Aetheric Chronicles: Reborn As An Extra

Chapter 78: A Dream...?

Hmm... Adrian's surroundings were unfamiliar, and he couldn't shake the feeling of confusion. The heavy mist obscured his vision, making it difficult to make sense of where he was. He found himself standing on a narrow stone bridge that stretched out into the fog, disappearing into the unknown.

"Is anyone there?" Adrian called out, his voice echoing into the mist. The only response was the sound of his own footsteps reverberating off the ancient stones.

As he cautiously moved forward, the mist seemed to part, revealing glimpses of towering ruins and crumbling structures in the distance. They stood like silent sentinels, casting an air of solemnity over the desolate landscape.

Despite a growing sense of unease gnawing at him, Adrian's curiosity propelled him onward. Each step felt heavier than the last, as if the very ground beneath him resisted his advance.

In a hushed whisper carried by the wind, a voice reached Adrian's ears, barely audible over his own breath.

"Adrian..."

His heart raced, and he froze in his tracks. The voice sounded familiar yet distant, like an echo from a forgotten dream.

"Who's there?" Adrian's voice trembled slightly as he called out.

Silence enveloped the ruins, with no response except for the eerie quietness.

Determined to uncover the source of the voice, Adrian pushed forward. The whispers grew louder, swirling around him like a haunting melody. Fleeting images flashed before his eyes—faces, places—elusive and just out of reach.

"Where am I?" Adrian gritted his teeth in frustration. "I was in my room just a moment ago... or was I?"

"Perhaps this is all a dream," he reasoned with himself.

As Adrian contemplated the nature of his surroundings, a blurry figure emerged from the mist ahead. It shifted and morphed like a mirage, unlike anything he had ever seen before.

Drawing closer, a strange sense of familiarity washed over him. It resembled a majestic beast rather than a human, with gleaming eyes and an aura that commanded the very essence of the ruins.

"Who... or what are you?" Adrian's voice barely rose above a whisper.

The figure remained silent, its gaze fixed on him with a mixture of curiosity and intensity. And then, in response to his question, it spoke.

"Adrian..."

The voice was clearer this time, resonating through the air.

But in the next moment, Adrian heard a word that left him stunned.

"You are not... Adrian..."

Confusion clouded his mind. "Huh?"

"...Alex."

"Huh?"

"...Leave."

Before Adrian could process the words, his vision turned white, and he felt as though he was being pulled away from the mysterious figure and the mist-shrouded ruins. Consciousness slipped away from him.

____ __ _

"Huff-!... Huff-!..."

Adrian's eyes shot open, his breath labored as cold sweat trickled down his forehead. His heart pounded in his chest as he struggled to catch his breath, his mind still muddled by the vivid dream he had just experienced.

"Huff... What... What was that?" Adrian muttered to himself, his voice trembling with a mixture of confusion and fear. He glanced around the dimly lit room, trying to ground himself in reality.

As he looked around, the memories of the dream began to fade like wisps of smoke, leaving only a vague sense of unease lingering in his mind. But despite his efforts, he couldn't shake the feeling that he had forgotten something important, something that had been at the center of the dream.

"Huff... It must have been just a bad dream," Adrian reassured himself, running a hand through his disheveled hair. "But why... why do I feel like I've lost something?"

He shook his head, trying to push aside the lingering sense of unease. Perhaps it was just the stress of the past few days catching up with him, or maybe he had been working too hard on his Awakener training.

"I'll take a shower... that should help clear my mind," Adrian decided.

Stepping into the shower, warm water cascaded over him. As he stood under the warm water, he let the soothing sensation wash over him, easing the tension in his muscles and calming his racing thoughts.

Maybe it really worked, he soon forgot all the things he had gone through just a while ago.

Adrian gazed at his reflection in the mirror, the warm steam from the shower enveloping him in a comforting embrace. His brown hair was damp and tousled, clinging slightly to his forehead and cheeks. His ordinary yet alluring brown eyes stared back at him, reflecting a mix of emotions - confusion, determination, and a hint of something else he couldn't quite place.

But what caught his attention the most was his physique. His body, once lean, had now transformed into a well-built form with defined muscles and six-pack abs. The weeks of rigorous training had sculpted him into a more confident and formidable individual.

"Whoa..." Adrian muttered, running a hand over his chest and abs. "I really look different now."

"Guess I've truly become another person..." He muttered to himself as he stopped the water and picked up the towel.

Drying himself off, Adrian couldn't help but marvel at the changes in his appearance. It was as if the training and experiences of the past few weeks had not only strengthened his body but also transformed his mindset.

As he finished getting dressed, he glanced at the silver egg resting on his bedside table.

"Hmm? Was it always this big?" He muttered to himself in confusion as he noticed the changes in the egg. "And it has become a bit heavier too..."

Adrian picked up the egg, turning it over in his hands as he examined it closely. It felt warm to the touch, emanating a faint, comforting glow that seemed to pulse in time with his heartbeat.

"Did something happen to you as well?" Adrian whispered to the egg, a sense of curiosity tugging at his thoughts. "Or is it just me?"

The egg remained silent, its surface smooth and unyielding. But Adrian couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to it than met the eye.

"Whatever, as long as you are fine and born healthy..."

He muttered as he put it back on his bed.

"Wait... Why do I feel like I said the same words before?"

"Ugh... Damn, that bad dream! Because of it, my thoughts are becoming weirder." He grumbled while moving toward the door.

"Hmmm..." He took a deep breath and opened the door.

'I am ready for today....'