Aether Chronicles: Birth Of A Legend-Chapter 58: The Lost Expedition

Raegar nodded in understanding as he waited for Monty to bring out whatever he was talking about. He waited for ten minutes and the old man soon reappeared, carrying a large box that he dropped on the counter with a bang.

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Dust flew everywhere as Monty waved his arms away before he finally spoke in a jovial voice. ''There's two hundred bombs in here, all the kinds you'll need for the foreseeable future.''

Evan's jaw dropped, and he was even shocked, causing him to question the old man. ''How much?''

''I'll do them all for Thirty gold but I'll throw in a bomb pouch to store them in,'' Monty replied with a big smile.

Raegar reached for his coin pouch, spilling its contents onto the counter as he tallied his wealth: fifty-two gold, one hundred forty-one silver, and seventy copper. He paused, eyebrows lifting slightly when the thought crossed his mind. 'I didn't realize I had that much.'

Monty handed him the stuff, and he clipped the bomb pouch onto his belt before emptying the projectiles into it. They vanished, which amazed him, but the old man soon explained. ''It's a space bag specifically made for the bombs.''

''Well, this will be useful in both the dungeon and forest,'' Raegar replied before handing over the coins. ''Thank you for this, Monty. I appreciate it.''

The old man waved him away with a smile. ''Go get some rest. The city is praying that you five return.''

Following that, he left the weapons shop and headed toward the guild while Dreadshade City came to life. People were drinking in the taverns as others went about their business, and ten minutes later he arrived.

Raegar stepped into the building and headed straight for the room Lisara had shown him earlier. Pushing the door open, he slipped inside, shrugging off his bag and setting the coin pouch aside.

Without another thought, he climbed into bed after taking off his armor, sinking into the mattress as sleep claimed him. The following morning, a banging on the door woke him up as Lisara's voice echoed out. ''Get up, boy! The others are waiting for you.''

''Coming!'' he replied while standing up.

Raegar stretched, his joints popping as a yawn escaped him. He shook off the grogginess, pulling on his gear with practiced ease. He double-checked his bomb pouch, clipping it securely to his belt, then slung his space bag over his shoulder.

Following that, he left the room to see the dark elf woman standing there with a smile as she spoke. ''What did you get up to last night, sleepy head? Visit the brothels?''

When Raegar heard this, he felt his cheeks go red before he shook his head. ''No, I wouldn't do that to Yuki.''

Lisara beamed as she grabbed his arm while teasing him with a knowing expression. ''So who's this Yuki? Must be a special woman to keep someone loyal, especially noble young men.''

''No, I have no interest in messing around,'' he revealed in a determined tone. ''I want to get stronger so I can protect the ones I love and explore the world to discover stuff no one has seen.''

The older woman nodded, her face lighting up with a wide, approving smile as they stepped out onto the bustling street while walking toward the dungeon that was in the southern part of the city.

''A fine set of goals, boy,'' Lisara said warmly while dodging passing people. ''Who knows? Maybe I'll end up reading a tale about you, the first Spellblade to cross the Sea of Sorrow, and set foot on the lost continent of Azuthra.''

Raegar let out a hearty laugh at her words before responding, ''I wish it were that simple. I've heard rumors that even the weakest creatures there are Tier Three, but it's all hearsay as no one's set foot there.''

The woman tilted her head, curious. ''What makes you say that?'' she pressed. ''If I recall, there are two old accounts of explorers landing there, only to be driven off by cannibal tribes or the weather.''

''First off,'' Raegar began, ''Those accounts are from the Lost Expedition, about three hundred years back. They're talking about a chain of islands called Mistwood Isles, just beyond the Sea of Sorrow. The first emperor built a fortified town there, still holding strong even now.''

''Oh wow, how does someone so young know such things?'' Lisara commented

He smiled when remembering his time in the Vaelthorne manor in his childhood before he answered. ''My uncle Vaelor loves to collect books, and he has thousands of them in my grandfather's library.''

Lisara nodded before asking with a curious expression. ''I assume you're joining an academy? That's the reason you don't want to be an adventurer?''

''Yes,'' Raegar answered. ''I want to conquer dungeons and gateways. Maybe I'll do some quests from the academy depending on what they are.''

Following that, he spotted the dungeon in the distance that was surrounded by guards and adventurers. Lisara smiled before walking toward the Strike Squad as she spoke. ''I'm sure you'll go fire, but now focus on the upcoming mission.''

''Always,'' he replied.

Minutes later, Tarrin and Orin smiled when seeing him as the burly man greeted him with a jovial voice after slapping him on the back. ''Morning youngling. Are you ready to fight?''

''Yes, fighting monsters is nothing new to me but if they're stronger, I can learn something from them,'' Raegar replied while the others said their hellos before Lisara motioned for them to join her.

Tarrin got excited and put his arm around his shoulders as he spoke in a confident tone. ''Me and you will be up front. We'll work together to keep the others safe while Orin protects our rears.''

''Don't act like this idiot youngling,'' Lyra commented with a giggle. ''We don't want another battle junkie on the team.''

That's when the blue-haired Elaris appeared and cast a spell over him, which made his body feel lighter, causing him to look at her as she explained. ''I got rid of the fatigue that was hiding away. You should feel good for a few days.''

''Thank you,'' he said, which earned him a smile. ''I feel much better.''

With their gear readied and resolve steeled, the group was escorted to the dungeon's threshold, a door-shaped portal looming behind a fortress in the city's center. Lisara looked at them with a serious expression.

''Keep your wits about you and don't push yourselves too far,'' she cautioned, her voice steady but edged with worry. ''If it gets dicey, get out—devils are sly as hell. Word is, two hunters went in last night, so you might bump into them down there.''

''They're dead,'' Raegar blurted out, his voice cutting through the air like a blade, making the group tense in an instant.

Tarrin turned to him, one eyebrow arching skeptically. ''What's got you so sure, kid?'' the older man pressed.

Raegar's gaze flickered, intense and unyielding. ''None of you feel that aura?'' he asked, only to be met with a chorus of shaken heads from the group.

He shrugged before Lisara approached him with narrowed eyes, before asking. ''You're a Devil Hunter, aren't you?''

''I don't know, I can feel an ominous aura,'' Raegar answered, just as it vanished, causing him to continue. ''Now it's gone.''

The dark elf woman visibly relaxed before the Strike Squad stepped through the portal, only to spot a bloodbath of devils and monsters littering the entrance chamber, causing the group to react instantly.

Orin blocked the way forward with his shield while Tarrin and Elaris covered Lyra as Raegar stood there waiting for something to happen. Moments later, everyone relaxed, but he spoke up while approaching the tunnel. ''I'll go scout ahead. If you hear explosions, rush toward me.''

Following that, he used Flash Step to pass by the big man, who was confused, but he ignored the complaints before walking down the tunnel. Five minutes later, Raegar appeared in a carbon copy of Dreadshade City.

''This one is creepier,'' he muttered.

Seconds later, screams echoed out as a group of Tier Two humanoid Ghouls dressed as citizens rushed out of the alley and charged in his direction. He grinned before throwing the daggers that pierced two creatures' skulls.

Before they dropped to the ground, Raegar summoned the blades and started slashing at the Ghouls through their heads, causing them to drop dead while green Aether Cores appeared beside some copper coins.

'Looks like I'll earn nicely off this mission,' he mused with an excited smile while dodging some claws before casting Lightningfire Blasts that burned a group of them to ash.

Moments later, a sharp shout pierced the silence, followed by the wet sound of flesh parting as several creatures were cleaved in two. Tarrin materialized beside the group, his blade still dripping with their blood.

''You can't rush off with devils lurking around, kid,'' the older man warned.

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