The King of Daybreak Realm

Asuren struggled against the chains binding him. He was angry at himself for giving in to the pain. For centuries, he endured everything the Evil Witch tossed at him. No matter how excruciating the pain was, he remained in charge of his own body. But when he heard Thea say those words, he just gave in. He allowed the Evil Witch standing in front of him to take over.

What was I thinking? Just because she helped me a couple of times… doesn't mean she could handle the Evil Witch on her own. She would only get herself killed.

Asuren closed his eyes and gathered as much strength as he could. It was not much but still enough to summon a whirlwind that shoved the Evil Witch a few meters away from him but not out of his body. Fortunately for him, the Evil Witch was too absorbed confronting Thea. She did not notice Asuren trying to push her out.

He summoned another whirlwind and moved the Evil Witch a little farther.

Thea… please… don't die… he begged and summoned another whirlwind that was more powerful than the last.

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Thea felt it. Her energy depleting as the Evil Witch relentlessly struggled against her wind gusts yet she held on and refused to let go of Asuren.

"You're getting tired. You cannot keep this up for long. Let go and I will spare your life. Be my disciple. Let's get stronger together," the Evil Witch confused Thea with that unexpected proposal.

"I'll pass," Thea glared and tightened the wind gusts against Asuren. "I am not the only one who is getting tired. Tricks as advanced as this will eventually wear you out. I can wait until that happens."

"You…" the Evil Witch focused her remaining power in destroying the wind gusts. "I will –" the body she was possessing suddenly froze and then closed its eyes. They remained shut for a minute or two and it made Thea nervous. She thought about loosening her grip but decided against it. She anxiously waited in silence and when Asuren opened his eyes, his purple eyes returned to green.

"Asuren? Is that you?" Thea asked without loosening her grip. When Asuren weakly nodded, she sighed with relief and willed the wind gusts to vanish but before she could catch his frail body, a wind sword had stabbed him in the back and the blade passed through his chest.

"What do you think you are doing?" the stabber had asked and pulled the blade from Asuren.

Thea caught the bleeding and unconscious fairy in her arms and glanced at the towering and intimidating figure in front of her. It was Lisias Gailbreeze. Her father. The King of Daybreak Realm. Behind him was Riz and Ayhan. They were both shocked at what happened to Asuren.

"You will let him go? He almost killed you," her father was about to stab Asuren again but Thea quickly covered the body of the latter.

"It wasn't him who wants to kill me! He was possessed! Ayhan, take Asuren away. I need to talk to my father. Riz, make sure that they are safe."

Ayhan will carry Asuren to his back and quickly soared away. Riz followed them.

"Riz is your guard. She should keep you safe," her father looked mad but Thea was as furious as him. "She did not even report to me that you are out of that chrysanthemum bud. If finding the seals are more important to him than your safety, I will replace her."

"There is no need for that," Thea clenched her fists. "I can protect myself."

"How can you protect yourself if you cannot kill your enemy?"

"Asuren is not my enemy. Riz is not my guard. They are my friends. I will kill my enemies if I have to. You should stop worrying about me."

"You're angry," the expression on the face of his father had lightened up a bit.

"How can I not? After forcing me to sleep on that chrysanthemum bud, you stabbed my friend! Now you want to replace my best friend!"

"You will not step inside that chrysanthemum bud if I tell you the truth about it. All I want is your full recovery."

"I… I don't want to talk about it anymore! I already wasted a hundred years of my life! Leave me and my friends alone! We want to focus on finding the seals!" she spread her wings.

"The fairy you are claiming to be your friend is dangerous," her father warned before she could soar away. "Kill him while you still can."

"Do you know him?" Thea asked because her father was speaking like the Evil Witch.

"Can't you sense the evil aura emanating from him?!"

"I sensed it," Thea admitted. "But I know that Asuren will not kill me. I can handle that evil aura. You don't have to worry about him killing me. So, please, don't hurt him again."

"You are already fully recovered. I can't stop you anymore. If you want to die chasing the seals or because of that evil fairy, I will no longer interfere. I will now leave Daybreak Realm to you and to General Andres."

"Where will you go?" Thea was shocked with that unexpected plan.

"The time has come for me to sleep in a recovery bud," her father suddenly looked weary.

"You are still recovering from the injuries you received a hundred years ago?" Thea felt guilty for her earlier outburst.

"It will not take a hundred year," her father smiled weakly. "I hope, by the time I step out of the recovery bud, you are already done with your mission. General Andres will sit on the throne for a while. You can focus on your mission. Ask him if you need help. He will immediately assist you."

"I promise to destroy the twelve seals before you come out of the recovery bud," Thea pledged with all her heart. "For you and for the entire Daybreak Realm."

Lisias Gailbreeze smiled proudly at her daughter before leaving.

"Father, wait!" Thea soared right next to her father. "Let's spend a bit more time together before you enter a recovery bud."

"Do you really want to spend time with me or you just want to make sure that I will enter a recovery bud?"

"Both!" Thea smiled and put her arms around her father. They were arguing most of the time but that would not change the fact that they care a lot about each other. It had been a hundred years since they last saw each other. They should at least spend some time together before separating again.

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