Aether Chronicles: Birth Of A Legend-Chapter 57: Stop Fighting, Idiot!

''I'm Tarrin Vexblade, leader of the Strike Squad that's hitting the dungeon. I hear you're the fifth member,'' the stranger said with a confident expression. ''Let's fight. I want to see what you can do.''

Raegar's eyes narrowed as he questioned. ''Why?''

Tarrin walked over to the middle of the training field and answered with a knowing smile. ''To see if you're strong enough to step inside a Rank D Dungeon overrun by devils and all kinds of monsters.''

He sighed before nodding just as Lisara appeared and demanded in a stern voice, which surprised the surrounding adventurers. ''What do you think you're doing, Tarrin? What if he gets injured just before the dungeon run?''

Raegar glanced at the dark elf. ''I'll be fine, Guild Master. I recover from fights more than a regular fifteen-year-old,'' he reassured.

Moments later, he approached the training field and faced Tarrin while summoning his daggers as he readied to fight. The older man smiled when seeing this before a whistle rang out.

''Here I come, boy,'' the man shouted.

Raegar's watched as the hulking figure loomed closer. With a flick of his wrists, he hurled his daggers at his opponent's legs. Tarrin reacted swiftly, deflecting the blades, but Raegar was already a step ahead.

Channeling Aether, he guided the daggers midair to strike from behind just as he surged forward with explosive speed. Closing the distance, Raegar cast Enhancement magic, his movements sharpening as he ducked under Tarrin's panicked swing.

He drove a fist into the man's gut with a resounding boom. The impact rippling through the air as Tarrin staggered, but not before lashing out with a brutal backhand that sent him sprawling to the side.

Seconds later, the warrior barreled toward him, a juggernaut of fury. He reacted instantly, casting Flash Step to vanish and evade the charge. Reappearing a split second later, he launched his daggers again with a smirk.

Tarrin parried one blade, but the second, guided by Raegar's Aether, arced around and buried itself into his back. The older man let out a sharp yelp as the surrounding crowd erupted, their cheers swelling into a deafening roar of excitement.

Seizing the moment, he unleashed a flurry of Stormfire Bullets, peppering the ground, causing a dust cloud to explode, disorienting the hulking warrior further who barrelled through the smoke.

Raegar was surprised as Tarrin swung his blade with a snarl etched across his face. He raised his daggers to block, but before the strike could land, a burly man wielding a shield appeared, blocking the attack with a resounding clang.

The force of the blow sent the newcomer skidding backward, dust kicking up beneath his boots as a loud boom echoed through the air. Steadying himself, the shield-bearer bellowed, ''Stop fighting, idiot! You're getting too serious with the young one!''

Tarrin's rage melted away at the words, replaced by a wide, beaming grin. He extended a hand toward Raegar, who hesitated, still surprised by the sudden shift. ''Good fight, young one,'' he said, his voice brimming with cheerful pride. ''If you were a few years older, I'd have been the one eating dirt.''

The adventurers encircling them burst into raucous cheers, their enthusiasm shaking the air. Amid the noise, Lisara emerged from the crowd, her grey eyes narrowed in disapproval as she fixed Tarrin with a stern look.

''I told you to be careful,'' she snapped, her tone sharp.

Brushing off the dust, Raegar cracked an amused smile as he took in the scene. ''Thanks for the fight,'' he said, nodding to Tarrin, ''But I've got to head out and grab some supplies before our mission tomorrow.''

He turned on his heel, ready to leave, when Tarrin's voice halted him mid-step. ''Raegar, hold up, let me introduce you to the others.''

Before he could protest, a broad, bald man stepped forward, a jagged scar running down the side of his weathered face. A pair of bear-like ears twitched atop his head as he gave a curt nod.

''I'm Orin Duskwind,'' he rumbled, his voice deep and steady. ''Squad's defender.''

Next, a tall woman with striking blue hair and piercing red eyes approached, her mage robes flowing faintly with an aura of power. She offered Raegar a warm, genuine smile as she sweetly spoke. ''I'm Elaris Starfall. It's a pleasure to meet you.''

Raegar returned Elaris's smile before shifting his gaze to the last member of the group. The woman was an elf with flowing blonde hair and soft, light green eyes. Dressed in healer's robes, she stepped forward, her voice carrying an exotic accent.

''Greetings, youngling,'' she said warmly. ''I am Lyra Evergale. I look forward to working with you.''

''It's good to meet you all,'' Raegar said, offering a nod to the seasoned group. ''I'll see you in the morning.''

With that, he turned and strode away from the training grounds to go get his space bag, leaving the others to watch his retreating figure. Tarrin pivoted to face Lisara, his expression a mix of shock and admiration.

''Where did you find that boy?'' he asked. ''Those attacks stung. Without Lyra's healing, I'd have been in real trouble.''

The dark elf woman looked at the white-haired young man before answering. ''He's single-handedly kept the monster numbers in check, which has helped the bridge guards with attacks.''

Following that, the group got back to training as Raegar was making his way to the General Store to buy some stuff. Ten minutes later, he spotted the place and entered, only to see dozens of people trying to shop.

'Why is it so busy?' he thought with frustration boiling over as people barged into him.

Moments later, the owner appeared and guided him to the back. ''This way, young man. Do you want the usual?''

Raegar nodded in agreement before thanking the old man. ''Thank you.''

Twenty minutes passed by and he stumbled outside as more people flocked to the General Store. The owner had told him people were stockpiling because of the winter and the risk of caravans not reaching the city.

Once he got all the supplies, he explored Dreadshade and soon found a weapons shop that caught his eye. Raegar entered the store only to realize that it looked like the ones in the fantasy novels he read back on Earth.

While scanning the place, he noticed a few guards and adventurers browsing the shelves just as a young man appeared with a friendly smile. ''Evening, I'm Evan. What can I do for you, sir?''

Raegar glanced at the brown-haired man who seemed to be in his early twenties, causing him to answer. ''What unique weapons do you sell? I don't need anything for fighting, maybe something to deal with crowds of monsters?''

Evan rubbed his chin before his green eyes shone with excitement as he dragged him over to a shelf with seven orbs sitting in boxes of twenty. Raegar looked up and read the signs. 'Aether Bombs. Two gold per box!'

When seeing this, his excitement peaked, causing him to read what kinds they sold. 'Thunder, fire, frost, light, vine, acid and smoke bombs! So many,' he thought with a gleam.

Raegar glanced at Evan and said, ''I'll take three boxes of each.''

The young man blinked, caught off guard for a moment, before nodding eagerly. ''Yes, sir! Meet me at the counter, and I'll get you checked out,'' he replied with enthusiasm.

Raegar made his way over and leaned against the counter, waiting as Evan soon returned, hauling twenty-one boxes in tow. Trailing behind him was an older man with a weathered face, his voice rough and gravelly as he eyed Raegar.

''Are you the youngling who's joined up with the Strike Squad?'' he asked with a voice laced with curiosity.

His eyes narrowed, causing him to ask in a careful tone. ''How do you know that?''

The old man laughed before revealing with a knowing smile. ''News travels in Dreadshade White Devil. We know what you've done for local trade by cutting down the monsters' numbers and now rushing into a Rank D Dungeon to aid the city even though you're a Tier One Mage.''

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Raegar watched the man hold his hand out. ''I'm Monty Goldwater. If you will let me return the favour to prove that Nytherians look after their friends but reward their saviors.''

''Ok? Thank you,'' he answered with a confused expression while accepting the gesture and introducing himself. ''I'm Raegar Blackwood.''

Monty let out a hearty chuckle before clapping him on the back, a heavy blow for an old man. With that, he shuffled off, leaving Raegar and Evan standing there. The shopkeeper scratched the back of his head and offered a sheepish grin.

''My uncle's a grumpy old coot who seems angry all the time, but he's got a good heart, takes care of folks in his own way, as you witnessed yourself,'' he explained.

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