Gia and Juliann arrived at the village after thirty minutes. Sel and Calix were also done evacuating all the villagers.
"This can't be…" Gia whispered as soon as she had seen Greyleaf. "Are you sure he only turned into a flesh eater a few hours ago?"
"I'm sure about it. Why?" Sel asked, looking even more terrified.
"How many fairies had he eaten?" Gia soared closer to Greyleaf.
"Five," Calix replied.
"Greyleaf, can you hear me?" Gia touched the flesh eater on the forehead.
Greyleaf stopped struggling against the wind gusts restraining him and painfully whispered, "Sel… help… me… please…"
"My friend is here to help," Sel cried. "You will return to normal. I promise."
Gia closed her eyes and her hands glowed with a faint amber light.
"Normal…" Greyleaf laughed and his crimson eyes glowed more ominously. "WHO WANTS TO BECOME AN ORDINARY FAIRY???" His scream released a shockwave that hurled Gia and Sel a few meters away. Juliann and Calix had also been hit but they quickly regained balance and caught Gia and Sel before they hit some houses.
Thea managed to resist being thrown away and kept her tight grip on Greyleaf because Asuren stood protectively in front of her.
The cursed young fairy moved its long arms and slammed them fast towards Thea and Asuren.
"We cannot keep this for long," Asuren tightened the grip on his wind blades. "Greyleaf already made his choice," he turned into a powerful whirlwind and swiftly cut the arms and neck of the cursed young fairy.
"No!!!" Sel shrieked as Greyleaf faded into sparkling red dusts. "Why did you kill him?!" she summoned ice chains but failed to wrap it on the neck of Asuren because Thea and Calix deflected her weapon.
"Sel, calm down," Thea shattered the ice chains with her wind gusts that had been powered up by the flames of Calix.
"How can I calm down?! Greyleaf is dead!!! Asuren killed him!!!"
"Asuren did what we had to do," Gia wiped the tears in her eyes. "I cannot help Greyleaf anymore. None of us can. He wanted to become a flesh eater. His resolve accelerated his transformation. Aside from that, he had devoured five fairies. We all knew that once they consume meat, it would become more difficult for them to be saved."
"That is not what he wanted…" Sel shook her head in denial and dropped on her knees. "Who wants to become a monster? Why will he choose such an awful fate?"
"He must have thought that once he become more powerful, everything will become easier for him and he will never go hungry again…" Gia presumed.
"Right," Sel had spread her wings. "Who will not choose the easiest way to resolve things?" she looked at Asuren with deep loathing. "Taking lives is so easy for you. King Lisias is right. You are an evil fairy. We should be more careful, Thea. This fairy might be using us to gather the seals instead of destroying them," she flapped her wings and soared away from them.
"I will talk to her," Gia quickly followed Sel.
"Let's give her time to grieve," Thea tapped Asuren lightly on the shoulder.
"I'll inform Mrs. Plum about Greyleaf," Calix sighed. "Juliann, can you check on the rest of the villagers?"
Juliann nodded.
"Make sure they don't step into the Barren Forest," Thea advised. "Asuren and I need to talk to someone. We will join you later."
^##########^
Thea brought Asuren to the highest mountain in Sapphire Region. Its peak was surrounded by tall and sturdy metal fences. Fairies wearing sturdy armors were scattered at its perimeter and in front of the towering and heavy iron gate. As soon as they noticed Thea approaching, they bowed low to her and immediately opened the gate.
"This is the house of General Kali," Thea informed Asuren.
Beyond the gate and the fences were tall and stylish houses built from robust bricks. The tallest and grandest house was standing at the farthest corner of the mountaintop. Two armored fairies accompanied them there.
It was surrounded by another metal gate and fences. Another pair of armored fairies were guarding the gate. They also bowed low in front of Thea and immediately granted them entrance.
Standing on the front yard was a tall fairy with black ponytailed hair, black overcoat, and black boots. His crimson eyes radiated an intimidating aura.
"The princess finally granted me an audience," the tall fairy glanced at their direction. He seemed to be smiling but his eyes remained intimidating. "Are you here to tell us about the curse in the Barren Forest?"
"You knew?" Thea frowned at the tall fairy.
"I am observing you from the shadows ever since your father informed me about the chrysanthemum bud."
Asuren was surprised to hear those words. He never felt any presence lurking around them and monitoring their movements.
"Your father asked me to watch over you from a distance. You've gained more reliable allies and finally had an encounter with a seal bearer. Are you here to ask for my assistance?"
"Since you are carefully watching over me, General Kali, you know how serious the flesh eater curse is," Thea frowned. "Please help us in guarding the villages all over Daybreak Realm. If your soldiers see anything that is as suspicious as the Barren Forest, can they secure those places? Make sure that no one gets near them or eat anything from them."
"I can do that," General Kali promised and then asked, "What about the boar seal?"
"We will take care of it," Thea confidently answered. "It will come after us. We just need to keep the villagers safe from its curse."
"I already notified General Andres about this. We will keep as many villagers as we can safe from the flesh eater curse. Most of our best healers are already looking for a cure."
"Gia is also trying to find a way to counter it, but until an effective solution is found, we all need to be extra careful."
"I know you already have the best warriors at your side," General Kali glanced at Asuren. "But if you need more assistance, I can lend you a few of my excellent fighters."
"Thank you, General Kali!" Thea bowed low to the fairy with crimson eyes. "I will immediately inform you if we need more help."
"Are you leaving already?" the tall fairy was still looking at Asuren as if examining him. "You brought your friend but didn't introduce him."
"Oh, right," Thea smiled. "General Kali, this is my friend Asuren. Asuren, this is General Kali, one of the three notable generals here in Daybreak Realm. The second one is Sel's father, General Andres. The third is General Agil. I'm sure you will meet them soon."
"Asuren, I hope you keep on assisting our princess. If you attempt to betray her, I will not hesitate to kill you."
"General Kali!"
"I understand," Asuren agreed right away.
"I know how to deal with you, Asuren," Thea frowned. "Will you please, believe in me?"
"I do," Asuren seriously said. "It's only for emergencies."
^#########^