Aether Chronicles: Birth Of A Legend
Chapter 220 - 220: No More Pesky Girls

Raegar sank into the chair, a tired expression appeared on his face as he stretched out, the day's weight evident in his relaxed posture. Sasha sauntered over, her dramatic sigh echoing through the room, but a playful spark danced in her tired eyes.

She leaned closer, her purple gaze locking onto his with a teasing smile. ''Rough day, huh, handsome?'' she purred, her voice soft yet flirtatious, despite the exhaustion lacing her words. ''What's up, Rae? Spill it, give me something to keep me awake.''

His eyes softened as he looked at Sasha, his voice warm and unexpected. ''You and Mirelle are gorgeous, you know,'' he said, catching the older girl off guard. ''The way you two shielded the other students? That was something else.''

Sasha's lips curved into a coy smile, a playful giggle escaping her despite the day's fatigue. ''Oh, Rae, you sweet-talker,'' she teased, leaning closer with a mischievous glint in her eyes. ''Keep that up, and I might just forget how tired I am.''

Her words trailed off as Mirelle approached, exhaustion etched on her face but a spark of affection in her gaze. The black-haired beauty slid onto Raegar's lap, pushing her glasses up with a flick.

She leaned in, her breath warm against his cheek, and pressed a soft, lingering kiss to his lips, her tired smile hinting at a quiet confidence. When feeling this, he sent stiff but held her waist and returned it.

Just then, loads of footsteps approached, only to come to a shock as gasps erupted. Mirella stopped kissing him and leaned back to look at the newcomers, only for a smile to appear on her pretty face.

Raegar watched the black-haired girl jump up while speaking. ''Hello, baby brother!''

His head snapped toward the group as Dominique, Drusilla, Selene, and Zahara stared at the twin. Their jaws slackened and eyes widened before the Demoness shook her head, stepping forward.

''Why are you kissing him for?!'' she demanded in a serious tone.

Sasha jumped up, beaming. ''Handsome here, has caught our eye and we've staked a claim on him, otherwise you'd have all the older girls chasing after him,'' she explained.

As the revelation hung in the air, a ripple of murmurs cascaded through the group, their voices perspective shifting with a mix of curiosity and unease. Drusilla leaned forward, her lips curling into a sly smirk as she silently mouthed. ''I was the first to taste you.''

Her words, laced with a teasing edge, sent a flush of warmth to his cheeks, though he masked it with a casual grin. Raegar let out a low chuckle, shaking his head to dispel the tension, and turned to Zahara, who was already exchanging a glance with the twins, Mirella and Maris.

The brown skinned girl's expression softened now that the group had confirmed he was unharmed, her earlier worry giving way as she looked at the twins and suggested. ''Now that we know he's alright, can we step outside for a proper conversation? There's much to discuss.''

Before Raegar could respond, Mirelle sprang to her feet, as she smoothed her form-fitting dress, she paused directly in front of him, her posture highlighting her perfect round ass, making him gulp.

She caught his eye and flashed a knowing smile. ''Eyes up here, husband,'' she teased, her voice carrying a hint of mischief. ''Sasha and I will go chat with the others. You stay put, where the professors can keep an eye on you.''

Raegar opened his mouth to retort, a playful quip on the tip of his tongue, but his words faltered as he caught Caspian's gaze. The other boy's eyes were fixed on him, sharp and unyielding, as though he had somehow crossed an unspoken line.

The weight of that stare, heavy with something akin to betrayal or indignation, silenced him, leaving an uncomfortable tension simmering in the air. Once the girls were gone, the black-haired boy approached him.

The air grew thick with tension as Caspian halted abruptly, his piercing stare locking onto Raegar with an intensity that felt like a blade. His eyes, usually warm with camaraderie, now burned with an accusation that bordered on betrayal.

''Why were you kissing my sister?'' he demanded, his voice low but sharp, each word deliberate. ''And touching her body? I saw it all!''

Raegar's pulse quickened, but he met his friend's gaze steadily, refusing to shrink under the weight of the confrontation. He took a slow breath, choosing his words carefully to defuse the situation without escalating it further.

''Cas, listen,'' he began, his tone calm but firm. ''They came on to me. I won't deny it happened, and I won't lie to you, I find them attractive. But it wasn't planned, and I didn't mean to cross any lines.''

The weight of one of his first friends stare pinned Raegar in place, his eyes no longer blazing with anger but softened with a complex mix of protectiveness and resolve. The hall seemed still, the tension lingering like a faint echo as the group watched, their whispers hushed.

Caspian stepped closer, his gaze unwavering, and spoke in a low, steady voice that carried the gravity of a vow. ''Don't hurt them, Rae.''

Before he could respond, the dark-haired boy closed the distance between them, pulling him into a firm, unexpected embrace. The gesture was both a warning and a plea, grounding the moment in a shared understanding.

The boy leaned in and whispered. ''They're special, Rae. More than you know. I'll have my father contact yours.''

Caspian pulled back, his expression unreadable, a mix of trust and caution, leaving him to grapple with the unspoken implications of what had just transpired. He shook his head just as a woman's voice sounded out. ''Hello there, I'm part of the kitchen staff. Would you like a drink, young master?''

Rune's sudden movement broke the lingering tension as he grabbed a glass from a member of staff. Without a moment's hesitation, he thrust it into his hands, his voice gruff but laced with concern. ''Get this down your throat, Rae. Your lips are dry and cracking.''

Raegar, caught off guard, gave a quick nod and tilted the glass back, the cool liquid sliding down his throat in a rush. He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and turned to thank the woman standing nearby, assuming it was one of the twins or Zahara.

But as his gaze settled on her, his eyes widened in shock, a chill creeping up his spine. It wasn't Zahara or the twins, it was her, the creepy woman whose unsettling presence had haunted him since he'd helped her.

Her pale, unblinking eyes bored into his, glinting with a cold, predatory intensity that seemed to peel back his defenses. The faint, knowing smile curling her lips felt like a trap snapping shut, as if she had woven this moment into existence with deliberate malice. Content sourced from NovelFire – My Virtual Library Empire.

Raegar's throat tightened, the aftertaste of the drink turning bitter and metallic on his tongue. A strange fog began to cloud his mind, his limbs growing heavy, as though the liquid he'd just swallowed was seeping into his veins, dulling his senses.

'What the fuck is this feeling?' he thought, glancing at his hand.

Just then, Caspian's voice cut through the haze, sharp but distant. ''We're going to check on the girls,'' he said with worry. ''I need to find Luna and Vienna.''

His words hung in the air, but Raegar couldn't respond. His thoughts were sluggish, as if something unseen was coiling around his ability to speak. Rune, oblivious to the creeping dread, clapped a heavy hand on his shoulder, the impact jarring his unsteady frame.

''Get back to your dorm. Sleep it off,'' he said, his voice too cheerful, too unaware. ''I'll catch you tomorrow.''

His friends turned, their silhouettes dissolving into the dim light as they walked away, footsteps fading like a distant pulse. He remained still, the hall subtly tilting around him as his mind reeled.

Just them, the woman moved in his direction, pinning Raegar in place as her lips curled into a smile that felt like a spider's web tightening around him. His limbs were growing heavy and unresponsive.

The room tilted, shadows stretching unnaturally, and a cold sweat prickled his skin. Before he could collapse, the creepy woman glided forward, unnervingly smooth, and slipped an arm around his waist, propping him up with surprising strength.

Her touch was cold, her fingers pressing into his side like claws. ''Poor Raegar,'' she murmured, her voice a low, syrupy whisper that crawled into his ear. ''All alone now, aren't you? No more pesky girls watching your every move, always clinging to you, stealing you away from me.''

Her smile widened, her breath icy against his cheek. ''Now it's just us… together at last, where you belong.''

Raegar tried to speak, to protest, but his tongue was a dead weight, his thoughts a jumbled haze. She guided him, half-dragging his stumbling form, toward the secluded corner of the kitchen staffroom.