Reach the Sky

“Blue indigo turquoise gree-- … WHAT?!”

They arrived in the Thalassas region, not in the sea but on a secluded coral island beach with an extreme high rock mount towering in the middle.

"Well.. if it’s was here, I don't need to make a giant bubble ....." Andrew realizing the key location was on a small island he knew.

(thank goodness.. not in the water..) *Ryota *Adryan

"Ng? Broken compass arrow pointing to up.. the.. reee EEHHHH...???? HOW HIGH.....!!!!" Adryan looked at the vertical rock mountain which the peak was not visible because it was covered by thick dark clouds.

“Yes.. we call this place as.. 'Path to the sky'. You can never see the peak even on a clear day.. no one has ever reached the peak and no one knows what is there .. " Andrew explained while staring at the invisible rock peak. Obviously the Sirens have never climbed The rock due to a steep and almost 90 degree slope.

“Okay.. let me take it, okay....” Nathanael opened his wings, ready to fly.

"You don't want to be accompanied?" Cyrus asked. He did not mind accompanying Nathanael so that he would not be alone.

"I’m fine, just take a rest okay .." the Ruler of Asteria took a stance and then flapped his wings. White feathers scattered as he flew straight up. The wind blew past his soft wings.

“…it’s pretty high huh…

..Whirlwind” Nathanael launched one move so that he could fly faster to reach the top.

WUUSSHH...!!!! Suddenly there was a strong wind that attacked him back from above.

"Hah?!" Nathanael was confused and his flight was stopped because of the wind from above. He then flapped his wings again, but...

WHOOSSHH…. the strong wind hit him again.

"What??" He was getting confused and got a goosebumps. In that silent place without any life who did attacked him? He thought of going down again to ask for help but had already flown far.

Nathanael took out his magic spear, Chriso Macairi. The weapon he always uses when fighting or casting magic. The heirloom spear that once belonged to an Archangel who was ancestor of the Celestials. The golden spear shaft with blue gems adorned it matched the Skystar crown he was wearing. Three sharp spear blades pointed like the feathers of an Archangel's wings. While preparing Magia in case if needed, Nathanael pointed his spear forward.

SWOOSSHH…. there was another strong gust of wind that hit him again.

“Chriso Macairi 3rd style.. Windbreaker..!!!” Nathanael sliced through the wind with his spear.

“It's a Gate of South key protective magic huh… so it's not easy to take? I can't help but have to fight…” Nathanael undaunted continued his flight to the top of the Sky Path.

It's not enough to just go up to the top, the wind is getting bigger and stronger. And also the bright sun and scorching heat, the smell of the sea below was almost unseen from the distance he climbed up. 'Path to the sky' is the name given by the inhabitants of Thalassas to the coral island. The island which the peak had to be conquered by Nathanael with his pair of wings. Luckily he hadn't used magic in the first place and still had his Magia full.

“4th style.. Upwind... 5th style Blustery..!!!!” He launched his moves in a row, not wanting to lose. Sringg .. sringg Chriso Macairi's tinkling sound also loud.

“6th style.. Tempest.. 7th style.. Aeolian..!!!!” like dancing with his wings and spear, his body movements are graceful and agile. More and more white feathers from his wings are falling and scattering.

“Chriso Macairi 8th style.. LEVANTER..!!!!” The final attack was launched because it was just as he arrived at the peak of Sky Path.

“Hhh… finally…”

A narrow and steep peak with only a little grass and moss. Nathanael was silent for a moment while spreading his wings from exhaustion of continuously launched his moves. Among the rocks, tucked an iron bar decorated with Amethyst gem stones that he was looking for. He set foot on the peak and picked up the key to the Gate of South.

Without wasting time Nathanael jumped from the top by folding his wings. He glided rapidly through the air towards where his friends were waiting below. The wind tossed the young king's bangs so that his entire face could be seen. The cloth covering his stomach was opened and show his navel.

Sraagg… just before landing he opened his wings again to slow down the speed.

"wow.. whaa..??? aaa…?!?!?!” maybe because he was still tired he was nervous and lost his balance.

"Hup..!!" Erick swiftly jumped up and caught him immediately before Nathanael fell to the ground. His strong tail allowed him to balance easily even after carrying Nathanael's body weight.

“Hnngggg….. uuhh…..” Nathanael's vision was blurry and looked dazed in Erick's arms.

"What happened to you??"

"Just.. tired.. hahahah.. ha.." He tried to stand up but it was clear that his body was lethargic and tired. Because he was too weak he sat to the ground with drooping wings.

"This.. take the key.. Joseph.." Nathanael handed Joseph the key he just got. Joseph then accepted it.

“Blue indigo turquoise green white… Our god Neptune—” Andrew took the initiative to restore his Magia to fit as usual.

"Hahh… it's good to have a healing spell .." after being healed by Andrew, he was finally able to stand up straight again.

"Wanna learn it?"

"But it's not Celestial's magic talent..."

"Yeah.. but you can try.."

"Ah.. yes.. you know? It seems that each key has its own challenges.. when I flew up, there was a strong wind that attacked me.. I was lethargic as well as fighting the wind to get to the top..” Nathanael recounted his experience just now.

"The key in the sea with fierce waves.. sacrifice of a soul.. The hill where a demon sealed.. yes, it seems that in the future there will many obstacles that we must face.." Peter said.

“Surely.. The Alicorn hid the 9 keys not without any reason. He didn't want a bad person to reopen the Gate of South at will. That's why collecting 9 keys is not an easy matter.." said Joseph. It is possible that there will be anyone who dares to play with the great power of the Gate of South. Imagine, unlimited Magia that will continue to fill the magic energy within you which can be used to cast spells non-stop.

"But we want to save this world.. our aim is good.. why does it seem so difficult..." Ryota's ears were bent because he felt pessimistic.

“Yeah.. that's why we did it. We are the highest leaders of the 9 Kingdoms, the best among the 9 clans.. for the sake of Arc Chaestra.. for our people.. our friends.. our home.." Joseph's face looked serious. He looked one by one at the other leaders in front of him..

What Joseph said was true. They were the leaders of the 9 clans, the best among the entire land. There was no one to rely on but them to do this job.

Nathanael hugged himself feeling tense. He did not want the disasters of the past to happen. He remembered how his school teachers used to talk about the past. Where the Celestials roamed with 4 or even 6 wings on their backs, carrying strong winds and storms in their hands. The Dragons wandering everywhere froze every place they passed with a loud and deafening roar. Beasts with their deadly fangs and claws, attack human villages or hunt animals in the forest. Or the Kitsune who set fire to the forests and gardens of the Pixies so that the world was covered in a thick, suffocating smoke. The tsunami from the Sirens that drowned every coastline or the illusionary fog of the Shapeshifter that displayed the illusion were equally terrifying. Likewise, a small number of Demigods from all of Vouna who were still sane, were forced to take refuge in the Capital of Galiterro taking cover behind a magic shield because the area outside the Capital had been colonized by other clans who were on a rampage.

He believes these stories are also told from generation to generation in other kingdoms. How can the earth's heart crack open? Does the earth deliberately want to destroy itself? Or is there someone behind the overflowing energy from the heart of the earth? I don't know who can answer that question. The secret of the past that has been stored for 2000 years.

Until the Alicorn runs out of time. Until the memories are carried away. Until his body returns to heaven. Here we are the leaders of 9 kingdoms...