Aetheric Chronicles: Reborn As An Extra

After completing his morning jog and exercises, Adrian returned to his room to change into the clothes he had specifically prepared for the day.

In an hour, those who passed yesterday's exam would gather in the large courtyard of the academy. Then, they would start their journey to their first real Ruin Exploration.

From what he knew, it would take two hours to arrive at the designated Ruin for the exploration.

As he opened the door, coincidentally, the opposite door also opened, revealing the beautiful figure of his neighbor.

As the doors opened simultaneously, Adrian found himself face to face with Aria, his neighbor and classmate. His eyes widened slightly as he took in her appearance, noticing the subtle yet striking changes in her outfit.

Aria's attire was a blend of practicality and elegance, perfectly suited for both combat and formal occasions. She wore a long-sleeved shirt made of a soft, silver fabric that shimmered in the morning light, complementing her silver hair. The shirt was adorned with intricate purple embroidery along the cuffs and collar, matching the color of her eyes.

Over it, she wore a sleeveless, dark purple vest adorned with delicate silver clasps, adding a touch of sophistication to her ensemble.

Her trousers were made of sturdy material, providing freedom of movement while still maintaining a tailored look. They were a deep shade of indigo, contrasting beautifully with the lighter hues of her shirt and vest.

Adrian couldn't help but admire how the outfit accentuated Aria's slender figure and highlighted her natural beauty. Subconsciously, he found himself muttering, "You look beautiful..."

Realizing what he had said, Adrian's cheeks flushed with embarrassment, and he quickly cleared his throat, turning his head away, hoping Aria hadn't heard him.

That's why he didn't notice Aria's expression softening into a gentle smile, her purple eyes sparkling with different kinds of emotion, her face flushed red for a moment. But she quickly hid it.

Before he could apologize or backtrack, he heard her words, which stunned him for a moment.

"Thank you," she said, trying to sound calm, but it still sounded somewhat soft and sincere. "You... you don't look bad either."

"!"

"Ah, sorry. Thank you too." Adrian put his hand on the back of his neck as he chuckled nervously, feeling a mix of surprise and awkwardness at Aria's unexpected compliment. He really didn't expect her to say that.

"S-Shall we go together then?" He could only suggest going to the gathering area to ease the awkwardness of the moment.

"Ok." Aria nodded.

Then, side by side, they started leaving the dorm.

'Damn, what was that?' Adrian muttered in his mind while glancing at Aria from the corner of his eyes. 'D-Did she really mean it?'

'...'

'Argh! What am I even thinking about, she probably said as a respectful individual.'

'Sigh... I have been acting strangely since this morning...'

'But... It feels like I am walking with my girlfriend...'

'!' He then quickly shook his head, trying to clear his thoughts.

Thankfully, they quickly arrived at their destination. As they arrived, they were called by Adrian's team members.

As Adrian and Aria joined their team members, they found themselves surrounded by the familiar faces of Lila, Ardel, and Kairen. Each of them looked ready for the upcoming exploration, their expressions a mix of excitement and anticipation.

As they waited for the instructors to arrive, the group exchanged some small talk and made final preparations for the exploration.

After about half an hour of waiting, the instructors finally arrived, drawing everyone's attention to the front of the courtyard. Professor Maunt stepped forward, his presence commanding the attention of the gathered students.

"Good morning, everyone," he greeted, his voice projecting clearly across the courtyard. "I hope you're all ready for today's adventure."

The students murmured in agreement, their excitement palpable in the air.

"Today, you will embark on your first real Ruin exploration," Professor Maunt continued, his expression serious. "But before we depart, I have a few announcements."

The students listened intently as Professor Maunt outlined the rules and guidelines for the exploration, emphasizing the importance of teamwork, safety, and adherence to instructions.

"Now, without further ado, let's prepare to depart," Professor Maunt said, gesturing for the students to clear a space in the center of the courtyard.

As the students moved aside, Professor Maunt and the other instructors unveiled a large magical transportation tool—a flying ship adorned with intricate runes and glowing crystals.

Gasps of awe filled the courtyard as the students marveled at the sight of the impressive vessel.

"We will be traveling to the Ruin using this flying ship," Professor Maunt announced, his voice carrying over the excited chatter. "Please board in an orderly fashion, and we will depart shortly."

Adrian and his teammates followed the crowd as they made their way onto the ship, finding seats among the rows of benches that lined the deck.

As the last of the students boarded, the instructors began to prepare the ship for departure, checking the various instruments and casting protective spells to ensure a safe journey.

"Attention, students," Professor Maunt's voice echoed across the deck as he stood at the ship's helm. "We are about to depart. Please remain seated and hold on tight."

With a low hum of magic, the ship began to rise into the air, its sleek form gliding effortlessly above the courtyard. Adrian felt a rush of excitement as they soared higher and higher, leaving the academy grounds behind.

The wind whipped through Adrian's hair as the ship picked up speed, carrying them toward their destination. He couldn't help but feel a sense of exhilaration as they embarked on their first real Ruin exploration.

As they flew, Professor Maunt addressed the students once more, providing them with some last-minute instructions and reminders about safety protocols.

"Now, I know you are bored listening to all these rules and advice." Professor chuckled to himself before continuing. "Now, I will tell you about the Ruin you are going to explore soon."

In an instant, all the present students turned toward him, their faces filled with anticipation.

"Haha, I knew it." Professor chuckled to himself before continuing. "You will be exploring a Bronze Tier Ruin called The Thunderclap Ruin."

"The Thunderclap Ruin earned its name due to its unique and dangerous characteristics," Professor Maunt explained, his voice projecting over the excited murmurs of the students. A hologram showed the images of the ruin. "It's not your typical ruin—it's more like a labyrinth of ancient forest filled with treacherous traps and formidable monsters."

The students listened intently as the professor continued, showing the images of the Ruin's structure and terrain. "As you can see, The Thunderclap Ruin is a deep and vast dense forest, its crumbling structures concealed by the overgrowth of vines and foliage. The terrain is rugged and uneven, with winding paths that twist and turn unpredictably.

Inside the Ruin, you may even find a mixture of crumbling temples and tree houses, all waiting to be explored."

"What about the monsters, sir? What kind will we meet them?" One of the students asked.

"Good question, I was just about to get to that part." Professor nodded. "There are several kinds of monsters you will meet inside the

Ruin, but most of them are lightning-related or have adapted to the Ruin's electrified environment."

Professor Maunt brought up images of various creatures on the holographic display. "You'll encounter creatures like Thunderclap Hypers, agile and formidable beings that can manipulate lightning to devastating effect. They're known for their speed and agility, making them challenging opponents."

He continued, "There are also Thunderbeasts, massive creatures with thick hides that can absorb and discharge lightning. They're incredibly strong but slow-moving, so keep your distance and use hit-and-run tactics to defeat them."

The hologram shifted to show other creatures. "Additionally, you may encounter Thunderflies, small but numerous insects that can create electrified swarms. While individually weak, they can overwhelm you with sheer numbers if you're not careful."

"There are also other monsters in the ruin, but I won't talk about them since they won't pose a threat at the same level as the previous monsters."

"And finally, the way to conquer the Ruin - which is to find and retrieve the Artifact has produced over time after defeating the Ruin's Guardian."

"I won't talk about the Ruin's Guardian or the artifact since they may change every time the Ruin is cleared. But, you can be reassured the Guardian's strength won't cross the Ruin's limit, though it may happen, but only in little cases. And even then, the Ruin will upgrade itself according to the Guardian's power."

The students absorbed the whole information so they wouldn't struggle after entering the Ruin. Moreover, they also got to learn many new things just from this info.

The professor's reassurance about the Guardian also made them relax and be positive about today's exploration.

Not to mention there were 90 of them. That's why they began discussing their strategy for the exploration. After all, Ruin was also a place of opportunity. And opportunities were not something they wanted to miss out on.