Aether Chronicles: Birth Of A Legend-Chapter 114: Twin Shade Daggers

Raegar watched Agatha's light green eyes widen in surprise. She quickly shook her head and asked. ''So you're a Devil Hunter as well? What path are you picking, Grandson?''

''I don't know,'' he said with a chuckle. ''I can take on monsters, bandits, even devils, clear dungeons and tackle Gates. But right now, I want to grow stronger so I can keep the ones I love.''

His grandmother beamed, walking over to a nearby table, asking. ''If I write a letter, would you get it to Valentina for me, please?''

Raegar nodded. ''Of course, just write it and give it to me when we leave tomorrow,'' he answered.

''Thank you,'' she said sweetly. ''I haven't spoken to her in months, and I want to see if she's okay.''

Following that, John reappeared with a smile. ''The beds done up for you, boy.''

''Thank you, Grandfather, but before I go to sleep, would you like to share a drink with me?'' he replied.

The older couple was shocked when he pulled out a bottle of sake and three glasses and started filling them up. ''I love this stuff; it helped me stay warm and sane in that godforsaken forest.''

John sat down next to him and picked up a glass, sniffing the liquid. His eyebrows rose as he asked. ''Is this that Eastern stuff everyone's raving about?''

He nodded with a knowing smile. ''Yes, it is. I bought so many bottles that I won't run out for a year unless I turn into a drunk,'' he answered, taking a mouthful of the stuff.

The sake burned his throat, but he was used to it as Agatha took the third with narrowed eyes. ''You're sixteen, been trapped in the notorious Bloodfang Forest. No wonder you drink this stuff to relax; not many your age could touch it.''

''It's delicious and goes well with monster meat,'' he revealed.

Following that, the three of them started drinking until his grandmother became drunk and started pampering him. The older woman stood up and forced him to his feet, cupping his face.

''You remind me of your grandfather when he was younger,'' she slurred with a love-filled expression. ''But this white hair and red eyes of your mother adds even more to your handsomeness, grandson.''

Raegar let out a chuckle at her words, but Agatha pressed on, undeterred. ''I know how much you despise those scars, but you know Elysia, her love for you runs deep. Once she wakes, she'll heal them without a second thought.''

The older woman shook her head with a knowing smile, continuing. ''It's not the first time we've been through this. I still remember when we were teens, and a Cyclops turned her to stone. A week later, she was back to normal, as if nothing had happened.''

''You knew my other grandmother?'' he questioned with a curious expression.

John was the one to answer. ''Yes, we've been friends for decades. It's one of the reasons Griffin agreed to the marriage between your father and mother; he's a strict parent and wants the best for his family.''

Raegar nodded, a faint grin tugging at his lips as he took another swig of sake. The warmth of the drink spread through him, easing his tension. ''You're right,'' he said, his voice softening. ''He's always pushing me and Yuki forward, even though she's just my maid and he's the Duke of the Western Lands.''

Agatha leaned back, a knowing glint in her eye. ''That's the Lion of Dawnfire for you; always has been that way. But come on, enough talk. Let's finish our drinks and get some sleep.''

Hours slipped after their conversation, and soon John was sprawled out, snoring loudly, fast asleep. Agatha slumped against him, her breathing soft. He rose to his feet, a smile crossing his face as he grabbed a couple of blankets and draped them over the pair.

With that done, he shuffled to his room, the sake still buzzing in his system. The moment he reached his bed, he collapsed onto it, curling into a tight ball. Within minutes, the drunken haze pulled him under, and he drifted into a deep, dreamless sleep.

The next morning, Raegar stirred awake as his grandfather's voice rang through the air. ''Grandson! Rise and shine, come grab your breakfast!''

He rolled out of bed, a yawn rumbling up as he stretched his arms wide. His back cracked with a satisfying series of pops, the tension melting away in a refreshing ripple down his spine.

After waking up, he walked out of the room and over to the table where his grandparents were and sat down as Agatha greeted him with a happy expression. ''Morning, Rae. How was your sleep?''

''Comfortable. Thank you for letting me stay the night,'' he answered, a warm smile spreading across his face.

A short while later, the older woman slid a plate brimming with meat and vegetables toward him, urging him to dig in. His stomach growled loudly, sparking a laugh from the older couple as he eagerly obliged.

The three of them started eating as he spotted their stuff on a nearby counter, ready to pack away before heading south. Twenty minutes later, they were finished eating, and John stood up with a pleased sigh.

''Thanks for the food, my love,'' he said, leaning down and kissing Agatha on the forehead. ''Delicious as always.''

His grandmother beamed at the affection. ''You're welcome sweetheart, now go prepare to leave. We have to meet the others at Ravenguard City.''

When Raegar heard this, his ears twitched, causing him to speak. ''I've been there. King Vlad let me get treated in the Royal Nytheria Hospital.''

The two adults' heads snapped toward him as John questioned. ''You know the vampire king?''

''Yes,'' he answered. ''The Guildmaster Lisara took me there once I beat the Devil Lord.''

Agatha returned his smile with a nod. ''Good. We'll rendezvous with the rest of the crew there before pushing deeper south. It's going to be a hassle fending off the bandits and Rougehold soldiers lying in wait to ambush us along the route,'' she remarked.

He laughed, adding. ''Travel through Bloodfang, I cleared out loads of monsters. According to the guards at Dreadshade City, it should take a year to replenish their numbers, so it should be a shortcut for you both.''

John quickly pulled out a map from his magic bag and started going over it as Agatha joined him. Moments later, the older woman smiled. ''Thank you for that, dear. It will shave hours off our journey,'' she said.

Raegar nodded curiously. ''How are you getting there? Walking or running will take days,'' he questioned.

Foll𝑜w current novels on fɾēewebnσveℓ.com.

Agatha guided him outside and let out a sharp, low whistle. A pair of deep roars rumbled in response, making the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end. Two massive creatures emerged from the treeline.

'Sylvaroth Tigers!' he thought with wide eyes. 'How are they so far north?'

Raegar knew these monsters were extremely rare and came from the Land of Sylvaroth which is a wilderness in the far south. These beasts towered twice as large as any tiger back on Earth, their sleek black fur slashed with white stripes.

His gaze locked onto their teeth, each one as long as his hand, while their piercing yellow eyes swept the area, alert and unyielding. When the creatures spotted Raegar, they growled, prompting him to summon his blades as his instincts flared to life.

John stepped between them and scolded them. ''Saber, Kali, stop that right now!''

The two big cats looked at the older man before he continued. ''This is Raegar; he's our youngest grandson who's come to visit us. Now come say hello; we need to get on the road soon, and he created a shortcut for us.''

Saber padded forward and halted. He stowed his daggers and reached out, running his fingers through the tiger's plush fur. The male responded with a gentle headbutt against his hand, soaking up the attention as he began to pamper him.

''Wow, you're a Tier Nine monster,'' he mumbled with glowing red eyes. ''So powerful, no wonder you help my grandparents.''

He scratched behind its ear, and the massive cat flopped to the ground, rolling onto its back and wriggling like an overgrown kitten. Kali did the same thing and showed him her stomach, earning a belly rub.

The two Sylvaroth Tigers were acting like housecats, which made him smile as they purred and wanted more stroked. This shocked his grandparents, who stood nearby, prompting him to look at them.

Raegar was shocked at his John was a above Tier Ten as he couldn't sense the older man's power. He looked at Agatha, who was Tier Nine causing his jaw to drop, mumbling. ''You're just as strong as Griffin.''

''Naturally we are,'' his grandfather replied, beaming with a broad, hearty smile. ''We're the renowned Blackwood Family, an ancient line, steeped in legend, that's hunted monsters and creatures of the night for generations.''