Raegar slumped down on a nearby bench as the others sat on the square's fountain after looting everything which was kept in a ring to divide up when completing the mission and returning to the guild.
While sitting there, he closed his eyes and started gathering to recover the Aether he consumed during the fight. Ten minutes later, he felt a wave of energy wash over his body which made him shiver just as he opened his eyes.
Lyra was standing there with a smile. ''Thank you for helping us back there. Without you we would have got hurt even more,'' she gratefully said.
Following this, the elf woman walked off to tend to the others as he pulled out some bread and honey. Raegar started eating, which made him roll his eyes as the food was delicious as it was melting in his mouth.
'I need to cook more of this stuff. Maybe when we set up camp for the night,' he mused while enjoying the meal.
Ten minutes later, Tarrin approached him with a wide smile. ''Good fighting back there kid. You're a fast Spellblade just like Mary and Lisara said,'' he praised him.
Raegar waved the man away while responding. ''It's a result of running around monster hunting in Bloodfang Forest and years of training that I went through before coming out here.''
The older man nodded while sitting next to him. ''Which is a good thing. You must be one of the strongest in your generation, but then there's the noble families that train their children with all sorts of tricks to get them Aether control or bigger pools.''
''I don't care about them,'' Raegar replied with a confident smirk. ''They are nothing but glass cannons. Loads of power but no experience with fighting or survival to use that in a battle against me.''
Tarrin chuckled before nodding. ''A good attitude kid, now let's get back to work. I'm sure the devils will love to see you,'' he said.
Following that, the group continued with Raegar roaming ahead but was warned to be careful by Lyra and Elaris who fussed over him. He was standing on top of the fake guild building while spotting a bright light to the north.
'Why does it feel like its pulling me toward it?' he mused before returning to the others.
Raegar used Flash Step to appear in front of Orin while speaking. ''I think we have to go that way to get to the second floor.''
''Was it a bright light that called to you?'' Tarrin questioned as the women joined.
''Yes,'' he answered.
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Moments later, they turned north just before more Lost Ones attacked but thanks to Raegar's speed, he put them down with ease. The journey through the creepy city continued until a chittering noise could be heard.
''Elaris! Barrier now!'' Tarrin suddenly shouted as a translucent shield covered them just as dog-sized rats slammed against it.
Raegar was surprised but Lyra appeared beside him. ''These are Gutter Rats. Foul creatures that ambush adventurers who travel across this floor,'' she explained.
Before long, hundreds of the creatures swarmed around them, their chittering filling the air. His lips curled into a fierce grin as he summoned Hydra Blades, crackling with electric fury, vibrating with power, before he hurled them into the fray.
They streaked through the street like bolts of vengeance, slicing the monstrous rats in half with surgical precision. Raegar's focus sharpened, sending them arcing upward to catch leaping foes, then plunging downward to carve through those scrambling below.
The creatures twisted and tried to evade, but it was leaving a trail of severed bodies in its wake. Moments later, the others jumped in adding their attacks to his, which started wiping out hundreds of Gutter Rats.
Raegar continued using his Hydra Blades while casting Lightningfire Blast to kill dozens of monsters. All he could see was brown cores littering the street, which Lyra had started collecting while everyone else fought.
An hour later, the rats were destroyed just as Tarrin shouted. ''Collect everything so we can get to the Safe Room for rest.''
Following that, they grabbed all the cores and monster parts until Orin led them to their rest place. When stepping into the small hall, Raegar was surprised as it looked like an empty chamber with benches, a fountain in the center, and firepits.
Elaris rushed over and started drinking some before slumping down with a sigh as she mumbled. ''I feel so much better. Dungeon Water is delicious.''
Raegar's eyebrow arched at the sound of it, curiosity tugging him closer. He scooped up a mouthful, and as it hit his tongue, a wave of relief washed over him, melting away some of the exhaustion that had settled into his bones.
Moments later, he took out his waterskin and canteen before filling them up, causing Orin to chuckle. ''This stuff is a lifesaver in certain situations, they are rare on the first floor. I'm surprised we found one.''
Everyone laughed as Tarrin bragged. ''It's because I am here and the Goddess of Luck has blessed me,'' he exclaimed.
Raegar glanced at him, shaking his head with a faint smirk, then turned toward one of the firepits. He reached into his pack, pulling out a bundle of firewood he'd picked up from the General Store, and stacked it neatly.
Without waiting, he summoned a spark of fire Aether, the flames catching quickly and roaring to life, casting a warm glow around him. After doing that, everyone looked at him as Lyra approached and joined him by the fire.
The elf woman smiled before curiously asking. ''Can you tell me about this Yuki you mentioned earlier?''
Raegar instantly brightened up when hearing the cat woman's name came up, causing him to answer. ''She works for my family as a maid alongside her mother and over the years we've grown closer until recently when things have started to change.''
''Oh why's that?'' Lyra questioned as she moved closer with curious eyes.
''I think she's starting to see me as a man more than the little boy she's been chasing around for years,'' he revealed while scratching his cheek. ''I've always found her beautiful but at the moment I'm focused on getting stronger.''
Moments later, Reagar pulled out his skillet and placed it on the fire as the older woman continued the conversation. ''Is she a few years older than you?''
''Ten. She's twenty-five turning twenty-six this year,'' he answered before dousing the skillet with some butter.
Lyra was about to answer but Orin commented with a chuckle as he sat on one of the benches opposite. ''So you like an older woman? They are better than those feral teens that the academies produce now.''
''Yes some of them are bitches,'' Elaris added while joining them. ''Tarrin loves those little tarts, I see his eyes always trailing over their bodies.''
When the blonde man heard this, he instantly refuted her words. ''No I don't! I love you El! Don't be stupid, no trollop will ever make me stray from you.''
Raegar observed the scene and faked a gag, drawing a burst of laughter from Orin and Lyra. The burly man tugged the elf woman closer to his side, grinning wide. Catching the moment, he couldn't resist a jab.
''Didn't peg you four for a cozy little adventuring couples' guild,'' he teased, his tone dripping with playful mockery.
''What do you expect when someone as handsome as me leads such a group?'' Tarrin said, causing the group to laugh at him.
Raegar let out a low chuckle as he glanced at his skillet, now shimmering with heat. He settled by the fire, pulling out the ingredients for campfire bread. With ease, he began mixing the dough, kneading it into shape before pressing it onto the scorching metal.
A sharp sizzle cut through the air, drawing the group's eyes. Orin tilted his head, curiosity piqued. ''What're you whipping up over there?'' he asked, his voice carrying over the crackling flames.
''Campfire bread,'' he answered while watching the dough forming. ''I came up with it while hiding from the Forest Widows.''
''Those nasty ass spiders that hunt people down?'' Tarrin commented in an annoyed tone.
Raegar looked at the blonde man and nodded. ''How do I get them to stop chasing me? It's been months since I stumbled into their nest.''
The adults turned to him, their faces etched with astonishment at his words, eyes wide and searching. Lyra shook her head, breaking the silence with a measured tone as the others started laughing.
''You'll need to take out the queen,'' she said in a concerned voice. ''You've stepped into their lair, now they won't stop until she's got you in her sights.''
He shivered when hearing the elf's words but shrugged. ''I'll hunt down the queen when I return to the forest. If I remember correctly she's in the top end of Tier Two,'' he said before pulling his bread off the skillet.
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