Aether Chronicles: Birth Of A Legend

Raegar stood frozen, stunned by Yuki's confession, her sweet smile melted his shock into something warmer as she spoke cheerfully. ''Yes, I have feelings for you. I'd like to see where things go when you come of age, just under a year now that you're sixteen.''

His heart pounded, words forming on his tongue, but before he could respond, the cat woman pressed on. ''Now show me your face and let me prove you wrong.''

Afterward, he slowly peeled off the mask, the cool air grazing his exposed skin as he turned. Yuki caught sight of the scars, and she lunged forward, cradling his face in her hands, her voice trembling with concern. ''What happened to you? Who did this, young master?''

Raegar froze, startled by her touch as she gently traced the scar running down the side of his face. He shook his head and revealed. ''Months ago, I joined a Strike Squad. We were dispatched to a dungeon and faced a Devil Lord. I killed it, but not before it left its mark on me.''

Upon hearing his story, Yuki suddenly leaned in, pressing a kiss to his scar before stepping in front of him, her face beaming with a wide smile. She leaned forward again, showering his face with soft kisses.

'Huh? What's happening!' he thought, but he didn't stop as he enjoyed her affection.

Raegar went completely still and didn't know how to react until the young woman stopped attacking him. She stepped back with bright red cheeks and quickly changed the subject. ''Now that's over with. Once Mistress Elysia returns, she'll be able to heal this handsome face of yours, young master.''

Following that, Saki and Edmund approached forcing him to put the mask back on as the older man spoke with an exhausted smile. ''Thanks for the help young master, those bandits took us by surprise.''

''They were from the Roguehold Lands in the far south,'' he revealed while taking out several necklaces. ''I believe the Outlaw King is taking advantage of the war and raiding the southern part of the empire.''

When the three heard this, their eyes widened in surprise. Yuki glanced at him before asking. ''How do you know this, young master?''

''Wiped out a gang of heavily armed outlaws just down the road, banners and all,'' he said with a chuckle, rising to his feet and surveying the clearing. As the sunset cast a warm glow, his expression turned grave.

''We'll make camp here tonight. You'll sleep in the tents I've prepared, but once night falls, stay inside, no exceptions,'' he warned.

Following that, Raegar set up all the tents he took off the the enemy soldiers for this very purpose. While setting up the tents Saki approached with a worried smile. ''Young master. You seem different compared to the young man I knew a year ago.''

''It's good to see you too, Saki,'' he responded. ''And to answer your question, when you survive against all kinds of horrors and end up injured like I was, it changes you.''

The older woman nodded as she informed him. ''Your mother has traveled north to help your father. Rumors speak of strange humanoids giving the border guards trouble alongside the war.''

''Strange humans? Are there any descriptions?'' he questioned with a raised eyebrow.

Saki took out a letter before handing it over. ''I think you should read this, young master; it's your father's account of the first battle. This prompted the Lady to fly north even after I warned against it.''

''Thank you,'' Raegar responded while taking it. ''I'll read it shortly. I need to get you inside before the Nightwalkers or other creatures appear.''

The older woman trembled and looked around, causing him to reassure his mother's friend. ''Just stay inside the tents, ignore any voices you hear, and do not reply to anyone calling to you.''

Saki looked scared before she said her farewells and rushed toward the closest tent as Yuki approached with a warm smile. ''All the maids are settled, the injured guards will need a day or two to recover young master.''

''That shouldn't be a problem,'' he replied while scanning the treeline surrounding the clearing. ''I'll stay guard after drawing the Protection Runes around the camp, but that will only keep the Hollowborns back.''

When the young woman heard, her eyes widened in shock, but Raegar reassured her. ''I've been fighting them for the last few weeks; they are more annoying than anything. Also, I did see them slaughter a small Lunathyrian camp.''

Yuki sat down next to him with a smile as she spoke. ''It seems like you've learned a lot being out here, it's an impressive young master.''

Raegar was about to reply, but an eerie voice echoed from behind them. ''Help... me!''

''Damn,'' he muttered before jumping up while summoning his dagger to draw the Protection Runes around the tents.

Following that, he turned to Yuki who was gazing into the darkness as a child spoke just out of sight. ''Cat lady.. come help please!''

''Yuki!'' Raegar spoke before grabbing her hand. ''Don't listen to them, they're trying to lure you out into the forest.''

The young woman trembled in fear as the duo stepped across the Runes just as sad crying echoed across the clearing. Edmund and a maid named Sarah appeared from one of the tents.

''Young master, who are those people calling out to us?'' the older man asked.

''They aren't people,'' he answered before throwing his dagger into one of the creature's heads that was trying to sneak closer. ''They are Tier Two creatures that come from the Forgotten Wastes.''

Raegar struck a spark, coaxing a fire to life that cast flickering light across the surroundings. ''The books I read called them a lost tribe, but that's beside the point. "As you heard, they draw people into the dark, then haul them off to their cave before eating.''

The cat woman shivered as Edmund spoke with a pale face. ''And how can you keep us safe? You're just one person?''

Without answering, he summoned his weapons before throwing them into the shadows, only for two strange noises to ring out. Raegar used Flash Step to appear outside the camp and stood there.

Yuki looked worried and started to panic, he raised his hand as the creepy humanoids appeared from the trees. They stood nine feet tall and were extremely skinny, but their aura radiated horror.

Their limbs had three fingers used to grab a hold of people, it was their teeth that sent shivers down everyone's back; they looked like shark teeth covered in blood and jutted outward.

Everyone in the camp was rooted to the spot as the monsters moved. Raegar's smile grew wider as he summoned his daggers and threw them at the closest Hollowborns which pierced their heads.

That wasn't it, though, as he used Aether to control the blades. He watched as his weapons sliced through the air and started killing even more creatures who let out spine-tingling screeches.

Moments later, he leaned back as one of the enemies swiped at him. Raegar quickly ducked under the attack before he dashed forward and plunged his blade into its side with a wet crunch, then yanked it free as the creature howled and collapsed.

Another leaped from the side as its jaws snapped at his throat, but he ducked low, letting it sail over him. With a pivot, he drove his dagger upward, impaling the monster mid-flight. It crashed to the earth, twitching once before going still.

The air grew thick with their shrieks and the stench of death, but Raegar pressed on, relentless. A final beast, larger than the rest, barreled toward him, its claws raking the ground as its eyes locked onto him.

He feinted left, then spun right as it slashed at his body, its talons tearing through the air. With a roar, he surged forward, slamming his blade through its chest. It staggered just before he pulled out the blade, causing blood to fly everywhere.

Raegar noticed its glowing black eyes dimming, and with a final thrust, he twisted and sent it sprawling into the dust. Breathing hard, he stood amidst the carnage, his blades dripping dark blood into the soil.

The firelight flickered over the fallen, casting long shadows as silence reclaimed the night. He wiped his brow, turned back to the camp, and muttered, ''Stay in the tents. They're not done hunting yet.''

As Yuki watched him fight, his movements were so swift she could barely follow, her heart pounding with a mix of awe and fear. She thought to herself. 'He's a monster! A Tier One, tearing through these powerful creatures like they're nothing.'

Edmund and Saki appeared beside her with amazed expressions as the older man spoke with a voice full of pride. ''The young master has become a skilled warrior, and I have no doubt the other Vaelthornes will be nothing compared to him.''

Yuki was amazed and excited as she knew her young master always wanted to become strong and now he's achieving his goal which made her heart swell with pride as her blue eyes glowed with love.