The smell of the ocean was getting stronger. Flyra knew Cappidop Bay was not far ahead. They had travelled for more than an hour, but Flyra was getting nowhere with her search for the dimensional barrier.
'I understand why would anyone not give up by now' Bale said.
'Bale, don't give up yet. We still have a few kilometres more from the ocean' Flyra said, her voice was full of hope.
That was when a group of Morgan's men, his swordsmen, walking in between trees and joking around. And some of them caught sight of the four.
'They saw us' one of them said, drawing his sword.
'Run!' Flyra managed as she turned immediately to run without caring where she's headed. The other three listened and did the same. But all of them got separated from one another. One good thing was that the soldiers had to split up to catch everyone. Two were chasing Flyra. One chased Captain. And another chased Bale. There was no one left to chase Oliver. He stopped and turned to see his friends running as fast as they could. The soldiers, quite stupid, were running with their swords in hand. Oliver had enough time to get to Bale and stop the soldier chasing him. Oliver succeeded and regrouped with Bale.
'Where's Cap and Flyangel?' Bale asked, relieved that he was no longer being chased.
'I saw Cap running east from your direction. I don't know about Flyangel' Oliver said.
Flyra was sure she outran them. She saw no movements from the corner of her eyes. So she stopped running and caught her breath. But she was wrong. Suddenly one of the soldiers came charging with a sword in hand. The other was close behind. Flyra was quite frustrated, her magic was failing her. First, she couldn't find the barrier, now her senses failed to warn her she cannot stop running yet. Fortunately her reflexes are still good. The sword came slashing at her neck, which she ducked just in time. She did not rise back up, guessing the soldier was going to make another strike backwards. She guessed right. If she had risen, she would have lost her head already. Flyra pushed the soldier with both her hands. He was flung backwards with a magical force. Flyra breathed in calmly. She felt content that she had not lost any of her magic which she thought she did. The other soldier came with a sword ready to strike. Flyra conjured ice from her palms. The ice piled up around the soldier, building its way up, guided by Flyra's hands. Soon the soldier was no longer in sight. A long groan came from behind. Flyra turned quickly. The first soldier was charging at her again with the sword. He was so close, she wouldn't have enough time to pile up more ice. Visible water vapour came out of her mouth as she breathed out. The weather was not that cold. The soldier knew she was using magic again. He attacked anyway. He swung the sword forward. Flyra raised her hands to block. To his surprise, her hands were covered in thick ice, very pure blue ice. The sword bounced off her icy hands, unable to hurt.
'What magic?' the soldier stumbled backwards and said in fear.
'One you should not mess around with' Flyra said confidently and sent a wave of ice magic towards him. Soon an ice sculpture stood in its place. Everything was covered in ice, from the tip of the sword to the grass around him. She breathed out again, the ice on her hand melted away super quickly. She suddenly remembered she needed a guide to help her find the avengers' base. She melted the head portion of the ice. The soldier gasped for air.
'Please! It's very cold!' he pleaded.
'Tell me, where is the base?' Flyra said firmly. She was still working on her firm voice. It came out okay or because the soldier was already frightened that he was going to die from the cold, because he immediately answered her.
'You already past the dimensional barrier. That's why you can see us and we can see you' the soldier said, struggling to withstand the cold.
'Thank you' Flyra said. She did him a favour. She melted away the ice all the way except for the feet.
'I can't let you run freely while I need to complete my mission' she said. 'And I certainly cannot leave that with you'
She held up her palm and the sword in the soldier's hand unstuck from him and moved in the air towards her.
'But this will be useful to me' Flyra said, smiling as she inspected the sword.
'Take care of it for me' the soldier said.
'Don't worry about it. You won't have to see it again. I give you back will only help me destroy myself' Flyra said and again she smiled, like she was saying thanks for the sword. She walked away. Satisfied with herself. With knowledge that the base is not far around, she hurried in the direction she remembered where the soldiers came from, hoping that they came from the base. So she travelled west. Now Cappidop Bay is to her right. And soon, she saw smoke rising above the trees. She got excited and ran towards the direction. In a small clearing stood a small house. The smoke was coming from the chimney of this house. Her face lit up even more.
'A building! Wherever you are Captain, Bale and Oliver, I hope you are safe' she said softly and excitedly. But she did not immediately go to the front door. What if it's dangerous, she thought to herself. She inspected the surroundings. She sensed no danger. So she proceeded to the front door. The house was actually beautiful. The fact that it most probably belongs to the avengers is scary. There was a small garden around the front side of the house. A path at the back leads to a small shed. She peered through the window but could not make out clearly what's inside with the curtains blocking her view. But someone must definitely be inside because of the smoke coming out of the chimney. She knocked on the door. Few seconds passed. She knocked again. Still no answer. She knocked again. After a few restless minutes, she turned the knob. It wasn't locked. She went inside. The house was filled with the smell of fresh bread still baking in the oven which Flyra noticed in the kitchen to her right. There were no walls to separate the kitchen and the living room. Also the dining room, which consisted of only a small table and two chairs. There were three doors in front, one with a small window on it beside the kitchen cabinets. That probably leads to the back. One of the other two was opened. A bed is inside the room, which means it was a bedroom. There's no one at home at the moment. Suddenly the other door opened and a very handsome man stepped out half naked. Only a white towel was wrapped around his lower body. Flyra can't help but stare at him. His face, his chest. They are so perfect. He was not too thin and not too muscular. And his face was just like a world-class model. Even his brown hair, which was not combed yet, looks amazing. He saw her and his eyes went huge for a second as he stepped back into the bathroom.
'I'm sorry' Flyra said, immediately looking away.
'What are you doing in here?' the man said.
'I came looking for someone' Flyra replied, keeping her eyes away from looking and clearing her mind. She glimpsed the man's figure walking back to his bedroom and heard him closing the door. She looked once again, now the bedroom door was closed. She smiled, thinking how silly that had been. One minute passed, and the man finally came out of his room. He was wearing a grey long sleeve shirt and a black vest over it. Now that she saw his face even more clearly, he looks more handsome than before. His hair was combed back neatly. His beard was shaved. And he reminded her a lot of King Henry. And she couldn't speak.
'Good afternoon milady' the man said, bowing like a perfect gentleman. 'What brings a royal princess to this… house?'
Flyra froze. Not that she was in fear or anything. She was just lost for words. Looking at him, she just couldn't speak. And he seems to know about her. He smiled looking at how uneasy Flyra seemed. His smile was also perfect. The more reason for Flyra to be distracted.
'Don't worry I don't know you' the man reassured. He thought Flyra was too creeped out to speak. 'I just know you're royalty because only royals dress like that, unless you're a rich merchant. And you're young, so that means you must be a princess'
The man is not just handsome, but smart too. Find more reasons to add to his model-worthy points. Flyra summoned her power to focus. She eventually snapped out of it after the man was the one getting uncomfortable.
'You're beautiful. I mean you're smart' Flyra said quickly, feeling embarrassed by herself. The man chuckled.
'You're beautiful as well. I mean of course you are. I mean you're royalty!' the man said, feeling more embarrassed than Flyra. He made Flyra less uneasy, and she laughed a bit at his actions.
'I'm Princess Flyra'
'I'm Ned' he stuck out his hand. Flyra shook it.
'You have a beautiful bracelet!' Flyra said, admiring the plain silver bracelet on Ned's left wrist.
'Trust me, it's not as beautiful as it seems' Ned said. Flyra tried to process what he meant but she couldn't understand.
'You said you're looking for someone?' Ned asked.
'Yes! But wait. May I know who you are?' Flyra replied.
'I already told you my name'
'I meant as in in relation to the avengers. You are in their dimension. I need to find their base'
'You are not one of Marcala's associates?'
'What? Why would I be the avenger's associate? I'm a princess!'
It was Ned's turn to process what Flyra had just said. He was very confused.
'You mean you found this dimension without Marcala's guidance?'
'Yes. Well with my magic. I guess'
Ned's face lit up.
'Wait, are you working for Marcala?' Flyra said, getting suspicious.
'Never' Ned said with a certain anger in his voice. It sounded like he wanted to take revenge.
'Then why do you have a house here? And how do you know so much about Marcala's deals with her associates?'
'I am a prisoner here. I have no magic to allow me to leave this dimension. I am trapped' Ned said. He maintained his cool face but his voice sounded like he was about to cry.
'I thought the dimension is just a barrier?'
'It's a barrier but its gateways to the other side are only small and limited and it changes from time to time' Ned explained. 'There's no way out without magic or permission from Marcala'
Suddenly the oven bell rang.
'That's my bread' Ned said, smiling once again as he put on his oven gloves and took out the tray of scrumptious freshly baked bread. He cut the bread in two and offered one of the halves to Flyra.
'Thank you' Flyra accepted it.
'Marcala has random associates from cities and kingdoms that I do not know of. Hopefully those from The Outlands. I hate the idea of having another betrayer or spy among the Inlanders especially if they're royalty, who are supposed to lead and show good examples to the people' Ned said while savouring his bread.
'Another betrayer?'
'Haven't you heard that Marcala used to be the royal master of Combination?'
'You know a lot about this matter Ned' Flyra was complimenting. She was impressed. A handsome, smart, and knowledgeable person.
'I will lead you to the base' Ned said kindly.
'Really? Thank you!' Flyra was so grateful.
Just as the evening sun had started going down, the two of them left the house. Ned led the way southwest of Cappidop Bay and it was not long before they came across a big long wall that goes around like a circle, enclosing the big castle and small buildings inside it.
'That is Morgan's Kingdom' Ned said, staring at the buildings behind the walls. 'And that is the avengers' base' he said, pointing at the huge dark brown castle.
'I never imagined it as a kingdom' Flyra said, feeling very nervous.
They were hiding behind some bushes and when a few soldiers passed by, that was when they realised that that was a bad hiding spot. Ned quickly and gently pulled Flyra back and lay down still.
'Thank you' Flyra said, she realised she should have waited to thank him. Her face was so close to Ned's. His arms around her, helping her get down, was warm and cozy. Ned managed a smile. For a few seconds their eyes met and stayed connected. Flyra had never felt more attracted to someone before. Flyra pulled away and Ned regained focus. He peeked over the bush, the soldiers were gone. They got up to a crouching position.
'Who are you looking for in there?' Ned asked the same question he did not get an answer earlier.
'Prince Edward and Princess Erieka' Flyra replied. Ned's face became shocked.
'What's wrong?' Flyra said, noticing he was just frozen in his shock expression.
'You're Princess Flyra of?'
'Combination'
Ned was lost for words.
'I… I am Prince Edward' Ned admitted. Now Flyra was frozen in shock.
'You… you lied to me?'
'I didn't. Ned is also me. Ned is me when I am wearing this' Ned held up his left hand with the silver bracelet. 'Because of this, I am weak. I am not the Edward I used to be. I can't spoil my name with my new self. So I created a new name'
Flyra was close to tears. Ned/Edward thought that he had made a terrible mistake of not telling the whole truth. But Flyra placed both of her hands on Edward's cheeks. Her gentle touch sent a static charge through his body. He had never felt more comfortable and attracted to someone before.
'I found you' Flyra cried tears of happiness. 'Your father misses you so much. He has been searching for you for twenty years. And I want to help him. And now he can finally meet his son' Flyra cried, feeling very happy. Edward can't help but let out tears as well. For ten years since he was abducted, before he gave up and accepted his fate, he too searched for ways to leave this place. And now someone's here to rescue him.
'Where's your sister?'
There was a short pause.
'I'm afraid she's lost forever. They had taught her and brainwashed her from the moment she was able to speak' Edward said, feeling very disappointed with himself. 'I failed to help her'
'You didn't. You were just a child. And you were powerless' Flyra reassured. She stepped in and hugged him.
'Flyra, are we siblings?' Edward asked, the awkward feeling was coming.
'No we're not' Flyra laughed.
'Oh great. That would have been weird' Edward said. The awkward feeling disappeared again.
'What would have been weird?'
'Nothing' Edward said quickly. He thought of how he was very attracted to Flyra from the moment he first saw her.
Flyra finally pulled away. They wiped their tears. Flyra cried the most. She straightened her scarf and dress.
'Alright, now let me lead you out of here' Flyra said, smiling happily. She extended her hand for Edward. He took it and she led him away from the base.