Broken Compass

"So.. Why did you summoned us here?" Adryan asked Joseph.

"You know the legend of the Gate of South, right?"

"Of course.. The worst tragedy in the history of the Arc Chaestra.. I have a bad feeling about this..." Cyrus replied.

"The Alicorn.. I got a message from him in my dream last night. He is no longer there.. No longer guarding the Gate of the south.. because he’s not belong to the earth now he has returned to Heaven.."

"Then why? Doesn't the legend say that the gate was locked with 9 keys?" Fingering his brown hair, Peter replied.

"Actually it's not that simple.. according to this book, the keys are only for support. The physical system that locks the gate. Without the Alicorn magic guarding it the seal will slowly fade and in the near future, the gate will open.. And yes, there is a possibility that the disaster of war will repeat itself.. The black hole I saw in a dream, it’s the worse.." Joseph showed a page from his book which contained the magic seal system that the Alicorn used on the Gate of South. The pictures and spells written there are a bit unclear and need a translation of the grammar, but Joseph has prepared so that the explanations can be understood by the 8 Kings.

"ARE YOU SERIOUS?!"

"I didn't even bother to waste a big amount of Magia to summon you here if this was just a prank..."

"Then what can we do? Find 9 keys and then seal the gate ourself?" Damian, nonchalantly replied.

"Yes.. it is.. Our goal is not only to re-lock the gate, but to seal it with our magic.. with the 9 clans' Magia.. And to do so, we still need 9 keys.." Joseph opened another page in In his book, there is a description of the 9 keys along with the spells and the golden Magia used to seal the gates of disaster.

"?!?!?"

“How can we believe that the writer of the book isn't bragging? How do we know that the contents of the book are not mere lies?” Damian bluffed. He didn't want to just trust in Joseph and his book.

"Two thousand years you know... The keys were hidden for two thousand years...." with wide eyes Nathanael expressed his surprise.

"Guys, calm down.. I don't think he's lying.. I said that I was talking to my escort before I was brought here? We talked about this... Gate of South. Just like Joseph, my escort has accurate vision and predictions..” Cyrus tried to defend Joseph. He was the same, didn't want to believe it because the unlocked Gate of South was sick news. But the regret of not believing him felt much worse.

“...to be honest, since last night my magic trainer who is a unicorn seems to be restless like he wants to talk to me about something.. but his eyes are glimmering with doubt.. does that count as a sign?” said Peter. Yes, Unicorns coexist with humans and some of them even offer to teach magic. Peter himself is one of the great wizards trained by a Unicorn.

".. the dream that I saw was continuous with the testimony of each of you .." Joseph turned around while holding his head, dizzy.

The wind blew past the window of the magic research room. The hair and cloaks of the Kings were torn by it. It was still early in Vouna's time but the 9 Arc Chaestra Kings had discussed something crucial about the future of their world.

"Therefore, do any of you have at least a clue about the whereabouts of the 9 keys? Either from a myth from a certain area or the testimony of one of your people?" asked Joseph again.

They were silent as they thought. Trying to remember anything about the 9 keys.

"We don't know anything.. We only know the legend.. there are no clues about where was it in Draecorona" finally Erick opened his voice.

"Asteria is the same... I thought after being sealed by the Alicorn, the gate is no longer a threat..."

"uhm.. Miwamori too, there was no clue.." Unlike the others, Ryota seemed very shy.

"Nereida has many myths and legends.. But none of them talk about the exact location of the Gate of South key"

"I've talked to some of the Unicorns I met, we discussed the Gate of South several times but didn't even talk about the keys..."

"Maybe they actually know??"

"Who knows?"

"...Or maybe I can help with this..." Andrew took out a glass ball with a red iron arrow inside it. It looks like a compass but has no directions. An object that looks simple but its magical luster is amazing.

"You may not believe me.. But the Alicorn himself handed down this heirloom to me.. The warmth, I feel every time I use this thing.. it can find any object, anywhere, and take you anywhere..." Andrew accidentally activated his magic on the clear glass ball.

".. I call this thing.. Broken compass.." Magic dust from turqoise Magia circled around Broken compass forming a braid like ocean waves.

Swoosshhh...... Andrew's eyes lit up as his magic worked. The wind started to blow around him.

"ngh.. Calm down Andrew, we will unite our magic and spells later.. I have to choose a spell and draw a magic circle first.." Joseph held Andrew's hand and his Broken compass. The gust of wind and magic dust disappeared in an instant.

"Ah, I'm sorry.. This kind of thing like to happen suddenly.. Haha.. Ha.." Andrew woke up from his magic and put the Broken compass back.

"So, where do we find the first key?"

"How about we start from the North, Draecorona?"

"Are you sure? Are you ready to come to a land inhabited by Dragons?"

"Uhm.. Yes.. Even if we don't visit Draecorona now, won't we still have to go there? I'll draw a magic circle immediately to teleport there"

“You Demigods can use teleportation magic?” Nathanael asked curiously.

"Ehm.. Yes, that's how it is.. Teleport, moving things.. Even erasing, transferring or manipulating memories can also be included in the ranks of high-level magic.. Because the basis of our magic is light, soul, mind and cosmic space.."

"It's practical, you can go anywhere without taking a long time or feeling tired.."

"Yeah.. If Celestials can teleport, why are those white wings that you always carry with you everywhere?"

"Owh you’re right.. Hehe"

"I heard Celestials can fly rapidly.. You must be have strong wings huh .." Cyrus joined the conversation.

"you know I'm just amazed when the firts time I see your blue wings.. The pattern is really beautiful.. Your dangling wing tail is also charming.." Nathanael replied. Cyrus responded by opening his folded wings slightly.

"hehe thank you"

“C.. can I touch your tail?" Andrew asked Erick.

"Oh? Yes.." Erick then turned his back to Andrew who then stroked his tail fur.

"... Oh my God.. it so Soft"

"hehe.. Yes.. I used shampoo" when other clans were scared and away from Dragons, Andrew was curious and didn't hesitate to greet Erick.

Meanwhile Adryan and Ryota who were sitting next to each other just stared at each other in silence.

Snif sniff.. Adryan sniffed Ryota to get his attention. Unexpectedly the shy Ryota sniffed back at Adryan. Adryan's tail was wagging because he was happy to get a response. Ryota is not afraid of Beasts because you could say they have similarities, giant cat and tailed fox. For some reason Ryota didn't show any of his tails. Unlike Adryan's tail, which cannot be hidden in his half-human form.

"Aren't you feels hot wearing silver armor?" Damian asked, who had been silent all this time. The gleam of Peter's armor caught his attention.

"This armor is light and not as thick as it looks. Don't you feel stuffy yourself in a robe and a hood?" replied Peter who thought Damian's appearance was cool but not suitable in Chaldene which is a tropical area.

"When we stop by Mavr Lykos, you'll understand." After a while Joseph finished preparing his spell and magic circle. He also brought a backpack containing a spell book and a few supplies. Since the first destination was Draecorona which is the north pole, he also offered some scarves and jackets to wear with his new friends.

"are you ready?”

"huft.. Ready or not, we have to go right .."

"Andrew, please put your broken compass in the middle of this circle. And let's made a circle while holding hands.. If we are separated there is a possibility that we will be thrown somewhere else."

They obeyed. Joseph grabbed Nathanael's hand who then grabbed Cyrus' hand. Then Ryota, Adryan, Erick, Andrew, Damian, and Peter who again held Joseph's hand.

"Winds from the west, guide my journey.. Forests in the east, whisper the song of the soul.. South sea, endless waiting.. Our goddess Malina, please guide our journey to the unrivalled northern ice.. Draecorona.." the spell is chanted. The broken compass hovered and the arrow started to spin. The golden magic dust of Magia Joseph scattered, accompanying their departure to the land of the Dragons.