Chapter 37: They

[Aether: 110/10,000 <Tier 3>] +38

[Aether Accumulation: 2110 <Tier 3>]

By evening, Richard had gained an additional 38 Aether.

When he opened his eyes, he saw his ancestor watching him.

"Boy, your speed in absorbing Aether is remarkable. If you keep this up, you could gather everything you need within a year," Aldric said.

Richard smiled at that but then shook his head.

"Even so, I still need to gather the fragments of the Aether Skeleton. If luck doesn’t favor me, who knows whether I’ll even find one," he replied.

"You don’t need to worry so much. Someone as blessed with fortune as you will actually find it difficult not to come across those fragments," Aldric answered.

"I hope so..."

Richard then stood up. "Grandpa, I’ll return to the village now..."

"Good, good. Tonight, you must train again. And don’t just absorb Aether—master the Codex and the Arcane Arts I’ve given you."

"Of course..."

Richard chuckled to himself.

He made his way back leisurely, walking along the path.

The village had grown rather calm after the Sky Armor Knights’ departure.

The villagers seemed to believe everything was fine now.

Richard didn’t see his horse, Athena, and assumed she still needed more time to eat.

If her strength grew, Richard would have little reason to worry about her.

He bathed, changed his clothes, and had dinner with the orphanage children.

"Richard..."

Sister Lisa called out as he was about to return to his room.

"What is it, Sister?" Richard asked curiously.

"I just heard—the Moonshadow Clan has been inquiring about your identity. They even invited you to join them. They’re offering you the chance to be betrothed to one of their girls. What do you think?"

Richard didn’t know how to react at first. But then he quickly shook his head.

"I’ll just stay in this village. Life was already complicated enough in Apple Town. I wouldn’t last in the tangled web of noble clans," he said.

Sister Lisa was a little surprised by his words, but then she seemed to agree.

"Hahaha, true. You’ll only run into endless trouble if you join a major faction. Besides, you’ve grown well in this village. Your achievements are something no great clan could replicate, so why bother with them?" she replied.

Richard suspected she might have suffered troublesome experiences during her time with the Sky Armor Legion—likely the reason she returned to manage the orphanage.

"Sister, I’ll train for a while. Good night," Richard said before entering his room.

Not long after he sat down on his bed, he received a notification from the System.

DING!

(Your mastery over Codex of Dragon Emperor has increased from 30% to 31%!)

(Your mastery over Codex of Moonshadow has increased from 6% to 8%!)

(Your mastery over Lightning of Darkness has increased from 4% to 7%!)

[Codex:

Codex of Dragon Emperor (31%)

Codex of Moonshadow (8%)]

[Arcane Art:

100 Shadow Monster (8%)

Lightning of Darkness (7%)]

It wasn’t Aether, but mastery. Richard was still satisfied with the System’s rewards for today.

He resumed absorbing Aether, slightly faster than during the afternoon.

He didn’t continue for long—drowsiness overcame him.

Still, he managed to absorb 17 Aether, and with the added 34 from his Aether Bottle, his total increased.

[Aether: 144/10,000 <Tier 3>] +34

[Aether Accumulation: 2144 <Tier 3>]

The next morning, Richard woke up late again, having gone to sleep too late the night before.

He rose slowly and looked out the window—only to see Athena grazing near the orphanage.

Without hesitation, he rushed downstairs.

Athena didn’t look different, the same as when he had last seen her.

But Richard felt the horse was concealing her true form.

She had clearly evolved again, for he could sense a faint pressure emanating from her.

"Did you eat all those eggshells?" Richard asked. Athena gave a light nod.

Richard couldn’t imagine how she managed to devour them all, given their sheer number.

"Let’s go..."

Richard wanted to wander and seek the mastermind behind his village’s intended slaughter.

He was certain that whoever had placed those eggs must be lurking nearby—if not in this village, then likely in another, more prosperous one.

Richard suspected they might be in Red Wheat Village, a place often visited by outsiders and far better suited for townsfolk to live in.

He mounted Athena, and she immediately carried him out of the village, traveling once more.

Her speed was nearly double what it had been last time.

It didn’t take long before they arrived at the thriving Red Wheat Village.

At this hour, most villagers were in their fields, but the settlement was far from quiet.

Besides passing adventurers, Richard also saw many city merchants arriving to buy wheat.

"James, James, quickly bring out your prettiest girls..."

Richard suddenly heard shouting from within a closed tavern—a familiar voice he recognized.

It was Old Bear’s voice.

"Old Bear, the girls are still asleep. They were up all night," another voice replied.

"Don’t refuse. Tell them I’ll pay them three times their usual rate each. I don’t believe they won’t wake up..." Old Bear’s voice grew louder.

"Old Bear, what’s wrong with you? You have a young, beautiful wife, yet you want my girls now?"

"Idiot, they’re for my guests. They’re honorable men."

"..."

Some time later, Richard saw Old Bear leave the tavern with three blonde women dressed in elegant gowns.

They seemed freshly bathed.

Though their eyes still looked drowsy, their excitement was clear at the promise of hefty payment.

Old Bear spotted Richard, recognizing him as the boy who had been with Mr. Joe yesterday.

But perhaps too busy, he merely spared Richard a brief glance before hurrying along.

Richard observed him from a distance as he entered a large concrete house—three stories tall.

Even in Apple Town, houses of that size were rare.

’Could they be the ones?’ Richard wondered.

For Old Bear to accommodate them, their background had to be powerful. Ordinary adventurers would certainly be dismissed.

"Lord Damon, Lord Damon, see if they suit your tastes..." Old Bear shouted as he arrived at the house.

Soon, three men emerged.

One appeared to be in his twenties, with neatly combed brown hair, wearing a luxurious surcoat with a sword at his waist. His face was naturally cold, yet he smiled brightly when he saw the women Old Bear had brought.

The other two looked to be in their thirties—likely his subordinates.

Without a doubt, all three were Magi in the Aether Will Realm, for they didn’t bother to conceal their auras.