CHAPTER 239: HEADING HOME

Raegar was breathing heavily as he dragged the girls away from the tower, as professors rushed to the scene. He turned to Drusilla and revealed. ’’A sea monster attacked the bottom and brought it down.’’

Just then, Headmistress Corrine appeared beside them with a worried expression as she spoke. ’’This was bound to happen, the Runes have been growing weaker over the last few months.’’

The group looked at the older woman, who continued as her blue eyes lit up. ’’Head home for now. We’ll repair this over the Summer break,’’ she glanced at him with a smile. ’’And stay out of trouble, Blackwood. The school needs its guardian.’’

Raegar nodded in response. ’’Of course. These next few weeks will be for relaxation and spending time with the girls.’’

When the group heard his words, they beamed just as Zahara and Alice appeared from the crowd. As Corrine saw this, she said her goodbyes and went to help the other students out who were still panicking.

Once she was gone, Selene commented. ’’Are we all headed to Rae’s place? Should we get going now?’’

’’Yes, if we get on the road now, we can get to Brightwater within a few hours,’’ Zahara suggested.

Everyone agreed, only for Raegar to comment. ’’Go pack up your stuff, I need to talk to Caspian and Rune before we leave.’’

The five girls nodded in unison, their faces set with determination, before darting off through the chaotic crowd of students, their footsteps echoing against the cobblestones. Raegar watched them disappear.

His heart thudded in his chest, not just from the urgency of the moment but from the distant, guttural roars of the sea monsters that reverberated through the school grounds, growing fiercer with each passing second.

The battle against the creature was escalating, its massive form thrashing in the nearby harbor, sending sprays of saltwater and debris crashing against the ancient stone walls while covering some people.

Raegar tore his gaze away and turned toward his friends, who stood huddled near Professor Aldric, one of the academy’s sternest instructors. The older man’s voice boomed over the clamor.

His hand raised as he directed the male students to hold their ground, urging them to stay back from the perilous fray unfolding at the water’s edge. The air was thick with tension, the acrid scent of ozone mingling with the briny tang of the sea.

The ground beneath Raegar’s feet trembled violently, each quake a pulse from the monster’s relentless assault. He clenched his jaw, forcing himself to ignore the unsettling vibrations that threatened to unbalance him.

Without hesitation, Raegar strode toward the towering figure of Rune, his oldest friend, whose broad frame loomed like a sentinel amidst the chaos of the courtyard. The ground still quaked beneath his boots, the distant roars of the sea monster punctuating the air.

With a grin, he clapped a hand firmly on Rune’s massive shoulder, the impact barely registering on the giant boy’s sturdy build. ’’Everything good, Rune? Last I saw, you were out cold a few hours ago, thought you might’ve slept through the whole fight!’’

Rune’s deep, rumbling chuckle cut through the din, his weathered face breaking into a wide, toothy grin that belied the tension around them. Before he could brace himself, a pair of massive arms enveloped him in a sudden, bone-crushing bear hug, lifting him slightly off the ground.

The air whooshed from Raegar’s lungs, and he gasped, half-laughing, as Rune’s embrace tightened like a vice. ’’I’m glad you got out, Rae!’’ Rune’s voice boomed, warm and earnest, carrying over the shouts and clamor of the nearby students. "We were worried sick about you, mate. Thought you’d gone and gotten yourself eaten by that blasted beast!"

He wheezed out a laugh, patting his friends back as best he could while extricating himself from the suffocating hug. ’’Takes more than a sea monster to keep me down,’’ he managed, catching his breath.

Rune’s eyes sparkled with relief, though the faint bruise on his temple hinted at the toll the day had taken. Around them, the courtyard buzzed with nervous energy, students casting anxious glances toward the harbor where flashes of magical light illuminated the roiling waves.

Raegar steadied himself as he revealed. ’’The headmistress told me and the girls can leave early. I’ll see you when the break is over?’’

When the giant boy heard this, his brown eyes widened just as Caspian joined them and handed him two letters. Raegar took them with a curious expression as he questioned. ’’Are these from Sasha and Mirelle?’’

His blonde friend huffed before answering. ’’Yes. They asked me to give them to you a few hours ago. My father has summoned them to the west to help out the empire.’’

Raegar’s eyebrow rose, causing Caspian to explain. ’’They help out the Imperial Guard alongside my parents. It’s a habit in the family for several generations.’’

’’Oh interesting,’’ he muttered.

The trio lingered in the bustling courtyard, their voices weaving through the chaotic hum of students and the distant roars of the sea monster still raging. The ground trembled intermittently, but the friends stood close, their bond a steady anchor amidst the turmoil.

Rune’s massive hand rested on Raegar’s shoulder, his hearty laugh fading into a warm, earnest smile. ’’You better keep in touch, Rae,’’ he said. ’’I’ll be stuck here, helping rebuild after this mess. Don’t go forgetting me while you’re off adventuring.’’

Caspian, lean and sharp-eyed, adjusted the strap of his travel-worn satchel, his usual sly grin softened by the weight of the moment. ’’And I’m headed west to the family manor,’’ he added, his tone lighter. ’’Father’s insisting I ’learn the estate,’ but I’ll be bored out of my skull. Write to me, both of you, or I’ll hunt you down myself.’’

His red eyes glinted with mischief, though the promise of separation hung heavy between them. Raegar nodded, clapping both friends on the arm, his chest tight with the bittersweet pang of parting.

’’We’ll stay in touch,’’ he vowed, his voice firm despite the chaos around them. ’’No matter where we end up, we’re not done with each other yet.’’

The three shared a lingering look, a silent pact sealed in the shadow of the academy’s towering spires, before Rune pulled them both into one last, rib-bruising hug that left them laughing and gasping.

With their farewells exchanged, Raegar turned and wove through the crowd of students and professors, his boots clicking against the cobblestones as he made his way toward the girls’ dormitory.

The air grew cooler as he approached the ivy-clad building, its arched windows glowing faintly with lantern light. The distant clamor of the sea monster’s battle faded slightly, replaced by the softer murmur of students milling about, some clutching bags, others whispering about the day’s events.

Raegar leaned against a stone pillar near the dormitory’s entrance, his eyes scanning the crowd for the five girls he’d sent off earlier. While sitting outside the tower, Cecelia, Luna’s mother, approached.

’I wonder what she needs?’ he mused.

The green-haired woman stopped in front of him and spoke with a warm smile. ’’Remember to level up your different elements during the break. We’ve gone through how, and you’ve got a few done already.’’

Raegar stood respectfully before Cecelia, her green hair catching the flickering light of the lanterns lining the girls’ dormitory entrance. The distant roars of the sea monster had dulled to a low rumble, but the air still thrummed with the aftermath of the battle.

He shifted his weight, meeting her piercing gaze. ’’Yes, Professor,’’ he said, despite the fatigue creeping into his bones. ’’I was planning to work on it once I reach my grandparents’ home down south. They’ve got a quiet study I can use.’’

Cecelia’s stern expression softened, a rare smile crinkling the corners of her eyes. She nodded approvingly, her hands clasped behind her back. ’’That sounds wise, Raegar. A focused environment will serve you well. Once the break is over, we’ll move on to the next set of exercises.’’

Her tone carried the weight of expectation, a quiet pride in his progress, but she shook her head, speaking once more. ’’And these will be grueling, Raegar, painful, even. But I’ll be there to guide you through them.’’

Her blue eyes glinted with a mix of challenge and reassurance, her words both a warning and a promise. Raegar felt a shiver of anticipation, his resolve hardening under her gaze. He inclined his head, a silent acknowledgment of the task ahead.

’’Thank you, Professor. I’ll be ready.’’ Cecelia gave him a final nod before turning to address another student, her robes swishing softly.

Raegar exhaled, his breath visible in the cool evening air, and resumed his vigil by the dormitory pillar, his mind already turning to getting even stronger. He sat nearby to wait for the girls.

Thanks to his bond with Drusilla, he could tell they were still in their rooms, packing their stuff into storage rings. Half an hour later, the five appeared at the entrance, beaming as the Dark Fairy flew toward him.