Aether Chronicles: Birth Of A Legend

Raegar watched as Selene seized the creature's throat, and with a surge of raw power, she tore its head free, casting it aside as its body crumpled. More Devils emerged, each more monstrous than the last, but she was untouchable.

His eyes blazed with exhilaration as the Demoness, a fierce mirror of his battle-hungry spirit, charged into the fray. A thrill surged through him, and a single thought roared in his mind. 'She's mine!'

Selene's strikes reverberated like thunder, each kill fueling her momentum. The battlefield became a graveyard of shattered fiends, their remains piling high as her Dark Aether pulsed stronger, a beacon of dread and dominance.

'Oh wow, she's strong,' he thought, smiling. 'Glad the Demoness is on my team.'

Just then, the remaining Devils dropped dead as Professor Morris ended the fight with a wave of her Aether. ''Selene Bloodrose, that was an impressive fight. Rest now while the others have their battles.''

''Yes, professor,'' she muttered before joining him with a bright smile. ''Did you like that?''

Raegar nodded. ''You're a skilled fighter, I would love to see how strong you are in ten years,'' he replied.

''Oh, I'm certain you will know me very well in the coming years,'' she teased with a knowing look in her eyes.

''Blackwood! You're up!'' Professor Morris called out, catching everyone's attention. ''Show the class how you fight these fiends!''

With a sharp ching, Raegar summoned his daggers, their dark blades glinting in his hands. The other boys and girls gasped, eyes wide, as he leaped into the arena. Moments later, the first Devil emerged, and Raegar sprang into action.

***

Selene's heart thundered as he vanished in a blur, reappearing before the fiend in a flash of steel. His daggers danced, shredding the creature into a thousand pieces. 'So fast!' she thought.

Her eyes widened in awe, shock gripping her as a horde of Devils surged into the arena. Yet Raegar moved like a storm unleashed, too fast for her eyes to track, a streak of white that killed every creature he came across.

The surrounding students roared, their cheers shaking the air as he carved through the Devils with effortless skill. Selene's pulse pounded in her ears, her saucer-wide eyes locked on the breathtaking spectacle, every strike an epic clash of mortal and monster.

Selene's entire body trembled, her breath catching as Raegar tore through the arena. The air sang with the ching of his daggers, each swing a masterful stroke that cleaved Devils in half with surgical precision.

Her wide eyes struggled to keep pace with his blinding speed, a white-blue blur weaving through the demonic horde, leaving trails of ichor and shattered fiends in his wake. Every slash was a spectacle, every pivot a dance of death.

A Devil lunged, only for Raegar to vanish, reappearing behind it to carve its spine into ribbons before it could scream. Another charged, and he spun, daggers flashing, reducing it to a spray of ash in a single heartbeat.

The crowd of students erupted, their cheers a deafening roar, but Selene barely heard them. Her heart slammed against her ribs, her hands shaking as she gripped the edge of her seat, utterly captivated by the sheer skill unfolding before her.

Raegar was unstoppable, a lone warrior against a tide of nightmares, each kill more breathtaking than the last. Her awe swelled with every fallen Devil, her excitement a wildfire as she watched him dominate the battlefield.

''A legend in the making,'' Selene muttered. ''You're mine!''

Abruptly, a malevolent aura crashed over the arena like a suffocating wave, sending a ripple of dread through the crowd. Students stumbled and scrambled backward, their gasps and cries echoing in the chaos.

Amid the panic, she caught sight of Raegar, who stood rooted to the spot, his body trembling as his formidable power erupted in a brilliant, defiant surge. From the shadows, a Tier Three Devil emerged, its menacing presence radiating raw, unholy might, its eyes glinting with cruelness.

***

(Minutes before the Tier Three Devil appeared)

Valentina watched as the Blackwood boy slaughtered any Devil she sent against him. She glanced at the mage the Order sent to train and nodded. ''Send in a Tier Three, he can handle it.''

The man's eyes widened in shock at her words, just as a phalanx of knights surged forward to shield the student. Noticing his hesitation, she called out sharply, ''Lord Inquisitor Vaelthorne authorized us to test him against any Tier!''

Following that, the mage opened a portal to the Order's Devil Prison, and moments later, a Tier Three Warrior stepped through it. She noticed Raegar came to a stop as his expression changed.

'What is he going to do now?' she thought with a curious gaze.

Just then, Raegar erupted as his power skyrocketed to Tier Four as more Devils stepped through the portal. This shocked everyone as the students started gossiping about him becoming the top hunter.

Moments later, he vanished only to appear behind the fiend as he shouted. ''Lightningfire Blast!''

Valentina watched as a blue flame erupted from the tip of his blade. This fire was laced with lightning as it struck the first Tier Three just as he disappeared but it wasn't that; he was moving so fast that she could barely keep up.

Her hands started to shake with an unknown emotion welling up inside her as a thought popped into her mind. 'It's him but all grown up! Damn you mother!'

Following that, a memory of a familiar white-haired boy she met many moons ago caused her eyes to widen in shock, remembering that they had danced at the noble party, only for her to remember their fight from the first day of school.

'I can't believe he slapped my ass!' she thought with red cheeks the long buried memories appeared in her mind.

***

Twelve years ago, on her sixteenth birthday, Valentina attended a grand noble ball in the Western Lands. It was hosted by the prestigious Vaelthornes, with whom the Morris Family had been allies for decades.

When the party began, she was wandering around the hall amid the swirl of elegant gowns and flickering chandeliers. Seconds later, her red eyes caught a young boy who looked to be four or five across the hall, his presence radiant with a faint, shimmering Aether that set him apart.

Beside him sat a cat maid, a couple of years younger than herself. The girl's curious gaze darted around the room as she leaned close to him, their bond evident in their shared glances.

His presence, like a beacon in the sea of nobles, drew her forward. As she got closer, the maid noticed her approach first, her sharp blue eyes narrowing. With a protective step, she placed herself between herself and the boy, her tail flicking warily, ready to act.

Valentina paused, her red gown shimmering under the chandelier's light, and offered a warm, disarming smile. ''I mean no harm to either of you,'' she said softly. ''I'm Valentina Morris, daughter of Count Theodore Morris, and I wanted to introduce myself.''

The maid's ears twitched, her guarded expression softening as recognition flickered in her eyes. They were a renowned monster hunter family in the Western Lands. She relaxed, her shoulders easing as she stepped aside with a nod.

''Forgive my caution, Lady Morris,'' she said respectfully. ''I'm Yuki, and this…'' She gestured to the boy, who had been watching the exchange with quiet curiosity, his red eyes sharp and assessing. ''…is my young master, Raegar Blackwood.''

Raegar rose from his seat and inclined his head in greeting. The Aether around him pulsed faintly, like a heartbeat of raw potential. ''A pleasure to meet you, Lady Valentina,'' he said, his tone laced with a hint of curiosity.

Valentina's smile widened, her interest piqued. ''The pleasure's mine, Raegar Blackwood,'' she replied.

Just then, the hall broke out into a dance as the band started playing, and Duke Griffin gave the command. Nearby, she watched as Yuki nudged the little boy. Her eyes sparkled with mischief as she tilted her head toward Valentina.

She couldn't help but smile when she watched Raegar being caught off guard as he got embarrassed. He shot the cat maid a glance, his cheeks faintly flushing. But her nod was unwavering, her tail flicking with barely contained excitement.

Drawing a breath, she watched as the little boy straightened, his youthful frame carrying a surprising air of determination. He stepped forward, his red eyes meeting her's with a mix of nervousness and resolve.

''My Lady,'' he began, despite the slight waver betraying his age. ''Would you honor me with a dance?''

Valentina's smile widened, her heart warming at his request. There was something utterly adorable about the boy, his Aether aura flickering like a shy flame, his formal bow just a touch too stiff, and the way Yuki grinned proudly behind him, as if she'd won a grand victory.

''I'd be delighted, Blackwood,'' she replied, her tone gentle and teasing as she extended a gloved hand.