Aether Chronicles: Birth Of A Legend-Chapter 160: Are You Even Human?

Raegar was resting while sipping on the sake and hissed when it burned his scarred throat, but he soon got used to it. Moments later, his gaze drifted to the deep sea beyond the window, its mysterious depths shimmering under the moon's glow.

''I do love this view,'' he muttered while downing the rest of the bottle. ''Better than a balcony.''

His attention returned to the ocean, stretching out like an endless dream, both haunting and serene. Raegar caught a fleeting spectacle, a school of fish, their scales glinting like scattered jewels, darting through the water.

They wove among the swaying underwater brush, nibbling at the fronds with. For a moment, the world beyond his pain felt alive, pulsing with quiet wonder, and he let himself linger in its fleeting solace, a warrior adrift in the tide of both loss and hope.

Following that, Raegar drank himself into a stupor and fell asleep on the chair, only to be woken up hours later. Someone was shaking him as a sweet voice reached his ears. ''Rae, are you okay?''

His eyes opened only to see Valentina crouched down in front of him with a worried expression on her face. The blonde's head tilted as he answered. ''Yes but the pain is still lingering.''

The older woman frowned before standing up, revealing. ''It will still be there thanks to the poison, but Nurse Kitsunia will relieve the pain every morning. So go see her before classes and don't attend P.T or Combat Magic until you're healed.''

''Alright, Val,'' he replied with a tired smile. ''What day is it?''

''Lightning handsome,'' she revealed, causing his eyes to widen.

Valentina nodded with an apologetic expression. ''The damage was extensive, but should be within your grandmother's skill range to heal. She just hasn't woken up.''

''I understand,'' he answered, sighing. ''I get I have Aether Fundamentals and Devil Hunting, the rest I'll relax in the library.''

The blonde beamed, leaning forward and planting a kiss on the mask, whispering. ''You don't need to hide your face from me, Rae, I'll never judge you.''

Raegar couldn't help but smile as he nodded. ''I know but I have to get used to it but it will take some time.''

Following that, the duo continued chatting until Valentina had to leave for her other classes, leaving him alone. He turned to the water and pulled out another bottle of Saki, he started drinking, thanks to the pain returning.

An unknown amount of time later, Rune and Caspian barged into his room with a big smile as the giant boy exclaimed. ''Rae! Professor Morris told us you were awake. Why haven't you come to breakfast?''

The dark-haired boy agreed with their friends words causing him to sigh. ''I'm more injured then I suspected, I can't do much and everything hurts.''

When the two boys heard this, they looked at him with pity, but Raegar waved them away. ''I'll join you tomorrow. I'm going to Brightwater alongside Zahara and Dominique, I still want to buy that fairy.''

His friends began laughing before the two told him the entire school was talking about him, thanks to the assassination attempt, and an important Dawnfirian general has been deployed to the school.

Raegar learned the empress wanted to protect the school, thanks to the rumors spreading among the students. Once Rune and Caspian were gone, he drank once more, only stopping when the second lesson bell rang.

He shook his spinning head and started making his way to Professor Silvershades' class. While on the way there, he quickly noticed the other students in his year, and the older ones avoided him.

'Damn people,' Raegar thought, annoyed. 'Wait until I'm healed and you want to be friends.'

Ten minutes later, he appeared outside the room where he spotted the Dominique and Zaharea standing there waiting. The blonde turned around, her grey eyes went wide in shock as she rushed toward him.

Before she could touch him, he raised a hand. ''Please don't touch me, my body hurts and only gets worse whenever I brush up against it.''

When Zahara heard this, she looked concerned, but Dominique looked at him with glowing green eyes. ''I'm glad you're up and about, Rae. We were worried you wouldn't wake up, you've slept for three days.''

Raegar grimaced thanks to the pain but ignored it while replying. ''I should be fine, I'll heal over time, and by the time Zahara can heal my grandmother, she'll be able to heal every part of me, including my Water Aether Pool.''

As the words left his lips, Dominique stepped forward with narrowed green eyes. ''Can I see it?'' freёnovelkiss.com

A flicker of confusion danced across Raegar's features, his brow furrowing. The vampire girl, Dominique, caught the look and flashed a sly, knowing smile, her crimson eyes glinting with a mix of mischief and intrigue.

''Let me touch your chest,'' she said, her voice smooth as velvet. ''My energy will seep into you, revealing your Aether Pools.''

Raegar's confusion lingered, but curiosity and trust won out. He gave a slow nod, his heart thudding with anticipation. Dominique stepped closer, her slender hand pressed gently against his chest, her cool touch sending a shiver through his battle-worn body.

But then, she froze, her posture stiffening as if struck by a sudden revelation. Her gaze, sharp and unyielding, locked onto the pulse at his neck, her pupils dilating with a hunger that was both primal and restrained.

His lips curved into a faint, teasing smile, his voice low. ''I thought female vampires only drank the blood of their lovers?'' he quipped

Dominique's grey cheeks went red before closing her eyes and concentrating on his Aether Pools. Raegar watched as she went stiff, prompting him to scan his inner world, only to see the Water Pool cracked and broken.

The vampire girl turned to him in a translucent form and questioned. ''How are you still alive, Rae? This damage would kill me or the group.''

Would Dominque could see was an inner world devastated by his injuries. Cracks lined every pool. Everything was touched by the poison, even the veins leading to the other parts of his body.

''This would kill a Tier Ten, let alone you,'' she mumbled with wide eyes. ''Are you even human?''

Raegar chuckled in amusement. ''Yes, I am, but at the same time, something completely different.''

''What's this special ability the headmistress was talking about?'' she suddenly asked.

''Fusion Overdrive,'' he answered honestly. ''It's a gift from the world or someone, in my time of need, it boosts my power to match or soar past my enemies, but using it comes at a cost which is getting worse.''

''All this damage is from yourself?'' Dominique muttered.

Raegar shook his head. ''No, it was mostly the assassins who did this, but my powers took my eye and severely damaged my right arm,'' he revealed.

Moments later, he dismissed the Blood Rose Armor and mask, shocking the vampire girl, whose hand covered her mouth with wide eyes. He thought she was going to flee from the inner world.

But Dominique shocked him and cupped his cheeks while speaking in a low tone. ''I can't wait to see your normal face, but I still think you're handsome, despite the missing eye and scarred face.''

He noticed her green eyes glowing as she continued. ''People may think you're a monster or some sort of freak, but I've seen the real you, I've watched you fight to defend yourself and help. Now get those stupid thoughts out of your mind, they are false truths.''

Just then, Dominique leaned forward and kissed him on the cheek before vanishing from the inner world. Raegar was shocked but followed the cheeky vampire as Zahara pulled him into the classroom.

Thanks to the sudden movement, pain shit through his body like an electric shock causing him to grit his teeth. As the three sat down, Professor Silvershade walked in looking worried, only to smile when she saw him sitting there.

Raegar greeted her with a nod as the older woman spoke to the class. ''Morning, students. Today is a reading day, I want you to read up on your element to find the best way to pass through to Vapour.''

Following that, the professor handed out some textbooks as Zahara leaned over and whispered. ''What Element will you focus on?''

Without answering, he raised his hand and summoned an orb of water, which made the blonde's eyes go wide in awe. ''You got it to Vapour already?''

''Yes, when the assassins appeared,'' he revealed with a smile. ''It was one of the reasons I was so injured; exhaustion had already settled in, thanks to leveling up.''

''Fascinating,'' the vampire girl commented from beside him. ''You never cease to amaze me, Rae. Never stop, please.''

Raegar agreed with a nod as Professor Silvershade started speaking. ''I want everyone to be on Vapour with every element before summer when the Great Magic Games begin.''

When the words left the older woman's lips, it caused everyone to gossip as excitement welled up inside him.