Aether Chronicles: Birth Of A Legend

Yuki was thrown forward as her ears were ringing, by the time the sound vanished the sound of fighting echoed out. She stood up and shook her head before speaking. ''Stay here Mother and protect the others, I'll go help the guards.''

The cat maid stepped outside only to realize that they were surrounded by an untold amount of bandits that slammed against the Blackwood shieldwall, but it wasn't enough as some broke through.

When she saw this she quickly cast Enhancement magic before rushing into the group of enemies while throwing several knives into the bandits that tried attacking the soldiers from behind.

The projectiles found their targets, allowing Edmund to rally everyone, but the older man turned to her with a concerned expression. ''We need to get out of here, my lady! Get the others ready to move!''

Yuki did as he said and rushed over to the carriage just as several fire arrows slammed into the wood beside her head. She yelped before pulling everyone out as three guards shielded them.

She quickly used her daggers to kill several enemies while moving fast using her Enhancement magic. The Blackwood staff saw the young woman moving so fast that she was creating a pink blur.

''They're so alike,'' Saki remarked while remembering watching the young master training when he was still in the manor.

Moments later, Alfred, the family's butler, stepped into view. The older man sprang into action, aiding Yuki. He dispatched several bandits who aimed their crossbows at her, his blade flashing as he cut them down like a master swordsman.

The Blackwood guards watched in stunned silence, taken aback by his skill just as he appeared beside the staff and answered. ''Yes, they are, but she's only one person facing a horde of outlaws, my dear.''

Following that, Yuki continued killing the bandits, but there were too many, forcing Edmund to shout. ''Surround the house staff! We will flee into the forest for safety!''

As the cat woman parried a man's sword with her daggers, her breath came in heavy gasps. Blocking another strike, which was making her tired, she thought desperately. 'I wish the young master were here!'

Just after that, the Blackwood guards escorted them into the trees while others held back the horde of enemies. They rushed through the Veilwood Forest, looking for safety, but found nothing but death.

Hours dragged on as soldiers fell, overwhelmed by bandits who stormed in with reckless abandon, sacrificing their lives to kill a single guard. When the group reached a clearing, they were hemmed in on all sides, with Edmund standing alone as the last soldier still on his feet.

Yuki stood beside the older man who was seriously injured and could barely lift his left arm as the other staff members were scared behind them. She was exhausted as the outlaws closed in, and the leader approached with a knowing smile.

Edmund rushed forward and went to strike but the enemy dodged the attack before knowing the man out with a single punch forcing her to realize this enemy was Tier Three like her but stronger.

She swallowed hard, glancing back at her mother, then steeled herself and charged at the enemy. This time, the leader struggled to block the swift strike, caught off guard by her unexpected speed.

But her advantage was fleeting as time passed by as the two continued fighting and the other bandits watched while cheering the leader on. Moments later, the man recovered quickly, landing a powerful slap that sent her hurtling backward, crashing into a nearby tree with a sickening thud.

''Looks like the cat bitch is strong, but not strong enough to take me on,'' the leader said with a cocky smile while approaching her.

Yuki tried to get up but the injuries and exhaustion were taking their toll on her as she got to her feet. She cast Enhancement again that sucked even more Aether from her dwindling pools.

''I can't die here!'' she muttered while wiping blood from her lip. ''Young master needs me.''

The cat woman twirled her daggers and lunged forward, sidestepping a wild swing with a spin. She struck swiftly, landing several blows, but only managed to nick the bandit leader's cheek, a shallow cut that fueled his rage.

Enraged, he retaliated with a lightning-fast swing. She raised her blades to block, but they shattered under the impact, and the sheer force snapped one of her arms, sending a jolt of pain through her body.

''AHHHHH!'' she screamed in agony before crashing to the ground, which caused explosions to ring out in the distance.

The leader's sneer twisted his scarred face as he strode toward her, his voice dripping with malice. ''Filthy demi-human wretch,'' he spat. ''I'll chain you up, make you a springtime toy for me and the lads to break.''

Her heart thundered, terror clawing at her chest as his words sank in. But then, like a beacon piercing the storm, a memory flared to life. She saw Raegar, his short white hair catching the sunlight, sitting beside her in the garden just before he'd departed for the Bloodfang Forest.

''You know I'll always come back to you, Yuki,'' he'd said, his voice a promise, his charming smile igniting a fire in her soul. ''And when danger finds you, I'll be there to save you.''

The bandit leader's rough hand seized her by the neck, yanking her cruelly from the memory. Tears spilled down her cheeks as she squeezed her eyes shut. In the darkness, her heart cried out. 'Save me, save me, Raegar!'

Moments later, the bandit leader jerked her forward, his lips curling into a wicked smirk as he prepared to speak. But before a word could escape his lips, a shadow streaked past them. The man's smirk froze, replaced by a gurgle of shock as blood bubbled from his throat.

His iron grip faltered, and the man collapsed in a lifeless heap. Yuki's blue eyes fluttered open, her breath catching as she saw a figure standing before her, a mysterious guardian cloaked in tattered armor, their face shrouded beneath a mask.

Before a word could pierce the silence, the stranger erupted into motion, a blur of deadly speed. Twin daggers flashed, carving through the night as the figure leaped and spun with skill that shocked her and the staff who were watching.

Bandits fell in droves, their cries swallowed by the wind, as the hooded avenger danced through the fray, slaying everyone. When more enemies swarmed the clearing, Yuki watched as their savior threw the weapons into the enemies.

Moments later, two glowing weapons appeared and the stranger let them on the remaining group of bandits as they whizzed through the air killing everything in their path like angels of death as the figure continued fighting the enemy alone.

Not long after that, all the bandits lay dead, and the stranger was breathing heavily but soon approached the downed Edmund. Yuki noticed the stranger poured a health potion into the older man's mouth.

Afterward, she watched the stranger approach only for a scent to hit her nose that she recognized but it was different as the figure stopped in front of them as a voice rang out. ''Sorry it took me so long to find you, Yuki.''

At the sight of those glowing red eyes piercing the darkness, her own widened in awe. A trembling question slipped from her lips, barely above a whisper. ''Raegar… is that you?''

''Yes,'' he answered, his voice low as he swept her into his arms.

Yuki smiled as she melted into his embrace while being carried to a nearby stump, setting her down gently. Her shock held her still, wide-eyed, as he continued, ''It's good to see you, though I'd rather you weren't hurt.''

***

Raegar watched the young woman smile with red cheeks and a swaying tail, which caught his interest. He quickly took out another health potion and poured it over her arm before giving her the rest to drink.

''Here, take this, it should repair the damage,'' he revealed.

Yuki nodded silently while taking the bottle and drinking the remaining liquid that healed the remaining injuries, but the pain lingered. When he saw this, he commented. ''Give it some time and you'll feel better.''

Following that, he checked on the remaining Blackwood staff who were shocked when they saw him but as he arrived back to the cat woman she asked in a curious voice. ''Why are you wearing a mask young master? Has something happened to your face?''

Raegar stiffened at her words, causing his head to drop as she grabbed his hand. ''You know I would never judge you, right?''

''I know, but it's horrible and makes me feel sick,'' he replied in an uncertain voice.

Yuki got angry and booped him on the head before reassuring him with a love-filled smile. ''Do you think anything will stop me from loving you, young master?''

As those words left her lips she realized what she said, forcing Raegar's head to snap in her direction. ''What did you just say?'' he asked with a gleam.