Aether Chronicles: Birth Of A Legend-Chapter 337: I Assume You’re Jeremy?

Raegar was sitting at the table opposite the window, as the slaughter stopped minutes ago, allowing him to continue eating the monster meat. By the time he felt bloated, the village fell silent as Caroline stood up, speaking. ''I'm heading to bed. If you follow me, I can show you to your room. The temple is big enough, and people hate it here.''

''Why?'' Drusilla curiously asked.

''There was a massacre here about twenty-five years ago,'' Caroline revealed, a frown appearing. ''Over eighty people were butchered and eaten by the Night People before retreating into the forest that surrounds us.''

''That's horrible, but I guess we get this place to ourselves,'' Nivara added, trying to lighten the mood. ''How do the people here get food, and how many of you are there?''

''There are eight of us now, four were killed in the attack,'' the old woman replied. ''Jeremy will be over in the morning to explain everything. Now, get some sleep, that's if you can. The screams are horrible on the first night.''

Raegar chuckled, waving his hand, creating an air bubble around the temple, keeping out the howls. This made Drusilla and Nivara smile as a shocked Caroline couldn't help but smile. ''For the first time in forty years, I don't hear them at night; this will be peaceful.''

Following that, they all turned in as the Dark Fairy led them to the bedroom, thanks to their host giving her directions before wandering off, muttering about something. He smiled, stepping inside the bedroom, only to notice it was rundown, and everything was covered in dust, causing the group to shiver.

The blonde waved her hand, using Aether to clean the place until it was perfectly clean. Raegar and Nivara looked at the blonde who giggled as she shrugged. ''We may be trapped, but we don't have to live in filth while here.''

He couldn't help but smile. Nivara shook her head as the trio began resting while talking about their prison. Drusilla was sitting by the window, eyes glowing as she scanned the place and confirmed his earlier thought. ''This is a separate world, controlled by an Old One; this one is twisted compared to the ones Arthur told me about.''

This caught Raegar's attention, prompting him to ask. ''How do you know this, Dru?''

''I can sense the Aether of our world, but there's something else intertwined with it,'' she replied, her voice tense. ''Something ancient and evil. There is, however, a glimmer of hope. Exits are scattered throughout this place, though they're hidden from plain sight. Only those who wield Dark Magic can uncover them.''

''Good, then I'll level that up first,'' he declared, determined to escape this place while growing stronger.

Following that, Raegar put his feet up and stared up at the bright blue moon, which was beautiful despite being in this creepy world they found themselves trapped in. The screams no longer bothered them, but he could hear them if he focused. He pulled out some tea that Dominique had made and began drinking.

The warm liquid calmed his rushing heart, but soon enough, Drusilla appeared, a knowing smile crossing her face as she straddled his lap before giving him a passionate kiss, sending shivers down his spine. When Nivara saw this, she rushed to the other end of the room as the Dark Fairy began moaning.

By the time they finished, the blonde was out cold, covered in sweat, and twitching thanks to the pleasure washing across her body. Raegar scooped her into a princess carry, placing her in the nearby bed as the Dark Elf complained. ''Why do you two gotta have sex yet again?! I'm here to remember!''

''Sorry, gorgeous,'' he apologized with a charming smile.

Nivara was caught off guard but giggled. ''You're shameless, Rae, but it's one of the reasons I like you.''

Afterward, the pair sank into the soft cushions that were clean thanks to Drusilla's magic. Hours bled away until a tap hit the windowpane, slow. Their heads snapped toward the noise, only to be shocked. Raegar's eyes widened in shock. There, pressed against the glass, was one of the Night People.

It was giving them a creepy grin, and its skin was translucent enough to show the pulse beneath. Nivara's breath hitched; her fingers found the dagger's hilt, steel whispering free. He clamped a hand over hers, voice a graveled hush. ''The creature can't get in. It only wants one of us to open the door.''

They watched as the creature's evil smile widened even more, splitting until the corners touched the ears. A voice seeped through the glass, syrupy and soft, like a mother coaxing a child from beneath the bed. ''Young ones, still awake?''

It pressed a palm to the pane; the window fogged around five gray fingerprints that stayed long after the hand slid away. ''Come closer, darlings. The fire's so warm in here, but it's cold out there. Just a crack. Just your fingertip on the latch.''

Nivara's knuckles whitened on the dagger. The thing's tongue, pale and forked, traced the seam where glass met wood, leaving a glistening trail that steamed. ''Raegar,'' it sang, tasting his name like candy. ''You left the circle unfinished last time. Selfish boy.''

Its gaze slid to Nivara. ''And you, sweet knife-girl, your heartbeat is loud. so very loud. I can count every flutter. Open for me, and I'll quiet it. I'll tuck it right here,'' it pointed a clawed finger, tapped its own hollow chest. ''Safe beside mine.''

The fire popped; a coal rolled across the hearth and died. In the brief flare, the creature's reflection multiplied, dozens of them crowding the window, shoulder to shoulder, all smiling the same wet smile. ''Just a whisper,'' they crooned in perfect unison. '''Say yes, and the night folds you like a blanket. No more watching. No more waiting. Only the lovely dark and us.''

Raegar stared at the creature and waved his hand, expelling the things from the balcony outside, throwing them out of the shield. Once they were gone, Nivara sighed in relief, muttering. ''Damn south, I forgot how bad it can get thanks to being with you.''

''Don't blame me for this woman!'' he retorted, a smirk crossing his face. ''I'm trapped in here as well.''

The two started laughing as Nivara's stomach rumbled, offering her a chunk of cooked monster meat he pulled from his storage ring, making the Dark Elf laugh while accepting the food. Raegar took out some bread and ate while growing tired as Drusilla's snores echoed throughout the room.

By the time he grew tired, he took off his shirt and looked at the silver-haired beauty. ''Do you want to join us? I don't want you to be lonely, Niv.''

The young woman's eyes widened as her cheeks grew darker, but she answered in a quiet voice. ''Yes, please, Rae.''

Following that, he dragged Nivara into bed, the blonde cuddled up to his right side, and she took the left. Her head was resting on his shoulder as he ran his fingers through her soft hair. He soon fell asleep just like the Dark Elf did, and by the time he woke up the next morning, someone was banging on the bedroom door.

Raegar rubbed his hand and stumbled out of bed, opened it only to see an older man standing there, looking shocked. He shook his head and spoke. ''Are you the newcomers Caroline told me about?''

''That we're,'' he answered. ''And I assume you're Jeremy?''

The man held out his hand. ''I am, it's a pleasure to meet such a powerful mage. I can feel your aura from outside.''

Raegar grinned. ''So I've been told, and I'd advise you to get the people ready to live in the real world once again. I'll escape this place, leaving it broken so no one else will be trapped in here.''

When Jeremy heard this, a lhe saw a monster and realized the beings behind this brought in a Demon who would tear everything apart, but something told him to warn the young man. ''Be careful here, run away if you can. You won't die that way.''

Raegar tilted his head, genuine bewilderment flickering across his storm-scarred face. Then the grin returned, wider, feral, glorious.

''Why would I run?'' he asked, getting annoyed.

Aura erupted from him in a cataclysmic ring, no gentle breeze but a hurricane of raw power. Stone screamed and split; iron torches bent like reeds. The air itself ignited, shimmering with violet lightning that danced across his skin. His energy roared outward, a living storm that woke up the women.

''WHY WOULD I EVER RUN FROM A FIGHT!'' Raegar declared.

The chamber quaked. Cracks spider-webbed up walls older than empires. Somewhere deep in the realm's heart, ancient seals groaned and shattered like glass beneath a titan's heel. He stood at the eye, fists clenched, aura blazing brighter than any sun, a god of ruin and rebirth laughing into the storm he had become.