NOVPUBMoments later, a bidding war reignited, voices overlapping in a frenzy. Raegar clenched his fists, his own Aether stirring restlessly. ''Twenty-five!'' he bellowed.
The Fairies' trembling eased slightly, as if his defiance strengthened her. But the auctioneer's grin widened, sensing more coin to be made. ''Twenty-five! Going once…''
''Sold for twenty-five thousand coins!'' the man exclaimed, causing the hall to erupt.
Dominique glanced at him with narrowed eyes. ''I hope she's worth it, that was a lot of gold for a sixteen-year-old.''
Raegar couldn't help but laugh when hearing her words, but waved her away. ''When I have ten times that thanks to my time in Bloodfang, the raiding during the invasion in the south, and the pirate hideouts.''
The vampire girl nodded, her smile sharp but warm. ''Good. An unhelpful companion could stir up trouble. One thing I know for certain, they're fiercely loyal,'' she revealed.
As he made his way through the auction house to the buyers' area, the three girls trailed closely behind. Selene's hand rested on the hilt of her blade, a warning to anyone who might dare to speak out of turn, her gaze scanning the surroundings.
After fifteen minutes of walking, they arrived at a back hall and were met by the same manager that led them to the box. When the woman spotted the group, she spoke respectfully. ''Thanks for the purchase, young master Vaelthorne. We value your visit since your grandfather stopped attending years ago.''
''I'm a Blackwood,'' he answered honestly. ''I didn't take their name like my other siblings.''
''You're related to Isabella?'' the manager asked.
His only eye opened wide. ''You know, my big sister?''
''Yes, we were friends years ago but went separate ways thanks to life,'' she replied, frowning for a second before introducing herself. ''I'm Annabelle Vercus, manager of the Brightwater Auction House.''
Raegar smiled and did the same thing for the three girls. After this, the woman led them to the Dark Fairy. While walking, his sister's friend glanced at him, questioning. ''So the rumors were true, I can't believe you beat a Devil Lord and Tier Nine Assassins. It's shocking.''
He dismissed her words with a curt wave, pushing back the heavy memories they stirred. ''Where's the fairy?'' he asked. ''I paid a fortune for her.''
Annabelle smiled and led the group toward a guarded room, only to be told the girls had to wait outside. The young woman turned to them, speaking. ''Ladies, I don't mean to be rude, but only buyers can enter.''
They nodded in agreement as Dominique looked at him. ''We'll be outside, Rae,'' she informed.
Following that, he stepped inside the room only to see hundreds of things littering the room. Annabelle led him toward the cage, talking. ''She's very aggressive and will attack at the first chance. I suggest you don't remove the collar, or all hell will break loose.''
When he heard this, his red eye gleamed while he approached the table, as the Dark Aether was overwhelming. The young woman had to rush out of the room after being warned. ''I can't stand the aura, young master. I'll wait outside.''
Before Annabella left, she revealed. ''Send your Aether into the collar to take ownership of her.''
He didn't listen as all kinds of emotions slammed into his body like a tsunami, causing him to grit his teeth, thinking. 'Fuck, she's been through too much.'
Moments later, he stopped as a sweet voice echoed in his mind. 'I can feel your Aether. Why did you purchase me? You won't dare lay your hands on me.'
Raegar raised his hand and honestly answered. 'No. I plan to free you when we get away from the city. I have no ill will toward you.'
As his words faded, a heavy silence blanketed the room as he slowly approached the cage. His fingers grasped the sheet draped over it and pulled it off. There stood a beautiful, tiny woman, her golden blonde hair catching the dim light like a halo.
Her large, bright blue eyes sparkled with a mix of nervousness and defiance, wide and unblinking as they met his gaze. Raegar noticed her pointed ears twitching while an enraged expression appeared on her face.
'She looks like Tinkerbell!' he thought, surprised.
Sprouting from her back were four delicate wings, their surfaces shimmering faintly, each vein pulsing thanks to the powers inside. The sight of her, both fragile and otherworldly, took his breath away.
''What are you gawking at, human?'' the Fairy spat. ''Anyway, why do you look like you crawled out of a children's nightmare?''
When Raegar heard that, his one eye narrowed, but for some reason, he answered. ''A Devil Lord and a Tier Nine Assassin is what happened, now let's get out of here. The nobles are upset at me and will try to cause trouble.''
Following that, he opened the cage door, causing the Dark Fairy to look confused. ''Are you a stupid human? I could kill you here and now.''
''Stop being edgy and just come, things will get dicey,'' he said, prompting the little woman to step out only to collapse to the table.
Raegar scooped her up and put her in his shirt pocket, calmly speaking. ''Just rest in there and I'll make sure you're fine. Once we get back to the school and you have the energy, you can return to Lemuria.''
When the blonde Fairy heard this, her eyes narrowed, mumbling. ''Strange human, but thank you for helping me, not many of your kind like mine, and to spend that much gold is stupid and foolish.''
His chuckle was soft before speaking. ''I've been fascinated by your kind ever since I cracked open an old book years ago. Fairies, they say, are the beating heart of Sylvara's Aether; its very lifeblood flows through you, closer than any other race.''
She looked interested as she hung out of his pocket. Raegar continued talking. ''The book spoke of the Lemuria Continent, a land once alive with villages. But that ancient empire swept through like a plague. Its iron grip forced your people to flee, abandoning their homes for the untamed wilderness, where they've hidden ever since.''
The little blonde nodded in agreement. ''Yes, my grandmother told me those days were horrible. Many of us were captured and became slaves for many human kings who kept us as pets.''
Raegar frowned and started rubbing her soft hair, which shocked the Fairy. ''Don't worry, you won't be a slave, but the more important thing, what's your name?'' he asked.
''Drusilla, yourself?'' she answered.
He chuckled and quickly returned the favor. ''Raegar Blackwood.''
When Drusilla heard this, she revealed, smirking. ''And a Tetraarch. I can feel your Aether seeping into my body, but this collar is absorbing most of it.''
Raegar reached out and sent his energy into it, marking it as his property, prompting him to destroy it. The blonde was completely shocked at this before her dark powers started manifesting.''
Moments later, she felt a flick on her head. ''Owww! What was that for!'' she exclaimed, rubbing the spot he hit.
''Stop acting up, Drusilla. They will capture you again, and this time there won't be a chance I could buy you again,'' he warned.
Raegar's smile was soft yet resolute as he revealed. ''Freedom is what I want for you. That's why I spent that much to free you from the nobles. My grandmother, in her younger days, rescued Fairies. I'm just carrying her torch, starting with you.''
Drusilla grew still, as though the weight of his promise pressed against her. A quiet tension lingered as he exited the room, his boots echoing faintly on the stone floor. ''Will you really free me?'' she whispered, hopefully.
''Yes, or I can offer something better?'' he responded. ''When the time is right, I can take you to Lemuria myself. I want to explore Sylvara, and I'll end up going there one day.''
When Drusilla heard this, her blue eyes widened before she shot out of his shirt and flew around him. ''And you won't harm me?''
Raegar shook his head and said something that shocked her even more. ''I swear on my Aether that I didn't buy you to harm or do anything weird. I just wanted to free you from slavery.'' 𝓃ℴ𝓋𝓹𝓊𝓫.𝒸𝓸𝓂
''Okay,'' she replied as a knowing expression crossed her face. ''Then I shall return the favour and help you, Raegar Blackwood. The long-awaited Aether King who will change this world, and I'll be there watching by your side.''
In an instant, the air grew thick as Drusilla's golden locks turned into a cascade of midnight black, her once-vibrant eyes changing to red. Her lips parted, and a chant in an ancient, unfathomable, and older than the stars sliced through the silence.
Raegar's body seized as a torrent of Dark Aether, raw and merciless, surged from her into him. Pain erupted, a white-hot agony that clawed through his veins, yet beneath the torment, he sensed a strange, vital force knitting his broken flesh.
