Aether Chronicles: Birth Of A Legend

Raegar flashed an evil smirk at the noble boy. ''My turn.''

Seconds later, he launched an uppercut that sent the fool sprawling, stunning his cronies. As they lunged, he blocked one strike with his forearm and smashed a headbutt into another's nose, shattering it.

Blood flew everywhere, scaring the surrounding students who watched on in horror. The group grabbed the two boys he had hurt and rushed off before he turned to the one they were bullying.

Raegar saw that the bullied boy was smaller, though he wasn't towering at five feet ten at sixteen. The kid had black hair and striking red eyes behind thick-rimmed glasses that gave him the typical nerdy look.

''You need to defend yourself,'' he urged. ''I sense Fire and Wind Aether in you. Use that, or I'm afraid they won't leave you alone.''

A piercing scream rang out, snapping Raegar's attention behind him. There stood a girl with jet-black hair pulled into a high ponytail, the sides of her head shaved, giving off a fierce, punk-like energy.

Her striking purple eyes blazed with intensity. She was undeniably beautiful, her slender frame hiding the raw strength evident in her grip as she hoisted a noble boy into the air by his throat.

A random female student lay crumpled nearby, clutching her jaw as tears spilled down her cheeks, pain etched on her face. Towering over her was another girl, strikingly similar to the first, sparking a thought in Raegar's mind. 'Twins?'

Raegar noticed this one had short black hair, her glowing red eyes sharp behind glasses, her curvier figure a stark contrast to her slender sister's lithe frame. 'Defiently twins, look like troublemakers too,' he mused.

Seconds later, he noticed a fierce grin split her face as she pinned a boy's head to the ground with her foot, her voice ringing out confidently to the gathered crowd. Black flames flickered to life in her hand. ''The next one who dares touch our baby brother will burn.''

Murmurs rippled through the onlookers. ''The Harker twins! Top students of years two and three!''

Following that, they rushed back to the Power Test queue as the boy beside him nervously spoke. ''Thank you for helping me. Only my big sisters defend me against the other people.''

He sighed when hearing this and turned to the odd boy while offering his hand. ''Raegar Blackwood, what's your name?''

The bullied boy took it, introducing himself. ''Caspian Harker. I am a first-year student, or I will be when I take my tests.''

''Would you like to join me?'' Raegar offered the boy a lifeline. ''I don't know anyone here or from the north. Most of my cousins have joined the army, imperial government, or the Dawnfire Magic Academy.''

Caspian smiled. ''That would be good; just be careful. My sisters are overprotective and will be horrible to you,'' he quickly warned.

He chuckled before replying. ''They're nothing compared to the Devils.''

Moments later, a soft voice rang out from behind them. ''What does a Vaelthorne want with my baby brother? Cooking up a new scheme to snare a low noble family?''

Raegar's head snapped toward the younger of the two with the shaved side and retorted. ''Schemes? I was helping him with the nobles.''

The girl's grin widened, a sultry edge to it as she sauntered toward Raegar, her hips swaying with confidence. The crowd's eyes followed her every step; even Caspian's jaw dropped in stunned silence.

When the stranger reached Raegar, she leaned in close, her breath warm against his skin as her finger traced the jagged scar on his face with a slow touch. ''This,'' she purred, voice low and teasing. ''Is gorgeous.''

Before he could react, she pressed a quick, electrifying kiss to his cheek, her lips soft. Raegar's heart pounded, heat flooding his face as he struggled to keep his composure as the second girl joined them.

The first pulled back just enough to meet his gaze, her smirk wicked and knowing. ''I saw what you did for my brother,'' she said, her tone dripping with intrigue.

Soon, she introduced herself. ''Consider that a thank you. More importantly, I'm Sasha Harker, and it's a pleasure to meet you, Raegar Blackwood… or should I say, the White Devil of Bloodfang?''

His flustered look brought a playful giggle from Sasha as she stepped aside, letting the other girl step forward. Her lips curved into a teasing smile as she purred, ''Well, hello there, handsome. Thanks for taking such good care of my little brother.''

The girl with smoldering red eyes had an hourglass figure, her tight dress hugging every curve, effortlessly captivating him. She leaned in with a mischievous glint in her red eyes, planting a soft kiss on his other cheek.

His face flushed a deep crimson, and the twins burst into delighted laughter at his reaction. She stepped back, her smile playful yet warm. ''I'm Mirelle Harker, by the way,'' she introduced herself.

He didn't know how to react, but Caspian spoke up. ''Big sisters! Stop teasing my new friend!''

The two girls giggled even more as Sasha bit her lip. ''Who said we're teasing Casper?''

Following that, the duo walked off, leaving a stunned crowd behind as he shook his head and looked at the twins with narrowed eyes. 'Cheeky bitches but I didn't dislike it,' he thought.

Raegar approached the queue with Caspian appearing beside him, speaking. ''We got the Power, then the last one, which is the Combat Test. Once that's over, we have to return tomorrow morning to get our class and dorms.''

''I didn't know that. I guess you learn something new every day?'' he replied with a chuckle.

The black-haired boy nodded, pushing his glasses up, asking. ''Didn't you know that? I thought you would have gone to the seminar, Professor Cecilia Silvershade went over the basics of academy life.''

''I guess I'll learn as I go,'' he replied while chuckling. ''I was camping and woke up late this morning.''

Moments later, a group of girls walked past and started laughing when spotting his scars. Their stares and harsh words annoyed him, but he ignored them. Caspian notices this and grimaces after spotting the left side of his face.

''Damn those are wicked scars,'' he said while moving to look. ''Whatever monster got you good. The wounds reach the bone, which means the claws could render any armor under Tier Three useless.''

Reager narrowed his eyes at the boy, who ignored the look as he was too busy studying his face. Caspian nodded. ''A Tier Eight or above Healer could mend this. Unfortunately, there isn't one in the Western Lands since the Witch of the West vanished.''

He stiffened when he heard that and quickly pushed the boy aside. ''Enough of the staring already. It's bad enough everyone is avoiding me.''

''Sorry, Rae,'' Caspian replied while pointing out. ''Good news is, it's our turn now.''

He shook his head, and the two of them stepped into the white box that the staff member pointed toward, speaking. ''You four stand there and cast your strongest spells. You're all Tier One, so it'll be fine.''

Raegar observed two students using their magic. A girl, her hand wreathed in swirling Aether, conjured a fire spell and hurled it toward the targets across the field with a protective shield blocking the shockwaves.

Moments later, the fiery projectile streaked through the air, striking true with a small explosion that drew a triumphant cheer from her and her friends. Next, a boy stepped up, channeling Wind Aether.

With a wave, he launched a shimmering bullet that slammed into the target, earning an approving nod from the staff member overseeing them. He looked at Caspian with a knowing expression and spoke. ''Focus on sending all the Aether to your hand so it will overcharge and fire at the target.''

Raegar leaned over and whispered. ''If you fail, I'll flirt with Mirelle and Sasha.''

Caspian stiffened and gave him a dirty look; moments later, he nodded with a chuckle. ''Will do and don't go near them or they'll eat you. I don't want to lose my first friend to such a death,'' he replied with a flare in his red eyes.

He chuckled at this reaction but suddenly pushed him forward, and the boy started concentrating as he charged his energy. Seconds later, he fired an overpowered Fire Bullet that crashed into the target and exploded, shocking everyone.

It seemed to have shocked his new friend even more as he looked at his hand. Following that, the boy hugged him in excitement. Raegar pushed him away with a smile. ''Get off me! Yes, you listened and proved to the staff, now stop touching me!'' he exclaimed.

Caspian laughed before it was his turn. He stepped forward and looked at the staff member. ''Are you sure I should use my full strength?''

The young woman cringed at his face, causing him to sigh as she nodded. ''Yes. The headmistress created this shield so it will hold.''