Aetheric Chronicles: Reborn As An Extra

As the three of them made their way toward the academy, Adrian's suspicions were confirmed. The street leading up to the academy's entrance was teeming with movement—an army of weremonkeys. Their hulking, twisted forms patrolled the area, their glowing eyes darting through the shadows, and their sharp claws scraping the ground as they prowled.

Aurelia's breath caught in her throat as she caught sight of them, but she kept silent, trusting Adrian and Aria to know what to do. Aria stood at Adrian's side, watching the creatures with a calm, calculating gaze. She had seen these monsters before, their presence confirming the severity of the situation.

Adrian, however, remained unfazed.

He had anticipated this—he knew the academy would be sealed off, both to prevent anyone from entering and to keep the students and personnel safe. The building was on full lockdown, meaning there was no ordinary way in or out.

But Adrian had never intended to take the ordinary way in.

He turned to Aria, his expression serious but calm. "It seems we can only use that choice," he said, his voice low, referring to the plan they had thought of earlier.

Aria met his gaze and nodded, a knowing glint in her eyes. She understood what he was referring to. Without a word, she gestured for them to follow her, leading them away from the academy and back through the winding streets.

For a few moments, the three of them moved in silence, slipping through the back alleys to avoid detection by the patrolling weremonkeys. After about ten minutes, they arrived in front of a modest, yet well-kept house—neither too luxurious nor too plain, but somewhere in between.

"Wait a moment," Aria said quietly, pulling out a small, ornate key from her storage ring. She inserted the key into the lock, turning it with a soft click before pushing the door open.

"Welcome to my house," she said with a faint smile, stepping inside and holding the door open for Adrian and Aurelia to enter.

Aurelia blinked in surprise as she followed them in. "Your house?" she asked, glancing around the cozy space. It wasn't exactly what she had expected, but it had a warm, welcoming feel to it.

"That's right," Aria confirmed as she closed the door behind them. "My grandpa gave it to me a few years ago. It's a safe place... and it has a few hidden features."

Adrian was already familiar with this place from the novel.

It had been described as Aria's secret sanctuary—a house gifted to her by her grandfather, equipped with magical defenses and a hidden teleportation spell in one of the rooms. In the novel, the main cast had used this teleportation spell to enter the academy a few times when the usual routes were blocked. Now, it seemed they would be doing the same.

Of course, Adrian couldn't reveal that he already knew all of this. He had to play his part carefully, so before they arrived, he had suggested a more dangerous plan—something that would have involved trying to sneak past the weremonkeys, knowing Aria would come up with a safer solution instead. Your next journey awaits at empire

Aria led them deeper into the house, through a narrow hallway and into a small room at the back. The room itself was unassuming, with only a simple table and a few chairs, but the faint shimmer of magic in the air hinted at something more.

"There it is," Aria said, stepping up to the center of the room. She raised her hand and murmured a few words under her breath, and suddenly, a soft glow appeared beneath their feet—a circle of intricate runes lighting up the floor.

Adrian recognized the spell immediately. It was a secret teleportation array, connected directly to the academy. In the novel, it had been described as one of the few ways to bypass the academy's defenses during an emergency. Though the place where they would be teleported to would be a bit odd,

"Are you ready?" Aria asked, looking between Adrian and Aurelia.

Adrian nodded, and Aurelia, though still shaken from everything she had learned, took a deep breath and nodded as well.

"Let's go," Adrian said, his voice steady.

With a final glance at the glowing runes, Aria activated the spell, and in an instant, the room around them dissolved into a swirl of light.

______ ___ _

The moment the swirling light enveloped them, Adrian felt the familiar tug of teleportation magic pulling them through space. A moment later, the sensation faded, and they reappeared in a well-lit room filled with the scent of cool fragnance and parchment. The light around them dimmed, revealing their surroundings.

Aurelia blinked, disoriented by the sudden shift.

She glanced around the room, her eyes landing on the large desk, shelves filled with books and documents, and the tall windows that offered a view of the academy's grounds. The room had a regal, authoritative atmosphere, with polished floors and banners of the academy's crest hanging from the walls.

"Is this… the principal's office?" Aurelia asked, still taking in the surroundings.

Aria nodded, her expression calm as she moved away from the glowing teleportation circle, which was now fading into the floor. "Yes, it is. My grandpa specifically connected the teleportation array to this room. After all, only I can access it—aside from him," she explained, her tone matter-of-fact.

Adrian, unsurprised, scanned the office. In the novel, this had been one of the safest places in the academy—securely guarded by powerful enchantments. The fact that Aria's teleportation spell led them here made sense. It was the perfect spot to regroup and strategize without worrying about any immediate threats.

"So, we're safe here?" Aurelia asked, her voice still carrying a slight tremor.

"Completely," Aria confirmed. "No one can get in or out of this room unless they know the specific condition. And even then, the office is warded with layers of defensive magic. It's the most secure place in the academy, aside from the inner vault."

"Ooh, amazing..." Aurelia muttered in awe.

"Then, let's leave the room and find the help we need," Adrian said while thinking about how to take down the monkey he had forgotten about.