Aether Chronicles: Birth Of A Legend-Chapter 173: Not If You Stop Yapping

'Yes, we are,' the Dark Fairy answered in his mind as the other three watched, fascinated. 'When you freed me, I knew you were different, and could tell you're a good person thanks to your Aether.'

'My Aether? How does that work?' he questioned.

Drusilla giggled, answering. 'Everyone's energy is different, and if someone uses it for evil deeds, we Fairies can tell, thanks to our eyes.'

As the blonde continued, his gaze drifted to her blue eyes, which shimmered thanks to the Aether, like twin stars caught in a twilight sky. Her features lit up, a mischievous smile as she finished her thought.

''You see, we Fairies are one of a kind, utterly extraordinary! Anyone, including you, should be absolutely thrilled to be in our presence!'' she exclaimed.

Before Raegar could respond, a spark of impulsiveness flickered in him. With a flick of his finger against her head, he caught her off guard. The impact was light, but her reaction was immediate and dramatic.

Drusilla let out a high-pitched squeal, her wings fluttering in mock indignation. ''Hey! That's not fair!'' she huffed, her cheeks puffing out as she crossed her arms, though the twinkle in her eyes betrayed her amusement.

He chuckled, shaking his head as the two of them snapped back to the present, the red-skinned beauty teased. ''Get a room already, the way she looks at you is saying something the three of us aren't ready for.''

The little Fairy spun on the Demoness and appeared in front of her face. Selene was shocked, but Drusilla retorted. ''I don't like him like that! There's no way it could work, even if I did! I'm the size of his hand and not like you girls.''

When the group heard the twinge of jealousy but Dominque revealed. ''Legends say some Fairies known from the famous Luna Tribe can grow to the size of a normal woman, and a few went on to marry Humans, Elves, and other races.''

''They died out two hundred years ago,'' Drusilla answered sadly. ''The last queen was slain defending her village from raiders; they don't want us Fairies becoming powerful, so their leader killed our strongest fighters as we fled.''

Everyone frowned, but Raegar rubbed her little head, reassuringly. ''And now you found us. We can take you back to Lemuria. We're going to explore it one day, and these three will be coming alongside me.''

Drusilla's smile grew wide as Zahara nodded in agreement. ''My name is Zahara Ashbourne. I'm the team's Healer for whenever we explore.''

She motioned to the other two, continuing. ''Dominique is our support, and Selene is an attacker like Rae. There are four other friends, but their back at school.''

The Fairy added. ''I can use Dark Magic to attack, but I need to complete the bond to activate more of my powers.''

When the trio heard this, they looked at Raegar, who stretched the back of his head with a charming smile as he asked. ''What?''

''Complete the damn bond,'' Dominique commented. ''Anyone can enslave her, it's obvious the two of you get on well, and you could use someone to help when we're not around.''

Selene glanced at the flying woman, curiously inquiring. ''Will you protect Rae when everyone is in class?''

Drusilla looked at the Demoness and nodded. ''Of course, we are near enough boned. He freed me from a life of being a object for a strange noble family, some of the stories I've heard scare the shit out of me.''

The girls looked apologetic and felt sorry for the Dark Fairy, but Zahara instantly changed the mood thanks to her words. ''Well, that doesn't matter, you're free and have four new friends now,'' she cheerfully said.

Reagar nodded, his eyes locked on the radiant, brown-skinned woman whose cheeks flushed under his steady gaze. She let out a soft giggle, then smiled warmly. ''I forgot how much I missed those eyes, they're stunning.''

Selene, Dominique, and Zahara exchanged nods of agreement as the Carrier lurched violently, battered by the encroaching storm. Alarm flashed across their faces, but they secured themselves into their seats.

The craft trembled and creaked, battered by the relentless Aether Storm, its hull shuddering as howling winds tore at it from all sides. Drusilla darted into his pocket, clinging tightly as she asked with a shaky voice. ''Are we going to crash?''

Raegar bonked her on the head. ''Don't jinx it, women, I don't fancy fighting any monsters or more assassins,'' he said.

She giggled before turning to the three and speaking in a cheerful tone. ''It's a pleasure to meet you three, I hope to be good friends.''

Moments later, the Carrier trembled once again, its reinforced hull rattling as a ferocious storm erupted. Thunder boomed, a roar that shook the air, reverberating through the craft's frame like the wrath of an ancient god.

Selene, Dominique, and Zahara gripped their seats as they fumbled to secure their harnesses, as everything around them was shaking. Drusilla poked her head out, clinging to the fabric as the ship lurched.

''Hold on!'' he barked.

The Carrier pitched downward, attempting a desperate dive to escape, but a savage gust caught it mid-descent, pulling the craft sideways. The world tilted; instruments blared warnings, and loose gear clattered across the deck.

Lightning split the sky, illuminating the cockpit in a stark flash, revealing Drusilla's wide eyes peeking from his pocket. ''We are doomed! I was saved only to die in a crash!'' she squeaked, her voice a mix of fear and indignation.

Raegar glanced at the little blonde with an amused expression. ''Not if you stop yapping!'' he teased.

The Carrier shuddered again, caught in the storm's relentless grip, as the crew braced. Just then, a loud groan echoed out as it clawed its way free from the chaotic winds, the howling winds and thunder fading into a distant rumble.

Everyone remained strapped in, their knuckles white from gripping their armrests. Following that, they continued flying as the craft stabilized, breaking through the churning black clouds into a pocket of eerie calm.

The sky beyond glowed faintly, a bruised purple streaked with fading lightning. ''We're clear,'' he muttered, exhaling sharply, but his relief was short-lived.

Seconds later, the engines sputtered, a low whine signaling critical damage from the storm's battering. Warning lights flashed across the console. ''Brace yourselves!'' he shouted, as the craft lost altitude fast.

The ground rushed up, causing them all to panic. Selene's breath hitched, Dominique cursed under her breath, and Zahara clenched her eyes shut. Drusilla squeaked. ''Not again!''

The Carrier hit the earth with a sickening thud, metal screeching as it skidded across the uneven ground, kicking up clouds of dust and debris. The impact jolted everyone, harnesses straining, before the craft finally shuddered to a halt.

Raegar's vision faded to black. When he regained consciousness, a fierce battle raged around him, the girls fighting valiantly. He sat up, head pounding, and caught sight of Selene charging toward a towering Devil.

His heart sank at the scene. Pain shot through his injured legs, but he forced himself to shout. ''Drusilla! Heal me, now!''

The Fairy got to work and rushed over and started mending him as the battlefield was a maelstrom of chaos, the air thick thanks to the fire and smoke, as the guttural roars of Tier Five Devils echoed around them.

Their towering, grotesque forms loomed over the shattered Carrier, claws gleaming under a dark sky. Selene sprinted toward the nearest beast, her blade ignited thanks to Lightning Aether that crackled.

Her yellow eyes burned, every muscle coiled for the fight. ''Stay back, bastards! Or die where you stand!'' she bellowed, but her voice was swallowed by the storm of battle.

The Devil swung a massive, spiked arm, its force splitting the ground. Selene leaped, twisting midair, and drove her blades into its chest. Black ichor sprayed, but the creature roared, unfazed, its other claw arcing toward her.

She ducked, rolling beneath its reach, and slashed at its legs, lightning searing its flesh. From the sidelines, Dominique charged into the fray, her longsword pulsing with Dark Aether. ''Not alone, you don't!'' she shouted.

Dominique clashed with another foe, parrying a bone-shattering strike, causing her to yelp in pain thanks to the power difference. Her sword wove radiant arcs through the air, slicing into the beast's flank.

The creature roared, its eyes ablaze with fury, yet Dominique advanced, her attacks a seamless torrent of skill and strength. But the Devils merely toyed with them, rendering her efforts futile.

Amid the fray, Zahara stood resolute, her hands glowing with brilliant white light, a beacon in the chaos. Her face was etched with strain as she channeled healing energy, tendrils of light snaking toward Selene and Dominique.

Their wounds knitted together, though fresh injuries bloomed almost as quickly. ''Hold on! I'll keep healing your wounds!'' Zahara cried, her voice trembling but determined.

Elsewhere, the remaining survivors weren't so fortunate. The other Devils, relentless and merciless, tore through them. Screams pierced the air as claws ripped through flesh and bone, silencing voices one by one.