Aether Chronicles: Birth Of A Legend-Chapter 145: Expected You To Come Earlier

Raegar watched as Cecilia nodded at his question. ''Yes, that's correct, Rae, you'll know when to stop absorbing as your body will react,'' she explained.

''Alright, I understand now,'' he replied while taking out the eight pills she gave him earlier in the day.

Before he could take the earth one the older woman offered. ''Do you want to use the garden? Earth Aether is abundant there?''

''That would be better,'' he responded. ''Who knows what will happen, and I don't want to ruin your house.''

Cecilia nodded. ''That's thoughtful of you, but you're right. The first advancement is usually done in a specially prepared room,'' she said.

When Raegar heard this, his head tilted. ''Then why are we doing it here?''

''Oh, because I'm the best suited to help you advance and the headmistress put up a special barrier around this cottage,'' she answered, smiling. ''She moved me here when finding out you'd attend Drakenwood.''

Following that, he was led outside, and the older woman pointed to a nearby patch of dirt. ''Use that to take the Earth pill, once you do, make sure you pull in as much Aether as possible.''

Raegar flashed a determined smile, settling onto the ground. He took a steadying breath and swallowed the earthy brown pill Cecilia had given him. The moment it dissolved on his tongue, a surge of energy sparked within his Earth pool.

His focus sharpened instinctively, guiding the swelling energy into the proper pathways within his core. As the world's Aether flowed into his pool, it began to expand, stretching the boundaries of the reservoir.

The sensation was excruciating, a relentless pressure that made his body ache as though it were being reshaped from within. Just when he thought he could endure no more, a strange, suffocating feeling gripped him, his lungs seemed to fill with thick, heavy mud, clogging his breath.

'What the fuck is this!' he internally panicked.

Panic surged as the sensation intensified, the weight of the earth seeming to engulf him, as if he were sinking into the ground itself. His heart raced, his mind teetering between focus and fear, unsure whether this was part of the process.

Just then, Cecilia's soft voice sounded in his mind. 'Rae calm down, its only happening in your inner world, you need to push through.'

Upon hearing Cecilia's reassuring words, Raegar felt a flicker of calm settle over his racing heart. He drew a deep breath and focused inward, channeling the surging Aether into his Earth Pool with care, ensuring not a single wisp escaped.

The energy swirled within him, heavy and grounding, like soil packed tightly beneath the weight of mountains. Moments later, the pool began to expand, its boundaries stretching in a slow, relentless surge.

A searing pain erupted through his body, sharp and unyielding, as though his very bones were being forged anew in the crucible of the earth. The agony was nearly unbearable, a tidal wave of torment that set his nerves ablaze.

His muscles trembled uncontrollably, and beads of sweat traced rivulets down his spine, soaking his tunic. His breaths came in ragged gasps, each one a battle against the suffocating weight in his chest.

Yet, even as his body screamed for reprieve, Raegar clenched his jaw and steeled his resolve. His eyes burned with determination, fixed on the vision of mastery that lay beyond the pain.

Drawing on every ounce of willpower, he pushed forward, anchoring himself against the storm within, refusing to let the Aether's power break him.

***

While Raegar was trying to advance the first of his elements, Cecilia stood nearby watching over him. Her blue eyes narrowed when she saw him tremble, but he held on and only let out a whimper.

'He's tough for his age,' she thought with a small smile. 'Many would have given up by now and usually achieve it on the third or forth go.'

Following that, Cecila sensed someone appearing beside her, prompting her to speak. ''Hello Corrine. I expected you to come earlier.''

The blue-haired woman giggled before replying. ''I had to block off the area or the other students would sense him advancing to Vapour.''

''Why are we hiding him here?'' she asked the headmistress.

''The Order helped with the barrier, it will stop the Devil spies finding out he advanced until the time is right,'' her friend replied. ''The Lion dropped off a bag of Tier Ten Aether Cores to power it. He is on a crusade against the fiends thanks to the Witch.''

Cecilia frowned when hearing about the Witch of the West being put in a coma because of the Devil's foul magic. Healers were traveling to Deadwater City to help the duchess, but nothing had helped so far.

She shook her head and asked. ''Should I keep bringing him to advance until all his elements are on Vapor?''

The headmistress turned to her with narrowed eyes. ''Will you stay out of his pants, Ceci? I see the way you're looking at the boy.''

Her cheeks reddened when she heard Corrine's words, but she shook her head. ''I don't see him like that, and he certainly wouldn't like a woman with four children, Cori.''

A giggle rang out, catching Cecilia off guard as the headmistress teased. ''I watched you both during your little tour of the Northern Courtyard. He looked to enjoy his time with you, so don't go counting yourself out.'' freёwebnoѵel.com

Her friend turned around to leave, concluding. ''There's no rule on that sort of thing, just keep it out of the classroom and no favoritism, Ceci.''

A poof was heard as the headmistress vanished using her space magic, leaving Cecilia alone, watching over a sweating and trembling Raegar.

***

The feeling of drowning in mud overwhelmed him, but after a couple of hours, it started to ease as his Earth Aether Pool had grown to the point that he could see it was even bigger when looking into his inner world.

'Finally, now six more elements to go,' he thought with a tired chuckle.

Raegar tried to stand up, but his legs shook, and he felt weak while turning to see Cecilia reading a book under an Aether Light thanks to being dark. Her blue eyes glanced up only to become shocked as she jumped up and rushed over to him.

''Rae, how do you feel?'' she questioned.

He raised his hand and created an Earth Spike that popped out nearby, shocking the older woman as he spoke. ''I want to do another, I think I'll be able to handle one more.''

Cecilia shook her head. ''No can do, you need to go rest. Return here on Wind Day once classes are over. I must travel to Brightwater City to get some stuff for the lesson I forgot.''

Raegar nodded. ''Alright, thanks for your help, Cecilia,'' he thanked the older woman.

Following that, she walked him back to the courtyard entrance as the exhaustion took its toll on his body. He let out a yawn, causing her to laugh. ''Make sure you get some rest when you get back to your room.''

''Will do,'' he replied, saying his farewells. ''I'll see you here on Wind Day, Ceci.''

''That you will, Rae, now have a nice sleep,'' she said with a big smile.

As dusk enveloped the garden, he strode toward the Western Tower that wasn't too far away. The deserted paths didn't faze him as he navigated through the shadowed greenery to the boys' dormitory.

When Raegar entered the tower grounds, he spotted guards posted in a nearby shack. He descended to his room and, upon stepping inside, saw the sea outside, vast and empty, with the tide gently swaying scattered plants.

'At least there isn't a monster watching me,' he thought, looking at a nearby plant pot.

He waved his hand, and the dirt came out while turning into a smooth sphere thanks to his thinking about it. ''Looks like my control over Earth Aether is growing better since it's Vapour now.''

Moments later, Raegar grinned before putting the dirt back and undressing as he climbed into bed, only to get comfortable moments later. He watched the swaying underwater trees only to jump out of his skin.

A massive shark appeared in the window, and its dark eye stared at him. He gulped as the beast was at least Tier Nine, causing him to mutter. ''Damn monsters lurking in the shadows but it doesn't seem threatening.''

Following that, the two of them looked at each other before the creature nodded its head and swam off, which surprised him. He soon fell asleep as the cover overwhelmed him with its softness.

Raegar was woken up to banging on the door as Rune's voice echoed out. ''Wake up, Rae! Breakfast is nearly ready.''

''I'm coming!'' he shouted in reply while climbing out of bed. ''Let me wash, I'll meet you two in the Common Room.''

''You better!'' Caspian answered this time.

Raegar chuckled and stood up before walking toward the bathroom that every room came with and stepped inside to sort himself out.