I grabbed Diablo's shoulder and said in my usual cold manner. "I believe at Grand Mage, I cannot just teleport myself, but a couple others as well, at the same time, although, I have not had time to test this yet, so, hold on tight." Diablos face twisted in dismay as he said "Your Ex-" But I simply teleported and cut him off mid sentence.
We arrived back in my throne room, everything still the same, well, it is still the same day since I left to deal with the Vaelgrim Family, so that makes sense. However, a lot has happened. A lot of revelations and I am going to need to take action. Well, I will after I see Aurora, I haven't seen her in days at this point. Now that I think of it, I should have told her I was going out for a while, She would have been expecting me, after feeling my breakthrough.
As I was thinking this, Diablo was looking at me with a mock hurt expression, as if I betrayed him. Idiot, I thought warmly. However, on my face was nothing like a warm expression "Diablo, lets go." I said as I started walking to the exit of my throne room, Diablo caught off guard by my abruptness, quickly caught up and said "Why the rush, Your Excellency?"
While still walking I simply said "I want to see Aurora before I have to take up a world shaking responsibility of leading the resistance against a foreign, alien enemy." As I said this nonchalantly, Diablo walking a step behind me raised his eyebrow "So is this about what you and Merlin spoke about?" I simply replied "Yes, like I said, I will fill you in later."
As we walked through the large, winding hallways of the palace the servants we came across seemed to be relieved and happy to see me. What has happened? I thought. I stopped abruptly and spoke directly to a maid pushing a trolley of some sort, who was currently standing aside and bowing. "You." I said as I looked at her, she seemed to jolt in surprise, before she steadied herself and said stiffly "Yes, You Excellency?" I said for her to raise her head before saying "What has happened while I was away, and where is Aurora?"
When I said this the maid seemed to stumble over her words a bit as she replied "Umm, there was.... an attack. The city was put on lockdown.... and ummm... it seems about an hour ago that lockdown was lifted and the enemy was defeated. That is all I know, Your Excellency. About Her Highness..... she was sent to the vault for security by Lady Alexia, however, now since the lockdown lifted, she has since gone to the gardens again."
As the maid finished, I nodded in understanding, so that witch really did send someone to attack, but they were repelled? Good. It seems the strict military training has paid off, along with the exorbitant amount of funds poured into the magi-tech armour.
When I started to move away the maid said hurriedly "Your Excellency! It may not be my place, but it seems Lord Aurelius has arrived at the palace a little bit ago, just as the lockdown was lifted. I believe he is with Her Highness."
I paused my step and nodded in affirmation, before me and Diablo moved on, now with a destination.
.....
The Gardens:
Aurora POV:
The lockdown was over a little bit ago and everything seems to be going back to normal, it seems the enemy was defeated, not without some damage to us though. Those villages and the people within them were wiped away, according to Alexia, I feel for them. Really I do, they were powerless to stop their fate, just like I had once been.
As I was thinking this, while sitting on a bench in the middle of the gardens with a nice view of the city below, a man with striking blue eyes and yellow-blonde hair, was currently sitting next to me, and has been for the last few minutes.
He seems to be a friend of fathers, from what he has said. His name is Aurelius.
"What an amazing view, Aurora, I am jealous you get to see this everyday."
I simply nodded lightly, as my legs swung off the bench.
"You can call me uncle, if you want, I am your fathers best friend after all!" Said Aurelius with some mischief.
"I do not believe you, my father is not the type to have friends" I said flatly.
"Ouch, I guess that is the impression he gives, but I am an exception, I pestered him for years at the academy, before he finally relented. We have been inseparable ever since.
"Really?" I said with a bit more excitement.
"What was he like at the academy?" I urged, I really wanted to learn as much about father as possible. He was too closed lipped.
At this, Aurelius had an expression on his face that seemed to be lost in nostalgia. "He was personality-wise, very much the same, maybe more hot headed like the world owed him. But, over the years, with maturity, that has dissipated."
He went on, "He was one to never turn down a challenge. I remember when one arrogant young master of a noble family, from the demon empire, made a bet daring him to go and face one of the King magic beasts in the forest, in our later years at the academy." He said as he turned to face me as if telling a bed time story.
"The young master wanted to knock him off his high horse and embarrass him, as he was seen as the top of our generation, while always showing a clear distain for the nobles, keeping to himself and acting unapproachable." He then went on "That young master proved his point, looking back now, about nobles being generally arrogant and seeing anyone other than themselves as lesser." He said as he paused the story.
He continued on, "At the time he was only a Lord Mage, and magic beasts are generally stronger than mages in the same level, which is something you will learn in your studies, I am sure. So, imagine a kid, a realm below, going to take on a magic beast. It was suicide. But he came back, dragging a humongous head of a bear, causing streaks of blood to be left on the polished floor and then dropped the head of the beast in front of the young master and walked off, cut, bruised and wobbling. But still standing strong, that became one of the 'legends' that is told at the academy, still to this day."
As I heard all this, I couldn't help the excited expression to appear on my face, the story was great, but being able to hear more about father and his life, felt like a dream. This man is a gold mine, I thought.
"Uncle! Tell me more!" I said trying to get him on side, by calling him uncle.
He laughed as he held his stomach, then said "Aurora, you have the sharp mind of your father already, at such a young age!"
Then, his laughing was cut off by a deep voice that echoed behind us "Do not listen to anything this buffoon has to say, Aurora, he is not a trustworthy source."
I jumped down off the bench and quickly turned and ran as I shouted "Dad!"
...
I arrived at the gardens with Diablo, before we entered, we heard from Alphonso that Alexia was looking for Diablo, so he decided to go and get filled in by her.
The mages in charge of Aurora opened the double doors to the expansive gardens, where you could see the city from above. I thought, she spends time in the gardens just as much as Elenora did, before I heard the voice of Aurelius telling the story of my past. I could see Aurora so wrapped up by his story telling, her bright red eyes sparkling in anticipation for his next line.
I shook my head as I approached, thinking, I acted so rashly back then, I guess I really did have a chip on my shoulder in those days.
I then arrived just a few steps behind them, as I said "Do not listen to anything this buffoon has to say, Aurora, he is not a trust worthy source."
Aurora ran to me while shouting "Dad!" as she barrelled into me and I bent down and hugged her, taking in her trembling form I thought, dad? What is with the lack of formality now? No matter, I.... prefer this. I thought.
I pulled her away and what greeted me was her now, full face, as that malnourished girl was gone after having plenty of magic beast meat, since she arrived at the palace, the magic beast meat has a lot of positive effects for people who eat it regularly. It is just incredibly expensive.
Her eyes were watering slightly with tears, as she looked up to me, my face and voice softened as I said, "What is the matter?"
She said softly "You were not here, even though you finished cultivating, and... and... there was an attack! Why did you not tell me you were leaving somewhere?"
I could see and feel the slight anxiousness in her voice and body language, as I said "I am sorry, Aurora, you are right, I should have said, I am not used to this yet. I have always been basically alone, I am not used to others caring for me in such a way, well, not since your...." I didn't finish as I averted my eyes, but I knew she understood, she is a smart girl. She hugged me tighter, I looked back and saw her smiling "I will be sure to let you know in the future or get someone to fill you in." I then patted her head, and picked her up while I walked to the bench.
Once I sat down, I saw Aurelius standing to the side with his jaw open, "Close your mouth, you will catch a bug."
He quickly shut it before he rubbed his eyes dramatically "My oh my, is that you Kyros?!"
I simply ignored him as I looked at Aurora, she was giggling "Do not gang up on me with that idiot, please." I said as I started to play with her cheeks, pulling them. Aurora looked dismayed, as she tried to say "Sowwy dwad" as I pulled her cheeks. I stopped and then kept patting her head as I looked at the city below, Aurora was rubbing her, now, red cheeks with her small hands.
Aurelius spoke up hesitantly "You are probably wondering why I am here?" I simply shook my head as I said "I have an idea, I have just learned a lot of interesting things, I am sure you have a lot to say too. We can talk later. For now, before I become the most busy I have been in years, I would like to spend some time with my daughter."
However, as if fate itself was playing tricks on me, I got Diablo coming in and bowing before saying "Your Excellency, word has come from the command centre, apparently a hoard of alien-like creatures are heading to the city from the north boarder."
Aurelius was slightly shocked "That damn woman, it seems she has accelerated her plans, why?" He said frantically.
I, however, still kept stroking Aurora's head as I replied "Probably, because of me and Merlin"
Before either Diablo or Aurelius could say anything, I put my hand up in the air from Aurora's head and said simply "I will inform you and the necessary personnel later. For now, I better deal with this little welcome gift."
I then put Aurora down on the bench next to me and said to her, as her face showed a worried expression "Do not worry, Aurora, I will be gone and back in a moment. Also, you can view me and everything from here, you can enjoy the show." I then ruffled her hair which granted me a cute grumble from her. Before I turned to the others and said "Look after her while I deal with this.
I stood and said to Aurora, "See you in a minute!" Then teleported above the city.
As I arrived above the city I could see it from another view that I had never seen or experienced before, looking from the palace was always surreal, but this? This is unreal and intoxicating, as I looked at all the millions of people below, some getting on with their work, some shopping, some coming out of inns. Some even noticed me as I hung in the air.
I then locked my eyes onto the hoard of blackness, must be hundreds of thousands, rushing towards the city at high speeds. They are currently about to reach the north border, so I decided to act.
I raise my hand as hundreds of thousands of bright, golden, ethereal weapons of all different variants are summoned over the city, blotting out the sky that is starting to darken with the first signs of day turning into night, before I simply swing my hand down.
Then, before even looking where they are heading, or if they hit their targets, teleported back to my daughter, to spend some quality time, before a workload of a lifetime hits me head-on.