Aether Chronicles: Birth Of A Legend

Raegar felt the bread melt in his mouth, and the monster meat was tender, a stark contrast to the dangers of the night outside. For a moment, the world felt quiet, just the crackle of the fire echoed throughout the clearing.

While sitting there, something told him to move just as several knives landed in the spot he was just in. He looked around, only to notice Zorana standing there with a big smile on her pretty face.

''Come on Rae. Let's fight! Father told me you're skilled and I need to test them,'' she exclaimed.

Raegar noticed the short sword and knife she held, causing him to summon his daggers that appeared in his hands as she got into position to fight. ''Well, I'm always looking to improve my skills, so why not?'' he answered with a smile.

With those words, the orc woman exploded forward. He braced himself, but in a blur of speed, she sidestepped at the last moment and struck. Raegar's blade met hers, the clash sending a shockwave of force through his arms.

He felt the power behind her blow. It was like stopping a boulder mid-roll. His stance faltered, forcing him to skid backward and barely regain his footing. But the moment he steadied himself, he vanished.

Raegar dashed forward with such speed that even Zorana, sharp-eyed as she was, didn't see him coming. He ducked beneath her sudden slash and, before she could react, his fist slammed into her gut, the impact echoing like thunder.

The orc woman skidded across the ground, dirt, and debris flying as she came to a stop. For a moment, Zorana lifted her head, her eyes glowing an intense blue. ''He was right! But I won't take another punch, so prepare yourself, Rae!'' she declared, her voice crackling with excitement.

Raegar swallowed hard. Before he could react, she vanished. His instincts screamed, causing him to spin just in time to see her reappearing behind him, her blade already swinging.

He barely raised his daggers in time, the force of the clash reverberating through his arms. But before he could counter, Zorana hit him with a vicious headbutt, knocking him back with a jolt of pain.

Stars burst in his vision as he staggered, realizing too late—she had baited him perfectly and moved like a storm. Her blade flickered in and out of his defenses, forcing him to parry desperately.

Every strike carried raw strength, each clash sending vibrations through his bones. Then, in a heartbeat, she feinted left. Raegar reacted, shifting to block the attack, but it was already too late as her fist collided with his ribs, a monstrous punch fueled by pure power.

The impact sent a shockwave through his body, lifting him off his feet before he crashed into the dirt, the world spinning. Zorana loomed over him, smirking. ''You're strong, Rae. But you're not stronger than me yet.''

Following that, the two of them chatted for a while with the orc woman telling him about the town in Bloodfang and he found out the vampire kingdom was protecting it from the other realms and monster waves.

Once it got late Zorana stood up with a smile before asking with a glint in her blue eyes. ''Why not become an adventurer like me? You can join my guild and we can get to know each other more.''

Raegar felt heat rise to his cheeks, but he quickly shook it off and answered with determination. ''I'm joining the academy. I need to grow stronger, conquer dungeons, and push my limits. Adventuring sounds great, but my goal... is to become the strongest Gatewalker.''

The orc woman giggled, then gave a nod of approval. ''That's a shame, but I wish you luck and look forward to hearing the tales of the white-haired mage conquering the world and charming all the ladies.''

Her eyes gleamed with excitement as she cracked her knuckles. ''So… want to get in a few more fights before you leave this place?''

Raegar chuckled, ''Yes that sounds good to me, you're tough but I'll beat you one day Zorana,'' he said with a grin.

Following that, Zorana bid him farewell and strode off to the train, leaving him alone. The moment she disappeared, his stomach let out a loud growl. Sighing, he got to work roasting more meat and baking another round of bread.

The rich aroma filled the air as he devoured his meal, savoring every bite. Satisfied but exhausted, he stumbled toward the shack, barely making it inside before collapsing onto the bed.

Raegar curled up under the sheets before falling asleep with a full stomach and when he woke up the following morning, he felt refreshed. He got out of bed only to notice the sun hadn't risen yet.

'I wonder what time it is?' he mused while stepping outside.

Weeks passed in a brutal cycle of training, pain, and progress. Hogar pushed Raegar to his limits, crafting a relentless workout regimen that left him sore and exhausted every single day.

Also, Zorana never let up, constantly dragging him into sparring matches that tested both his endurance and skill. At first, it was grueling, every muscle ached, every breath felt like fire, and covered in bruises.

But as weeks passed, he adapted to the challenging training, but he enjoyed it. He grew stronger. Faster. Sharper. Now, standing waist-deep in the river, he washed away the sweat and grime of another day's training.

''I can feel the Aether flowing through him better now,'' he muttered.

The water's surface mirrored Raegar's transformation, his gaze tracing the powerful contours of his sculpted form. He flexed, a surge of raw energy pulsing through his veins—his Aether Pools brimming.

Strength had not come at the cost of his speed; he managed to get a perfect balance of both, a testament to the brutal, unyielding training of the Bloodaxe Family which put him through his paces, but he loved it.

'I have to thank the Bloodaxe Family. They've been helpful in my training,' he thought while stretching his arms.

Raegar started putting his clothes on only for the town's bell to ring out, which alerted everyone of an incoming Monster Swarm, causing him to rush toward his shack while summoning his weapons and grabbing his magic bag.

He tore down the path just to reach Hogar and Mariam's home. Chaos erupted—Tier Two Mountain Trolls loomed over them, their monstrous forms poised to strike. With a flash of power, Raegar cast his Enhancement magic.

The surge was instant. He became faster than the wind, deadlier than a storm. The trolls never saw him coming, only felt the agony as his blade cleaved through their legs, sending them crashing to the ground with earth-shaking force.

One roared in fury, swinging its massive club in desperation. But Raegar was already airborne. He twisted through the air, his blade a streak of silver, carving deep into the troll's wrists.

The beast bellowed as its weapon slipped from its grasp, crashing into the dirt. Raegar landed, his eyes burning with the promise of battle yet to come. He continued attacking and ensuring to keep them distracted.

Without hesitation, Hogar roared like a battle-hardened beast and launched himself at the second troll. His forehead slammed into the creature's skull with bone-cracking force, the impact reverberating through the air.

Seizing the moment, Mariam lunged like a bolt of lightning, her movements swift and precise. Her relentless strikes hammered into the troll's knee, shattering it with a sickening crack. The beast roared in agony, collapsing under the assault.

'These two are something else. I knew Hogar was strong but not Mariam,' he wondered.

Raegar blinked in surprise before a grin spread across his face. As the dust settled, the orc woman turned to him, her expression filled with urgency. ''Can you watch the house while we help the town? The wave is sweeping through the homestead.''

He nodded, channeling crackling lightning and searing fire Aether into his weapons. The energy surged through the blades, illuminating the area with a fierce glow. The display left the two orcs momentarily stunned.

Hogar's eyes widened in disbelief before he finally spoke. ''You can use two elements?''

Raegar smiled at the couple without answering before they rushed off toward the town as growls and hisses echoed from all around him. He knew that hiss which made the hair on the back of his neck stand on end.

'Damn widows are here!' he thought just as a spider lunged from the darkness.

Without hesitation, Raegar ducked beneath the monster, driving his blade deep into its underside. In an instant, he unleashed a Lightningfire Blast, the explosive force ripping through the creature's insides and launching it skyward.

As more beasts lunged at him, their fangs flashing in the dim light, Raegar met them head-on, deflecting their strikes with practiced precision. But there were too many. The relentless assault pushed him back, his arms growing heavy with strain.

Each parry and counter took more effort, his muscles burning as the horde pressed in, threatening to overwhelm him.

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