Chapter 44: Lightning Blade

King Elijah is walking down the palace halls back to his office after the meeting with the Dawn Kingdom envoy. Just as he arrived, he saw Queen Charlotte waiting for him in front of his office.

"Is it done? You've had been in meetings with the envoys since last week. Are they finally leaving you alone?" Charlotte felt pity for her busy husband.

"Should I tell her about the Cross boy is blessed by the gods? No. It won't change anything. We've already planned to make Charles the crown prince when he reaches 15 years old. It is better to just stick with the original plan to avoid internal strife. The Cross boy also wouldn't mind." Elijah gives a moment of thought.

"No problems. All of them had return. As the matter of fact, our relationship with the Dawn kingdom had improve. Speaking about Dawn kingdom, how is Marie? Also, the twins, how is their magic studies came along? They just awaken their mana a few days ago." Elijah replied with a big smile.

"That is good news if the envoys are satisfied. Well, Marie is resting. The healer says the baby will be born in either end of winter or beginning of spring. As for the twins… Chelsea is doing okay. She can understand what Bryce is explaining. But as for Charles, he is a bit slow on the uptake. It seems like he doesn't understand Bryce teachings." Queen Charlotte explains her deduction for the reports she received from the royal mage a few days ago.

"Umm… We just need to find a suitable tutor for him. Not everyone can understand the same explanations. Just keep switching tutors until he finds them comfortable." Elijah made his decision. He would provide anything to help his children to grow even though he is not there beside them.

Queen Charlotte shows a big smile knowing her husband is still reminding of their children even when he is busy. She felt warmth in the family.

"I spy with my little eye… something red outside." Marylyn is playing eye spy with the family while they are on their way to the Shields family county on the south border.

It had been 6 days passed since the departure of the Black family. The Cross family are on their way to the south border for a vacation at a hot spring villa. Malcom already made all the arrangements and already half way to the south border. They will arrive at Silver Ash town in another 2 days.

"Is it that red flower over there?" Amanda is playing along with Marylyn. Malcom is too. Ralph is at the coachman seat with a maid. The Cross family is travelling with a carriage because they only have 2 hippogriffs.

Malcom wants to buy another tamed beast but he still didn't find a suitable one that can fly and trot at the same time like a hippogriff. A griffin is too arrogant so he couldn't tame one. Only the royal family manage to tame it.

Malcom put his thoughts behind and looked at the sleeping Adrian. Adrian had been in a lot of stress since he woken out of the 'nightmare'. Malcom thinks he should find a tame beast for Adrian as a gift.

Adrian is actually just closing his eyes sorting out the information that he had obtain from the dream of him reliving the lives of the Primordials. Adrian saw it all. The beginning of Etterra and mankind throughout Adam and Eve's lifespan.

"Aria, can you see my thoughts now?" Adrian thinks about his experience while asking Aria to read his thoughts together.

[Responding. Nothing detected. Master is not thinking of anything as of right now.]

"Hmm… It seems like it is forbidden knowledge or…." Adrian thinks hard to arrange the puzzle pieces on why only him had those memories. He couldn't even share it with Aria, who is connected to his soul. What was the reason?

"The manuals." Adrian opened his eyes and mutter the words after thinking for 40 minutes, grabbing his family's attention.

"What's wrong? Are you having another bad nightmare?" Amanda asks the waking Adrian with worry.

"No. It's just…." Adrian tries to think of a reason.

[Warning. A sleuth of wild Pawlers is surrounding the area. Detected 2 km ahead. Enemies had been marked on 'Map'.]

"We are being surrounded." Adrian is lucky that Aria save him.

"Huh? Ralph! Stop the carriage. Amanda, protect the kids. Adrian, what are we being surrounded by?" Malcom felt amused and proud that Adrian is the first to detect an ambush. He gave the orders for everyone to calm down and stop the carriage.

"It's a sleuth of Pawlers. Winter is their mating season. We must have unknowingly entered their mating territory." Adrian explains the reason for the ambush. Pawlers are just like a combination of a polar bear, a grizzly bear and wolves.

"I see… good job son. Protect your mother and sister for me. Ralph, back me up." Malcom messed Adrian's hair and turns to Ralph.

"As always, Master. Equipped." Ralph gets himself ready and summon his spirit weapon. His training with Adrian made him change. He wants to be the most reliable servant, not the clumsy Ralph who suck at everything anymore.

Minutes later, Pawlers came out of hiding, knowing their ambush are for naught. They need some extra food to fill their stomachs after mating, not only relying on mana to survive. The Cross family arrival is like a treat to them. They bring the whole family. Around 32 of them.

"There sure is a lot of you. But numbers don't matter to a commander, as more so to a father who is protecting his family. Equipped." Malcom's tone is sharp and his aura is release.

"Analyse"

[Name: Malcom Cross] [Age: 37] [Level: Full Moon Stage]

[STR: 380] [AGI: 342] [END: 420] [INT: 340] [Mana: 8120]

[Affinity: Fire, Earth]

"Dad seems to be a lot stronger than before. When did he train?" Adrian thought as Malcom already charging in trying to thin out their numbers. Ralph also followed behind.

Malcom and Ralph are busy handling the Pawlers but they realize too late that a scarier mana is detected nearing the carriage. The wind stallions 'neighs' alerting the maid and the people inside. Adrian already saw it in the 'Map'

[Name: Pawler Alpha] [Type: Field Beast] [Level: 100]

[STR: 350] [AGI: 410] [END: 310] [INT: 300] [Mana: 9000]

It knows it cannot finish of Malcom and Ralph quickly but some nourishment can reenergize it. It rushes on all fours to the carriage but he met with an Ice attack freezing him on track.

Amanda steps out of the carriage holding her spirit weapon, to confront the Alpha Pawler who is trying to break free. Seeing this Malcom and Ralph fight ferociously trying to end it fast. Burning rocks and flames enhanced by wind causing chaos in the middle of the forest.

"Analyse"

[Name: Amanda Cross] [Age: 34] [Level: Full Moon stage]

[STR: 290] [AGI: 380] [END: 320] [INT: 430] [Mana: 8200]

[Affinity: Water, Ice]

"Mom only had a small increase since I'm 5 years old. Dad is already catching up to her. Her Intelligence difference are like mine although not close to my 500 Int. Only 'Ice Lock' is not enough to stop the Alpha Pawler." Adrian admiring his mother's Intelligence, comparing to him and deducing the victor of the battle.

"Mary, you should close your eyes and cover your ears. Everything will be over after this." Adrian consoles the shaking Marylyn and she does what Adrian said, believing in her big brother.

"So, it should be like this right? If Eve's memory serves me right." Adrian looks at his hand where runes started to form. Lightning sparks followed after that.

"Primordial magic: Lightning blade"

Suddenly, a small lightning bolt so powerful, burst out of the back window heading towards the Alpha Pawler.

*ZWOOSH*

The lightning slices the Pawler in half, form the tip of its nose to the tip of its stout tail. Leaving a charred trace on the sliced bear. The other Pawlers saw this, they roar in retreat. Migrating towards another location. Leaving the ferocious Malcom and Ralph puzzled seeing the sudden retreat.

Amanda rushes back inside the carriage seeing Adrian hugging his little sister who already open her eyes and ears. She already knew that Adrian is the one that cast that monstrous magic but she didn't say anything. She is just relived that everyone is safe.