Aetheric Chronicles: Reborn As An Extra

[Here is the 1st weekly bonus chapter as I promised. The second one will be released at the end of the week or in the middle. Enjoy!]

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"T-Thanks... But, you got it wrong again. We aren't in that kind of relationship..."

"N-Not yet at least..."

"Haha, not yet you say?" The couple giggled at his words and reaction.

"You remind us of ourselves when we were younger," Lenny said, his eyes twinkling with nostalgia. "Always getting into trouble, but with a good heart."

Tessa nodded in agreement, her smile widening. "Yes, indeed. And you two make such a cute couple."

Adrian's face flushed again, and he stammered, "I-It's not like that! Really, we're just friends."

"Sure, sure," Lenny teased, his grin widening. "Not yet, right? I'll cheer for you."

"However..."

The couple's light-hearted teasing suddenly gave way to a more serious demeanor. Tessa's smile faded, replaced by a stern expression, and Lenny's eyes grew cold.

"...Let us make one thing very clear," Tessa said, her voice hardening. "If you ever make Aria sad or cry, we'll make you regret it."

Lenny stepped forward, his aura intensifying, and Adrian could feel the immense power radiating from him. "We mean it, kid. We may look like a friendly couple, but we're both Stellar Virtuoso Awakeners, you know."

Adrian's breath caught in his throat as he felt the weight of their combined auras pressing down on him. He had never imagined the people who he had thought were stalkers would be such powerful individuals up, while the sheer intensity of their presence left him speechless.

Lenny's cold chuckle sent a shiver down Adrian's spine. "You did well to threaten us back then, boy. It shows you have courage and determination. But remember, there's a fine line between bravery and foolishness."

"!" Adrian remembered when he threatened the two of them just a while ago, and beads of sweat appeared on his forehead.

"...I apologize," Adrian then said, trying to sound as calm as he could. "I didn't mean to overstep. I didn't mean any offense."

Tessa and Lenny exchanged a glance before relaxing their auras. The oppressive weight lifted, and the alley seemed to brighten once more. Tessa's stern expression softened into a gentle smile. "Just take good care of her, ok? She's very special to us."

"She is like our daughter." Lenny nodded, his gaze steady. "We expect nothing less."

Adrian managed a hesistant nod, his mind still reeling from the encounter. "I will. I'll take good care of her."

With that, the couple turned to leave, their previous warmth returning. "Goodbye, Adrian," Tessa said over her shoulder. "And remember, we're always watching."

As they disappeared into the bustling crowd, Adrian stood alone in the alley, his heart pounding in his chest. The ring on his fingers felt heavier than ever, a reminder of the responsibility he now carried. He took a deep breath, trying to steady himself, and made his way back to the academy.

He had a blank expression till he arrived at his room.

As soon as he entered his room, he directly went inside the shower.

Adrian's heart was still pounding as he stood in the shower, the cold water splashing over his face. The encounter with Tessa and Lenny replayed in his mind, their powerful auras and stern warnings lingering like a shadow.

"Damn, that was a close call," he muttered to himself, his voice echoing in the tiled bathroom. "I thought they were sent by Emeric or by the Dream Stalker..."

He rubbed his face vigorously, trying to shake off the lingering tension. "Thankfully, they weren't sent by anyone... But knowing being watched by them this whole time... makes me really uncomfortable."

Stepping out of the shower, Adrian dried himself off and dressed quickly. He couldn't shake the feeling of being scrutinized, every move observed by the watchful eyes of Tessa and Lenny. It made his skin prickle with unease.

Sitting on the edge of his bed, Adrian took a deep breath and tried to focus.

He observed the silver ring in his hand. "A lover, huh..."

"But do I really love her?" He put his hand closing his eyes. "It's true that I like her, she was the one who rescued me from dying, the first person I talked, the first friend I made... But..."

"But... do I really know if my feelings for her are love?" Adrian whispered to himself, his voice barely audible in the quiet of his room. He opened his eyes and stared at the silver ring, its cool metal glinting under the soft light. The memories of their time together, the challenges they had faced, and the quiet moments they had shared played through his mind like a film reel.

"Aria has been there for me through so much," he thought, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "She's strong, kind, beautiful, and always knows how to make me smile. But... is that enough to call it love?"

"I haven't truly loved anyone before so it's hard to understand..." He put his hand on his heart which was beating far from normal.

The weight of the ring on his finger seemed to amplify his confusion. It wasn't just a piece of jewelry anymore; it was a symbol of a bond he was struggling to understand.

Lost in thought, Adrian didn't hear the soft knock on his door. It wasn't until it opened slightly, and Aria's voice called out his name, that he snapped out of his reverie.

"Adrian? Are you alright?" Aria asked, her concern evident in her voice as she stepped into the room.

Adrian looked up, startled. "Aria! I... I didn't hear you come in."

As he led her to the dining room, Aria spoke up. "I was just wondering where you disappeared to. You seemed a bit... off earlier. Is everything alright?"

Adrian forced a smile, not wanting to worry her with the details of his encounter. "Yeah, everything's good, I just met a friend, that's all."

"Oh, alright." Aria nodded in understanding though she couldn't help but smile while watching him entering the kitchen. 'I hope they didn't scare him...'

She then followed after him. "Are you going to cook?"

"Oh, yes, I promised to cook after all."

"Let me help you then, just tell me what I need to do."

"Are you sure?"

"Hmm."

"Well then, help me wash the ingredients."

"Ok."

The two started then working together, not realizing they were looking like a newlywed couple.

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