Aetheric Chronicles: Reborn As An Extra

Just as the enraged mercenary's booted foot began its descent, something unexpected happened. Another leg intercepted his kick with a swift, powerful movement. The force of the impact sent the man's leg rebounding back, causing him to stumble awkwardly, his balance momentarily lost.

For a split second, there was silence. The entire tavern seemed to hold its breath as the man's furious gaze snapped to the source of the interference.

Adrian stood there, calm and composed, his leg still extended from the block. He slowly lowered it, his expression unreadable as he met the man's enraged glare with a cool, unwavering gaze. The room, once filled with the dull roar of mercenary chatter, was now eerily quiet, all eyes fixed on the confrontation unfolding before them.

The man's face twisted in anger and disbelief, his ego bruised by the audacity of someone daring to interrupt him. "What the hell do you think you're doing?" he snarled, his voice dripping with menace.

Adrian, unperturbed, straightened his posture, his hands casually slipping into his pockets. "Stopping you from making a mistake," he replied evenly, his tone calm but carrying an unmistakable edge of authority. "This has gone far enough."

"You!" the man roared, his pride wounded even more deeply by Adrian's calm defiance. His fists clenched, muscles tensing as he prepared to charge at Adrian, clearly intent on teaching him a lesson for daring to interfere.

But before the man could take a step, Adrian's hand moved with lightning speed, flicking something small and shiny toward him. The object glinted in the dim tavern light as it flew through the air, striking the man squarely on the forehead with a sharp, metallic clink.

The impact was enough to stop the man's advance, causing him to stagger backward, momentarily stunned. As the object fell to the floor, it landed with a soft, but distinct clatter, drawing the attention of everyone nearby. The mercenary glanced down, his eyes narrowing in confusion as he recognized the item—a single, gleaming Aether Gold Coin.

The coin spun on the wooden floor before settling with a final metallic ring, its rich, golden hue catching the light.

Adrian, still calm, met the man's gaze with an icy coolness. "That should be enough for everything," he said, his voice carrying an undeniable authority that made it clear he was not to be trifled with. "Now, if you'll excuse us."

The room seemed to grow even quieter, the weight of the gesture not lost on those who understood the value of such a coin. It was worth far more than any insult, any spilled drink, or any ruined dress. It was a 1K Aether Gold Coin after all.

The man's eyes flicked from the coin to Adrian, his anger now mingled with a hint of wariness. He hesitated, clearly torn between his bruised ego and the pragmatic reality of the situation. The woman beside him, sensing the shift in power, tightened her grip on his arm, her earlier confidence wavering.

The woman's eyes darted between Adrian and the mercenary, her gaze lingering on Adrian as she quickly assessed his clothing and appearance.

Her mind worked rapidly, calculating the situation as she took in the high-quality fabric of his attire, the way he carried himself with an air of authority that belied his young age, and, of course, the Aether Gold Coin he had so casually tossed aside.

Her expression shifted in an instant, from one of seductive charm to feigned shock and concern. She suddenly released the mercenary's arm and took a step back, her voice rising in an exaggerated tone of distress.

"How could you do this to a young boy?" she exclaimed, her eyes wide with feigned horror. Without waiting for a response, she turned and rushed toward Adrian, her movements quick and calculated as she reached out to cling to his arm.

The mercenary's eyes widened in disbelief as he watched the woman he had just been embracing switch sides so suddenly. His expression twisted into one of betrayal, his jaw tightening as anger boiled beneath the surface.

"What the hell are you doing?" he growled, his voice low and dangerous.

But the woman ignored him, her attention fully on Adrian now. She attempted to press herself against him, her arms moving to wrap around his in a sickeningly sweet gesture.

"You're so brave, stepping in to save that poor boy," she purred, her voice dripping with false sincerity. "I was so scared. Please, let me thank you properly—"

Before she could finish her sentence, Adrian's hand shot out, gripping her wrist firmly and pulling it away from his arm. His gaze was cold, his eyes narrowing as he stared down at her with disdain.

"Get lost, you bitch," he said, his voice low and cutting, leaving no room for misinterpretation.

The woman froze, her eyes widening in shock as the color drained from her face. She stared at Adrian, unable to comprehend the sudden and harsh rejection. The entire tavern had gone deathly silent once more, every eye fixed on the scene unfolding before them.

Adrian released her wrist, and she staggered back a step, her confidence shattered. The smirk that had once played on her lips was gone, replaced by a look of stunned humiliation.

She glanced around, as if hoping someone might come to her aid, but the onlookers merely watched with a mix of curiosity and amusement.

The mercenary, however, was far from amused. His face contorted in rage as he took a threatening step toward Adrian, his fists clenched tightly at his sides. "You think you can just waltz in here and disrespect me like that?" he snarled, his voice trembling with fury. "You're going to pay for this, kid."

But Adrian remained unfazed, his cold, calculating gaze fixed on the man. "I already paid," he said calmly, his eyes flicking to the Aether Gold Coin that still lay on the floor between them. "More than enough, in fact. But if you're still eager to settle this, we can take it outside."

There was a challenge in Adrian's words, one that hung in the air like a gauntlet thrown down at the man's feet. The mercenary hesitated, the threat in Adrian's eyes giving him pause.

"..." Experience tales at m v|l e'm,p| y- r