CHAPTER 309: SOMETHING CLOSE

Raegar and Eva were sitting in the cafe, chatting about the older woman’s homeland, which captured his interest. She leaned back, finishing the last mouthful of tea as she asked. ’’Would you like to spend some time there? It’s a long journey to get to, but it’s worth the effort.’’

’’I have a way to get there fast,’’ he answered, smirking as he showed her an Aether image of his Fusion Wyvern.

This shocked the white-haired beauty whose smile grew wide. ’’What kind of monster is this? It’s a Wyvern but clearly changed.’’

’’Yes, I transformed it into one of my creatures,’’ he explained as the server approached them once again.

’’Here’s your food!’’ she exclaimed with a happy smile. ’’Two full Dawnfire breakfasts.’’

Raegar’s stomach rumbled when the aroma of the food hit his nose, making Eva laugh as her head snapped toward the dish. He noticed it was made up of sausages, bacon, and eggs alongside some toast. When the young woman saw their reactions, she got happy and revealed. ’’I’ll bring you both more tea, a fresh pot has just been made.’’

She rushed over, leaving them to enjoy the meal. The couple began eating and enjoyed every bit of it. The young woman appeared once again and placed a teapot in the center. ’’Enjoy your meals, and we can deal with the check after.’’

Following that, they continued until both plates were gone, and Eva looked bloated as she leaned back in her chair. Raegar couldn’t help but smile when seeing this and commented. ’’Enjoy the meal?’’

’’Yes, it was nice,’’ she replied, taking a sip of the juice the server brought over. ’’The meat was delicious and infused with Aether.’’

The server returned with a small leather folder, placing it beside the teapot. ’’Whenever you’re ready,’’ she said with a nod before stepping away.

Raegar reached for the folder, glancing at the bill, and slipped a few gold coins from his storage onto the table, more than enough to cover the meal and a generous tip. Eva raised an eyebrow, but he just winked, standing and offering his hand. ’’Shall we?’’

Eva took his hand, and they stepped out of the cozy cafe into the biting chill of the storm outside. Rain lashed down in sheets, and the wind howled, tugging at their cloaks. Raegar’s red eyes glowed faintly as he raised a hand, summoning a translucent dome of Aether around them.

The shield deflected the rain and wind, creating a warm, dry haven as they walked. Eva nestled closer, her shoulder brushing his. ’’You’re handy to have around,’’ she murmured, her voice barely audible over the storm.

They continued through the weather, the Aether shield glowed, untouched by the chaos beyond. Raegar and Eva ventured deeper into the city, the wind and rain reduced to a distant roar. Cobblestone streets gleamed under the rain. Around them, the city buzzed with life despite the storm.

Merchants huddled under awnings, calling out to passersby, while children splashed in puddles, laughing as they darted through the downpour. Eva tugged him toward a bustling market square, where stalls brimmed with vibrant spices, enchanted trinkets, and steaming street food.

’’Look at this place,’’ she said, her eyes bright with curiosity. ’’Even a storm can’t stop them.’’

They wandered past a bard strumming a lute under a canopy, his melody weaving through the rain’s rhythm. Raegar’s shield held firm, keeping them dry as they paused to admire a vendor’s display of glowing crystals, each pulsing with faint Aether. As they strolled, Eva pointed out a towering spire in the distance, its peak wreathed in mist.

’’That’s the Arcane Academy,’’ she said. ’’They say its library holds secrets even the Duchy’s scholars can’t decipher.’’

Raegar’s gaze lingered on the spire, his mind already racing with thoughts of its mysteries, but her gentle nudge kept them moving, their footsteps echoing through the storm-swept city. After some time, they found a bench to sit down at that overlooked the river that snaked through the capital.

Ships sailed down it, heading for the open ocean. When Eva saw this, she smiled. ’’Thanks to you, no one’s attacking our ships anymore.’’

’’That’s good,’’ he replied. ’’But it won’t stay like this forever; the other realms will be attacking sooner or later.’’

Following that, Eva nodded firmly. ’’Out in the far west, pirates swarm like roaches. They prey on our fishing vessels, stealing catches and scaring crews half to death. It’s maddening, truly.’’

Her voice carried the weight of years spent battling them. Raegar’s lips curled into a roguish smirk, his red eyes glinting with mischief. ’’Perhaps I should summon a fearsome sea beast to teach those pirates a lesson,’’ he mused, leaning back in his chair with a playful glint. ’’Something with teeth sharp enough to sink their ships in one bite.’’

Eva’s laughter bubbled up, bright and infectious, as she clapped a hand to her mouth. ’’Oh, Rae, that would be a sight! A monstrous guardian of the seas would do wonders for poor folks like me, struggling to keep our boats afloat.’’

Her tone was teasing, but her eyes sparkled with genuine appreciation, warmed by his protective jest. As they lingered, the storm’s muffled roar seeping through the shield, Raegar’s gaze drifted outside. Through the rain-streaked glass, he caught sight of a ship docked at the harbor, its sails snapping in the wind.

Emblazoned across the canvas was a bold emblem, a sword crossed over a shield, stark against the dark fabric. His brow furrowed slightly, curiosity piqued by the unfamiliar sigil, a silent question flickering in his mind about the vessel’s origins. Raegar’s eyes lingered on the ship’s sword-and-shield emblem, its stark lines cutting through the storm’s haze.

He tilted his head, intrigued. ’’That’s no merchant vessel,’’ he murmured, half to himself. ’’Looks like a warship, or something close.’’

Eva followed his gaze. ’’That’s the crest of House Varyn,’’ she said, her voice tinged with curiosity. ’’Old seafaring nobility from the Western Islands. They don’t dock here often, too proud to mingle with common ports. Wonder what brings them now.’’

The older woman, clearing a nearby table outside a tavern, overheard and leaned in, her tone dropping conspiratorially. ’’Heard whispers they’re hunting something big. Not just pirates, mind you—something ancient, stirred up from the deeps near the volcanic isle. Could be why their sails are out in this wretched storm.’’