CHAPTER 240: LONG ROAD HOME

Raegar watched as the girls rushed over to him, wearing big smiles on their pretty faces. Selene was the first to excitedly speak. ’’Rae, can we stop by the shop? I want to tell my parents I’ll be with you for the break?’’

’’Of course,’’ he replied as the group headed toward the entrance, but was stopped by Luna and Vienna.

This made the others laugh when the two girls hugged him, as the green-haired girl warned him with a fake serious expression. ’’Look after these girls during the holidays, Rae, we expect them to return unharmed and happy.’’

Raegar started laughing before hugging his two friends. ’’Of course I will. Are you sure you don’t want to come?’’

Luna shook her head. ’’Family obligations and a couple of weddings to attend,’’ she responded.

At that moment, Caspian and Rune emerged from the lush, sprawling gardens, their appearances disheveled and marked by the celebration throughout the night. The smaller boy’s dark hair was messy, his expression a mix of exasperation and discomfort as he let out a groan.

Rune, towering beside him with a mischievous grin, delivered a hearty slap to Caspian’s back, the sound echoing faintly in the open air. ’’Ease up, Cas!’’ his booming voice carried a teasing lilt, his eyes sparkling with amusement. ’’They both adore you, so what’s the harm in spending the break with them? Live a little!’’

His words, meant to reassure, only seemed to deepen Caspian’s scowl, though a faint flush of embarrassment betrayed his attempt at indifference. Raegar glanced at the two girls who were staring at the two boys.

’’Did he make a move yet, or are you both teasing him?’’ he questioned.

Vienna let out a bright, infectious giggle as the green-haired girl responded with her characteristic calm certainty. ’’Oh, he’s got feelings, alright,’’ Luna said, her voice laced with a knowing warmth, "but we’re trying to get him to be honest about them for once."

Raegar watched as Vienna’s eyes sparkled with playful mischief. She leaned in, her tone conspiratorial yet fond. ’’He gets so embarrassed, stumbling over his words and turning red, it’s honestly adorable. But that’s one of the things we love about him.’’

Her words carried a gentle sincerity, revealing the depth of their affection for Caspian, whose shy awkwardness only seemed to endear him more to them. The exchange, lighthearted, underscored the trio’s close-knit bond.

After saying their goodbyes, the group of friends parted ways, each heading toward their destinations as the golden afternoon light began to soften. Raegar, alongside the five girls, set off toward Brightwater, their steps crunching lightly on the gravel path.

Without the school’s enchanted carriers, the journey would stretch into a day or two of travel on foot or by slower means. The thought of the trek didn’t seem to dampen their spirits, though; the air buzzed with the quiet excitement of adventure.

From behind, Selene commented while admiring the scenery. ’’It’s a pity every student nabbed a spot on the carriers this time,’’ she remarked, her gaze sweeping over the rolling hills ahead, dotted with wildflowers. ’’But honestly, traveling south on our own feels like it could be fun. Just us, the open road, and whatever surprises come our way.’’

’’The west is a lovely place,’’ Raegar replied while taking out some sake and downing some.

The cold liquid burned his throat, but he loved it as he continued talking. ’’Grandfather keeps on top of the bandits and monster waves despite what happened to my grandmother.’’

Everyone fell into a hushed silence at Selene’s words, and its uncertainties settling over them like a soft mist. Drusilla’s usual brightness dimmed, her fingers fidgeting with the hem of her cloak, while Dominique’s gaze drifted to the horizon, as if searching for answers in the distant hills.

The quiet stretched, heavy with unspoken thoughts, until Zahara’s voice cut through. ’’Don’t worry, Rae,’’ she said, her tone warm yet firm, a healer’s confidence. ’’If anything happens, I can mend her wounds in no time. And once she’s back on her feet, she’ll have you patched up, face, body, the whole deal.’’

A playful smirk tugged at her lips as she glanced at Raegar, whose own expression softened, a flicker of relief breaking through. The promise of Zahara’s healing magic and the group’s unyielding support wove a thread of comfort through the moment, binding them closer as they faced the road ahead together.

Moments later, Drusilla jumped into the air and transformed into her small form, floating toward his pocket before sliding inside to rest. She stretched while speaking in an exhausted voice. ’’I’m going to sleep for a few hours, wake me up when food is near.’’

Raegar chuckled at this but nodded. ’’No problem, Dru, rest up and get some sleep.’’

Following that, the group pressed forward, their path weaving through hundreds of travelers bustled to and fro, laden with goods destined for Drakenwood in preparation for the summer break.

The air hummed with anticipation, the rhythmic clatter of carts and the chatter of merchants blending into a lively symphony of movement and purpose, as the town braced for its seasonal influx of visitors and supplies.

As Raegar and the five girls continued their journey toward Brightwater, the vibrant chaos of Drakenwood’s thoroughfare gradually faded behind them. The gravel path crunched beneath their boots, winding through rolling meadows where wildflowers swayed in the late afternoon breeze.

The air was warm, tinged with the sweet scent of blooming flowers and the earthy promise of dusk. Selene, ever the happy Demoness, hummed a lively tune, her yellow eyes bright as she pointed out a pair of hawks circling lazily overhead.

Alice, walking beside her, playfully mimicked the birds’ swooping motions, earning giggles from Zahara, who skipped to keep pace. Domonique was busy scanning the local wildlife as she could sense their life.

The sun began its slow descent, casting long shadows across the landscape and painting the sky in hues of gold and crimson. Raegar, sensing the day’s light waning, raised a hand to signal a pause.

’’We’ll camp here,’’ he said, as he surveyed a small clearing nestled between a cluster of willows and a babbling creek.

Raegar glanced around, only to notice the spot was sheltered thanks to the tree branches hanging over them as the setting sun leaked through the canopy. He drank a mouthful of sake before setting up the tent that would fight all six of them.

The girls either collected firewood or cleared their surroundings so no one could sneak up on them. After twenty minutes, he had a fire set up, which Selene and Alice kept going as Zahara was teaching Dominique how to cook over a campfire.

Following that, the group went about relaxing with Raegar sitting down and looking at the Light Aether tablet that would level the element up to the next tier, making him even stronger compared to the other students of his year.

’I’ll work on the remaining Elements to strengthen more body,’ he mused, throwing the pill into his mouth.

As the last of the tent’s ropes were secured and the fire crackled steadily in the clearing, Raegar stepped back to survey their camp, the willows’ drooping branches casting a protective veil overhead.

The girls, finishing their tasks, gathered near the fire, their faces glowing in the flickering light as they shared quiet laughter and passed around the last of the cheese. The air was cool now, the twilight deepening into night, stars pricking through the indigo sky.

Raegar, flask of sake in hand, took a final sip, the familiar burn grounding him as he prepared to address the group. ’’Listen up,’’ he began, his voice cutting through the soft hum of the camp. ’’We’re settled for the night, but stay sharp. The southern wilds aren’t as tame as they seem, and I don’t want any surprises.’’

The girls nodded, their expressions shifting from relaxed to attentive, well-accustomed to Raegar’s cautious leadership. But before he could continue, a sudden shift in his demeanor silenced them all. His head snapped up, red eyes widening with an intensity that sent a shiver through the group.

In an instant, a pure white light erupted from his eyes, radiant and blinding, like twin beacons piercing the darkness. The glow was otherworldly, bathing the clearing and the surrounding landscape in a stark, ethereal brilliance.

The leaves shimmered, and the creek reflected the light in fractured glints, transforming the campsite into a scene of radiance. The girls froze, their breath catching as the floodlight-like beam swept across the trees, revealing every detail of the landscape, gnarled roots, swaying grasses, and the distant hills, before fading as quickly as it had come.

Just then, Raegar sensed some monsters approaching the camp, he jumped up and cast Lightningfire Blast at the closest creature. It resembled a large wolf, but the fire warped by Aether burned through its body.

Raegar watched as the monster dropped dead, as even more appeared from the shadows surrounding the camp.