Aetheric Chronicles: Reborn As An Extra

"Finally, we are out of this place. Thank you, thank you so much!" The merchant expressed his gratitude again and again after they were escorted out of the Deadwood Pass without any more trouble.

Although Adrian and his team left the caravan for about an hour, the merchant thought they took care of the bandits, so, his gratitude only got higher. Of course, Adrian didn't explain anything and let him misunderstand as he wanted.

And, as he expected, there was a necromancer Lich was hiding in the haunted ruins and it was raising an army of skeletons and vengeful spirits.

Thankfully, they had the Forbidden Light's power with them, or else, they could only run for their lives since none of them had an affinity with the light element.

Anyway, they managed to complete both of the missions at the end.

Just as they bid farewell to the merchant and the caravan, each of their bracelets let out a sound.

'So, they did it, huh.' Adrian thought as he tapped his communication bracelet and saw a message from the academy.

The message requested them all to quickly abandon or finish their missions and return to the academy urgently.

The others looked up and exchanged glances.

"What should we do? Although we finished the missions, we need to re-pass the Deadwood Pass if we want to return quickly to the academy." Kairen asked with a frown.

"Right, and I don't think it will be easy," Ardel added. "The previous tricks won't work again since we have no caravan or carriage."

All eyes shifted to Adrian, the unspoken question hanging in the air.

Adrian chuckled, shaking his head slightly as a grin tugged at the corner of his lips. "Leave it to me," he said, his voice calm but carrying an air of confidence. "I thought we might run into this problem, so I came prepared."

Lila raised an eyebrow, skepticism and curiosity mixing in her gaze. "Prepared how? You've got some hidden backup, or what?"

Instead of responding, Adrian took a few steps away from the group and let out a sharp, piercing whistle. The sound echoed across the pass, cutting through the lingering tension like a blade. The others tensed, their eyes scanning the sky and surrounding cliffs, unsure of what to expect.

Suddenly, a fast-falling sound filled the air, growing louder with each second. The group's hands instinctively went to their weapons, their muscles coiling, ready for a fight. Ardel muttered something under his breath, gripping the hilt of his sword tightly. The only one who didn't react was Aria, it's as if she knew what was coming.

"Relax," Adrian said with a smirk, noticing their alarm. "It's just our ride."

"Ride?" Ardel repeated, still confused, but he lowered his sword slightly.

Within moments, a large shadow fell over them as something descended at incredible speed. A large winged beast, sleek and fierce, plummeted toward them, landing with a powerful thud that sent dust swirling around their feet.

The creature had a body resembling a leopard, agile and muscular, but its skin was rough and scaly like a lizard's. Its wings, broad and leathery, stretched out with a slight ripple, giving off an air of majesty. Its head was crowned with small, sharp horns, and its long tail ended in a spike that twitched with restless energy.

The beast's eyes gleamed with intelligence, scanning the group briefly before landing on Adrian.

"By the Ancients," Ardel muttered, his eyes wide as he took in the creature's imposing form. "What is that thing?" He had never seen this rare type of magic creature.

Before anyone could respond, the armored figure atop the beast moved. With practiced ease, he swung his leg over the saddle and dismounted. The man wore polished, battle-worn armor, and his movements were fluid and confident. His presence radiated authority and experience, his eyes scanning the group before settling on Adrian.

"Sir Dorian," Adrian greeted, his smile widening. "Right on time."

Sir Dorian nodded, his expression composed but a hint of recognition twinkling in his eyes. "As you requested, Mr.Adrian," he replied, his deep voice carrying a tone of respect.

The others watched, still processing what was happening. Lila looked at Adrian, utterly baffled. "You… you've had this plan the whole time?"

Adrian shrugged casually. "I figured we might need a quick exit."

Sir Dorian patted the side of the beast, which growled softly in acknowledgment. "Bane is more than capable of carrying all of you," he said, referring to the creature. "We should make it back to the academy in no time."

"Bane?" Ardel muttered, staring at the beast with a mix of awe and fear. "What 'is' Bane?"

"A Winged Rylath," Adrian explained, placing a hand on Bane's side. "Fast, strong, and reliable."

Aria also added a brief description using her knowledge. Rylaths were rare magic beasts, known for their fierce nature and ability to traverse vast distances at great speed. However, their numbers were low, so it was hard to meet them, not to mention tame one.

Then she looked at Adrian, remembering how he secured this beast and gave it to Dorian to train and keep it.

"Well, that's convenient," Lila muttered, the tension finally leaving her body as she allowed himself to relax. "Remind me to never underestimate your 'preparations' again."

Sir Dorian gestured for the group to mount Bane, and the large creature lowered itself to the ground, making it easier for them to climb on.

"Let's move quickly," Adrian said, helping Aria up first. "The academy's message sounded urgent."

One by one, they mounted Bane, finding spots to sit on the beast's broad back. Adrian was the last to climb aboard, settling near the front behind Sir Dorian. While Aria sat behind him, Lila, Kairen, and finally Ardel were on the furthest back.

"Hang on tight," Dorian called out, a grin on his face. "It's going to be a fast ride."

With a powerful beat of its wings, Bane leaped into the sky, the ground rapidly falling away beneath them. The wind whipped past as they ascended, the Deadwood Pass shrinking in the distance. For the first time in hours, the tension lifted, and despite the urgency of their mission, Adrian felt a sense of freedom. He really liked this feeling, flying in the skies, enjoying the scenery.

But they didn't have enough time to appreciate the skies or nature right now. Because, the final event for the semester was about to start, or has already started.