Aether Chronicles: Birth Of A Legend-Chapter 77: Quick On My Feet

Raegar was going to respond, but Lisara leaned in and pressed a soft kiss to his cheek. Heat crept up his neck, but she had already shifted gears, her voice casual as if nothing had happened. ''The City Lord left your reward. He's gone off to battle with the king.''

He didn't know how to react once she kissed him, all he knew was his cheeks were going red, forcing him to put the mask back on before replying. ''What did he reward me?''

Moments later, she sat down in her chair with a smile as she slid something across the table while speaking in an amused voice. ''Have a look, I dare say you'll love this gift.''

Without waiting, he opened it only to see a silver ring, but thanks to his senses he could feel the Aether radiating off it. Raegar picked it up as the dark elf revealed. ''A magic storage ring the lord had made for you in the capital with the blessing of King Vlad. He wanted to make the reward worth the deed.''

Lisara continued in a cheerful voice. ''Put it on and channel some of your Aether into it so it can register to you,'' she instructed, watching him with those glowing gray eyes, sharp with expectation.

Raegar picked it up and slipped it onto his left hand before sending some of his energy into it, and he felt a slight sting, causing the elf to comment with a smile. ''It accepted you as the owner and no one else can access it apart from you.''

''Oh cool, I needed something new, my bag was getting ruined thanks to the forest,'' he said with wide eyes as he tried to store the magic bag his grandfather gave him, and when it vanished he got excited.

Lisara beamed, her grey eyes sparkled with delight as she spoke. ''Great! I told him you'd appreciate something more practical than another dagger, your ones seem good enough for now.''

He summoned the dark blades that have been through a lot with him, but he agreed with a nod. ''You're right, these are Tier Two weapons and will last until I become Tier Three at the least.''

After that, Raegar and the Guild Master continued chatting. The older woman leaned back in her chair, her voice tinged with curiosity. ''I heard a Gateway opened near Drakenwood just the other day, a Rank D, no less. It's got the staff all worked up.''

Lisara turned around to admire Dreadshade City before speaking again. ''From what I gather, they're planning to let the promising students explore it once the Gatewalkers have cleared it and deemed it safe.''

''A Gate? Going to that academy will be fun,'' he said with glowing red eyes.

This made the older woman giggle. ''I love seeing your excitement, maybe one day we can explore a Gateway together. It's been a while since I've used my magic.''

A heavy silence hung in the air until Lisara casually waved her hand toward a wilted plant nearby. It sprang back to life, its leaves unfurling with vibrant green, only for her to repeat the gesture and snuff out its vitality once more.

Raegar's eyes widened, a faint mutter escaping his lips. ''Nature and dark Aether, huh? I don't mind the dark stuff, but I'm no assassin, just quick on my feet.''

Following that, he asked something that had been on his mind since hearing the news back in Ravensguard City. ''How's the war in the north going?''

When Lisara heard this, she sighed before revealing. ''It's come to a standstill as the Korrveth and Lunathyr Kingdoms took some chokepoints in the south and are holding off the soldiers of the empire.''

She pulled out a map of Kaldorra and pointed out several locations. ''Here at the Shadowpine Pass, the demons overwhelmed the Dawnfire defenders and took the castle guarding the road west. I believe the empire's generals are stuck because the enemy fortified it even more.''

Raegar nodded as she then pointed at a river crossing and continued. ''Dawnshard Castle was taken by the demi-humans a few weeks back. I believe King Vlad Von Carstein is besieging it from the south, but another enemy army attacked from the rear.''

His eyebrow rose when hearing that, but Lisara moved onto a road that led to the southwestern part of the Duskmoor County, which was neighbours with his family, the Blackwoods.

''Rumors speak of several pirate bands that landed on the Southwestern coast and took an abandoned village as a base to raid the Kingsway, but the empire has been busy dealing with the wandering armies,'' she revealed with a smirk.

''What ranks are these pirates?'' Raegar curiously asked. ''I know the footsoldiers are Tier One or Two?''

Lisara nodded before answering. ''Your correct and I believe the leader should be Tier Three.''

''Interesting,'' he responded. ''I may have to clear them out while traveling north. Maybe I can lure a monster swarm toward the demons and demi-humans.''

When the older woman heard this, her eyes widened. ''You're diabolical Rae but I love it,'' she revealed with a giggle.

Following that, the two of them continued talking until Mary returned an hour later carrying a large pouch of coins. When Raegar saw this, his smile grew wider as the receptionist spoke with a tired smile. ''Two hundred and fifty five gold coins for everything. The second highest payout the Dreadshade Guild has given out.''

Lisara started laughing as his eyes gleamed with greed, causing the dark elf to ask. ''You loot goblin, that's a good haul but it's not all of it is it. What about the Forest Widow Carapace?''

''Keeping it for armor when I reach Dunmara City,'' he revealed with a chuckle. ''It was on the higher end of the Tier Three scale, I bet I could find a good blacksmith that could turn it into decent protection.''

The two women looked surprised but Mary responded while handing him the pouch. ''That's a good choice, yours is on its last breath.''

Raegar glanced down and noticed his armor was in tatters before laughing. ''Yes but I've been lucky when it comes to monster injuries since it protected me.''

After speaking, he stood up while looking at the receptionist and spoke with a friendly smile. ''Thanks for all your help Mary but I need to leave the Nytheria Kingdom to enroll in Drakenwood Academy.''

The brunette nodded with a frown but quickly hugged him. ''You're welcome Raegar and I wish you all the best. I do hope you pass through again, it would be nice to see how you grow.''

''The academies are always traveling across Kaldorra,'' Lisara commented while standing up. ''And once a certain someone causes havoc behind the enemy's back the empire will break through.''

Raegar chuckled before an Aether device blared, forcing Mary to run out of the room as she was being summoned by another receptionist. The Guild Master watched the woman leave before moving.

The older woman pulled him into a tight embrace, her voice softening to a whisper. ''I'm looking forward to seeing you again, Rae. Just promise me you'll take care of yourself, and stay out of trouble.''

''I'll be fine, Lisara,'' he replied with an innocent grin. ''Next time we meet, how about we grab something to eat and catch up?''

His casual suggestion caught her off guard, a flicker of surprise crossing her face before a smile appeared as she answered. ''I'll hold you too that.''

Following that, Raegar said his farewells and made his way to the General Store to buy supplies for the road. Once that was complete, he left Dreadshade City and started traveling on the Kingsway.

As he trudged along the dusty road, merchant caravans rattled past, while Nytherian soldiers marched in tight formation toward some distant war. Their eyes lingered on him, drawn to the mask that set him apart from other travelers.

Raegar ignored their looks and continued walking while eating some campfire bread. This was his daily routine for a week until reaching Nightshade Grove, which was a border farming village home to the Nytherian Border Guards.

The sun was setting while approaching the fortified village that was littered with soldiers patrolling the war as others checked the merchant caravans. Raegar was stopped when it was his turn, but he flashed the gold plate Vlad gave him.

When the gate commander saw this, his eyes widened as he ushered him through only for him to see a town instead of a border village. Buildings popped up everywhere with people rushing around in a panic.

''This looks like a fantasy town that came straight from a novel,'' he muttered while watching some horse-like creature with six legs pull along a sturdy carriage.

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Raegar's gaze settled on a caravan of nobles, encircled by dozens of armored guards whose sharp eyes swept the milling crowd, but it was what they were wearing that caught his eye. 'They look like fantasy samurai,' he mused.

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