CHAPTER 241: ONCE THEIR LEADER IS DEAD

Zahara burst from the tent, her heart pounding, only to freeze at the sight of Raegar standing amidst a gruesome ring of fallen monsters. She started toward him, but Alice grabbed her arm and held her back. ’’Stay back, Za. They’re only after him.’’

In an instant, he transformed into a whirlwind of death, cutting down the Creatures of the Night. She watched in shock and awe as the boy she loved became a force of destruction. The other girls rallied to his side, joining the fray while he finished off the remaining monsters, coming to a stop soon after.

Dominique, Selene, Drusilla, and Alice joined her outside after the fighting stopped, as the Dark Fairy revealed while glancing around. ’’Looks like these are the leftovers from the last attack, we’ll have a peaceful journey after this.’’

Everyone turned toward the cheeky blonde who was already smirking. When Drusilla sensed them looking at her like she was stupid, she turned to them. ’’What? Did you forget we’re bonded?’’

The girls glanced at the Fairy, their tension easing, only for clearing to fall silent as Selene’s voice cut through. ’’At least there are no more fights for now. This year’s been nothing but battles.’’

’’Hopefully, the next semester he can relax and live like a student,’’ Zahara commented as he turned to them.

Raegar noticed the five girls staring at him with wide eyes, but a charming smile crossed his face as he greeted them. ’’Sorry about that, these creatures are slippery, but their all dead now.’’

Zahara shook her head, answering. ’’Dru said they won’t bother us on our journey to your grandparents? Is that true?’’

’’Yes,’’ he nodded. ’’Once their leader is killed, the rest should flee down south where they’d be wiped out by the Hunter Guilds.’’

After the chaos calmed down, everyone finally let their guard down, their shoulders loosening as the group gathered around the crackling fire once again. Its warm glow danced across their faces, casting shadows over them all. Laughter filled the air as they shared stories and savored the rare moment of peace.

As the night got darker, their eyelids grew heavy, and exhaustion settled over the group. Moments later, they tugged Raegar into the tent, pulling him down to join them on the soft ground in the middle of them. He didn’t resist, a faint smile tugging at his lips as he let their warmth envelop him.

Soon, his head dipped, and he surrendered to sleep, surrounded by the quiet strength of his girls. Raegar woke up the next morning to the sound of birds and soft snores of the girls as Drusilla was in her small form curled up in the crook of his neck while Selene lay on his right thigh.

Dominique nestled snugly against his right shoulder, her soft breaths blowing against his face. On his left, Zahara curled up just as comfortably, her chest rising and falling thanks to being at peace, surrounded by everyone. Alice, ever the quiet one, sprawled across his stomach, a comforting weight against him.

The sight of the three of them, so peaceful, brought a smile to his lips. It was a rare moment of stillness in a life often filled with chaos, and he cherished it deeply. Careful not to disturb the girls, Raegar used Flash Step. His movements were quiet, making sure not a single one of the sleeping girls woke up.

He moved across the room like a shadow. Reaching down, he gently lifted the tiny Dark Fairy, who remained blissfully unaware in her deep sleep. Her wings shimmered faintly in the dim light of the morning, and he couldn’t help but marvel at her beauty.

With a soft chuckle, he slipped her into the inner pocket of his cloak, where she’d be safe and snug. Raegar’s gaze softened as he stood there admiring the scene. A faint chill in the air made him shiver while he reached for a bottle of sake in his storage ring.

He poured some into a cup, causing him to smell the delicious drink. The amber liquid caught the light as he swirled it, the hot liquid spreading through his body with the first sip. The sake’s subtle burn was a comforting contrast to the cool morning air.

Raegar sat down nearby and continued drinking as the sun appeared overhead. He drank even more while watching a flock of some kind of birds pass by, but they suddenly dived toward the ground. Moments later, shrills, guttural shrieks tore through the air, sending a shiver down his spine.

’’What’s going on now?’’ he muttered.

Just then, a swarm of bigger flying creatures, resembling giant vulchers, descended in a frenzy, their wings beating as they zeroed in on the birds that had first caught his attention. The initial creatures, scrappy things with tattered feathers and a defiant squawk, flailed in surprise at the newcomers.

Claws slashed, beaks snapped, and feathers spiraled downward like black rain, painting a chaotic scene against the blue sky. Raegar couldn’t suppress the laugh that rumbled from his chest. The absurdity of the sudden brawl was poetic; an impromptu battle royale began.

His eyes gleamed with amusement as he leaned forward, sake momentarily forgotten in his hand, captivated by the scene unfolding above. The smaller birds, caught off guard, thrashed wildly, their piercing cries mingling alongside the shrieks of their assailants.

Yet the attackers moved with savagery that belied their size, darting in and out like shadows with talons. As the skirmish got worse, Raegar’s sharp gaze caught the first signs of defeat that would happen any second now.

One by one, the smaller birds began to falter, their tiny bodies plummeting from the fight like stones cast into a void. They spiraled downward, wings twitching feebly, some crashing into the underbrush below, others vanishing into the dark ravine. The larger birds, bloodied, let out triumphant screeches.

’’Well, damn,’’ he muttered to himself, raising the sake flask to his lips.

The warm burn of the liquor grounded him as he watched the victor limp through the air, its silhouette fading into the gathering dusk. There was something oddly inspiring about the scene, a reminder that even the smallest battles could carry the weight of survival.

He leaned back, the cool stone beneath him a stark contrast to the fire in his chest, and let the fading echoes of the shrieks linger in his mind. In a world of chaos, even a fleeting clash of birds felt like a story worth witnessing.

Raegar continued to drink until a peaceful buzz washed over him, and the tanned beauty Alice stepped out of the tent. She stretched her arms, letting out an adorable moan that put a smile on his face.

’’Morning, Alice,’’ he greeted the blonde.

’’Hey Rae,’’ she muttered in response.

He gazed at her, captivated by the glow of her striking green eyes and the way her hair, more platinum than blonde, shimmered in the light. Sensing his stare, she tilted her head and asked softly. ’’Why are you looking at me like that?’’

Raegar’s smile warmed as he replied. ’’I love how beautiful you look when you wake up in the morning.’’

Alice’s cheeks flushed a soft pink, her gaze dipping shyly away from his as she replied. ’’Thank you, Rae.’’

Following that, he offered her a seat and some breakfast, which she agreed to. Raegar started cooking some meat alongside some campfire bread, sending their stomachs grumbling thanks to the delicious smell. The two sat in silence while waiting for breakfast as the morning stretched on.

By the time it was done, Drusilla woke up and flew out of his pocket, mumbling. ’’Good morning, Rae, what’s that smell?’’

’’Breakfast for us,’’ he responded, handing her a small chunk of bread covered in sweet honey.

The Dark Fairy sat on his shoulder and began eating as Alice smiled. ’’Looks like you enjoy his food, Dru.’’

She bobbed her head. ’’Of course. Rae may be a warrior, but he knows how to feel a woman’s belly.’’

A few moments of silence passed before the trio started laughing as Raegar handed some meat toward the blonde. Following that, they all started eating as Selene and Dominique appeared from the tent.

The two girls stretched as the Demoness greeted them. ’’Morning, you three, is there any food for us?’’

Raegar moved with quiet confidence, ensuring each guest had a hearty plate of sizzling, herb-crusted meat and warm, crusty bread fresh from the oven. The rich aroma filled the air, mingling with the soft chatter of the gathered company.

As he set a steaming plate before the red-skinned woman, her eyes widened, and she leaned forward, inhaling deeply. A delighted shiver ran through her, and she looked up at him with a radiant smile.

’’This smells divine,’’ she said, her voice tinged with awe. ’’I never would’ve guessed you could cook like this.’’

From across the fire, the pale, sharp-featured vampire girl smirked, her green eyes glinting with playful mischief. ’’Quite the surprise, coming from a Vaelthorne,’’ she teased. ’’I didn’t think your family dabbled in anything as... domestic as this.’’