Chapter 23: Fresh Food

Raegar knew the creature as a River Eel and they were rare in the Dawnfire Empire. He shook his head before mumbling, ''I know merchants buy the scales. The guild takes the teeth and meat.'' With a grunt, he seized the massive eel creature and began hauling it out of the river, its slick, heavy body resisting his efforts. Water cascaded off its dark blue scales as he dragged it onto the shore, his muscles straining against the weight. Once the creature was fully out, he wasted no time, drawing his blade and harvesting its valuable materials, from its shimmering scales to the rich Aether Core buried deep within. 'Tier One again,' he pondered with glowing red eyes. 'If I collect enough, I'll earn a decent amount of coin.' Raegar continued his journey, roaming through the wilderness while gathering herbs and flowers he encountered along the way. Days blurred into weeks as he fought savage creatures, harvested their remains, and collected many rare materials. Now, he stood perched on a branch high above the forest floor. This place had been his makeshift home ever since his battle with the Devils. The view stretched far and wide, the dense canopy glowing faintly under the moonlight. ''It's time to travel to Dreadshade Castle to sell my loot,'' he muttered, his eyes lingering on the bulging magic bag at his feet. There were Aether Cores, rare herbs, and other spoils of his relentless efforts. Beside it lay a neatly stacked pile of River Eel skins, fangs, and shimmering scales. He'd taken a liking to hunting the creatures, not just for their valuable parts but also for their meat. Shaking his head, he turned his attention to the cooking food nearby. The air was filled with a mouthwatering aroma, spiced to perfection thanks to the seasonings he'd foraged along the way. Raegar sat down by the fire, carefully turning the eel meat to ensure it cooked evenly. The golden-brown surface sizzled, its aroma making his stomach rumble. Once the meat was perfect, he extinguished the fire with some water. Gathering his magic bag and the rest of his loot, Raegar stood and slung them over his shoulder. With ease, he leaped from the tree, landing on a lower branch. From there, he descended until his boots touched the forest floor. 'I have to follow the river south,' he mused before trekking through the Bloodfang Forest. Raegar moved through the forest, his boots barely stirring the soft earth beneath him. With a quiet focus, he called upon his Enhancement magic, and his body shimmered, enveloped in a faint otherworldly glow. It took hold, and his steps became lighter, each movement effortless as he pushed forward, leaping over downed trees and bushes. A little while later, he crossed the river and entered a clearing, only to dodge when a wave of shoddy arrows flew in his direction. He let out a sharp yelp of surprise, his head snapping toward the source of the threat. To his shock, two dozen goblins emerged from the underbrush. Raegar chuckled, his grin widening as he drew his daggers, ready for the oncoming charge. 'Let's get some more cores,' he thought with an excited gleam in his eyes. Without giving the creatures a chance to react, he surged forward with speed as lightning rushed over his body, leaving the attackers stunned in his wake. His blades sliced through the neck of a creature before he hurled the other at a nearby goblin. The blade struck its target, sending the Goblin crumpling to the ground in a single just as he started casting Stormfire Bullet at the remaining monsters, causing the clearing to be lit up as screeches rang out. After the fighting stopped, he let out a quiet sigh, his breath steadying as he wiped the blood from his blades. With practiced precision, he turned to the fallen Goblins, moving steadily as he cut out their Aether Cores. Raegar knew their ears held value as well, so he harvested those, stowing them carefully in his pack. Satisfied with his work, he set his sights on the path ahead, ready to continue his journey to the castle. Hours later, he stepped out of Bloodfang Forest; the beaming sun blinded him, causing him to cover his eyes. ''Fuck that hurts, the canopy usually blocks this out,'' he muttered before spotting a road in the distance. Without waiting, Raegar headed toward it, only to see merchant caravans passing by. The guards stared at him like he was a weirdo, but he ignored them and started walking until he saw a massive castle in the distance. 'Looks like I can buy some fresh food,' he thought with a smile. 'I need to add something to the meat before I get bored with it.' Following that, Raegar approached the river crossing, where he spotted a long queue stretching to a stone bridge that was guarded by Nytherian soldiers. While standing in line, the wind swept through the tall grass, sending ripples across the golden sea. 'This place seems peaceful, but it feels off,' Raegar thought, his gaze drifting toward the distant hills. A subtle unease prickled his senses as the hairs on his neck stood on end. 'It feels like something is watching the fortress.' He turned his attention to the Nytherian castle that stood out against the surrounding landscape of rolling hills and lush grasslands. Raegar noticed its wall, stood at thirty feet tall and resembled the fortresses back in the Dawnfire Empire. It reminded him of the grand fortresses from medieval Europe, though on a far more grand scale. Its towering walls stretched higher than he'd ever seen, and war machines lined the ramparts, ready for a fight. His admiration was short-lived as the line of travelers ahead of him moved. Soldiers, stern and watchful, ushered the procession forward, their eyes scanning the crowd as they pushed them along. When it was Raegar's turn, the Nytherian Commander stepped forward while speaking in a firm tone, ''What brings you to Dreadshade Castle?'' ''I'm here to sell my loot from Bloodfang Forest,'' Raegar replied as he reached into his pack, pulling out the gold plate King Vlad had given him. ''Here,'' he said, handing it over, ''The King gave me this to show the guards.'' The commander's already pale face grew even whiter as he laid eyes on the plate. Without a word, he motioned sharply to the surrounding soldiers. ''Secure the bridge,'' he ordered, his voice tight with urgency. ''I need to talk to this boy.'' Raegar's confusion deepened, and his hand hovered over the hilt of his blades. The older man quickly reassured him. ''You're not in trouble,'' he said, his tone softer now. ''If you're who we think you are, you'll be fine.'' Following that, he was led to a nearby shack and held the door open for him. They stepped inside. ''Do you want some tea, boy? It looks like you've been through hell,'' the commander said with a chuckle. ''Yes please,'' Raegar answered, while slumping in a nearby chair. While sitting there waiting for the water to boil, the man suddenly turned to him and introduced himself. ''I'm Cauis Hawke, commander of the Nytherian bridge guards out here in the sticks.'' ''Raegar Blackwood,'' he replied respectfully as his mother's lessons kicked in. ''Nice to meet you, Cauis.'' The vampire man smiled, nodding slowly. ''Ah, so you're the blonde demon's grandson. The king mentioned you're a much more polite human than most of your kind.'' ''Blonde demon?'' he questioned with a raised eyebrow. Cauis nodded with a laugh, ''Griffin Vaelthorne, he's helped our kingdom so much that the people refer to him as a demon because when he fights nothing can stop him,'' he revealed. He was surprised, but before he could respond, an alarm rang out. The older man quickly rushed toward the door, speaking over his shoulder. ''Stay here, young master. I'll see what's happening.'' Raegar nodded in silence, his attention shifting as he pulled out one of the many cores he collected during his stay in the Bloodfang Forest. He studied it intently, fascinated by the brown glow emanating from within. 'Earth Aether,' he mused, with a gleam of curiosity in his eyes. As Raegar examined the Aether Core, a flood of memories surged through his mind. He remembered the cores were for replenishing a mage's pool, enabling them to restore their energy depending on what tier the monster was. He also remembered how people use them to power machines, harnessing the energy for various advancements. Most notably, Aether engines were the heart of the aircraft that the empire used to transport the wealthy. 'Should I collect them and sell them when I have thousands?' Raegar mused before putting the core away. Seconds later, Cauis returned with a relieved expression as he got back to preparing tea. He looked at the man and questioned, ''What happened out there?'' ''Forest Widows tried attacking some merchants on the road,'' the man revealed. ''We dealt with them, though.'' [Drop some powerstones, comments, and gifts to help the novel grow; I appreciate all the support you can give]