Aetheric Chronicles: Reborn As An Extra

The voice came again, this time colder, sharper, dripping with authority. It reverberated off the cliffs, making it sound like the entire pass had been filled with the voice of a furious titan.

"If anyone dares to attack, I will naturally send them to their death."

The bandits exchanged worried glances.

Their leader clenched his fists, his mind racing. Whoever was in that carriage was no ordinary person, no easy target.

He even felt like the person was speaking to them, to him.

The air became thick with tension, and the leader was just about to signal a retreat when the voice thundered again.

"Now get lost, and don't disturb my rest again."

The wind stilled as suddenly as it had started, leaving a deafening silence in its wake.

"!"

Leader's eyes widened ever so slightly, his heart pounding as if the voice had spoken directly to him. There was no mistaking the authority in those words.

'He k-knows...'

The person in that carriage knew they were there. He had sensed them, or worse, seen them. And if that was the case, they weren't dealing with a normal mage or warrior — they were facing something far more dangerous.

Fear gripped him like an iron vice.

The thought that the voice's owner was showing them mercy, simply because he was resting, sent shivers down his spine. He swallowed hard, his palms suddenly clammy as he clenched his fists tighter. 'We were lucky... No, I was lucky...'

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He quickly shook his head, trying to steady his racing thoughts. The weight of the situation was clear. This wasn't a bluff. The wind or aura alone was enough proof of the power this Stellar Magus wielded. Even if they had numbers, they wouldn't stand a chance against a foe like that.

"Retreat," he hissed, his voice low and urgent as he turned to his men. The bloodlust in the air had vanished, replaced by confusion and fear as they exchanged anxious glances. "I said RETREAT! Now!"

"But Boss—" one of the bandits began, disbelief evident in his tone.

"Did you not hear what I just said?" the leader snarled, his voice sharp with panic. "We're not dealing with a regular caravan! The person in that carriage is a Stellar Magus. If we attack, we're as good as dead."

The bandit's face drained of color as the weight of the situation sunk in. The others, still crouched in the shadows, looked equally pale and shaken. They had been eager for a fight, but now... Now, the only thing on their minds was survival.

"Spread the word," the leader commanded, his voice still low but forceful. "Tell the Twin Gang waiting up ahead to stand down as well. No one touches this caravan. Not a single one of us."

His men scrambled to obey, dashing through the shadows with newfound urgency. The Twin Gang, a notorious group of mercenaries who were positioned further up the pass, were waiting for their signal to launch a coordinated attack. But they needed to know that the plan had changed — drastically. No one was to make a move, not with that monster resting in the carriage.

The leader took a deep breath, trying to regain some composure. His heart was still pounding, but he knew they had to act quickly. The Stellar Magus had given them mercy, but it wouldn't last if they provoked him further.

Glancing once more at the caravan below, the leader turned and made his way back into the depths of the cliffs, his men following silently behind him. The wind had died down, the eerie stillness of the pass settling in once more, but the leader could still feel the lingering weight of that voice, a reminder of how close they had come to death.

He wouldn't forget this moment. Not for a long time. And as far as he was concerned, they wouldn't be returning to Deadwood Pass any time soon.

Not with that kind of power resting in the shadows.

______ ___ _

The silence after the bandits' retreat was almost as thick as the tension that had filled the air moments before. The wind that had raged earlier now seemed to rest as if the entire world was waiting for the next move.

Inside the carriage, Adrian leaned back against the cushioned seat, a small smile playing on his lips. His eyes sparkled with satisfaction as Ardel, seated beside him, leaned over and whispered, "They're retreating. They're really running away."

Adrian chuckled, the sound low and amused. "Of course they are. Why waste strength when you have a brain?" he murmured, almost to himself. His voice, so recently sharp and threatening, was now calm, almost playful. It was as if the furious titan who had shaken the cliffs was an entirely different person.

Across from them, the merchant and his assistant exchanged wary glances. They had heard the voice too—felt the power in it. But the fact that it was a trick, that this boy before them had orchestrated the entire thing, left them both astonished and suspicious.

The merchant, his brows furrowed, spoke up first. "That was... impressive, I'll admit. But this won't work every time." His voice held a tinge of doubt, his hands fiddling nervously with the edge of his cloak. "The bandits further ahead are stronger, more experienced. They won't fall for the same tricks.

If they're waiting for us up there, we're still in danger. How can you protect us then?"

Adrian's smile widened, his eyes glinting with confidence. "Oh, I know," he said, his tone so casual it sent a chill down their spines. "But don't worry. I've prepared another show for them. Just sit back and watch."

The merchant's assistant, still on edge, couldn't help but voice her concerns. "Prepared another... show? What do you mean by that?"

Adrian's gaze shifted to her, and for a moment, he seemed far older than his years. There was a mischievous glint in his eyes, one that suggested he was always several steps ahead of everyone else. "You'll see soon enough. I don't leave things to chance. The bandits up ahead may be stronger, but they're not the only ones capable of trickery."

He leaned back again, closing his eyes as if ready for a nap, utterly unconcerned about the dangers that still lay ahead. "Relax. The harder they try, the more fun it is when they realize they never stood a chance."

Ardel, watching him in silence, couldn't help but grin.

This was classic Adrian—always with a plan, always a step ahead of his enemies. His friend's confidence was contagious, and though there was still a risk ahead, Ardel knew better than to doubt him.

The merchant and his assistant, however, were less convinced. They exchanged another worried look, the doubt lingering in their eyes. They might've just escaped one death, but the uncertainty of what lay ahead gnawed at them.

Adrian could feel their unease, but he didn't care. He knew exactly what he was doing.

'They don't believe we have a Stellar Magus among us?' He chuckled inwardly. 'Then, we'll have to make them believe it.'

With the bandits' unexpected help(warning the other gangs), they safely passed the middle of the Deadwood Pass. They even made a stop to 'serve' the 'Stellar Magus' a meal. But, the magus didn't eat that kind of meal so they decided to hurry on their way.

This little show also increased the misunderstanding among the bandits and rogues.

However, everything changed once they were in the middle of mid and end of the Pass.

A brave and intelligent gang finally appeared on their way.