After almost twelve hours of rest, Riz and Ayhan continued the search for the next seal bearer. Gia, Juliann, Vince, and Camus returned to Barren Forest and helped plants sprout from parched grounds without placing a curse on any of them. Henry decided to go back to the Mortal Realm after making sure that Asuren and the boar seal had fully recovered. Sel, to keep a safe distance from Vince and Asuren, told Thea that she would search around the Northern Region, near Gailbreeze Mountain. She had strictly demanded not to bring Vince and Asuren anywhere near that area without informing her. Calix joined Sel in her exploration. Before leaving, she asked Thea to notify him through Gia if Asuren still wants to leave Daybreak Realm and pay a visit to their gloomy homeland.
Thea and Asuren were searching the eastern forest regions when they came across General Kali.
"Riz had already given me updates regarding Emerald Wind Ville…"
"This is not about that village, Princess Thea," General Kali had interrupted with a bow. "I already reported everything to General Andres. As you requested, I told him that you are busy searching for the next seal bearer but he is still insisting for an audience with you."
"I understand," Thea agreed but with a sigh. "He probably wants to see for himself that I am unharmed," she glanced at Asuren and smiled. "Though my father will not hear me, I want to tell him that, because of my friends, a seal had finally been destroyed. Asuren kept his word. He is not an evil fairy. He will never be an evil fairy."
Asuren felt his heart skipped a beat when he heard those last few words. Everyone believes that he would never be an evil fairy. It was somewhat terrifying considering all the evil things he had done in the past. Once they discover all the sins he had committed, they would certainly hate him. Before that happens, he had to destroy all twelve seals. Only then could he accept all the punishments he deserves.
"You cannot take Asuren with you, Princess Thea. I need to speak with him," General Kali looked serious.
"About what?" Thea furrowed her brows with suspicion.
"I will not harm him, Princess Thea," General Kali had promised. "He can also share with you the conversation we will be having once you return from the Gailbreeze Fortress."
"I will be quick," Thea smiled at Asuren before leaving.
^###############^
Thea had gracefully landed at the balcony of the throne room. General Andres was standing near the floating chrysanthemum bud and staring at it with anxiety.
"Why do you look so worried after learning that we finally destroyed a seal?" Thea walked closer to the recovery bud.
"Why will I not worry?" General Andres did not take his eyes off the chrysanthemum bud. "You and my daughter are pursuing a dangerous path. I saw her a few hours ago. Her eyes have the same look from thousands of years ago. She is mad because of your decision to keep the seal bearer alive after it took a lot of lives."
"We told General Kali the reason we kept him alive. You don't agree with us? Should we just kill him when he can be punished through serving Daybreak Realm? We were trying for thousands of years to fight this worsening drought. Only he can nourish the withered trees back to life."
"He cursed those trees."
"He promised not to do that ever again. Gia will keep a close watch on him and his disciple. If Gia can learn his remarkable skill, we can spread it to the others and we can finally make a progress in fighting this drought," Thea hopefully reasoned.
"Isn't his remarkable skill because he wields the power of a seal? Can he still help us now that the seal had been destroyed?" General Andres was still reluctant.
"It is his unique gift. Some fairies have it. I think he had been chosen as a keeper because of it. The seal only amplified his gift."
"What will you do with Sel? She is mad. What if what transpired back then happens again? She was lucky to have survived that incident. What if…"
"We will not let her die," Thea promised and then added, "Sel might still be a bit impulsive but she had grown. She will not make the same mistake as before."
"You are probably right," General Andres sighed. "I should trust my child a bit more."
Thea smiled and then glanced at the chrysanthemum bud, "Father, you don't need to rush your recovery. Me and my friends will lift the Eternity Curse. We already destroyed one seal. I will return here after we destroy another one. I think you will not wait a hundred years for that."
"General Kali told me that I should trust your judgment," General Andres had spoken. "I worry a lot about your safety but I do trust you, Princess Thea. I know you can lift the Eternity Curse. We are always here to assist. Just say the word."
"Thank you, General Andres," Thea grinned. "I will return with more good news."
"Be more careful, Princess Thea."
^##########^
"I want to thank you for destroying the seal and keeping Princess Thea safe," General Kali summoned a flaming axe. "To show you my deepest gratitude, I will give you an opportunity to spar with me."
Asuren was surprised when the general attacked. His movement was swift despite his muscular figure and huge weapon. The former managed to dodge the swirling axe of the latter and quickly put a safe distance between them.
"Will you only dodge, Prince Asuren?" the general attacked again with his swirling axe.
"You knew?" Asuren summoned his wind blades and managed to parry the blade but the spinning flames still grazed his left cheek.
"Are you planning to hide it?" General Kali spun fast before hammering his flaming axe.
"Are you here to kill me?" Asuren cautiously asked as he deflected and pushed the general away with a powerful whirlwind slash.
"There is an order to kill you but, for as long as Princess Thea is safe, you are safe," General Kali closed in on him again. His whirled more aggressively, causing the flames to blaze more strongly. "Why are you destroying the seals, Prince Asuren? If you want to go against the Evil Witch, you can only rely on the power of the seals."
"I… I will think about ways to defeat her after we destroy all twelve seals," Asuren caught the flaming axe but his wind blades had been melted and the swirling flames had grazed his neck.
"The Evil Witch is still your mother," He relentlessly waved his flaming axe until the newly summoned wind blades had been shattered and the tip of his weapon touched the neck of Asuren, "Will you really kill her?"
"I…" Asuren summoned fresh wind blades and performed a powerful whirlwind slash that tossed the general a few feet away from him. "I am not her son…" he tightened the grip on his weapons. "I am only… her puppet…" his hands trembled with rage. "I don't want to live like that any longer. That's why I need to destroy the seals. I need to stop her from obtaining more power. If she blocks my path… or tries to imprison me again… I… I will have to…" he shook his head and spoke with more resolve. "I will kill her."
^#########^