Crimson Star City - Part 1

The five people flew in the air for several hours during which they would occasionally meet others going in the same direction as them. Some of them were being carried just like the four, by what Asura Ryuu assumed to be senior disciples of the Crimson Star Academy and some of them went with their own families on various treasures. They even met flying beasts carrying several people with a powerful aura. Except for Asura Ryuu and Asura Tenka, not many could notice such a strong aura even if they were one meter away from those people.

Needless to say, everyone would make way for those who flew on such exclusive flight beasts, so few would even have the chance to feel the aura. Asura Ryuu felt cold sweat when one such man turned around and smiled in his direction. He was sure that the man's instincts warned him that he was being watched, that's why he found the two kids staring at himself. Luckily, he wasn't one of those difficult-to-deal-with people, and neither did he come looking for trouble.

Asura Ryuu only now realized how weak they were, even if they had a strong Spirit Power. After all, with strong Spirit Power, you only have better control over the Spiritual Energy and better perception. It helps a lot in battle and places where the strong Spiritual Power is needed, but it doesn't give one any combat prowess. Unless one practices a special skill or awakens with Spirit Soul that is based on the Spirit Power, there is no way to utilize it as one can do with Spirit Energy.

The loud howling of the winds was suddenly disturbed as the emerald-colored trail of light flashed past the people in the air. It was a flying beast carrying several people on its back. Not many saw what it was because of its speed, but when the flow of the winds was disturbed by the beast, almost everyone knew who was the one with such an extravagant flying beast. There was only one family that possessed the flying beast of such power - Royal Family.

When those who were angry for the arrogance of the fellow Spiritualists on the back of the flying beast realized who the beast belonged to, their anger dissipated immediately as if the winds carried it away with their passing. Because the winds were disturbed, the four children inside the invisible air sphere could hear a voice from the person carrying them for the first time. It was a gentle female voice filled with the youthful and lively energy: "That creature is the Emerald Phoenix. Remember it. You probably don't know what it signifies so I will explain - the Emerald Phoenix always carries only her majesty, the Princess on its back. It's the first time I saw it carrying several people. Remember it looks very well and avoid it if you ever encounter it in the future unless you want to risk angering the Royal Family."

While she was talking, the five people in mid-air weren't flying. The female disciple needed to reorganize her technique and gather the winds again. During that time she explained to these youngsters the significance and meaning of the words 'Royal Family' and the power behind them. It was actually common knowledge and something various tales were telling about. The history was related to the Royal Family so the stories would depict the past events that held great significance. Battles against the Demon Beasts and Devils, tales about the heroes and geniuses, and many other legends.

People loved telling stories about history, but the young cultivator carrying these four children assumed they knew about it already so she didn't elaborate any further and just warned them to be careful about interacting with the girl on the back of that bird. Her hand waved in the air and an image made of mist appeared before the four youngsters. It was a portrait of a very beautiful girl. She had phoenix-like eyes adorned with long eyelashes and gentle brows. Her hair ended at the level of her shoulders.

Xun Bao found his gaze plastered to this image, and regardless of what he did, he couldn't extract his eyes from the girl in the mist. It seemed as if there was a hidden magnet that bound his head in that direction and until the girl in the green robes waved her hand once again, dispersing the figure made of mist, he didn't even blink.

When he noticed how Asura Ryuu was looking at himself with a peculiar smirk on his face, Xun Bao found himself unable to understand what happened. There was no shame on his face, but it was slightly rosy as if enchanted by the figure of that little girl. The female disciple naturally noticed his expression and smiled kindly, thinking to herself: "As expected, the princess has charm even at her tender age. What will happen when she grows up? ... Hm?"

Her gaze landed on Asura Ryuu with suspicion because this kid wasn't affected by the beauty of the Princess.

Asura Ryuu was thinking about something and felt a strange gaze coming from above him. His head slightly rose and his black eyes with red glittering stars met the bluish eyes of the female disciple whose gaze immediately shifted away as soon as it came in contact with his own. Asura Ryuu found it strange but didn't dwell on it any longer and glanced beneath himself with fear. He had a fear of height since little and being this high off the ground was a feeling similar to mild mental torture to him. Even though it was mild, his mind still spun and his stomach turned when he glanced below.

The Dragon God didn't let the chance to make fun of Asura Ryuu slip away because he knew why there was fear in the eyes of this little monster. Every being had some kind of weakness, but leaving that aside, it was a perfect chance to make fun of him. Why would the Dragon God hold back? Asura Ryuu's gaze was funny every time he looked at his snake-like body and there were cases where he would involuntarily laugh even though he held back, so there was no reason to not use this chance for revenge.

Meanwhile, the female disciple's hand rested at her chest, feeling the vibrations of her heart coming from inside. Her breathing was hurried and there was even sweat in her hand. She thought back to the scene a moment ago and felt incredible, almost the similar feeling the old man had a day ago. When her eyes met Asura Ryuu's, instinct told her to avoid his gaze immediately or her mind would be affected. "How strong is this child's Spirit Power to cause such a reaction inside my mind merely by a glance?!"

She recalled the stories about the old man who lived in the Lifeless Area. They were more like legends than the stories. If he really raised these children as she was told, then it isn't strange she'd feel like that from a mere kid. Little did she know that her reaction was insufficient compared to the one the 'legendary' old man exhibited. Also, except for the physical training, the old man didn't show them anything else. But how could she know that the kid that scared her out of her mind made the famous old man fall on his butt the first time he tested his Spirit Power? If she knew, what would her reaction be? Maybe even the princess wouldn't seem as monstrous as this kid then, who knows?

When her mind stabilized, the winds surged once again and the group continued the journey to the academy. They were only an hour away from it so she didn't want to dawdle on unnecessary things while being responsible for the safety of the four children.