Aether Chronicles: Birth Of A Legend

A raw, primal scream tore from his throat, echoing off the stone walls as his mangled arm began to mend, sinew and bone weaving together using unnatural speed. Then, in a moment that shattered reason, his empty socket burned with a blinding light.

His lost eye reformed, its vision sharper than ever, staring at Drusilla. Shock gripped him, his heart thundering. Raegar staggered, his newly restored vision swimming as the world snapped into unnerving clarity.

The room pulsed with a vibrancy he hadn't known since his injury, every crack in the stone and flicker of flame razor-sharp. Drusilla's eyes bored into him as she returned to normal and nearly collapsed to the ground.

Raegar quickly caught her and put her in his pocket as he clutched his healed arm, fingers trembling as they traced the smooth, unscarred skin where moments ago there had been only ruin.

The pain was gone, replaced by a thrumming vitality that felt foreign, almost invasive. His new eye darted to the Fairy in his pocket, who peeked out, her wide blue eyes reflecting both awe and fear.

''What… what have you done to me?'' Raegar rasped.

His gaze locked onto Drusilla, searching for answers in her unearthly presence. She tilted her head, a faint smile curling her lips. Before he could press her, shouting erupted out caught his attention.

Selene, Dominique, and Zahara barged into the room as the Vampire created a Stone Wall to block the door. She turned to him, a panicked look crossing her face, and revealed. ''The auction house is under attack; they are coming for the Fairy. We tried to fight them off, but they were too strong.''

But the other two were shocked when seeing his glowing red eyes as the blonde exclaimed. ''His healed from the assassins!''

The trio celebrated, but the wall was brought down as three cloaked figures stepped into the room. Their hoods obscured their faces, but the glint of steel at their belts and the faint hum of arcane energy radiating from their hands betrayed their intent.

''Rae!'' Selene hissed, drawing her sword. ''Are we fighting?''

While this happened, Drusilla shrank deeper, her voice a frantic whisper. ''Hunters… they've come for me.''

Raegar's heart pounded, the surge of her power still coursing through him, sharpening his senses, and that's when he sensed the newcomers were Tier Six Warriors, prompting him to act.

''Stay behind me,'' he growled to the girls, stepping forward. ''Selene, watch my rear. Domi, use your summons to help, and Za, make sure we are all healed while you help where you can.''

Following that, he summoned his daggers, a ching ringing out just as the Bloodrose Armor covered his body. As this happened, the room erupted into chaos as he dashed forward and struck out at the leader.

A thunderous clash rang out as the warrior parried his strike, but fate was unkind; a brutal kick from him, spinning through the air, crashed into the enemy's face with bone-shattering force. Not missing a beat, he hurled his daggers in a deadly arc at the leader.

Sparks flew as the man blocked the deadly weapons, sending them flying into the air as the Northern Owl Baldur dove from the heavens, talons flashing, raking the second attacker just as he screeched out.

Selene surged forward, her movements a blur as she fought the third foe. She danced through his strikes, holding her ground, but Raegar was a force unstoppable now that he was mostly healed, apart from his scarred face.

Moments later, he dodged a lunging attack, sidestepping at the last moment. When the strike passed by his side, he suddenly flung his blade at the leader. The strike was blocked, yet his lips curled into a wicked grin.

He thought for a second, causing the dagger to twist mid-air, defying steel and flesh to bury itself deep in the leader's neck. A guttural gargle tore through the chaos, freezing the remaining foes in shock.

Raegar moved like a phantom, so fast an afterimage trailed in his wake, a specter of death. The battlefield trembled before his unrelenting might, as the clash of legends unfolded in a whirlwind of steel and valor.

The auction house was in chaos as the girls fought behind him, and the last Hunter dropped dead with his dagger in their eye. He stood there basking in the aftermath of the fight. He let out a sigh just as Drusilla's head popped out of the pocket.

''Sorry for causing trouble for you,'' she apologized.

Raegar waved her away, smiling. ''Don't worry about it, I'm used to it by now,'' he said while summoning his daggers.

The three girls appeared as Zahara spoke with a worried expression. ''We're going to get in trouble Rae, let's escape.''

Selene and Dominique agreed, but he shook his head. ''It's too late, the City Lord Wentworth has just entered the auction house and is heading this way.''

Just then, a middle-aged man slammed open the doors, surrounded by his guards. His eyes were drawn to the dead soldiers who were hired to protect the place. 'The Hunters killed them,' he thought.

Moments later, the man stopped in front of him and held out his hand. ''It good to meet you Ghost, looks like your reputation proceeds you.''

Raegar was shocked, and it showed, causing the City Lord to continue. ''Don't worry about these outlaws, we've been hunting them for days. I didn't know what they were after, but it makes sense when seeing her.''

The older man pointed toward his pocket, where Drusilla was peeking out with wide blue eyes. He chuckled before finally speaking. ''Yes, they were after her, and I had to stop it as I paid a lot of gold coins.''

''Here ya go lad,'' the City Lord suddenly said before dropping a pouch in his hand. ''My apologies for letting you go through such a thing.''

Raegar peered into the chest, his eyes widening at the sight of a thousand gleaming gold coins. The man smiled warmly and continued. ''No need to pay for this enchanting Fairy, she seems fond of you. Consider it a gift for the young hero who saved my sister.''

''Huh?'' he muttered.

The City Lord chuckled before revealing. ''The Siege of Suncrest, you destroyed the Lunathyrian army that was close to breaching the walls. My younger sister is the commander there, and she spoke of your shocking power.''

Raegar stood stunned, but the man pressed on. ''Hurry now, the last Carrier departs Brightwater in an hour. My mages predict another northern storm's coming. Next time you're here, visit my mansion.''

Once that was done, the group was escorted to the Carrier Station by the city guards, as the nobles were angry at him for buying the Dark Fairy. While walking, the girls tried to get a look at Drusilla, but she was nervous.

After they were gone, City Lord Wentworth stared at them from his mansion's window as his assistant questioned. ''Why did you pay him so much?''

He turned to the young woman, chuckling. ''He rescued my sister and built roots with the boy. I have a feeling he will be crucial to Brightwater's survival thanks to him attending Drakenwood.''

''I understand,'' she responded.

Devon glanced back at the group, stepping onto a Carrier while thinking. 'They are bonding, without either knowing about it, this will be amusing,' he thought.

Following that, Raegar and the girls were sitting comfortably in a private cabin as Drusilla hid away from the three pairs of eyes. Dominique's green eyes narrowed at his pocket. ''Why isn't she coming out? Shy?'' she asked.

''She doesn't have anything to worry about,'' Selene added cheerfully. ''We owe her a big thanks for healing you.''

Zahara agreed, saying. ''I would love to meet her.''

Raegar looked down and warmly spoke. ''You can show yourself, Drusilla, they are my friends and won't harm you now you're here.''

The blonde Fairy, overhearing, poked her head out of his pocket, startling the trio. Selene got excited when she saw her. ''She's gorgeous! Those big blue eyes are stunning!''

She instantly got embarrassed, but Raegar quickly reassured her. ''Come out, they won't hurt you.''

When the little woman heard this, she flew out and circled the cabin, causing Zahara and Dominique to become amazed. The Fairy landed on his knee before introducing herself. ''I'm Drusilla, a Dark Fairy from the Lemuria Continent.''

The three girls mirrored Selene's warmth, settling around Drusilla to make her feel at ease as she perched on his shoulder. ''It's a delight to meet you three,'' the Fairy said, smiling. ''I hope we'll become great companions.''

Raegar's attention shifted as he sensed a faint tether of Aether linking him to the Fairy. Are we bonded? he wondered, puzzled.

He poked the blonde in the back and asked through their mind. 'Are you bonding with me Drusilla?'

When the Fairy heard those words, her body stiffened as she slowly turned to him. A worried expression appeared on her pretty face. 'Is that a problem, Raegar?'