Astraeus waited in silence, staring at the ceiling of the tent. He waited for a few minutes until he heard her soft breathing indicating she had drifted off. Then, he slowly got up from his bed, careful not to make any noise, and made his way out of the tent.
As soon as he stepped outside, he was struck by the beauty of the Sacae Plains at night. The sky was clear, and the stars were shining brightly, illuminating the vast expanse of grass and trees.
"Wow." He muttered to himself.
"This is incredible."
Astraeus took a deep breath of the cool, fresh air and stretched his limbs, feeling reinvigorated by the peaceful surroundings. He decided to take a walk to clear his mind and enjoy the tranquility of the night.
"I needed this." He said with a sigh.
"A moment to clear my mind and enjoy the tranquility of the night."
As he continued his walk, he looked up at the sky and saw the stars shining brightly.
'This is the kind of moment I could get used to.' He thought.
But his mind quickly shifted to the recent battle they had fought alongside Lyn.
"She's really something." He said out loud.
He was impressed by her courage and determination, and he felt a growing respect for her as a warrior and a friend.
As he walked, he thought about his own journey and what he hoped to achieve. He had left his home and his family behind to explore the world and learn about its mysteries.
"But where is this path leading me?"
He paused for a moment, deep in thought, before continuing. "I have a heavy responsibility on my shoulders. I'm not just a traveler, but also a prince. My actions will have an impact not only on myself, but also on my people and my kingdom."
Now he has other matters to attend to.
"Alright, let's do this."
Suddenly, a surge of magic energy coursed through his body, and he knew what he had to do. With a deep breath and a focused mind, he summoned the power of teleportation, envisioning the familiar streets and buildings of his home kingdom.
And then, with a sudden burst of power, he vanished into thin air.
He felt himself being pulled through space and time, the world around him blurring and distorting until he found himself standing in the middle of a bustling market square in the heart of Asteria.
"I made it." He said with a grin. "That was amazing. If it always works…."
Astraeus looked around, feeling relieved to be back in familiar territory. He had been away for so long that he had almost forgotten the sights, sounds, and smells of his home.
As he walked, he heard the chatter of the bustling marketplace.
"Fresh fruits and vegetables!" One shouted, waving a basket of colorful produce.
"Fine silk and woolen garments!" Another called out, displaying a rack of elegant clothes.
"Magical trinkets and charms!" A third one beckoned, holding up a necklace with a glowing pendant.
"Step right up, folks! I've got the most potent remedies for all your ailments! Cures for anything from headaches to the common cold!" A merchant exclaimed, brandishing a bottle filled with a bright blue liquid.
He made his way through the crowds, dodging merchants and vendors selling their wares, until he reached the grand castle at the center of the city.
Asteria's castle was a masterpiece of magic and technology. It was perched on top of a hill at the center, commanding a panoramic view of the city and the lake.
The castle is made of white marble and crystal, with intricate carvings and statues that depicted Asteria's history and legends: dragons, heroes, stars, flowers. The castle has many wings and halls, each dedicated to a different aspect of Asterian culture and history.
It had four towers at each corner, connected by a bridge. The towers were made of stone and had pointed roofs and windows. The bridge was made of glass and steel, with lamps lighting up the way.
The main building of the castle was a large dome that rose from the center of the bridge. It was made of metal and concrete and had curved walls and doors. The dome had a skylight that let in natural light and air. The dome also had a giant screen that projected images and videos.
Asteria's castle was a perfectly planned castle: impressive yet graceful; powerful yet peaceful; secretive yet transparent.
As he approached, the guards recognized him and let him through without question.
"Welcome back, Your Highness." One of the guards greeted Astrid with a bow as he entered the castle gates.
Astraeus nodded in acknowledgement and continued on. As he made his way through the castle halls, He couldn't shake off the feeling that something was amiss. The guards seemed tense and on edge, and there was a sense of urgency in the air.
He quickened his pace and soon found himself in the council chamber, where his father and other high-ranking officials were gathered. They looked up as he entered, and he could see the concern etched on their faces.
"Astraeus, you're back." King Andromedus said, rising from his seat. "We were worried about you. What news do you bring?"
"I apologize for arriving so late, father." Astraeus said, feeling a pang of guilt for having delayed in Sacae. "My original plan was to teleport directly back here, but fate had other plans."
The king waved his hand dismissively. "No matter, my son. What you bring us is far more important. The situation in Bern sounds dire indeed."
Astraeus nodded solemnly. "Yes, father. The kingdom is heavily militarized, and their forces are mobilizing. It seems they are preparing for war."
The council members exchanged worried glances, and Astraeus continued his report, detailing what he had learned about Bern's military capabilities and the potential threats they posed to Asteria.
Astraeus took a deep breath and began his report. "Your Majesty, esteemed council members, I come to you with grave news. During my travels, I had the misfortune of encountering the Kingdom of Bern, which lays to the south of Sacae."
"The Kingdom of Bern has amassed an army of unprecedented size and strength, far surpassing any previous reports we have received. Their soldiers are highly trained and well-equipped, and their leaders are ruthless and cunning."
King Andromedus looked at him with a furrowed brow. "Are you certain of this, my son?"
"I am certain, Father." Astraeus replied firmly. "I witnessed their military might firsthand. Their armies are marching across the land. They are consolidating their power and preparing for something big."
The council members murmured among themselves, exchanging worried glances. One of them spoke up. "What is their objective, Prince Astraeus? Why are they doing this?"
"That is still unclear." Astraeus replied with conflicted looks.
Astraeus took a deep breath and launched into his report, detailing what he had seen in Bern and the threat it posed to their kingdom. His father and the council listened intently, their expressions growing graver with each passing moment.
He continued his report. "The army of Bern is known as the most powerful military force in Elibe, and they have a reputation for their military might. Bern has an extensive history of training and raising Wyverns, which they utilize as mounts for their Wyvern Riders, further increasing their military power. Their Wyvern Riders are among the most feared and respected warriors in all of Elibe."
At the mention of wyverns, the council members shifted in their seats, and a murmur of concern rippled through the room.
"Wyverns? Are you sure, Your Highness?" Asked one council member, his brow furrowed in worry.
Astraeus nodded. "Yes. I saw them with my own eyes. They are magnificent creatures, but in the hands of the Bern army, they pose a significant threat."
As Astraeus concluded his report, the room fell silent. The council members exchanged worried looks, knowing the threat that Bern posed to their kingdom.
Finally, King Andromedus spoke up. "Thank you, Astraeus, for bringing us this information. It is clear that we must be prepared for any potential attack from Bern."
He turned to the council members. "We need to increase our military defenses and ensure that we are fully prepared for any potential conflict. We cannot let Bern take advantage of our kingdom and its people. I will call for a council meeting tomorrow to discuss our options."
The king spoke up again. "Astraeus, I need you to return to Bern and gather more intelligence. Find out what their plans are, and who their allies are. We need to know everything we can before we can plan our next move."
Astraeus nodded, feeling the weight of his responsibilities as a prince. "I understand, Father. I will leave at once and return with whatever information I can gather. But be warned, Bern's soldiers are highly skilled and battle-hardened. This will not be an easy task."
"We have faith in you, my son." the king said. "You have proven yourself a worthy warrior and a great prince. Go with our blessings, and may the stars watch over you. Ad astra."
With that, Astraeus left the council chamber, his mind racing with thoughts of what lay ahead. He knew that the journey to Bern would be fraught with danger, but he also knew that it was his duty to protect his kingdom and his people, no matter the cost.
As he walked down the long corridor that led to his chambers, he heard a familiar voice that made him freeze in fear.
"Astraeus Andromedus Aurelius!"
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Hey guys! Just wanted to say a huge thanks for all the support you've been giving this story. To show my appreciation, I'm gonna be dropping two chapters today!
Special thanks to Lone4ce, cordlepeter, and Francesco90!
And to all the others who have added this story to their library, whose names I can't see.
Your support has seriously inspired me to pick up the pace and attempt to crank out two chapters a day (Although technically, I will write 4 chapters simulteously because I'll plan ahead. It's how I work hehe...). I can't make any commitments just yet, but I'm gonna do my best to make it happen soon.
If you wanna keep motivating me, please keep dropping those comments and leaving stones. You guys are the best!