Chapter 44 – Sovereign From The Sky

As Makara said that, the trio glaze was pulled instinctively towards something that caught their breath in their throats. And there, descending from the heavens with a majestic swoop, was a massive creature—a bird. Its wings spread wide, casting a shadow across the forest floor as it circled above, its feathers gleaming in the filtered light. As it descended closer, they could see its massive wingspan, easily dwarfing them, and its sharp, predatory eyes fixed on the trio.

The bird, an enormous eagle with a wingspan that seemed to blot out the sun, dove toward them, its movements precise and deliberate. When it was only feet from the ground, it gave a mighty flap of its wings, sending a powerful gust of wind crashing into the trio. They braced themselves against the gale, their feet digging into the earth to avoid being knocked off balance.

The eagle’s landing was surprisingly graceful for its big size. It descended slowly, coming to rest before them, its talons digging into the earth as it stared at them with intelligent eyes. The silence that followed was heavy, broken only by the soft rustle of its feathers.

Makara, Shawn, and Selena exchanged wary glances, Selena’s hands instinctively drifting to her weapons, while Makara stated to Shawn, “I think I am heavily drunk, Shawn. That bird…” pointing to the bird in front of them, “… is surprisingly big.” Shawn turned his gaze at Makara and said, “You are drunk, but that bird is certainly bigger.” The air around them felt heavy with tension as the three of them stood before the huge bird, their minds racing. The atmosphere was unsettling as the massive bird in front of them, so large and imposing now, had passed unnoticed, especially Shawn, whose senses had been heightened ‘Why hadn’t I sensed the bird earlier?’

As the trio stood frozen, their attention locked on the immense eagle, it was not just the majesty of the bird that held them in awe, but the man who now emerged from behind its powerful wings. He stepped forward with the elegance and authority of someone who had been born into power, his every movement deliberate, as if the very air around him recognised his royal stature. His presence alone seemed to shift the atmosphere, making the towering trees feel small in comparison to his commanding aura.

He was a figure of regal splendor, dressed in pristine white robes intricately embroidered with the symbols of his royal lineage. The robes, tailored to perfection, displayed exquisite craftsmanship, silver-threaded designs weaving across his chest and shoulders and catching the dim sunlight that filtered through the canopy above. His shoulder gauntlets, crafted from polished silver, reflected the same ethereal light, while two long scarves draped from his back. They shimmered with a soft white hue, billowing lightly in the breeze as if extensions of his own royal presence, adding to the grandeur of his appearance.

His face was youthful, betraying his age of no more than twenty-one, but there was a wisdom in his striking eyes that defied his years. Those eyes were like the very clear sky itself—sky blue colour, luminescent and almost otherworldly, giving him an enigmatic aura. His hair, dark and sleek, fell to his shoulders in polished waves, adding to his air of untouchable elegance. Every step he took was measured, his posture straight and unyielding, the very image of a prince who had been trained from birth to command both respect and fear.

As he stood atop the mighty eagle, his gaze swept over the trio with the sharpness of a hawk’s. His expression was calm, yet there was a dangerous intensity beneath the surface, like a coiled spring ready to strike if need be. The air seemed to still around him, as if the very forest held its breath in his presence.

Then, with a voice that carried both the grace of nobility and the weight of authority, he spoke.

“I am Prince Aerion,” he declared, his words ringing clear through the thick air, each syllable carrying a natural command. “The second son of King Azure, 2nd Prince of the Azurian Kingdom.” His gaze never wavered as he continued, his tone sharp but composed. “Now tell me,” he added, his curiosity evident, though his authority was unmistakable, “who are you, and why have you trespassed into my castle?”

The words hung in the air for a moment, their weight palpable. Shawn, Selena, and Makara exchanged glances, each of them silently processing the gravity of the situation. The royal presence of Prince Aerion was undeniable, and they knew they needed to tread carefully.

Makara, always the first to break the tension with a well-placed remark, tried his usual casual approach, but there was a measured caution in his voice. “Prince Aerion, with due respect, Your domain?” he echoed, raising an eyebrow, his tone slightly incredulous and spread his hand out and took a spin around. “As you can see, we were wandering through the Boreal Forest and not…” Makara hiccuped and continued, “…Your domain.”

Prince Aerion’s lips curled into a faint smile, one that was both knowing and cold. His sky blue eyes seemed to shimmer with an amused glint as he spoke. “You misunderstand,” he said, his tone calm but laced with an unspoken warning. “My castle is not something you would recognise in the conventional sense. My familiars create a unique magic that creates a mirage and have ensured intruders like you would feel lost in the labyrinth of my home.” He paused, his gaze sharp. “You may have thought you were merely wandering through the Boreal Forest, but in truth, you’ve been walking through the halls of my fortress.”

Makara’s usually sharp wit faltered for a moment, his expression turning more serious as the realisation dawned on him. They hadn’t just been lost in the forest—they had been ensnared in Prince Aerion’s carefully crafted domain.

Selena, sensing the need to diffuse the tension, took a step forward, her tone steady and respectful, though still carrying the authority of her own royal blood. “We did not come here to intrude upon your domain, Prince Aerion,” she began, her voice calm and measured. “We did not know that the Boreal Forest was under your protection. Our purpose is not one of hostility.”

Makara quickly added, his voice slightly more relaxed now that Selena had paved the way. “We were seeking you, none other than the second son of King Azure himself. We have a message for you, from your brother—Prince Zhao.” He emphasised the name carefully, watching for any reaction.

At the mention of his brother’s name, a flicker of something passed through Prince Aerion’s sky-blue eyes. His expression, which had remained unreadable, darkened ever so slightly. His brows furrowed, and for a brief moment, the calm mask of nobility slipped, revealing a hint of agitation. He stepped forward, his voice taking on a sharper edge.

“Prince Zhao?” Prince Aerion repeated, his tone growing colder. “My brother sent you?” He paused, his piercing gaze locking onto each of them in turn. Prince Aerion took a step forward and continued, “What does….”

But before he could respond, Prince Aerion’s words abruptly faltered. He staggered, his posture shifting while standing above the eagle itself. His hand instinctively shot to his chest, gripping it tightly as a strange, rhythmic resonance rippled through him. It was a deep, internal pulse. The sound, faint and irregular, echoed within him in brief, like the soft chime of distant metal being struck. Each subtle tremor that passed through him felt like a sequence—from within his body seemed to pulse with a life of its own.

Prince Aerion’s white eyes flickered for the briefest of moments, his regal composure faltering, betraying a hint of pain or perhaps confusion. The resonance seemed to intensify, as though something within him was reacting. The prince’s grip on his chest tightened as if he was trying to steady himself against the erratic pulses that now seemed to control him, his breathing shallow but steady, unwilling to reveal any weakness despite the internal dissonance shaking him to his core.

Prince Aerion’s sharp gaze remained locked on the trio, a calculating silence hanging between them. He could feel it now, the unmistakable resonance humming faintly within him, growing stronger with every passing second. His eyes narrowed as he studied each of them, slowly assessing the source of the disturbance. First, his gaze fell on Selena—her posture defensive yet regal—then Makara, his stance casual but with an underlying readiness. But it was when Prince Aerion’s eyes finally rested on Shawn that the resonance thrummed harder inside him, as if recognising something familiar.

Without speaking, Prince Aerion’s expression shifted—subtle, but unmistakable. He knew. He had figured out that Shawn holds a broken fragment of his father’s sword. Shawn felt it too, and the realisation passed between them silently, a shared understanding that neither could deny, though the words remained unspoken. He could tell Prince Aerion had seen through their intentions.

Meanwhile, Makara and Selena were still attempting to keep up the façade, their voices steady as they tried to deflect any suspicions. Makara, ever the quick thinker, continued spinning a story, explaining their travels in a way that made them seem like harmless wanderers. Selena, despite her calm, royal demeanour, was carefully choosing her words, trying to support the deception.

But Shawn could feel the tension rising, and with each second, the pressure mounting between them and Prince Aerion. “Guys,” Shawn muttered quietly, trying to break into their conversation, his voice low but urgent.

Makara kept talking, trying to talk over him. “…and of course, being mere travellers, we—”

“Makara,” Shawn said again, a bit louder this time, the urgency in his voice growing.

Selena, not missing a beat, continued as well, “—and we mean no disrespect to your lands, Prince Aerion, we only—”

“Selena!” Shawn interrupted more forcefully now, his tone sharp, but it was too late. Selena and Makara, losing their patience, turned toward Shawn, both of them whispering harshly, “What is it, Shawn? can’t you see, we’re trying to convince him we’re just random travellers!”

But Prince Aerion’s eyes never left Shawn. His gaze was intense, and Shawn could see the truth in them. “He knows,” Shawn whispered, his voice tight, a bead of sweat forming at his brow. “He knows why we’re here…”