Aether Chronicles: Birth Of A Legend-Chapter 74: Until We Meet Again

Raeger looked at Cassian with a strange look before returning the favor. ''I'm Raegar Blackwood. I'm currently training in Bloodfang Forest, you were lucky I came alone when I did.''

The older man nodded and stuck his hand in his pocket while handing over a pouch and gold plate. ''I have ten gold coins and a Veyra Pass. If you show this at any of my stores, you will receive anything at ninety-five percent off, and all our services are offered for free.''

''Services?'' he asked with a raised eyebrow.

Cassian smiled when ushering him over to the firepit the others set up as he answered. ''Yes my boy. The Veyra Company runs a dozen Bathhouses, we have stores in most cities in the empire, and we also run the trade route to the Kyoshara Continent.''

'They sail the Silk Route!' he thought with wide eyes. 'I've read about the eastern sea, it's dangerous, full of pirates and giant sea monsters.'

As he daydreamed, Cassian brought him back to reality while introducing his wife and children with a cheerful voice. ''This beautiful mountain beauty is Jade Veyra, she manages the shops across Kaydorra. The pretty girl is Mirae and my son is Maxwell''

Raegar looked at the mature woman with strawberry blonde hair, big green eyes, and reminded him of a business lady as she wore a suit. The girl was a mix of Jade and Cassian, but the boy was a chubby boy who looked at him like he was dirt.

He shook his head before replying. ''Raegar Blackwood. It's a pleasure to meet you all.''

''Why are you wearing a mask?'' the fat boy named Maxwell questioned with narrowed eyes.

''None of your business,'' he replied before walking away to find a tree to sleep in.

By the time the sun set, Raegar was eating campfire bread while watching the stars lighting up the world and finished the food. Once that was done, he got comfortable and started gathering.

Moments later, his body sank into a state of relaxation, he focused on his inner world and watched the pools slowly fill as the world Aether poured into his pores. He felt the deep exhaustion settle over him but he ignored it.

A few hours later, Raegar sensed a stirring within him as his eight pools brimmed with energy. What startled him most, however, was the largest pool, which began to surge and expand beyond its normal bounds.

Energy surged into it, rising steadily until it crested a foot above its prior mark, then stopped, leaving him both intrigued and wary of the untapped force now simmering inside. 'Maybe the academy can help with this?' he mused.

Following that, Raegar opened his eyes just as he sensed dozens of Nightwalkers circling the camp, forcing him to sigh while muttering. ''Damn creatures, always bothering me.''

He jumped off the branch and landed with a thud before he rushed through the monsters and cut them down with ease, thanks to being weak Tier Two creatures. His blades sliced through their necks.

Raegar ducked and weaved around the attacks while countering until every Nightwalker dropped dead, littering the ground with glowing green cores prompting him to go around collecting them.

While doing that, a soft voice spoke from behind him while he put the last core into his magic bag. ''Thank you for saving us and sorry for my younger brother.''

He turned around and spotted the strawberry-haired Mirae standing there fiddling with her ponytail. Raegar smiled behind the mask before replying. ''Don't worry about, some random spoiled brat isn't going to bother me.''

Mirae nodded with a smile as a curious expression appeared on her face, causing him to ask. ''I'm guessing you're interested in the mask?''

The young woman looked guilty, making him laugh as he answered. ''I was injured during a fight and my face is scarred. But enough of that, go get some rest, the journey to the southern road is a tiring one.''

She dipped her head in a quick bow before hurrying back to the camp where her family were, leaving Raegar alone in the fading light. He wasted no time pitching his tent with ease, then slipped inside.

'Time for some sleep,' he mumbled while yawning.

Settling into the familiar confines, he arranged his gear and eased back while taking off his mark to let the fresh air brush against the scar tissue, which relieved the constant itch that had become annoying after a while.

Raegar brushed it aside, choosing instead to surrender to his exhaustion as he was nestled into the comfort of his tent. Moments later, sleep claimed him while the sounds of the night beasts rang out from the surrounding forest.

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The following morning, he woke up to the people he rescued going about their business, forcing him out of the tent after putting on his mask and stepping outside while stretching his limbs only to feel several pops.

As he did that, he thought with a smile. 'That feels so much better, now let's get them to the road and head north.'

Raegar gathered everyone up and started leading them east toward the southern road where he took them to Shadowmere where they were met by the Nytherians who were shocked to see the group.

They thanked him for saving the merchants and as he went to leave, Cassian appeared with a grateful smile. ''If you're ever in Eryndor City come to my headquarters and I'd be happy to reward you even more,'' he revealed.

''Thank you,'' he replied to the older man.

Cassian nodded before concluding. ''Remember what I said about the Veyra Plate young man and we won't forget what you did for us.''

Reagar waved him away. ''Until we meet again,'' he said before vanishing back into the treeline using Flash Step.

Once away from Shadowmere he continued hunting and looting stuff while slowly heading north. He searched for the Forest Widows, but found nothing, which annoyed him after a few weeks of searching.

The winter battered Bloodfang Forest, prompting Raegar to create a cloak from several Snow Wolf pelts that kept him warm most nights, unless it got extremely cold, forcing him to use Aether to heat himself.

By the time he reached the spot his grandfather had dropped him, the weather was getting worse, and in one particular snowstorm, he got turned around, only to bump into an old foe, which earned an instant reaction.

''Oh here they come,'' he muttered with an excited smile while sending fire Aether into the blade.

The daggers came to life with blazing flames just as dozens of Forest Widows charged at him, but this time he was ready and started dodging their lunge before using their bodies to kill them.

Raegar leapt from one spider to the next, a blur of motion as he drove his magic-infused blades into their ranks. Arcane flames licked along the edges of his weapons, searing through their thick carapaces.

The monstrous creatures hissed in agony, their pained shrieks echoing through the air, but he silenced them by hurling his daggers into their grotesque faces. One by one, they crumpled to the ground, lifeless husks collapsing beneath his onslaught.

'This is easier then ever before,' he mused while flipping off a rushing spider.

Before Raegar could hand, he cast Stormfire Bullet into the monster's body just as he started killing the remaining beasts. By the time the last spider dropped dead, the forest floor was covered with corpses.

He was breathing heavily while wiping away the sweat and cleaning off his daggers that dripped with monster blood. As Raegar did that, a familiar aura slammed into his body prompting him to spin around.

That's when he spotted the ant that knocked him into the river months ago, making his smile to grow wide. 'It's time to get revenge,' he thought with glowing red eyes.

The Tier Two monster loomed before him, its mandibles gleamed with fresh blood. Yet Raegar stood undaunted, blades in his steady grip as the monstrous ant barreled toward him with earth-shaking fury.

With a roar, Raegar charged forward, meeting the creature in a clash of titans. His movements were so fast that it shocked the opponent, effortlessly parrying each vicious strike the beast unleashed.

In a single, breathtaking moment, he deflected a sweeping claw, then hurled himself skyward. With the force of a falling star, he drove his head into the creature's skull, stunning it in a resounding crack that split the air.

As he landed with a ground-shaking thud, Raegar whirled. With one masterful stroke, he severed the monster's head, its lifeless form collapsing in a heap as silence reclaimed the battlefield.

''That was easier than I expected,'' he muttered with a smirk.

Raegar flicked his blades free of blood before putting them away as he started tracking the Forest Widow back to their nest while sitting on a branch just outside the Forest Widow's nest, readying to put their grudge to rest.

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