Aether Chronicles: Birth Of A Legend

Raegar watched Yuki rush off, followed by a group of Blackwood Guards who were fiercely protective of them. This amused him to no end while thinking. 'At least she'll be fine and won't be bothered by adventurers.'

Once they vanished into the crowd, he followed the aroma of stall food, which instantly caught his attention. He was just about to walk down one of the streets to find some food, only to see his brother.

Jasper appeared by the entrance while speaking with the rest stop's commander. 'He can deal with official stuff, I want nothing to do with it,' he thought.

Ten minutes later, Raegar arrived to a section which was home to all kinds of stalls selling food from all across Kaldorra. But he was here for some noodles and found the place that was serving them.

He sat down at the eastern-looking stall where the older woman behind the counter looked up only to freeze when seeing his scars, but quickly shook her head as she gave him a friendly smile.

''Hello traveller. What can I do for you? Maybe I could suggest today's special?'' she greeted in a professional tone.

''I'll take one, please,'' he responded while taking out a handful of silver coins and handing them over.

The owner took it with a smile before turning toward the kitchen, where she started preparing his order. While watching the woman cook, he pulled out some sake and started drinking, which burned his throat.

''You like eastern drinks?'' the stall owner curiously asked.

''I do,'' he answered. ''I bought loads from a trader a while back but haven't found anymore.''

The young woman smiled as she introduced herself. ''I'm Li Hua, owner of the Far Eastern Food Stall here in the sticks, but it earns me a living and keeps me away from the main cities.''

When Raegar heard this, he became curious and questioned. ''I'm Rargar Blackwood. Do you come from the place where the Eastern Hero is?''

Li Hua grimaced, shaking her head. ''No, she comes from Yamota, which is in the south, while I was born in the Zhenhai Empire in the north, but luckily I was able to buy some Shochu from a trader in Eryndor City a few months back.''

The woman ducked below the counter and reappeared holding a bottle as she took out a second one, concluding. ''Here, I'll sell both of these for a gold coin, traveler.''

When Raeger saw this, he took the new drinks and stored them in his ring for safety as he handed over the payment while asking, ''What's in the second bottle?''

''It's called Mijara Moonleaf Wine,'' Li Hua revealed. ''It will go well with the spicy noodles I'm cooking for you.''

''Well, thank you,'' he said while drinking some sake.

The hot liquid coursed through Raegar, thawing the chill that lingered from winter's final, stubborn days. He sat patiently, the promise of warmth and sustenance mere moments away.

Read lat𝙚st chapters at fɾeewebnoveℓ.co๓ Only.

Soon, the older woman set a bowl in front of him, its rich aroma curling into his nostrils and coaxing a hungry rumble from his stomach. He dove in without hesitation, the first spoonful igniting his tongue with a fiery burst of spices.

Yet the noodles were delicious, and he couldn't help but savor the dish. He reached for the wine and took a sip. Raegar felt his mouth was burning as the heat was too much for even him which made Li Hua laugh.

''I see you've not ventured into the hot foods from the east,'' she teased. ''This is a good start.''

He put down a few gold coins while speaking with his mouth full. ''Cook as much as you can. I'll buy the bowls unless you have something I keep the food in as I travel.''

When the older woman heard this, her dark eyes sparkled, and she nodded. ''We have spare containers. I'll cook up thirty dishes for you, it's the amount of ingredients here.''

''Thank you,'' he replied as he started eating again.

Raegar polished off the last of his meal, the lingering heat of the spices tempered by the Moonleaf Wine's honeyed sweetness. Each sip left him pleasantly lightheaded, a gentle buzz settling in as the wine worked its magic.

Though his bowl was nearly empty, he couldn't leave yet as Li Hua was nearly done with his food. While waiting, he checked out the menu and decided to buy everything he l liked the look of, thanks to all the gold he earned from the bandits.

''I want you to cook me everything you can,'' he revealed as he put more gold coins down. ''I'm going to check out the nearby market which looks lively despite it being night time.''

When the older woman heard this, she beamed before flipping the open sign to closed as she agreed. ''There will be hundreds of meals, but I'm sure you'll like it.''

Following that, he strolled through the market, where he spotted some of the Blackwood Guards shopping as Dawnfirians went about their business. He couldn't find anything of use as it was catering to merchants.

As Raegar roamed the bustling market, his gaze swept across dozens of stalls brimming with adventurer's wares, gleaming gear, and vials of shimmering potions catching the light. He drew near one where a young man lounged, nose buried in a book.

He watched the vendor stand up with a professional smile as he introduced himself. ''Evening traveller. I'm Fredric, owner of the Potions and Peddlers stall. What can I do for you?''

''I need ten mana and health potions, please,'' Raegar replied while scanning the stall's stock. ''How much?''

''Two gold,'' Fredric said with the smile of a merchant. ''It's ten silver per bottle.''

His eyebrow rose when hearing that causing him to start bartering. ''If I buy twenty, will you lower the price?''

''Eight silver, which will cost you one gold and sixty silver,'' the young man replied. ''The lowest I can go.''

Raegar let out a sigh, taking the coins from his ring and sliding them across the counter. Fredric, with a knowing smile, handed over the ten mana potions, their glass vials glinting faintly in the daylight.

''Thanks for doing business, traveler,'' he said, tipping his head in a casual farewell.

With the exchange done, Raegar turned from the stall and set off toward the food stall to wait for the order. When he arrived, Li Hua was still cooking, but there were containers stacked off to the side.

''I assume this is for me?'' he questioned while sitting down.

The older woman turned to him with an exhausted smile and nodded. ''Yes, Raegar. I got a few more to dish up then we're done here.''

Ten minutes later, she handed him the last meals before he stored them away and standing up. ''Thank you for that, I wish you all the best Li Hua,'' he said.

Afterward, Raegar left the stall behind after the woman said her goodbye and made his way to the inn where Yuki had booked a room. Fifteen minutes later, he paused before the posh-looking building.

His eyes narrowed as he spotted the Dawnfire and Blackwood Guards relaxing outside, enjoying themselves. When he got close they cheered and welcomed him inside as Yuki met him at the door.

The beautiful cat woman beamed at him while softly speaking. ''Hello, young master. You're going to love the room we got, it has a private bathroom.''

Raegar followed Yuki as she led him into the inn as the surrounding people watched him and gossiped about his scarred face but she looked back with a warm smile before speaking. ''Don't worry about what they say, young master.''

He smiled at the pink-haired beauty causing her tail to sway excitedly as she gave him a radiant smile. The two continued, and while walking, his eyes roamed down her hourglass figure and long slender legs.

Her silhouette was a masterpiece, the ideal harmony of waist, hips, and thighs weaving a spell over him. Raegar found her utterly alluring, her presence unraveling his composure and muddling his thoughts.

Moments later, a flush of heat surged through him as his gaze traced along her sexy, smooth legs. The sudden rush of desire baffled him, a tangle of instinct and bewilderment warring within.

'What is this feeling?' he thought as it was all new to him.

Yuki turned around with a knowing smile as she turned in his direction and leaned forward, giving him a view of her deep cleavage as Mistress Victoria gave her blessing to take the next stop.

'Now he's growing into a handsome man I have to take my chance before a young noble girl takes his heart first,' he thought with glowing blue eyes. 'I'm going to be the first woman he has.'

Raegar felt something shift within his catmaid, making him gulp, but moments later, her seductive voice reached his ears. ''I can feel your eyes roaming over my body, young master. Do you like what you see?''