Chapter 11: The King of the Lions

Chapter 11

The King of the Lions

"I am going to make sure that this girl is saved no matter what"

Xael's Point of View

"It means...we know where our first guardian is."

"The first Guardian?" I asked while staring at my left palm, figuring out what's making it glow. Besides the glowing effect, I still feel indifferent with it.

"Apparently, your first hunt has started," the older guardian shrugged

"Where?" I heard Hiro asked.

"I'll let my wife explain."

"B-but Lord Magnus. Lady Raven still needs to rest, doesn't she?" Bree asked with a concerned look in her tone and face. Her sweet voice added sincerity to her question that could swoon anyone on the spot.

"I know. But she requested to speak with you all first before she takes a nap," Sir Magnus replied with an equally concerned tone while maintaining a straight face. He might have noticed that his expression stirred all of us because of the uncomfortable tension creeping in so he decided to smile to break the ice and switched to his lively personality then instructed us to follow him to their bedroom.

Before we entered the doorway, he offered us two rooms to stay for the night for the time being. He said that Lady Raven would like the company since they don't have children.

"Stay for the night?" Hiro mumbled.

"Yeah, Hiro. Let's stay for the night!" Kichi agreed.

"I appreciate the offer, Sir Magnus, but we shouldn't put your kindness to our advantage. It was already a big favor for letting us eat here," he formally declined.

"Then I shall find the royal highnesses an auberge to stay for the knight," Bree said and placed her right hand to her chest and bowed.

"No need for that, missy. We have some vacant bedrooms here. I insist you use those instead," Sir Magnus refused.

"I believe I don't have the power to decide to that, my Lord," Bree bowed.

"Geez. Why are youngsters so formal these days? Back in my time, I used to pat the king's back like an idiot," Sir Magnus whispered to himself while scratching his nape which made me giggle a bit.

"Since I technically have the highest position in court here, we will stay here for the night. No buts," I commanded while extending my forefinger like making a decree. It was taking so long for them to argue that I was getting more and more impatient. I really really need to know why both my left hand and eye are glowing.

"Hey! I'm in charge here!" Kichi pointed out while burrowing his eyebrows, hands on his waist. I squinted my eyes at him which made him sweatdrop. He got even more intimidated when Hiro glared at him. Both of our stares almost pierced his soul that his face turned white and hid behind Bree.

"I already declined, princess," Hiro said turning his gaze back at me.

"What happened to 'Xael', my royal knight?" I mocked him. He smirked at what I said which only made me rethink if it was the most appropriate move to do.

"No, we are not staying here," he said with a stern voice and stoic face as he neared his head towards my face just inches apart but I remained calm and showed him that I was not affected.

"Yes. We. Are. And that's final," I said, making sure that every word was emphasized and neared my face too which surprised him. Our faces were even closer which gave me a close-up view of that sly smirk that he was putting on. Ohh, how I love to punch that pretty face of his.

"Woah kiddos, no need to get steamy," Sir Magnus commented while having a malicious smile.

"As your princess, do as I say or I'll kick you out of Cerulean," I warned and turned my back at Hiro. I heard him chuckle which irritated the heck out of me as if ridiculing me.

"Is that a threat?" he asked. I turned to him and his grin only made me want to skin him alive.

"Are you threatened?" I asked while raising one of my eyebrows.

"Why yes, of course. Alright, let's stay here for the night. As you've said, you're my princess so there's nothing I could do about it," he said while raising both of his hands up, still keeping that grin.

"Good. I'm glad we reached a common gr—wait. What do you mean by that?"

"Since we're gonna stay here, I'll restock our supplies before we leave tomorrow at dawn," Hiro said, completely ignoring my question.

"Can I come Hiro?" Kichi asked in a small voice while still hiding behind Bree.

"Just don't go wandering around, ok?" Hiro replied while walking towards the staircase. Kichi soon followed after him so we were left alone with Sir Magnus who decided to turn the door knob of the bedroom.

We were immediately greeted with the scent of potpourri lingering inside their room. A touch of femininity at the simplistic design inside made me think that her husband was the one who decorated the place. Sir Magnus seems to not mind of the sweet aroma, as long as Lady Raven was happy.

"This feels nostlagic, love. Like the good old days," I heard her whispering with a hint of longing attached to her voice. She was sitting in their bed while looking at the window beside her. She was ironically smiling even with the touch of sadness evident in her tone.

"Rae, love, you should be lying down on the bed. It's the least you could do if you still don't want to rest," Sir Magnus spoke with worry as he rushed to her side and rubbed her hands. The image of her breathing heavily a second ago bothered me.

"I'm fine, love. Oh— Xael, you're here. I have something to tell you," she said, averting her eyes from her husband. Her eyes immediately widened when she saw my left eye and palm glowing.

"Oh my, it's glowing already?" she excitedly gasped, clasping her hands together. Her smile widened the same rate as her anticipation grew but her voice was still raspy.

"Yeah—about that—my lady. Why are they glowing exactly?" I hesitantly asked.

"I bet Solaris already told you about us activating the guardians' powers, right?" she asked while gesturing me to come closer.

"Their power only fully awakens when they are summoned by 5 of their predecessors..."

"I think she did but it seems vague. I remember her mentioning that five of you are required for it to be activated," I mumbled as I looked up at the ceiling to help me recall.

"And we already did a moment ago."

"We did?"

"Oh yes, we did. Five of us past guardians already summoned their power even before you came here. Traditionally, once it was summoned by their predecessors, 100% of their power would've been unlocked but on the current situation? It's different," she explained as she caressed my palm in a circling motion. It was kind of ticklish but I managed to surpress my giggles.

"Different?"

"On this new generation of guardians, we needed a host to hold half of their power. What we did a while ago was the spell that would make you possess that halved power but that doesn't mean you can use it. As I've said, we needed a host to contain it," she said while examining my left eye.

"There are two stages for this spell. The receiving and transferring. When your left eye glows, it means that you've already received that 50% of the power we summoned. After that, your left hand will glow and it will show you a symbol, a figure—or a drawing perhaps which will tell you where the one of the guardians is," she said.

"How? This drawing of a bag of gold coins doesn't make any sense," I said as I closed and reopened my palm.

"Have you ever encountered the titles of each kingdom?" Sir Magnus asked who was beside her.

"I think so," I said as I wrinkled my forehead to remember all of it.

"I think Furia is called the Kingdom of the Moon and Cerulean being the Trading Capital. I'm still remembering the rest, though," I continued.

"Hime, would you like me to memorize all the titles?" Bree suggested.

"Wow, is this kid a psychopath?" Sir Magnus loudly whispered to Lady Raven. His wife just glared at him which made him chuckle nervously.

"N-no it's fine. We can just buy a book about it," I said, sweatdropping.

"R-right. Uhm. Well, I believe that the first guardian is here in Cerulean," Lady Raven continued. I looked at my palm and observed the figure once more. Maybe he/she really is in Cerulean. It wouldn't make sense if he/she wasn't here. Since it's money (it being a bag of gold coins), it would be safe to assume that she is here in the trading capital.

"So anyway, after locating the guardian, you gotta find him/her. Both you and the guardian will realize that he is part of the group once you've made eye contact with him/her. After that, contrast to what you are expeiencing, his/her right palm and eye will glow especially when you two are near each other. Glowing of his/her right eye means that his/her body is ready to accept 50% of her absolute power from you. While his/her right palm is glowing, it will show you a symbol that indicates he/she truly is a guardian," Lady Raven explained further.

"So we really have to stay here for the night don't we, Bree?" I mumbled as I turned my head to her. She nodded to agree to what I said which made me smirk since Hiro couldn't resist anymore with my decision even after he comes back.

"Really?!" Lady Raven shrieked in excitement, "Maggie, love, you're going to stay by the guestroom tonight."

"What?! Why?!" Sir Magnus asked out of confusion.

"We're having a sleepover!! Isn't that right, girls?" Lady Raven squealed like a little girl.

"No," Sir Magnus refused. I think he was slightly annoyed that he wouldn't sleep by her side tonight.

"But Maggieee," Lady Raven whined.

"I said no," he repeated but with more pressure this time. Sir Magnus reminds me of Hiro. A party pooper.

"It'll be just one time," she pleaded.

"Fine. But I'll be having a sleep over too with Kichi and Hiro," he said.

"Fine by me. Now get out of here and get the other room ready," Lady Raven agreed and shooed her husband away. Sir Magnus chuckled at his wife and kissed the top of her head before walking towards the door.

"May I help?" Bree asked Sir Magnus before he could get out.

"Yes, please," he replied and they both walked out of the room.

"Oh one last thing, Xael. The transferring of powers can only be done with physical contact only if the guardian commits to be one of the protectors," she said.

"And if he/she declines to take part?" I asked while she sat up and turned around to grab a hair tie. I was facing her from behind so I could clearly see the back of her head and her back. She tied her eye to a loose bun, exposing her nape which had a fading tattoo like Sir Magnus. I couldn't see Sir Magnus' but I could see hers. It was a tattoo of a skull biting a rose.

"Then you just gotta make them by hook or by crook."

-•-

Third Person's Point of View

Hiro and Kichi wandered around the Kingdom of Cerulean trying to find the most affordable but quality product they could find to aid them in their journey. Hiro was kept distracted thinking about what their next move was while Kichi, on the other hand, kept himself busy by window shopping for all the things  that caught his attention (even if it was useless and not needed) with eyes twinkling with bewilderment.

Even though it's getting dark and the moon started to appear, there was still lots of people crowding the streets. Since the kingdom is very well-known for it's mercantile system and business transactions and patronage, some stores and stalls (both small and large), were open almost 24/7 to grasp any commerse dealings.

"Now, Kichi. You should follow me and don't go wandering around 'cause if you got lost I'm not gonna find you," Hiro warned without looking at him, knowing that he was just right behind him.

"Aye, aye, captain" Kichi responded while munching some octopus balls on his mouth.

"And remember that our mission here is to buy us supplies like something to eat and some other necessities so it would be a big help if you give me a hand. You got that?"

Little did Hiro know, Kichi was not following him anymore. He was mesmerized by the stalls that had different kinds of seafood that he couldn't pass the opportunity to buy some.

"Kichi, are you even—" he supposedly irritatingly asked but before he could finish what he was saying, he realized that Kichi has run off to somewhere.

"Damn that kid."

Hiro decided not to be bothered by his companion's sudden disappearance and wasted no time to complete his checklist of all the things he needed to buy. He got so consumed with buying that he didn't notice the time passing by so fast.

"It's already late..." he mumbled while checking the time on the clock tower at the center of the market.

"Where in hell did Kichi run off to?" he whispered to himself while looking around to catch a glimpse of him.

He decided to call it a day and thought that Kichi would just turn in himself since he knows the way back to the antique shop. Besides, he wasn't a child anymore so he doesn't have to be a baby sitter right?

Before Hiro could even take a step back towards the shop, everyone was startled with the awfully large bolt of lightning that landed on a nearby roof of an apartment building and the strong surge of wind coming from above that might have formulated the lightning bolt. It was odd and suspicious since the sky was clear a moment ago and there wasn't a thunder that was heard.

He decided to shrug it off but his skepticism doubled when another flash of lightning struck. It was no ordinary lightning bolt—it flashed parallel to the ground. It hit something solid and little flashes of lightning bursted to different directions that one even pierced the bag that he was holding which contained the things he bought. He was agile enough to let the bag go before the lightning could electrocute him. He kept himself safe but the things he bought didn't. It was toasted to dust. If it wasn't for it, he would've been a human barbeque by now.

Hiro decided to trust his guts and ran towards where the lightning struck. He almost tripped and fell because the folks created a commotion when one of the lightning flashes created a fire on one of the stalls.

When he finally got out the stampede that the people started, he climbed on the wall of the building inside the narrow alley. 

What the?

The sight that welcomed him made him startle. Puddles of blood decorated the roof's floor as a guy struck his sword on the girl in front of him. She coughed out the blood that the guy's sword caused that made her lose her balance.

Before the girl could even hit the ground, Hiro's instincts acted at once and caught the girl. Even when she carried her, she still coughed more blood, staining her face and brown hair.

"M-mizuki?"

"Oh, so you know this woman?" the guy in front of him asked in a very insulting tone.

"What did you do to her?" Hiro growled in a low tone.

"None of your business, knight in shining armor. You have your damsel in distress so why not leave the scene?" He cockily mocked.

"Lion Emperor..." Hiro mumbled as the anger was burning in his eyes.

"...First Augmentation: Spirit!" He screamed. Golden light immediately rushed out from his body that formed into a large lion made from the golden light. The man in front him took a step back when a thunderous roar from the big lion intimidated him vastly in which he tried to hide.

"I am Zeus. The god of thunder and lighting. Do you think a mere pet would scare me?" he retorted.

Hiro ignored his sarcasm and raised his left arm parallel to the ground while still holding Mizuki. The spirit lion immediately charged towards Zeus when it saw the signal.

Smoke surrounded the scene as numerous lighting strikes landed the roof. Hiro decided to take the chance to escape while Zeus was kept busy from fighting the lion spirit. He turned his back to run away but stopped when he heard Zeus whispering.

"It's very rude to turn away from an opponent," Zeus mumbled as the lion spirit lied on the ground, unmoving. Hiro was surprised that he was able to defeat his lion spirit that his feet was glued to the ground. Before he even noticed, Zeus was behind him, the tip of his sword poking his back.

"Lightning Pierce," Zeus mumbled behind his ear as he was sent flying when electricity was released from the tip of his sword that was touching his back. He landed on the ground from the roof, his injured back touching the hard concrete floor. He was able to flip his position last minute so he wouldn't land on Mizuki. The fall from the top left him a few broken bones as he pushed Mizuki aside on top of him as he felt his lungs running out of air.

"Do you want me to tell your lion spirit over here to help you?" Zeus bellowed from atop.

"Hiroo!"

W-what the? Kichi?!

Kichi was running towards him.

"Is this a friend of yours? Do you and your friends have a habit of sticking your noses to things that don't concern you?" Zeus annoyingly asked while he jumped from the top. Kichi halted when Zeus was left unscathed from the fall.

"K-Kichi! Escape now! Run and dont look back!" Hiro breathlessly shouted even though his voice wasn't loud enough to be considered a shout. The impact might have left one of his lungs damaged that caused him to have breathing difficulties.

"B-but—"

"NOW KICHI!"

"R-r-right!" Kichi trembled and teleported himself out of the scene before Zeus could do him any harm.

"Even if your friend asks for help now, you won't be saved in time," Zeus laughed as he wielded his sword.

"N-not until t-this girl is saved," Hiro muttered and coughed the blood that was blocking his throat. It felt like burning hell since the pain from one of his lungs increases when he adds pressure to cough.

The thought of dying infront of someone in need was the last thing in his mind right now. If he couldn't save her, then how can he protect Xael? Mizuki needs his help and that's his first priority.

"I am going to make sure that this girl is saved no matter what," he mumbled under his breath.

"Eh?"

"Lion Emperor!" He screamed while trying to stand up. The golden light surrounded him once more as his legs were trembling.

"Second Augmentation: Lion's Den!"

A loud roar erupted from five lions made of golden light like the first one. The only difference was it was smaller and less stronger than the last. Hiro placed himself and Mizuki on one of the lions and extended his right arm. The lions circled around him and simultaneously pounced on Zeus but

he was able to jump high enough to avoid the attack.

"You missed. You need to work on your aim," Zeus mocked from midair.

"Did I?" Hiro smirked and signaled the lion he was riding to run.

Zeus looked up and half of the building was falling towards him. The hard pounce created pressure to the ground that it sent out waves under the ground that disturbed the building behind him like a large earthquake penetrating the ground.

Hiro looked behind his back and saw that his plan worked. Huge amounts of smoke and debris surrounded the now collapsed building. He was lucky enough that the people evacuated before he destroyed the place.

"I have to give it to you, that was a nice plan."

"H-how?"

Zeus was in front of him without a scratch. The lion he was holding halted and growled at the enemy in front of it.

"Roar of the Thunder God: Electric Embrace," he mumbled. Electricity immediately formed around them that was slowly closing in. The lion they were riding growled in despair as electricity touched him.

"M-moonlight Ice: S-sphere of the Ice Queen," Mizuki mumbled. She was breathing heavily under Hiro with her eyelids half-closed. Her arm was extended while shaking furiously from the dissipation of consciousness and strength that was keeping her awake and at bay.

A round sheet of ice enveloped around them which cancelled Zeus' attack. It immediately shattered at the same time Mizuki blacked out for the second time.

"You just don't know when to quit, don't you, Mizuki?" Zeus angrily retorted while gritting his teeth.

"Die," he muttered and raised his sword to the sky.

"Roar of the Thunder God: Death Sh—"

"Woah there, kiddo. That's not a nice way to treat your friends."

"S-sir Magnus?" Hiro asked, surpised. Magnus looked at him and smiled ear to ear while holding Zeus's sword, unbothered by the electricity penetrating his flesh.

"Oh, hey there! I see you got yourself a lady friend. Don't take advantage on sleeping women, Hi—"

"Let go of my sword, old man. This isn't your fight."

"I wasn't done talking, kiddo...Old man? Old man? I'll show you whose old," Magnus muttered in a low stern voice. The same aura from before enveloped Magnus which kept Hiro intimidated.

"Sands of Time: Celerity," he whispered while keeping the bloodlust in his eyes. The sword in his hand slowly rusted with his touch as it eventually broke. Before the rust could reach Zeus' hand, he immediately released it from his grip and took a step back.

"Afraid?" Magnus mocked while keeping a dangerous grin.

"W-why would I?" the stutter in his voice made Magnus grin even more.

"Roar of the Thunder God: Thunderclap!" Zeus screamed. Ten lighting bolts landed on Magnus which created smoke from the dust around him.

"S-sir Magnus!"

"God, that was a good massage. Thanks, kid," Magnus said who was left unscathed. He was twisting his left arm as the smoke was clearing out.

"H-how?"

"Evolution," Magnus mumbled and raised his hand. Sand particles around him surrounded behind him and slowly turned into pieces of pointed glass. He neared each one to Zeus as he slowly walked backwards, afraid of getting stabbed. Magnus laughed maniacally in front of him which made Hiro call him out.

Magnus snapped back into reality and stopped the glass pieces to move even more forward.

"Leave," Magnus uttered.

Horror was visible in Zeus' crumpled face as he looked at the dangerous man infront of him. He summoned another lighting which hit him that made him disappear from the place. Magnus dusted his shoulders as he turned his head to Hiro.

"Hey kiddo. You okay?" Magnus asked, and returned to his jolly aura.

"I-I think I'm gonna collapse," Hiro mumbled and fell over his lion. Before Hiro could even black out and unconsciously make the lion disappear, he grabbed the two and swung them on his shoulders.

Magnus just cluck his tongue because of what happened and walked out the alley.

"Tsk. What are they even doing here?" he asked himself and walked back to the shop.