Aether Chronicles: Birth Of A Legend-Chapter 117: Red Gates

Dominique continued to watch Raegar fight and was impressed. Just then, he created a dust cloud out of nowhere to fight with a stronger opponent, prompting her to think. 'I wonder who trained him to fight like this? It's amazing but wild.'

She couldn't tear her eyes away as the battle raged on. Once the dust died down, Professor Morris appeared enraged and increased the power in her next attack, summoning the full force of her Tier Seven power that sent all the students stumbling back.

The air thrummed with energy as she swept her arm forward, releasing a blinding surge of power that ripped through the arena like a tidal wave. Raegar twisted mid-run trying to dodge, his agility almost enough, but not quite.

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''No!'' she screamed.

Her eyes widened in horror as the attack caught him, hurling him backward with brutal force. He crashed into the crowd, tumbling into a tangle of startled onlookers. Gasps turned to murmurs of disgust as they recoiled, their faces twisting in revulsion.

Dominique's gut twisted, her hands clenching into fists as she stared at Raegar, sprawled unconscious amid the jeering crowd. Laughter erupted from the boys and girls surrounding him, their cruel taunts slicing through the air like daggers.

Fury surged within her, hot and sharp. Without a second thought, she bolted toward him, her voice rising in a fierce chant as she summoned a Black Northern Owl. The majestic bird materialized in a flurry of shadowy feathers, its piercing cry cutting through the mockery.

Dominique's anger erupted like a storm breaking loose, her voice a low growl that silenced the crowd. The students stumbled back, their laughter dying under the weight of her piercing glare and the sudden, oppressive aura of death radiating from her.

Her Owl, Baldur, perched at her side, its talons gripping the ground as its eyes glinted with quiet menace. ''Enough! Or I'll turn you into zombies!'' she hissed, revealing her sharp fangs, which frightened the crowd.

The students quickly fled before her. Once they were gone, she knelt beside Raegar's still form. She softened her voice, turning to the owl. ''Baldur, heal him.''

It let out a sharp, resonant hoot, its wings flaring as a faint, silvery light pulsed from its feathers, washing over the boy's battered body in a gentle glow. ''Hoot! Hoot!'' the Owl commented.

Dominique looked at her summon with narrowed green eyes. ''Ignore his Aether, let it flow into you so he can be healed quickly.''

Moments later, Professor Morris rushed over with a worried expression as she crouched down while speaking. ''I didn't mean to hit him so hard, but he was being cheeky and did something he shouldn't have.''

She looked at the older woman and nodded, answering. ''He should be fine. Baldur healed him.''

At that moment, a new figure emerged, a fox Demi-Human, her fluffy blonde ears twitching and golden eyes sharp. Dominique's breath hitched, a jolt of surprise coursing through her as she thought. 'She's from Kyoshara.'

''Valentina,'' the woman's voice rang out, laced with an exotic accent that rolled off her tongue like silk. ''What has Corinne told you about reining in your power, especially with students?''

''I know, Aiko, but something happened that caused me to lose my cool for a second, and this happened,'' the Professor replied. ''Let's take him to your office. Luckily, you're the Academy's Head Nurse, and the others said the boy passed all the tests before fighting you.''

At that moment, both women turned their gazes toward Dominique and Baldur. The owl let out a low, protective hoot, its wings half-spread as it stood sentinel over Raegar's unconscious form.

Dominique's eyes flicked to the fox nurse as the older woman spoke. ''Come with us, child. It seems you know the boy. He'll need a familiar face when he wakes. There are a few broken bones I'll need to mend, it will be painful.''

Following that, Valentina scooped up Raegar, and the three of them walked toward the school building. She dismissed Baldur back to her realm as she looked at the sleeping boy with a scarred face.

Some time passed, and the sunset prompted darkness to cover the school grounds. Despite that, she sat by his bed with Yuzuki sleeping curled up next to him while the Northern Owl watched from above.

Dominique nodded off just as a groan echoed out as he sat up.

***

(Days before the academy tests)

Raegar was sitting in front of his tent while chewing on some campfire bread after the Devil Hunters had set up camp for the night. He knew some of the knights needed rest, thanks to their fight with the fiends.

The stars above lit up the landscape around just as the grey-haired woman approached with a warm smile. ''Once we meet the Lord Inquistor, she will give you a pass. It saves you some time on fighting the Professors,'' she revealed while sitting down.

''I understand and thank you,'' he replied, finishing the bread and taking out some sake.

Raegar started downing a mouthful as Yvette commented. ''The classes will help you hone in that hate so you can kill the fiends, and if you pass the first year, you'll be allowed to enter a Red Gate.''

When he heard this, it caught his attention, prompting him to question. ''What's that?''

''A rare phenomenon that happens a few times a year,'' she revealed while taking the offered sake and drinking some. ''They are entrances to the Devil Realm where this side mines the Aether Stones and gathers rare resources.''

''I guess hunters are allowed in? What about other Aether Mages?'' he replied.

Yvette nodded with a smile. ''Only powerful ones as there are two roles we occupy in such a place. Glorified guards or famous explorers.''

Raegar let out a soft chuckle at her words, then gave a decisive nod. ''Thanks for the heads-up. I'm signing up for the Devil Hunting Classes; they've got me hooked already.''

The older woman started laughing, speaking in an amused tone. ''Good, you'll give Morris a run for her money. You have to fight her one day, she'll teach you a lot about killing those Fiends.''

Growing even more curious, he asked another question. ''Is she a powerful warrior?''

''Yes, but she retired from the frontline to teach the next generation,'' Yvette revealed. ''Have you seen the school? Such a wonderful place even if it's ranked fourth in the empire.''

He shook his head, taking a sip of the sake while answering. ''No, I avoided looking at pictures until I arrived for the tests in three days.''

''Good. Seeing Drakenwood for the first time is something else,'' she said while stretching. ''Get some rest; we'll be moving fast tomorrow. We don't want you being late for your test.''

Afterward, Raegar's gaze followed the older woman as she slipped away to her tent. He lingered, sipping his drink slowly, each swallow easing him into a mellow, relaxed state. Soon, his head began to spin, a pleasant haze settling in, urging him to move.

With a lazy grin, he crawled into his tent, ready to surrender to the night. Moments later, he drifted off to sleep, cocooned in blankets he'd wrapped tightly around himself, basking in their cozy warmth.

The next morning, he stirred awake to the clamor of the camp breaking down, the urgent rustle of packing forcing him to rise. He yawned deeply, stretching his limbs to shake off the grogginess, rousing himself for the day ahead.

He climbed out and noticed the morning sun beaming down, prompting him to put his tent away. Following that, the journey to Brightwater continued peacefully. By the time the caravan arrived at their destination, Yvette was chewing his ear off about the Bloodfang Forest.

As the caravan crested the hill, Raegar's breath caught at the breathtaking view of Brightwater City sprawling below. It looked ripped from the pages of a fantasy epic; towering stone walls encircled a vast expanse, safeguarding the heart of the city.

Beyond the ramparts, vibrant fields of newly planted crops stretched out, their green patchwork giving way to clusters of buildings a mile or two inward. His mind sparked with awe and curiosity.

'They walled off the entire place?' he thought, marveling at the sheer scale of it all.

Moments later, the group made their way to the Devil Hunter Order's base. He noticed dozens of hunters patrolling the grounds, causing the older woman to look at him with a smile.

''The fiend's attacks have increased in the Northern Lands. The Empress deployed us to keep the area safe,'' she revealed.

''Fascinating,'' he muttered with glowing red eyes. ''Hopefully, I don't have to fight them for a while. It's getting boring. I want to learn how to level up to Mist.''

Yvette smiled while the duo exited the carriage. ''Well, you're attending the perfect place with that. The Professors are experts in their fields and will be able to help with pills and advice, I'm happy that you didn't advance without the school's help.''