Aetheric Chronicles: Reborn As An Extra

Satisfied with the result of his visions, Alex nodded.

He turned to the Queen.

"Then I'll leave it to you to handle the rest. You should head back to the town and let the elvins know about everything—especially not to touch the individuals left behind. Although they were hunters and hunter trainees, they were innocent people who were brainwashed. If any of them argue, just point out that Eltheris guy. They will have no choice but to shut up and listen."

The Queen gave a slow nod, her form shimmering as she prepared to leave. "And you?"

"I have some loose ends to tie up," Alex replied, his voice calm but firm.

The two exchanged a brief, knowing glance before parting ways. The Queen turned and began her journey back to the town, her multicolored eyes still glinting with resolve.

Alex moved silently through the forest, heading to where the third portal had opened. He paused a bit distance away from the spot, his sharp eyes catching sight of two figures.

'There she is, my 'friend'.'

A beautiful young woman with dragon horns and striking golden eyes knelt beside a young man with similar features. Her expression was a mixture of frustration and care as she tended to the unconscious boy.

The boy's face bore a prominent slap mark, red and unmistakable against his pale skin. Alex quirked a brow, muttering inwardly, 'She probably did it herself.'

He approached the pair cautiously, his presence drawing the woman's attention. Her golden eyes snapped to him, calm but sharp.

"Is he okay?" Alex asked, his tone neutral but polite. Enjoy more content from My Virtual Library Empire

The dragon-horned woman nodded curtly. "He'll live. He got what he deserved, though."

Alex tilted his head, silently inviting her to elaborate.

"To fall this easily to mental manipulation…" she muttered, her voice laced with irritation. "He must've been slacking off. Idiot."

Alex didn't comment, though he had to agree inwardly.

The manipulation that Sia had used on the boy was no ordinary one—it was complex and powerful. But a true dragonborn of sufficient strength should have been able to resist it.

This boy, however, clearly wasn't at that level yet.

As for the young dragonborn woman…

Alex couldn't help but assess her quietly. Given that she was the one who had opened the portal for his people, it was safe to say she was strong. Strong enough to avoid falling into the same trap as the boy.

Her golden eyes lingered on him briefly before returning to the boy. "If he doesn't shape up after this, I'll slap him again," she muttered under her breath, her tone half-serious.

Alex chuckled softly, shaking his head. "You're quite the mentor."

The woman didn't respond, her focus remaining on the unconscious boy.

Alex took a step back, his gaze drifting to the horizon. "Well, I'll leave you to it. Just make sure he's ready next time."

The woman glanced at him briefly, a flicker of something unspoken passing between them. Then, she nodded.

"Well then, let's return to the town," Alex said. "We have a lot of things to talk about and we need to start preparing for the final battle."

"...Alright."

_____ ___ _

The golden-eyed dragonborn woman stood, brushing her hands clean of the unconscious boy as though ridding herself of a bothersome chore. With a single motion, she opened a shimmering portal before them. The edges of the portal gleamed faintly, sparking with energy as she stepped aside.

Alex looked at the unconscious dragonborn boy, then at the woman. He smirked slightly. "You're quite efficient, aren't you?"

She glanced at him, unimpressed. "It's a basic skill. If you're wasting time walking everywhere, you're already falling behind."

"Noted," Alex replied with a chuckle, secretly wondering if he could open portals and control space as her one day.

They stepped through the portal, the forest vanishing behind them in an instant. On the other side, the town's entrance stood before them, flanked by massive, ancient trees that served as its natural gate. The air felt different here, alive with the hum of protective magic.

The dragonborn woman carried the unconscious boy over her shoulder like a sack of potatoes, her expression exasperated. "I couldn't open the portal directly into the town this time," she said. "It seems that woman set up a barrier the moment she returned."

"Smart of her," Alex mused. "The last thing they need is another surprise attack and dimensional cracks."

She nodded, her grip on the boy tightening as she muttered, "Still a pain."

Alex glanced at the unconscious dragonborn, who dangled limply over her shoulder. He shook his head with a hint of pity. 'Poor guy. He doesn't know how lucky he is to have her.'

Together, they passed through the invisible gate into the town, stepping between the towering trees. The tranquil atmosphere of the elvin village was a stark contrast to the chaos they had just left behind. The faint sound of rushing water and rustling leaves filled the air.

But their peace didn't last long.

A group of elvin warriors appeared out of nowhere, their sleek, enchanted weapons drawn and pointed at Alex and the dragonborn woman. Their movements were precise, their expressions cold.

At the head of the group stood an elder elvin with a long, emerald beard that nearly brushed the ground. His ornate robes were embroidered with green runes, and his sharp eyes gleamed with authority.

"Stop right there!" the elder barked, his voice commanding. He raised a hand, his long fingers pointing directly at Alex. "Catch the invaders and put them into the prison!"

The elvin warriors tensed, their weapons glinting in the sunlight.

Alex felt the dragonborn woman stiffen beside him. He glanced at her, noting the faint shimmer of magic beginning to gather around her hands. Her eyes turned cold, blazing gold like molten fire.

Alex raised a hand, stopping her before she could act. His own gaze shifted to the elvins, his expression calm but sharp. His voice carried a dangerous edge as he spoke.

"So," Alex said, his tone even but icy, "this is how you welcome your saviors, huh?"

"Saviors?"

The elvin warriors faltered under his piercing gaze, a chill running through their ranks. Even the elder hesitated for a moment, but he quickly recovered, narrowing his eyes.

"You barge into our sacred town without permission," Ethranel said sternly, his voice steady but tinged with unease. "And you expect us to stand idly by?"

"Heh, you are a fool as I remember you to be..."