CHAPTER 232: I DESERVE A THRONE

Raegar turned around and sighed when seeing Zargoth struggling to climb the hill as Selene sat there eating an apple. She started laughing at her uncle while teasing him. ’’Come on, uncle! Mama will laugh her ass off when she hears about it.’’

He chuckled, clearly enjoying the exchange, while Selene’s uncle shot her a scowl sharp enough to slice through steel. ’’Shut it, you little shit!’’ he grumbled, though there was more exasperation than real anger in his tone.

The older man let out a dramatic sigh while wiping sweat from his forehead. ’’I’m a merchant, Sel. I ride in carriages, sit behind ledgers, and strike deals over fine wine. I don’t do all this... walking.’’

Selene raised an eyebrow, smirking as she adjusted the strap on her shoulder. ’’So you’re saying you’re soft.’’

’’I’m a civilized gentleman who mingles alongside beautiful noble ladies, my favourite niece,’’ he snapped, puffing out his chest in mock pride. ’’There’s a difference.’’

The Demoness let out a quiet snort. ’’You’re just spoiled.’’

’’And proud of it,’’ he said with a huff, wobbling slightly as he stepped over a loose stone. ’’Gods help me if I survive this trip, I’m charging double next time someone drags me out of my comfort zone."

’’Then we’ll charge you trip;e,’’ Selene added, grinning ear to ear. ’’We deserve hazard pay for keeping you noble folk safe.’’

Zargoth grunted in response. ’’I deserve a throne.’’

Raegar paused as a chuckle escaped his lips, the sound mingling thanks to the chill morning air. He glanced at his Demon niece and uncle, their faces lit with quiet wonder as the three of them resumed the journey.

The surrounding grasslands stretched endlessly all around them, each blade of grass delicately encased in a glistening layer of frost that sparkled like scattered diamonds under the pale dawn light.

Raegar loved the beauty of the frozen landscape that had been touched by the Aether Storm that was descending upon the world. Its open expanse soothes his nerves thanks to the assurance that no monsters or bandits could creep upon them unnoticed.

The frost-laden grasslands glittered under the waning daylight. Hours of travel later, their legs were heavy, yet a surge of exhilaration stirred in his chest as the distant spires of Brightwater City pierced the horizon.

Their dark silhouettes stood bold against the amber and rose-streaked sky. He let out a quiet sigh of relief, his breath clouding in the crisp air, but his eyes caught the sun dipping low, painting the clouds in hues of gold and crimson.

Selene, ever observant, noticed the lengthening shadows and tilted her head toward him, her voice soft but practical. ’’Should we set up a tent to rest, Rae?’’ she asked, her words carrying a gentle nudge toward caution as the day’s light waned.

Her question lingered in the air. He nodded, scanning the nearby terrain for a suitable spot. ’’Yes, let’s camp here," he said, gesturing toward a flat patch of ground sheltered by a low rise.

The open view would keep them safe, and the slope offered some shelter from the biting evening wind. Raegar began unpacking their tent, its sturdy canvas rolled tightly and weathered from countless nights under the stars.

He started working, driving stakes into the earth, his breath puffing out in white clouds. Selene knelt beside him, her nimble fingers threading the support poles through the canvas loops, her movements synchronized.

Selene flashed him a small, teasing smile as she tugged a knot tight. ’’You’re slowing down, Rae. I’ll have this up while you finish those stakes.’’

Across the clearing, Zargoth worked on his tent, his massive frame hunched as he wrestled the heavy fabric. His thick fingers fumbled the ropes, and a low grumble escaped him as a stake slipped from his grip, skittering across the icy ground.

’’Blasted cold makes everything stiffer,’’ the older man muttered, retrieving the stake.

Despite his complaints, his tent began to take shape, its patchwork canvas a stark contrast to Raegar and Selene’s neatly pitched shelter. He glanced over, catching Selene’s smirk, and waved a dismissive hand.

’’Keep your quips to yourself, Sel. I’ll be done soon enough,’’ her uncle said, a knowing expression crossing his face.

After an hour, the tent site was set up, and Raegar drew the Runes around the campsite to keep the Creatures of the Night away. By the time the sun fully set, the Nightwalkers appeared in the shadows.

Zargoth got scared and scurried into his tent, making the couple laugh as Selene commented. ’’Why do they come out at night? I’m surprised we don’t see them during the day.’’

Raegar paused, considering his words carefully. ’’The moon seems to bolster their strength,’’ he said. ’’And the cover of darkness makes it easier to stalk travelers.’’

The Demoness nodded, her expression thoughtful, then nestled her head against his shoulder. A warm smile spread across his face. He leaned in, pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead, and her features lit up.

They sat together on the grassy knoll, the cool night air wrapping around them like a velvet cloak. Above, the sky unfurled as a sudden streak of light sliced through the darkness, lighting up everything around it.

A shooting star, blazing briefly before fading into the void. The Demoness’s eyes widened, catching the fleeting glow. ’’Look,’’ she whispered, pointing upward as another star streaked across the heavens, followed by another.

His gaze followed her finger, and he chuckled softly. ’’A good omen, perhaps?’’ he mused, his arm tightening around her.

Selene tilted her head, her gaze locking with his as she teased. ’’Or perhaps a warning, the stars could be urging us to stay vigilant.’’

Raegar grinned, his hand finding hers, their fingers intertwining. ’’Let them fall,’’ he said. ’’With you here, I’m ready for anything the night throws our way.’’

They leaned back, their silhouettes blending into the shadowed landscape, watching as the celestial display went on. After some time, he pulled out some sake and began drinking, causing Selene to giggle.

’’Are you becoming a drunk handsome?’’ she questioned.

Raegar shook his head, explaining. ’’No, I just enjoy the taste and have to buy more when we get to Brightwater.’’

Upon hearing his words, the Demoness let out a laugh that echoed softly in the crisp northern air, her eyes glinting. ’’Very well,’’ she said. ’’If you’re willing to share, I’ll help in tracking some down. My father always said it’s no small feat to find such treasures this far north, where the winds bite and the markets are scarce.’’

Following that, the two continued their evening, the clink of their glasses punctuating the quiet night as they sipped their drinks under the star-strewn sky. Laughter and conversation flowed freely.

As the hours slipped by, a gentle drowsiness settled over them, their voices softening to murmurs. Eventually, they retreated to the shelter of their tent, its sturdy canvas walls offering a cozy refuge from the cold.

Inside, the air was snug and inviting, the faint glow of a lantern casting soft shadows. Selene began to peel away his outer layers, her fingers deft and careful. ’’You’ll be far more comfortable without all this," she murmured.

Once freed from his coat, she nestled close, her warmth enveloping him as they settled into the pile of blankets. Curling up together, they found a quiet comfort in each other’s presence, the world outside fading as they drifted toward sleep.

When dawn broke, he stirred from sleep, roused by a biting chill that had crept into the tent overnight. The air inside, once warm and cozy, now carried a sharp edge, as if the cold had slipped through the canvas seams like an uninvited guest.

Blinking against the dim morning light, Raegar exhaled and watched his breath curl into fleeting wisps, crystallizing in the frigid air, a sign of the incoming storm. He stepped out of the tent only to feel the cold air brushing against his face.

’’Damn, it’s freezing despite being summer,’’ he muttered.

Shivering in the sharp morning chill, he wasted no time as he set about kindling a fire to fend off the cold. He gathered what dry wood and tinder he could find, his breath still fogging in the icy air as he worked.

Moments later, he coaxed a spark into a small but steady flame, its warmth spreading through the campsite, offering a bulwark against the frost. As he crouched by the growing fire, feeding it carefully, he glanced upward and felt a twinge of unease.

The sky, once a pale gray, was now darkening, and heavy black clouds rolled across the horizon like a slow tide. A silent warning that the storm was no longer a distant threat but a looming certainty, urging Raegar to hasten their preparations.

While doing that, Selene stepped out of the tent and yawned, slumping down next to him. ’’Morning, Rae, why is it so cold? Has the storm hit?’’

’’The Aether Storm is nearly upon us,’’ he revealed. ’’We can reach Brightwater before it hits, but we need to hurry up.’’