Rai Shen stood on top of a mans chest flexing a small amount of pressure with his pinky toe.
-Crack..Crack..Crack..Crack-
The man underneath his foot cried out as six of his ribs broke under the pressure.
"Forgive me! Hyaaahhh Young Master... hyyaaah.. no Grandfather!!! We were only ...haaaa....haa.. looking for our Masters Sister. Haaa we meant no disrespect. Please! Have mercy!" The man breathed loudly.
"So ambushing my carriage and knocking my friend's tea out of his hand while placing your sword at his neck ...is your way of showing respect?" Rai Shen pulled out his sword and flicked it across the mans arm cutting it off cleanly. "Then this is me, returning that same respect." Rai Shen bounced the sword across his hand swirling it in a fierce motion, before cutting the mans head off.
Lord Riddle and Umi watched as Rai Shen killed the man effortlessly.
"Who ever ...doesn't want to end up like your friend here, better start talking. Why are Sliver Knights from The Spirit Crystal Kingdom gallivanting around in My Jade Emerald Kingdom without the correct permits?" Rai Shen questioned while cleaned his sword off with a red cloth patiently.
———
Meanwhile Shinah and her group traveled throughout the night.
The carriage passed effortlessly through the forest barrier under Chen and Siyan's direction.
To get to The Ysmay Regions Ice barrier they have to pass through the desert that divided each region known as Hell's Pathway.
The Ysmay Region was mostly Iceland and Underground ice coves, three kingdoms cohabited in the center of the Region.
The Helion Kingdom was the closest but the most treacherous.
Helion Kingdom was surrounded by Ice beast and Frost-poison and acted as the kingdoms first line of defense towards outsiders.
The carriage passed through the last small patch of trees and swerved roughly into the sand.
Gin Chen grabbed the reins tightly and stirred the horses to a stop. "Is everyone alright? Sorry the horses were shocked by the heat of the sand. We better switch carrier beasts now Master."
"We're good!" Lu Lorraine stepped out of the carriage carefully, the dry wind swirled her dark blue black hair across her face.
"Speak for yourself Little Blue that hurt my ass-Ouch! Little ShiiShii why'd you pinch me!" Shinah lithely jumped out of the carriage followed by Little ShiiShii.
"Haha! It's all good Chen have the mercenaries do the exchange." Siyan yelled from the carriage.
"Wow it's hotter than hell out here!" Shinah pulled Lorraine with her to the carriage parked behind theirs." Come on we will be in Hell's Pathway for at least half a days time before we reach the Ice barrier let's change. Oh ..Little ShiiShii be a doll and keep watch for us!"
"Mn." Little ShiiShii stood a few feet away from the door of the carriage obediently.
"Psst..Sister Shinah your so lucky your betrothed is so good to you. Even though Brother Theo treats me well, he doesn't treat me as well as Little ShiiShii pampers you. I'm so jealous!" Little Blue's velvet voice whispered in-between the sound of clothes rustling from the carriage.
Little ShiiShii's back straightened automatically as he intently listened for Shinah's response.
"Haha yes, yes what an obedient and attentive fiancé I've been blessed with." Shinah laughs playfully.
Little ShiiShii's ears turned red upon hearing her.
'Yes I don't know many fiancé's who would willingly cross dress off their beloveds request. What an understanding and pampering fiancé . Huh Little eavesdropping fiancé of mine.'
'...'
'Nothing to say? Darling fiancé?'
'Mn, beloved is always right.' His heart pounded fiercely as he counted every time she called him hers.
'.... shut up.' Her face turned scarlet as she changed.
Shinah's plans of teasing Little ShiiShii backfired with her being teased by him instead..
"Sister Shinah... do you think Theo is okay? I know what everyone says about my brother. But I don't think he'd hurt the man I love out of spite. But as we get closer.. my heart feels this heavy sense of unease that I can't explain. I... just want to see him. And take him away from all this nonsense. And be happy. I don't care for titles I want a simple life with the one I love." Little Blue clutched her sleeves in angst.
"Don't worry ..we'll definitely save him! And you two can run away together and create sweet Little Buns for the this Great Auntie here!" Shinah pulled Little Blue into a hug.
———
Meanwhile...
Around midevening a tiny dark bird flew steadfast towards the Rai Castle.
It flew past the main castle and towards The Second Princes Courtyard.
Rai Akuma courtyard was his pride and joy, he and Kiyoshi designed the plans for their corresponding courtyard after activating their direct lines at the age of six, when they learned what elemental spirit energy they could manipulate.
When he learned to project his element at the age of eight, with the guidance of his First and Third brothers they created a beautiful man made lake with a floating waterfall in the center that held up an island his courtyard was built on.
The dark bird flew into a section of water along the waterfall that led to an entrance hidden under the island that floated on top of the waterfall.
The bird swam against the current and jumped in-between an opening behind two gemstone rock pillars.
The bird shook the water off its body happily his feathers puffed up in an adorable manner as it waddled slowly into the entrance of The Second Prince's underground aquatic animal habitat.
The bird scanned the area and found the Second Prince, it puffed out its chest and shook its tail in a business like manner and flew towards Rai Akuma.
The Second Prince was currently bent over a wide pond like enclosure playing with a baby dolphin who held a light blue ball in its mouth.
"Behave Lemir its only Cel." Rai Akuma rubbed the dolphins head gently and stood up holding his arm out.
In the center of his palm was a mixture of seeds and dried berries he had prepared for moments like this.
The little bird flew right onto Rai Akuma's arm and pecked at the delicious treats in his palm.
Rai Akuma poked at the fluffed up feathers on the small bird and laughed softly.
"Cel...How's my Baby Sister doing? I'm awfully worried about her. What news did you bring for me? Is she on her way home? Has she been eating well? I heard it was cold last night is she keeping herself warm? When will she be home. Has she met up with our First Brother yet? Does she miss me?" Rai Akuma poked the small bird anxiously.
Cel turned around and pecked at Akuma's prodding finger, before shaking its tail.
A small feather detached and floated down to the ground. The feather emitted a blue light before materializing into a small ten by twelve ocean blue chest.
Cel puffed up his little chest proudly before turning to nudge Akuma finger with his beak.
'Reward me.'
Akuma laughed and poured a little mountain of seeds onto a rock near the pond for Cel before anxiously retrieving the chest and placing it on the table.
He waved his hand in a flurry of hand signs conjuring up his elemental spirit energy. The water flowed into the small tear drop engraving along the side of the chest. The water flowed into the opening and hardened into an ice key with a needlelike tip.
Rai Akuma pricked his thumb on the needle like tip and his blood flowed through the ice key into the ocean blue chest.
The lid popped open and a salty layer of water covered three color coded envelopes.
Akuma waved his hand pulling the water barrier to the side like one would pull curtains; and took the blue envelope with his name.
He tore off the wax seal...
"Second Brother I MISS YOU!
You have no idea how much I wish it was you, Uncle had kidnapped beside me instead of our PIG of a Third Brother.
Do you miss me!? That better be a yes.. or else you'll no longer be my favorite Second Brother.
Despite Kiyoshi stirring up trouble everywhere I've been well.
I'm sending you this letter to inform you of a few things before you and First Brother worry yourselves to death because, I know you.
Uncle is taking Third Brother and I sight seeing in The Helion Iceland's!
How amazing it that, and he's also my new teacher. So he thought the Helion Iceland's would be a great start for our first lesson.
That said I sent a map of the route well be taking I'll leave in your care.. to give to First Brother.
Also I left some.. information on as town I recently visited near the forest barrier I believe has great potential for our base.
I'll leave you in charge of the minor matters until I return.
I'll keep you updated on our whereabouts every three days.
With Love Shinah"
Rai Akuma reread the letter several times before falling on to a chair, his shoulders trembling with unspoken emotion.
"...she misses me." He smiled happily, hugging the letter in his hand.