they won't be able to fight for another week or two."

The Vice-Principal's expression wavered between relief and disappointment upon hearing Adrian's response. He gave a slow nod, his lips pressing into a thin line. "I see. It's good to know they're safe, but their absence is really not good," he said, his voice carrying a tone of resignation. "For now, stay put. The academy is safe, and we have everything under control."

Adrian remained silent, his gaze steady.

He had expected this—of course, they believed the academy was safe. They had no idea who was truly behind this chaos. Evangeline. The name hovered in his mind, a constant reminder of the brewing storm. But more importantly, he had nearly forgotten the one crucial piece to this puzzle: Sezar, the Guardian of the Red Moon Ruin.

The weremonkeys.

He should've realized sooner.

Clearing his throat, Adrian made the decision to speak. It wasn't just about keeping secrets anymore—it was about fixing the mess he had a hand in. He owed it to everyone in the city. He had to step up.

"I have important information," Adrian announced, his voice firm and loud, cutting through the murmur of conversations in the room. Heads turned toward him, and all eyes landed on him with sudden intensity. The whispers ceased, and even the Vice-Principal's brow furrowed in curiosity and concern.

Adrian exhaled slowly, composing his thoughts. This was the moment. There was no backing out.

He began speaking, explaining who Evangeline was, her role in the creation of the abominations, and how she had allied with Sezar, the Guardian of the Red Moon Ruin.

As he spoke, the weight of the revelation settled over the room. He recounted the details of how Evangeline had orchestrated the attacks, creating the fleshbound abominations that plagued the city, and how her twisted experiment was now reaching its climax. He even mentioned Aurelius being at the center of her experiment, probably to warn Aurelius's master.

Each word fell like a hammer, the gravity of the situation becoming clearer with every sentence. And now, Evangeline was completing her final experiment—a catastrophic undertaking that would bring destruction to the entire city once finished. Well, he might have gotten a bit overboard about it, but he needed to make it dramatic.

The room was deathly silent by the time he finished.

Faces were pale with disbelief, while others displayed anger and horror. The Vice-Principal's eyes darkened with the realization of the scope of the threat they were facing. What had begun as a contained crisis was far more dangerous than anyone had anticipated.

A few instructors exchanged worried glances, while Anthony clenched his fists, jaw tightening in response to the revelation. Even the seasoned professors like Sibilus and Ardent looked disturbed, though they kept their composure.

Finally, the Vice-Principal broke the silence, his voice strained but composed. "This... changes everything."