Aether Chronicles: Birth Of A Legend-Chapter 149: What Are These Points?
''In my defence, you did flip the Demon Rage within me,'' Selene explained with a big smile. ''Only my father could do that. What's even better, you blocked my strike! Are you sure you're human, Rae?''
Raegar laughed softly at her words, his red eyes burning with resolve. ''Yes, I am, but I'm set on getting stronger, steadily chasing that goal. It'll take me longer to hit the next Tier than you all, but when I do, no one will stand a chance against me.''
Everyone agreed as Zahara exclaimed. ''You're Tier One, who fights much stronger foes. A damned Devil Lord scarred your face and your not wallowing in depression but pushing forward.''
''A Devil Lord!'' Selene said with wide eyes. ''You fought one of those fiends?''
Raegar nodded. ''Yes, and defeated it to save the Strike Squad I was with, it was one of the hardest fights I've had, but thanks to my training, Aether, and daggers, I killed it, becoming hated by the creatures.''
The group was fascinated, but he quickly changed the subject. ''Let's get into class. I have a free period after this and am going to check out the library while you guys are in your lessons.''
When they heard this, Zahara looked at him, and he nodded. ''Yes, we'll head there once I finish my Devil Hunting class.''
The group entered the corridor where the Dungeoneering Classroom was and noticed the other students walking into it. Raegar led the way as Selene pleaded for him to tell some stories.
''Not now, maybe when the Combat Magic Classes combined,'' he answered with a smile. ''You and the others will join us, so I can tell everyone.''
Moments later, the group crossed the threshold into the classroom, their footsteps echoing softly. Instead of the familiar clutter of desks scattered across the room, they were greeted by an unexpected sight.
A tidy row of desks hugged the wall, their polished surfaces gleaming and free of clutter. Above them, vibrant posters adorned the walls, showcasing intricate dungeon maps, menacing creatures, and glowing Aether Cores in vivid detail.
The heart of the room remained an expansive, open space, deliberately cleared to provide the professor ample room to engage and instruct the class. Just then, Selene grabbed his hand.
''Come on, let's get a seat together!'' she happily exclaimed.
Raegar grinned and settled into his seat, Zahara on his left and the Demoness on his right. Catching sight of the arrangement, Dominique shot a sharp hiss at the blonde. ''Halfway through, you're switching so I can sit next to him.''
Everyone laughed as Vienna sat next to Selene, just as a dark-haired older woman entered the room from a door on the opposite side of the class, and he noticed the scar running down her face and under her dress.
She scanned everyone with narrowed black eyes and introduced herself with a welcoming smile. ''Good afternoon, children. I'm Professor Howard, and I'll be your teacher for the year.''
Moments later, the older woman glanced at him and asked a question. ''Blackwood, can you tell me why the empire guards the dungeons alongside the school?''
''To earn income and stop breaks, if one ever happens,'' he responded.
''Correct, but you missed something,'' she said with a smile, speaking to the rest of the class. ''Can anyone tell me what the last thing is?''
A random boy at the front of the room raised his hand, causing the professor to motion for him to speak, which he did. ''Monster materials, the stuff that comes out of the dungeons, can be used for many things.''
''That's right!'' the woman replied while nodding. ''Many of the dungeons that Drakenwood controls produce tons of materials that we sell or use on site to help with our students.''
Just then, a girl spoke up. ''When can we start exploring them?''
Professor Howard beamed, revealing. ''Maybe a week or two, depends on when I can get a slot for us. But it will only be a F Rank Dungeon. Anything higher is risky considering many of them are close to full of monsters.''
Following that, she went on to explain about the school's dungeons. ''There are one hundred and sixty-seven dungeons around the local area, but twenty of them are out of service thanks to being cleared by adventurers and year three students.''
When Raegar heard this, his eyes widened in excitement as Selene nudged him with a cheeky smile. ''We can explore one together soon, we could go far.''
He glanced at the Demoness and nodded just as Professor Howard continued. ''Dungeoneering is a more practical class with students exploring the lower-ranked dungeon to earn points, which will go to your grades.''
Raegar raised his hand, catching the woman's attention, causing her to motion for him to talk. ''What are these points?''
''Okay, class,'' she said with a wave of her hand, and Aether writing appeared in the air. ''Dungeon Points are exclusively used in Dungeoneering, but they can boost your grade at the end of the year.''
The professor gestured toward the Rank F section on the chart, marked with a number one, and elaborated. ''Take, for example, the Belching Swamp Dungeon, a Rank F. Completing it earns you two points. Accumulate one hundred points, and don't worry, you can rerun the dungeon to gain the same points each time, along with monster materials you can sell at the shop.''
Following that, Raegar and the girls learned about the Rank F Dungeons on school grounds that amounted to sixty in total. By the time the class came to an end and everyone started leaving. freēwēbηovel.c૦m
''It warms my heart to see you all so eager to learn about dungeons,'' the professor declared with a broad smile. ''But for now, off to your fourth lesson. I'll see you next time!''
He turned to the three girls and spoke. ''Wait for me outside. I want to report that I completed that dungeon yesterday.''
''Alright, but hurry up, we have classes,'' Dominique answered with a small smile.
Just then, Raegar approached Professor Howard, who looked up and commented. ''What can I do for you, Blackwood?''
''I want to report that I finished the Nightmare Forest,'' he revealed.
When the older woman heard this, her eyes widened as she questioned. ''Can I see your Academy Pass?''
Raegar passed the item to the professor, who scanned it with an Aether device. Moments later, she looked up, a wide grin spreading across her face. ''You cleared it yesterday?''
He nodded, answering. ''Yes, the boss was a Giant Forest Spider, and you can ask Elara or Ranthar, they'll confirm it.''
The professor dismissed him with a casual wave, her voice brisk. ''Two point for you. I'll record it each time you complete a dungeon. It'll show up on your Academy Pass.''
''Thank you,'' Raegar replied, giving the professor a nod before exiting the classroom.
Outside, he spotted Dominique, Zahara, Selene, and Vienna waiting for him, their faces lighting up as he approached. He escorted the four girls to their next class, exchanging light banter along the way.
After seeing them off, he headed toward the library. When he finally reached it, his jaw dropped, utterly stunned by what he found. Raegar pushed open the heavy oak doors, expecting a modest room filled with dusty tomes and flickering candles.
Instead, his breath caught in his throat, and his eyes widened in awe. The library was colossal, its size stretched far beyond what he assumed. Towering shelves of polished dark wood rose like ancient trees.
Their heights disappearing into a vaulted ceiling adorned with walkways and tables, allowing the students to reach up there. Spiraling staircases twisted upward to mezzanines that circled the upper levels, where people moved like shadows among the stacks.
In the center, a massive crystal orb hovered above a marble platform, casting prismatic light across the room. It hummed softly, projecting faint holographic images of dungeon maps and arcane symbols that danced in the air.
Scattered throughout were long tables of polished obsidian, where students pored over scrolls and grimoires, their quills scratching softly in the reverent hush. Raegar's boots echoed on the mosaic floor, each tile depicting a fragment of some grand historical saga.
The air carried the rich scent of aged parchment, ink, and a faint tang of magic. He craned his neck, spotting a distant alcove where a librarian sorted tomes that floated obediently into place.
''Gods above,'' he whispered, his voice swallowed by the library.
Raegar was shocked but couldn't wait to start reading as he headed toward the monster section to see if the Northwest had any rare creatures. He found three books and a cozy nook to sit in.
Settling into a secluded corner of the library, Raegar eased into a cushioned chair and pulled a small flask of sake from his ring. He took a sip, the warm burn grounding him as he cracked open the first book on the pile before him.
His eyes scanned the page, then froze, widening in disbelief at an illustration of a creature he'd battled before, a Hollowborn, its twisted form etched in vivid detail.
