Aetheric Chronicles: Reborn As An Extra

Chapter 117: Learning The Phantom Step

Whoosh-!

Adrian reached out to Aurelia, desperation in his eyes, but she stepped back, her gaze filled with disdain. His heart shattered as he realized that no matter how much he wanted to explain, to make things right, he was powerless. The weight of his guilt and failure bore down on him, crushing his spirit.

Whoosh-!

Adrian found himself standing in his room, but he was in his twenties this time. He was writing something on a document. The scene shifted and he was standing against his sister, behind her stood Aurelius and three girls.

The scene changed again, he found himself fighting against them only to lose badly. Then his sister looked at him with a cold expression.

"Get out of my family home."

"..."

The scenes played over and over, each more torturous than the last, trapping Adrian in a cycle of despair and helplessness. The Dream Stalker's presence was palpable, feeding off his fears and insecurities, and amplifying his worst nightmares.

Whoosh-!

The final scene found Adrian in a desolate wasteland, his body broken and battered. He lay on the cold, hard ground, alone and powerless. The sky above was dark and stormy, mirroring the turmoil within him. As he lay there, he could feel life slipping away from him, his strength fading with each passing moment.

No one came to his aid. No one was there to hear his cries or see his suffering. He was completely alone, abandoned by everyone he had ever cared about.

Adrian's vision blurred, the edges of his consciousness fraying. As the last remnants of life ebbed away, he muttered one final word, his voice barely a whisper. "Aurelia..."

Darkness engulfed him, and the dream came to a merciless end.

Adrian awoke with a start, his body drenched in sweat and his heart pounding in his chest. He lay there for a moment, disoriented and overwhelmed by the vividness of the nightmare. Slowly, he sat up, his breath coming in shallow gasps.

He smiled bitterly, wiping the sweat from his brow. "I knew it wouldn't be easy," he muttered to himself, the weight of the night's visions pressing heavily on his mind.

"But does this also mean I have to see these nightmares for more than a month?" Just thinking about it made him wonder whether he made the right decision.

"..."

The scenes from the nightmare played in his mind again, his expression becoming solemn, his eyes filled with a mix of determination and ambition. Adrian knew he couldn't afford to let the nightmares weaken his resolve. He had a mission, a purpose, and he needed to stay focused.

"Well, this might serve as mental training for me." Smiling to himself he stood up and entered the shower.

____ __ _

Weapon Mastery Class.

"Clang!"

"Clang-!"

Sounds of swords clashed against each other through the hall. Adrian was having a mock duel against Ren.

"Are you okay?" Ren asked, stopping his movements and lowering his sword slightly. "You seem to be out of it today."

Adrian shook his head, trying to dispel the remnants of his nightmare. "Yeah, I'm fine," he replied, though his voice lacked its usual vigor. "Just didn't sleep well last night."

Ren studied Adrian's face, a frown etched on his features. "If you need to take a break, it's okay. Pushing yourself too hard won't help you get better."

Adrian forced a calm smile, appreciating Ren's concern but knowing he couldn't afford to show weakness. "No, really, I'm good. Let's keep going."

Ren nodded, though he still looked uncertain. "Alright, if you're sure. Just don't overdo it."

They resumed their mock duel, the clashing of swords echoing through the hall. Adrian focused on his movements, trying to push the nightmare from his mind. The rhythmic exchange of strikes and parries helped him find a semblance of calm, each clash grounding him in the present moment.

The time passed and the class came to an end.

The other students left the hall, leaving Adrian alone with instructor Darius.

Darius looked at Adrian studying him with a keen eye, sensing that something was amiss. He approached Adrian, his presence casting a shadow over Adrian's.

He still couldn't get the Principal's words out of his mind.

"Did something happen to you? Or have you not recovered from yesterday's battle yet?" Darius asked.

Adrian looked up, meeting Darius's gaze. He considered lying but realized it wouldn't do any good. "I had a bad sleep, that's all," he admitted.

"Hmm," Darius nodded thoughtfully. "I asked you to stay behind because I wanted to talk about your performance yesterday."

"Oh," Hearing the instructor, Adrian gathered his focus and turned on full attention mode.

Darius nodded and started speaking. "Your performance during the joint class was impressive, Adrian," Darius began, his voice measured and thoughtful. "Despite being at a disadvantage, your adaptability and determination set you apart from your peers. However, there are a few areas where you can improve."

Adrian nodded, listening intently. He respected Darius's opinion and knew that any feedback would be valuable.

"And most of all, good job on mastering the Shadow Glide," Darius said at the end of his analysis. "I really didn't expect you to learn it in such a short time. But you proved me wrong. And confirmed my thoughts about you weren't wrong."

"You are overestimating me," Adrian replied though he couldn't hide his smile.

"Good, but don't become arrogant just because of that."

Adrian nodded, taking the words to heart. "I'll keep working hard."

Darius smiled slightly, a rare expression for him. "That's right. Since you already mastered the Shadow Glide, it's time for you to start learning the Phantom Step. Today I will first see how much mastery you have over Shadow Glide and then teach you the Phantom Step."

Adrian's eyes lit up with excitement and anticipation. "I'm ready, Instructor Darius."

"Good," Darius said, stepping back to give Adrian space. "Show me your Shadow Glide first. Let's see how well you've integrated it into your movements."

Adrian nodded, taking a deep breath to steady himself. He closed his eyes for a moment, centering his mind and focusing on the technique. When he opened his eyes, there was a newfound determination in them.

He moved swiftly, his form blurring as he executed the Shadow Glide. His steps were light and precise, his body flowing seamlessly from one movement to the next. He glided across the training hall, his speed and agility creating the illusion of being in multiple places at once.

Darius watched intently, his keen eyes analyzing every aspect of Adrian's performance. After a few moments, he raised a hand, signaling Adrian to stop.

"Very good," Darius said, nodding approvingly. "You've mastered the basics and even added your own flair to it. Now, we can move on to the Phantom Step."

Adrian's heart raced with anticipation. He learned from the book how powerful and useful Phantom Step was despite its simple name. It didn't require any elemental affinity or special conditions, making it a versatile technique that could be used in a variety of situations.

"Before we start, tell me what you learned from the book I gave you." Darius gestured for Adrian to speak.

"Yes, the Phantom Step is the main movement technique of the Silent Edge: Path of Subtlety. It allows the user to move swiftly and silently, leaving behind afterimages to confuse their opponents. By mastering this technique, one can achieve unparalleled speed and agility, making it difficult for enemies to predict their movements or land a solid hit.

The key to executing the Phantom Step lies in controlling one's aether flow and maintaining a state of perfect balance and concentration."

Darius nodded in approval. "Very good, Adrian. Now, let's begin."

Adrian watched as Instructor Darius slowly moved through the basic motions of the Phantom Step, his movements fluid and precise. He absorbed every detail, committing it to memory as he prepared to emulate the technique himself.

As Darius finished the demonstration, Adrian stepped forward, ready to put what he had learned into practice. He focused his mind, channeling his aether and visualizing the subtle shifts in balance and energy required to execute the Phantom Step.

With a deep breath, Adrian began to move, his body becoming a blur of motion as he mimicked the steps Darius had shown him. He concentrated on maintaining perfect control, each movement calculated and deliberate.

At first, Adrian's attempts were clumsy, his steps hesitant and uncoordinated. Despite the failure, he tried again, again and again.

He stumbled, fell, and struggled to find the rhythm, but determination shone in his eyes each time he got back up. The initial failures did not deter him; instead, they fueled his resolve. As he continued to practice, his movements became a bit smoother, the transitions less jarring.

With every attempt, Adrian made slight improvements. He began to feel the subtle flow of his aether guiding his steps, his body gradually adapting to the technique's demands. Though he hadn't yet fully learned the Phantom Step, he was undeniably progressing.

Unbeknownst to Adrian, as he focused intently on his training, his worries and troubles from the previous night began to fade. The vivid nightmares and the weight of his fears melted away, replaced by the singular goal of perfecting the technique. Instructor Darius watched him closely, noting the change in Adrian's demeanor.

After two hours of rigorous training, Darius raised his hand, signaling for Adrian to stop. "That's enough for today," he said, his voice firm but kind. "You've made quite the progress, Adrian. However, you have to remember that learning the Phantom Step won't come overnight. It requires patience, persistence, and practice."