Aether Chronicles: Birth Of A Legend
Chapter 219 - 219: Placed A Bounty On You

Raegar stumbled back when Sasha finally released him, his face burning as she took him by surprise, his mind a whirlwind of confusion and adrenaline. 'These girls will be the death of me,' he thought.

He opened his mouth to protest. ''You two succubus will make Caspian upset with me.''

Vienna choked back a laugh when she noticed his expression. The twins exchanged a glance, their expressions a mix of triumph and amusement, as if they'd planned this chaos all along.

Mirelle seized his hand, her smile radiant and disarming. Meanwhile, Sasha hooked her arm through a shocked Vienna's. ''Come along,'' the older girl murmured, a teasing smile dancing on her lips. ''You both are joining us.''

Sasha cast a sidelong glance at the young blonde, her purple eyes gleaming mischievously. ''Don't think we're clueless about you, sister-in-law,'' she teased. ''We're just waiting for my stubborn little brother to finally spill his heart.''

Vienna's cheeks flared a vivid scarlet at the twins' words, her embarrassment drawing a low, amused chuckle from him. His laughter caught in his throat when Mirelle sidled closer, her presence suddenly overwhelming.

The faint scent of the older girl's perfume curled around him, and her eyes glinted with a promise that made his pulse stutter. She leaned in, her breath warm against his ear, her voice a sultry murmur that sent a shiver racing down his spine.

''We're grateful you've been such a… loyal friend to Caspian, Rae,'' she purred, her lips brushing the shell of his ear just enough to make his breath hitch. ''But, darling, our interest in you burns far deeper than mere friendship.''

Following that, the Harker twins tugged them toward a nearby table, where the other students watched with a mix of awe and envy. Vienna, still giggling, let herself be pulled along, throwing him a look that screamed, You're in deep now.

Raegar's heart thundered in his chest, his mind still reeling from the Harker twins' bold display as he trailed behind them, Mirelle's hand firm in his, Sasha tugging Vienna alongside while questioning her about Caspian.

As they reached the table, he was nudged into a seat by the dark-haired beauty. Mirelle and Vienna went to fetch food from the kitchen, their laughter fading into the chatter of other students.

He found himself alone with Sasha, her striking purple eyes glinting with curiosity under the glow of enchanted Aether lights above. She leaned forward, resting her chin on her hand, and a playful smile curved her lips.

''So, Rae, how are you finding life as a Drakenwood student?'' she asked, her voice light but laced with genuine interest. ''Word around the halls is you're one of the top first-years. Quite the reputation already.''

Raegar shifted in his seat, the cushioned chair creaking faintly as he settled in. A grin tugged at his mouth as he thought of the academy. ''It's… exciting,'' he admitted. ''Honestly, I'd rather spend my days in the library, poring over ancient tomes, or racing through the dungeons, dodging traps and unraveling their secrets. Classes are fine, but they can't compare to that.''

Sasha's eyes widened, her expression shifting from curiosity to delight as a big smile appeared on her pretty face. A soft giggle escaped her, catching him off guard. He tilted his head, brow furrowing in confusion.

''What's so funny?'' he asked, a mix of amusement and curiosity in his voice.

She leaned closer, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. ''Oh, nothing. It's just… most first-years are intimidated by the dungeons, and here you are, treating them like a playground. And the library? You're an odd one.''

Her giggle returned, brighter this time, as she added. ''But I heard something else, rumor has it the headmistress herself pulled you from regular classes. Private training with two professors? That's unheard of for a first-year student. Care to spill the details?''

Raegar's proud smile lingered as he leaned back in his chair. ''Yeah, the headmistress said I'm leagues ahead of all the students here. Now, when I'm not exploring the dungeons or battling Devils. I'll train one-on-one with Professors Silvershade and Crowhurst. It will be intense, but… I'll be learning things most students won't touch for years.'''

Sasha's purple eyes sparkled, her lips parting slightly as she murmured, ''Interesting.''

She tilted her head, studying him as if trying to unravel a puzzle, her fingers tapping lightly on the table. Raegar shook his head, deflecting the attention. ''Enough about me,'' he said. ''What about you? What do you study here at Drakenwood?''

The older girl's smile turned sly. ''Oh, a little of this, a little of that,'' she teased, leaning forward, allowing him to see her cleavage. ''Mostly, I dive into Aether lore and shadowcraft. The kind of magic that makes your skin tingle and your heart race. You know, the stuff they don't teach in basic classes."

Moments later, the air in the dining hall turned thick and oppressive, as if the very shadows had grown claws. A sickly aura slithered through the room, coiling around the lights, causing them to dim.

The chatter of students died, replaced by a chilling silence that prickled Raegar's skin like a thousand unseen eyes. He leapt to his feet, heart pounding, his instincts screaming as his blades materialized in his hands.

Just then, the hall erupted into chaos as several cloaked figures, their forms wreathed in writhing shadows, appeared. Their eyes glowed like dying embers beneath their hoods, and they surged toward him.

Following that, the first attacker lunged, a jagged dagger aimed for Raegar's throat, its blade glinting thanks to a venomous sheen. Sparks exploded as he parried using one blade, the clash ringing out like a war cry in the suffocating air.

Another figure struck from the side, their weapon a blur of dark steel, but he twisted, blocking the blow using his second blade. The force sent tremors up his arms, his muscles straining against the unnatural strength of his foes.

Gritting his teeth, Raegar retaliated. He thrust a hand forward, and a Stormfire Bullet erupted from his palm, a searing orb of crackling blue flame that tore through the air with a howl. It struck one of the figures square in the chest, engulfing them in fire.

Their scream was a guttural, otherworldly sound that clawed at the edges of Raegar's mind, but he stood firm, blades raised, ready for the next onslaught as the hall descended into a battlefield.

Sasha's heart pounded, but she held her ground, hands instinctively weaving a protective ward around the cluster of students. Their gasps and whimpers faded into the background as she focused on him, who moved like a storm given flesh.

He was a blur, his speed so blinding that afterimages trailed behind him, ghostly echoes of his form that danced in the flickering light, causing everyone to focus on him and the upcoming battle.

She quickly noticed the attackers were eager to get at him, their movements unnaturally fast. Sasha's skin crawled as she recognized the sigils embroidered on their cloaks, the twisted marks of a Devil cult.

'What the hell are they doing here!' she thought. 'Where are the professors or guards?'

While protecting the other student, she noticed Raegar's eyes blazed, a snarl curling his lips as he identified his foes. ''Cultists,'' he spat, his voice a low growl that cut through the din.

His movements shifted from defensive to predatory, each step a calculated strike. He spun, blades flashing, and severed a cultist's arm in a spray of blood. The figure's scream was a guttural wail, more beast than human, but Raegar didn't flinch.

Sasha watched as he drove his blade through another's chest, the metal cutting through them like a knife through fog. Her ward shimmered as a stray cultist's dagger glanced off it, the impact sending a jolt through her arms.

She gritted her teeth, reinforcing the spell, her gaze never leaving him. He was a whirlwind of death.

***

Raegar fired a Stormfire Bullet from his palm, a crackling orb of blue flame that obliterated a cultist in a burst of searing light, their body dissolving into ash.

Another tried to flank him, but he was already there, his blade slicing through their neck before they could react. Blood sprayed, painting the stone floor as the cultist crumpled, lifeless.

The older students behind Sasha clung to one another, their faces pale, but she stood resolute, her Aether pulsing in rhythm with her racing heart. Raegar was no mere first-year; he was a force of nature.

Yet, as another cultist fell to his blades, their eyes faded to nothingness just as several auras crashed against the evil one. His eyes snapped in its direction only to see Corrine, Cecilia, and Elara rushing in alongside the school guards.

They charged the remaining foes, dispatching them swiftly as the headmistress approached with an apologetic expression. Corrine paused beside him, her tone a hushed whisper. ''The Nightfang Order has placed a bounty on you, and some of our support staff have betrayed us for it.''

She motioned for the dead bodies and continued. ''Some of them were a part of the cult and slipped past our security measures.''