Aether Chronicles: Birth Of A Legend

Raegar's eyes narrowed before pointing at a gorge that led north and was a shortcut. ''Why not take this route? It's the quickest way to Grandfather's city?''

One of the commanders, who was an older woman, replied. ''That's the Black Gorge. A few months ago, many patrols, bandit groups, and enemy soldiers have gone missing while traveling through it.''

''I can clear it out,'' he suggested with a gleam in his red eyes. ''It won't be so hard with my speed.''

Jasper looked concerned but sighed. ''It would help, Rae. I don't want to have to deal with the cannibal tribes ambushing us as we travel through the Deathwood Forest.''

Raegar chuckled before heading out of the tent, only to hear the commander ask his brother about the scars. This made him paranoid, but he chose to ignore it while he walked back to his tent where Yuki was just waking up with an adorable yawn which put a smile on his face.

She looked at him and questioned with dazed blue eyes. ''Where are you going, young master?''

''I'm going to scout the Black Gorge,'' he revealed. ''The Kingsway is flooded for a few miles, forcing us to either travel through that or Deathwood Forest.''

When the young woman heard this, her eyes widened in shock before grabbing his arm with a panicked expression. ''Will you be okay, young master? I've heard it's dangerous.''

''I've read about it years ago, but it doesn't seem to bad compared to the Bloodfang Forest or that damned dungeon,'' Raegar replied while checking his bombs and blades.

Yuki quickly hugged him while whispering. ''Promise you'll come back to me, Raegar?''

''I promise,'' he replied with a confident smile. ''I'll return in no time. If there are any monsters above Tier Three, I'll retreat to get Jasper. I won't risk missing the academy tests that's happening in a few weeks.''

Raegar said his goodbyes to Yuki and Saki who appeared outside their tent. The older woman beamed while looking at them. ''I see you two are getting only well. It makes me happy to see my daughter smile like that. The last time I saw it was the day you were born, young master.''

His cheeks got hot at the older woman's works before he quickly changed the subject and said his farewells. ''Anyway, ladies, I have to go clear the path so we can get to my Grandparents' place.''

Yuki suddenly hugged him tightly with a big smile as she warned in a concerned voice. ''Be careful out there, young master.''

''I will be,'' he replied while sensing some newcomers approaching them.

Moments later, a Dawnfirian commander appeared alongside a soldier. They stopped just as one of them spoke respectfully. ''Young master. General Vaelthorne ordered us to guide you to the Black Gorge so we can get on the road.''

Raegar agreed with a nod as he started following them. ''Are you sure about this, young master?'' the second man asked. ''It's is a horrible place to explore; many adventurers have vanished in there.''

He glanced at the soldier with a smile and replied confidently. ''I'll watch my back, so don't worry about me. The more pressing question is, are you both standing at the entrance?''

''Yes,'' the first man answered. ''The General ordered us to make sure you return to the camp once you've finished in that horrid place.''

Raegar let out a low chuckle as he summoned his daggers with a sharp ching as they materialized in his hand. ''I'm no weakling myself," he replied. ''I've crossed blades with devils, monsters, and bandits alike, but to be safe, I'll signal if there's any danger to the caravan.''

Following that, he burst forward and rushed into the darkness after sensing something nearby. When the Tier One Goblins spotted him, it was two late as he spun like a tornado and killed every one of them.

When Raegar stopped, a dozen monster bodies dropped dead, but something told him that they were just the beginning. He trekked through the gorge only to see a dirt road piercing the darkness.

'This place is a nightmare, we would have been ambushed if I hadn't come here,' he mused before sending fire Aether to the daggers, which lit up his surroundings.

With a flick of his wrists, he threw them into the shadows, this revealed several lion-like monsters crawling up to him. Raegar's eyes widened as he mumbled. ''Tier Two Shadow Lions.''

After that, the monsters lunged, but he was fast and dodged the first swipe while jumping on the back of another. His daggers appeared in his hands as he slashed through the lion's neck.

Blood splattered the ground before using the corpse as a spring to launch himself toward another creature. He spun mid-air using Lightningfire Blast and cut apart another two Shadow Lions.

Raegar landed with a thud as three more closed in on him, but that's when he noticed something that put a smile on his face. He pointed at the creature with an excited gleam in his eyes and exclaimed to its master. ''Monster tamer, you will die by the time I clear out this gorge.''

Seconds later, he quickly killed the remaining creatures with ease as he moved to the first and moved so fast while unleashing dozens of slashes that left an afterimage thanks to his speed.

The other two died without even knowing how and when Raegar was done, he was basking in the kills. He flicked his blades before rushing into the darkness, looking for his next target, which amused him to no end.

While Raegar was busy slaughtering monsters and tracking the tamer across the Black Gorge, Yuki stood at the edge of the camp looking in the direction that he left and thought with a worried expression.

''I hope he's okay. Always the first to run into the jaws of death,'' she muttered as her tail swayed nervously.

A sudden noise behind Yuki snapped her into action. In one fluid motion, she drew two daggers, spinning around to plant herself in a fighting stance. To her surprise, Jasper Vaelthorne stood there.

The young man let out a laugh before speaking. ''Just like him, I see. Are you sure he's not a demi-human?''

Yuki calmed down and put her weapons away while confidently answering. ''I was there when he was born. Young master is human as much as you are.''

Jasper's laughter rang out again, but his demeanor shifted, a probing edge to his tone as he asked. ''Do you truly love my little brother?''

The question caught her off guard, but Yuki met it with a resolute nod, her expression unwavering. ''With all my heart. And I have your parents', grandparents', and Lyra's blessing to stand by his side.''

''I'm not questioning that. I'm happy he has a woman like you that cares about him, but between the scars and his quirky personality, he won't find many friends among the young nobles,'' he answered with a sigh.

Yuki was about to retort but stopped herself as she knew they were brutal and judgemental and also let out a sigh before speaking. ''Yes, that's what I was afraid of when he went off to the academy.''

The cat woman looked into the darkness as she continued. ''Raegar is an unusual young man as he doesn't care about rank or prestige; he just wants to grow stronger.''

Jasper chuckled at her words but nodded. ''Yes, he's determined. Even when I fought him, I was worried as his strikes were powerful for his size. My arms were shaking after the battle,'' he revealed.

Yuki giggled. ''He fights like the tiger demi-humans in the south; they use similar techniques, but I have no idea where he learned them from,'' she said with an amused expression.

Following that, explosions rocked the gorge, causing the two of them to look worried as roar, howls, and other monster noises echoed out. She went to move forward but Jasper stopped her.

''Don't go down there. He can survive in such a place, but I doubt we'll be able to deal with the swarm of creatures,'' the young man revealed.

Yuki's heart sank, but she placed her trust in her young master. Steeling herself, she stepped toward the entrance, prompting Jasper and the Dawnfire soldiers to follow. Together, they moved forward until they reached the two guards.

While the cat woman, Jasper, and the soldiers waited outside, Raegar was fighting with more Shadow Lions. He was jumping around like a rabbit, which angered the monsters, but his blades sliced across two of their throats.

Blood poured out like a waterfall just as he threw the daggers into the heads of two lunging lions, which were the last creatures. They crashed to the ground with sickening thuds as he summoned his weapons.

Once the fight was over, he collected everything just before sensing nearby Aether. Raegar cut out the glowing brown and green Aether Cores alongside the lion claws, which would sell for a lot once he reached Deadwater City.