"Are you okay?"
They were on their way towards Nembus Kingdom.
This was south of Qillian Empire and they had received a report that someone appeared in Nembus Kingdom, someone that caused the tide of war against demonic beasts to make a sudden turn and for the people to lose.
The report was very clear, it was Samuel, one of the members of the Elite squad 8 years ago.
It was known by the world that they have died and Reginald had already spread the news that their bodies weren't found.
And that there is a great chance that they were used by darkness.
Since it has been spread they were no longer too shock to see Samuel, but they were still stunned to the point of being pushed back.
Stormie looked at Nixon, who asked her.
For the first time, there is no teasing in his tone, simply he was asking her out of worry.
Not just him but the others as well, they were worried about her.
Looking at her from time to time.
"I guess, I don't know," she replied because that was the truth.
She may be young back then but she truly loved Samuel.
As a man and not simply as an older brother.
She was half his age back then but she still clung in to him.
His gentle side every single time he teaches her and his encouraging words that allowed her to keep growing.
His smile that never left his face every time he teaches her, everything was what made her young heart fall for him.
"Stormie..."
Saphira called to her, she looked up and smiled weakly.
"I know, he is dead. I know..."
Saphira sighed, even with them knowing it is still uncertain how they will react when they are to face them already.
She had been preparing her heart all those eight years that passed but they weren't.
That is why she couldn't really blame them for their reaction because each and everyone of them may not be as affected as Stormie but they were down.
A memory returned to her and her face darkened.
"Why are you angry?" Hunter asked when he saw how her face darkened.
She looked at him and the darkness disappeared, she smiled and shook her head.
"I just remembered that I am unlucky to be at the wrong place at the wrong time."
He tilted his head to the side, not understanding what she was suddenly saying.
She laughed and shook her head before walking over to the edge of Roc's feathers.
Since it was urgent, they chose to fly over with Roc.
'You still remember?' Vermilion asked her with a bit of shock.
'I have good memory,' she replied.
'Your sister didn't want you to remember though,' he answered.
'I thought you weren't close with my sister.'
'We are not, but that doesn't mean that we don't talk.'
Saphira no longer answered.
About another hour and they would be arriving in Nembus Kingdom.
When they were close enough, Saphira told Roc to descend and fly at a lower altitude.
Samuel is a wind ability user, he can surely fly and he is surely reigning over the flying demonic beasts.
Once they were close enough, she told Black Tortoise to create a water bubble, they will travel towards the island using the water.
No one questioned her and they travelled the remaining few hundred meters underwater.
After they stepped in the land, they took a moment to check their surrounding.
As compared to Cetus Kingdom where the whole shore was contaminated with darkness, this place was still fine.
But it was a wreckage due to the war that had been going on.
After five minutes of looking around, they were suddenly attacked by fire attacks coming from above.
Looking up, a phoenix was shooting down from high above them.
"Tsk, whoever owns that is really stupid," Saphira commented.
The fire attacks were dispersed by her.
It was weaker than her fire that's why it was easy to do so.
She looked at her hand after she had dispersed the attack, "That person must have been weakened a lot, together with this beast."
A phoenix was a rare beast, having such means that they are strong but for her to so easily disperse their attack.
"Vermi," she called.
"I told you stop calling me that," Vermilion Bird came out and stopped the phoenix.
It was easy, with just the flick of his wing. The phoenix was rendered unable to move.
"Are you trying to kill your beast? That kind of attack is too reckless," Saphira spoke.
Since Vermilion Bird is holding on to the phoenix, she knew the host will step out sooner.
"Let him go."
"Vermi," she called again.
Vermilion Bird clicked his tongue before letting the phoenix go, who flew towards the forest.
At times, Saphira had the tendency to use that nickname on him.
Even though he kept telling her to stop, it was as if she was not listening at all that she wouldn't stop.
He will just tire himself up if he were to keep on arguing with her.
From the forest, a young man of the same age as them stepped out.
He has orange short hair, with a pigtail that was resting on his shoulder.
His eyes that was in orange color, were brimming with anger, and he was glaring at them.
"Calm down will you, you are the one who attacked us. Did you expect us to just stand there? Plus stop being reckless and get yourself recovered before rushing for an attack. Are you trying to kill yourself and your beast?"
His eyes turned sharper.
"Your highness, that is Vermilion Bird. That means these people are..."
'Your highness?' they thought at the same time.
The one called your highness harrumphed and walked away.
Willow and Stormie couldn't help but to raise their eyebrows at this attitude.
"We apologize for the attack, we were so on guard we didn't expect that it was the Order of the Seven Myths who had come."