Chapter 270 - Aurel

Thunder rolled as the flashing clouds parted. A huge shadow loomed in the sky above, hovered over them as the cries of a crow echoed across the place.

CAAAAAAAAAAW!

The oracle on the ground indicating Perun's wheel, an intricate design unique to the King of Heavens glowed brighter and brighter until its light projected towards the sky where the huge shadow started to take shape.

CAAAAAAAAAAW!

Another cry pierced into the air as a huge elemental the form of a crow descended from the sky. Its feathered body was both black and silver depending on the light while electricity sizzled around it. There was no doubt that this was Aurel, the lightning elemental – well, the first lightning elemental.

Normally, lightning elementals did not exist. But years ago, when Perun descended to the mortal plane, he had encountered an injured crow by the river. Inspired by the moment, he took the crow back and nursed it. However, even after recovering, the crow did not leave his side. When he ascended to the heavens, the crow became an elemental to continue being by his friend's side.

"Aurel…"

Alistair's voice, although he was standing on the balcony could be heard by everyone present. His voice had this otherworldly quality as if he was whispering directly into everyone's ears, making their bodies shiver.

The giant bird, all eight meters of it swooped towards the Ritz King at great speed. But as it did, its gigantic body gradually decreased in size until it landed on Alistair's arm, the size of a normal crow.

Oh!

A chorus of awed voices echoed in the place as the people watched the legendary elemental perched on the King's arm. The brightness in the coliseum gradually dispersed as Perun's seal vanished from the ground. However, the surreal glow surrounding Alistair's body didn't disappear.  

The King lowered his arm, and Aurel transferred to his shoulder as he cleared his throat to speak.

"Dear people and Kings of Ged, thank you for gracing us with your presence," he began.

Warmth and pride, filled each and everyone's chest with the King's words, although they were well aware that it should be them who should feel grateful and honored to have met the King of Heaven in their lifetime – the citizens of Ritz most especially. It hadn't been so long ago that they had loathed this very same person they worshipped now.

In the history of Ritz, Alistair, although was the most beautiful and clever monarch, was also considered the weakest as he didn't have an elemental when he was born. The already laughingstock of a country, the weakest and the bottom nation had fallen even more to the lowermost hierarchy when he took over the throne.

But now, the same person turned out to be the most powerful being of them all, Perun, the King of Heaven. They couldn't have been more proud of themselves for being citizens of Ritz in spite of their initial condemnation of King Alistair's rule.  

All ears were trained on Alistair's words, hanging on to each and every sentence he uttered. In spite of not having a total grasp of what was being said, they didn't care. They just wanted to savor this moment when the king talked.

"However, Aurel had come to me instead of going to one of the ladies. This meant that none of them possesses the one we are looking for."

Everyone other than Ivan and Fredek didn't have any knowledge of the specific thing Alistair had mentioned. When Kres and Fredek went on their mission, they just informed the royals that something that the late Princess possessed transferred to someone who looked similar to her. They didn't mention that it was a piece of her soul they were looking for to avoid unnecessary trouble.

As already proven earlier when the monarchs did a contest using the women themselves, there was a huge possibility that they would try to come up with ways to make one of the women have Alinea's memories by hypnotism just to prove that she had a part of the late Princess' soul.

It was an inconvenience that they couldn't afford to deal with at the moment.

"We thank each and everyone – all the nations and their leaders who kindly aided Ritz in this difficult time," Alistair stated as he nodded towards the other monarchs.

His role as the King of Ritz would end there. He already fulfilled his diplomatic obligations by acknowledging the other countries' efforts although they were all in vain. But this gesture would be of use to the future generations as all nations who were there right now had now become "friends" of Ritz. His promise to his eldest to take care of his people had been fulfilled. It was now time to deal with his youngest's plight.

With this, Alistair ended the spectacle, and invited the royals back into the castle for a feast. However, during the banquet, the Ritz King, Ivan, and Fredek were all absent. All three along with their people rode hard following Aurel who flew towards the direction of the Devil's Cavern.

"What's the matter with him? Did he detect Ali?" Ivan asked.

He and Alistair sat in a carriage pulled by chanleyas as they flew after the lightning crow.

"He did," the Ritz King answered as the carriage descended fast where Aurel swooped low and landed just in front of the cavern.

Subtle energy could be detected from within and both kings frowned as it was not there before.

"Ritz…"Ivan called as the air around the cavern rippled.

"That's right. The portal is open right now," Alistair answered his friend's silent question.

His amethyst gaze narrowed on the undulations in the atmosphere. He jumped out of the carriage and marched towards the opening of the cavern where the portal appeared, but as soon as he touched it, electricity sizzled in his hand as he was rejected.

"What's the matter? I thought it was open," Ivan commented as he joined Alistair.

"Maybe it only allows something specific to cross over," Fredek answered as he dismounted and stood next to them.

"What should we do then?" Ivan asked just as Aurel suddenly started crying.

CAAAAAAAAAAAW!

"What's wrong with him?"

All three of them looked at Aurel who suddenly flew towards them at great speed, not caring if he would run into them.

"Your Highness!"Fredek pulled Alistair to the side as Ivan jumped towards the other.

They watched as the lightning elemental flew towards the portal and vanished. Afterwards, a strong wind enveloped Alistair only to vanish almost immediately as well as if a typhoon just passed them by.

"EH?"

"Your Highness, Aurel crossed," Fredek uttered, wide-eyed at the distortion of the entrance where the crow disappeared.

"Not just him. They're gone too," Alistair suddenly said which confused the others.

"Them?"Ivan and Fredek looked at Alistair as they waited for the answer.

"The harpies. They followed Aurel into the portal…"