Aether Chronicles: Birth Of A Legend-Chapter 212: Open The Damn Door

Raegar was lying in the hot water as it washed over his body. He sighed in relief before sinking deeper just as the door opened and Drusilla stepped in, still naked, catching his attention.

’’Come on, then,’’ she purred. ’’I’ll scrub your back if you promise to return the favor.’’

He glanced over his shoulder and gave a slow nod, his red eyes glinting as he answered. ’’Deal.’’

The water sloshed softly, embracing her as she reached for a sea sponge, its texture soft yet coarse, and dipped it into the water before pressing it against his skin. Her hands traced the contours of his back with gentle, circular motions.

Moments later, it glided over his muscles, leaving a trail of soap that shimmered in the Aether light. She leaned closer, her breath warm against his ear as she spoke, her tone softening into something more intimate.

’’Last night...’’ she murmured, her voice laced with a quiet gratitude. ’’It was incredible. Thank you.’’

Raegar’s lips tugged upward into a rare, unguarded smile, the kind that softened the rugged lines of his face. He tilted his head slightly, his voice low and warm. ’’I had a good time myself,’’ he admitted.

She beamed at his words and resumed her scrubbing, but her touch lingered a little longer than necessary, as if savoring the moment. She leaned forward again, her blonde hair brushing against his shoulder as she lowered her voice to a conspiratorial whisper.

’’Can we keep this between us? Just for now, you know. At least until you’ve had a chance to speak with Yuki?’’ she asked.

Her blue eyes, bright and earnest, sought his in the reflection of the water’s surface. There was a flicker of vulnerability in her gaze, a silent plea woven into the threads of her usual confidence and bravado.

Raegar met her eyes in the wavering mirror of the bath, his expression thoughtful. He nodded once, and the tension in her shoulders eased. ’’Until I’ve talked to Yuki,’’ he agreed, his voice steady. ’’My word on it.’’

Drusilla smiled then, a radiant thing that lit up her face like the dawn breaking over a shadowed forest. The sponge resumed its journey across his back, and for a moment, the only sounds were the soft lapping of water.

Afterward, she spent five minutes gently cleansing his body. Then Raegar turned to Drusilla, his hands gliding over her soft, pale skin. She shivered under his touch but swept her hair aside, allowing him to wash her back with care.

Once the couple had finished washing up, the warm water and soap left them feeling refreshed. The air was thick thanks to the scent of bath oils, and the soft patter of dripping water echoed faintly in the bathroom.

Raegar stepped out first, wrapping a plush towel around his waist, the fabric cool against his skin. The gorgeous Drusilla lingered a moment longer, humming softly as they rinsed off the last of the suds.

He grabbed another towel and dried his hair, the damp strands sticking to his forehead before he swept them back. With a sigh, he padded barefoot across the hardwood floor, leaving wet footprints.

As he entered the bedroom, the familiar space enveloped him, crisp sheets neatly tucked, the faint glow of a lamp casting warm shadows across the walls. He was just about to slip into something more comfortable when a sudden, insistent banging erupted at the door.

The sound was sharp and jarring, cutting through the tranquil atmosphere like a knife. Raegar’s lips curled into a wry grin. It had to be Rune. Only Rune would pound on a door with such impatient, chaotic energy, as if the world might end if he weren’t let in immediately.

’’Rae! Come on, buddy!’’ the giant boy shouted cheerfully. ’’We have lessons!’’

Chuckling to himself, Raegar shook his head and took a step toward the door, already mentally preparing for classes, but then, out of the corner of his eye, something stopped him cold.

He froze mid-step, his breath catching in his throat as a primal chill raced down his spine. Slowly, almost unwillingly, he turned his head to the left. There, pressed against the window, was an enormous, unblinking eye.

When Rargar saw this, he remembered the guardian, causing him to wonder. ’The Kraken?’

The thing was impossibly large, filling the entire frame of the glass, its pupil a deep, inky black that seemed to swallow the light around it. The iris shimmered with an unnatural hue, flecks of gold and green swirling like a galaxy trapped in amber.

It stared directly at him, unyielding, as if it could see not just his body but every thought, every fear, every secret he’d ever buried. ’What the fuck!’ Raegar thought.

His body instinctively recoiled, the towel slipping slightly as he stumbled back, his bare feet squeaking against the floor. The eye didn’t move, didn’t blink, it just watched, its presence suffocating, like a weight pressing down on his chest.

For a moment, the world narrowed to that single, monstrous gaze, and Raegar felt utterly exposed, as if the creature behind it knew him in ways he didn’t even know himself. The banging on the door grew louder.

Rune’s muffled voice was now faintly audible through the wood. ’’Rae! Open the damn door, man! You’re not gonna believe this!’’

Raegar shook his head as Drusilla stepped out of the bathroom while speaking. ’’Oh, the Lost One is a pervert. She was watching us having fun last night.’’

’’Huh?’’ he muttered.

The Dark Fairy’s mischievous giggle danced through the air, her voice a blend of honey and wicked delight as she leaned closer. ’’You know,’’ she teased, her lips curling into a smirk. ’’When your tongue was buried deep in my kitty, that perverted Kraken was watching.’’

She twirled a lock of her hair around her finger. ’’Not that I mind, mind you. She’s got that innocent, curious vibe, like a kid sneaking a peek at something she doesn’t quite understand.’’

Raegar, still catching his breath from the earlier shock of the massive eye at the window, threw his head back and let out an unrestrained laugh. The absurdity of it all, the Fairy’s brazen teasing.

The idea of a Kraken playing voyeur hit him square in the chest, dissolving the lingering tension. ’’You’re telling me we had an audience?" he managed between chuckles, wiping a mock tear from his eye. "Gods, this place gets weirder by the minute."

Shaking his head, he moved toward the wardrobe, pulling out a loose-fitting shirt and dark trousers. His fingers worked quickly, buttoning the shirt as the faint scent of cedar from the wooden wardrobe mingled with the lavender still clinging to his skin from the bath.

The Dark Fairy, blonde curls bouncing as she flitted across the room with an exaggerated skip, called out over her shoulder, her voice bright and teasing. ’’I’m claiming the bathroom! Gotta freshen up before the chaos descends.’’

She paused at the doorway, tossing him a cheeky grin. "Oh, and let the others in, will you? Rune’s probably halfway to breaking the door down by now."

With a playful wink, she vanished into the bathroom, the door clicking shut behind her. A moment later, the faint sound of her soft humming filtered through the wood, adding a cozy undertone to the room.

Raegar snorted, still grinning as he tugged on his boots, the leather creaking softly. The banging on the front door hadn’t let up; if anything, it was louder now, punctuated by Rune’s impatient shouts. ’’Rae, you lazy bastard! Open the damn door before I kick it in!’’

The threat was empty, of course, the giant’s dramatics were as predictable as the tides, but it spurred him into motion. He cast a glance at the window, half-expecting to see that unnerving eye again.

But the glass was empty, reflecting only the warm glow of the bedroom. ’’Alright, alright, keep your pants on,’’ Raegar muttered under his breath, striding toward the door.

His hand hovered over the knob for a split second, a flicker of curiosity crossing his mind. A Kraken, huh? Innocent or not, he wasn’t sure he was ready for whatever that conversation would entail.

With a shake of his head, he turned the knob and braced himself for the whirlwind of Rune and whoever else was about to barge into his already strange night. He swung the door open, the creak of the hinges barely audible over the giant’s relentless pounding.

The moment the door gave way, Rune barreled in like a storm given human form. His brown eyes gleamed with a mix of impatience and mischief, and a grin spread across his face as he clapped Raegar on the shoulder with enough force to make him stagger.

’’Finally!’’ Rune exclaimed, his voice booming through the room. ’’What’s the hold-up, man? Were you napping or just ignoring me because you too were doing stuff you’re not supposed to?’’

He didn’t wait for an answer, striding past him with the confidence of someone who owned the place. In his wake, he left a faint whiff of sea salt and smoke, as if he’d just rolled in from a tavern brawl by the docks.

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