I took the token that held the Zephyrwing.
I went back to the tent where Bubble was waiting for him. He was fidgeting his stubby hands by the time I reached there.
"Why are you so tense?"
"NO, I DIDN'T DO ANYTHING. ITS ALL SIR TEJ!!!"
He shrieked and jumped up in the high as if he was bitten by a bunch of ants on his buttocks. I raised an eyebrow and looked at him.
He looked at me with his mouth wide open and his body trembling in terror.
"Sir, Tej.. Tha… I….This.."
I just shook my head and said.
"Just clean up the tent. We need to get out of the camp for a while?"
"Ge… Get o.ut of the camp?"
He was stuttering and I just sighed. I stayed in the tent and made sure that none of the articles, books, or any other information including the map were left behind. I stored all of them inside by spatial storage and walked out of the tent along with Bubble.
I confidently walked out of the camp and then to Anta City.
"S...Sir Tej. I don't think it is a good idea to leave the city now. Deputy General Arun…"
"Don't worry about it. If I am not wrong he should be plenty busy with the Barrack building and the missions that he was supposed to do today.
He doesn't have enough energy to specifically keep his eyes on me.
I am supposed to leave the city, but that rule was unwritten, and its purely the will of the Deputy General. But the soldiers that are sniffing around us, cannot leave the city at all. They could be court-martialed and tried as deserters."
*SNAP*
And just like that I turned around and captured a picture in a particular direction.
A soldier who was following us around was captured in the picture clearly.
"FUCK"
The soldier cursed and stopped hiding.
"Sir Tej, please don't do this to us. Just go back with us."
I didn't mind him and turned to a different direction.
*SNAP*
Another soldier was captured.
"Now, I want you guys to do something for me."
I spoke as I stored my camera away. These soldiers are also fourth circle warriors. They were far beneath me at that time in terms of strength and my status outranks theirs. They were already plenty worried following me.
Now, they realized why it was justified to be so afraid of me.
The soldiers just looked at me calmly.
"Just wait here for a while. Hide yourselves and do a better job this time. I will come back in exactly thirty minutes. Then we will all go back together. You can just say I was roaming around in the woods for a short while. And it goes without saying that you are not going to reveal anything related to me to your Deputy General."
One of them gritted his teeth and asked.
"And if we don't want to do that?"
"Simple, I am going to publish this in tomorrow's Gazette. You and I both know that even if you rat me out to your Deputy General, he can't do shit to me. I am the King's plaything. I will still end up writing these bullshit articles here.
On the other hand, you…. Once your pictures of being deserters are reported, you will be screwed. Dishonorable discharge, jail time or worse, being death soldiers and fodder in war.
If you want that, or if you think I am bluffing, let's do this your way and you can find out the hard way."
The soldiers' shoulders drooped in dejection. They jumped and went to hide behind the trees.
As much as I was disgusted to be a blackmailer, I certainly see the appeal. It gives some kind of weird kick that makes you feel high.
After that, the journey had no interruptions.
We went into the woods.
"Bubble, clear a patch here. I want all the trees to be cleared. Just don't make it too big to the point others can spot it easily."
"Alright, sir."
And the fat man got to work.
Around ten minutes later. A neat and clean empty patch appeared in the middle of the woods. I activated the beast token and the Zephyrwing appeared in front of me. I couldn't help but break into a smile.
Even the fat bubble looked astonished at the majesty of the beautiful creature.
"Gorgeous, isn't it?" I asked him as I tabbed the beast's head.
"Yes, sir." Bubble nodded like a hen pecking some corn.
"I have something for you to do my friend. I hope that you can do it for me."
I tapped the beast once again and walked to the center of the patch.
I started chanting.
"By the breath of the four winds, I beseech thee, Aelios, Hawkwind General, to heed my call.
From the lofty heights where the sky meets the earth, come forth and lend us thy strength.
With wings of azure and silver, soar to our side and be our guide.
Summoning, the Hawkwind General of Wind Spirits, the First Subject of Zephyrion, Aelios."
As the words resonated through the air, a swirling vortex of wind and energy coalesced around me, carrying my plea to the Spirit realm where Aelios resides.
With a mighty gust of wind and the sound of beating wings, Aelios materialized in a shimmering veil of mist and light. The Hawkwind General descended from the World of Spirits, its piercing eyes fixed upon me with a sense of purpose and determination.
Aelios appeared as a magnificent hawk with feathers of swirling azure and silver, reminiscent of wisps of wind dancing through the sky. Its wingspan stretched wide, allowing it to effortlessly glide through the air with unparalleled grace and agility. Its piercing eyes gleamed with an otherworldly intelligence, reflecting the vast knowledge and wisdom it possesses as the Wind Spirit general.
Aelios's talons are sharp as the biting breeze, capable of rending through obstacles with ease. Its beak is sleek and formidable, perfectly adapted for both delivering swift strikes and emitting haunting calls that echo across the windswept plains.
Though ethereal, Aelios emanated an aura of power and authority, commanding the respect of both mortal beings and fellow spirits alike. Its presence alone invoked a sense of awe and reverence as if the very essence of the wind itself had taken form in this majestic creature.
[Greetings Sir Tej]
The three words resonated in the air. Even without the spirit speaking, all three of us, Me, Bubble, and Zephyrwing, all heard those words.
Those were created by manipulating the wind and creating that sound around us. Don't ask me how it was possible. I wouldn't know how even if you had beaten me to death. Only Aelios and Zephyrion could do it.
"Greetings, General Aelios. I hope you are well."
[I am. Please Give me my command, Sir. I shall fulfill your duty with utmost discipline and go back to the world of spirits to serve my king.]
That was the nature of Aelios. He was fiercely loyal to Zephyrion. And that's one of the reasons why he was given the title of the first subject of Zephyrion.
Aelios was also a spirit of high enough strength to the point, just like Zephyrion, I couldn't bring the spirit's full strength, as my strength was too low.
I explained what I wanted it to do.
[I shall do your bidding, Sir Tej.]
Upon receiving the reply that I wanted, I started chanting once again.
"By the bonds of air and earth, let wind and beast become one.
In the storm's embrace, let Aelios and Zephyrwing merge as kin.
Grant them the power to soar as one, united in purpose and might.
Gale Fusion, weave thy magic, and forge a union beyond compare!"
As the words resonated through the air, a swirling vortex of energy enveloped the two beings, Zephyrwing and Aelios. Drawing them closer together in a dance of wind and magic.
As the energies converged, Aelios and Zephyrwing began to shimmer and glowed with ethereal light, their forms intertwining and melding into a magnificent fusion.
Zephyrwing who was initially white as snow, turned into a beautiful mix of swirling Azure and Silver.
[Fine Child.]
Aelio spoke from his fusion form. He was addressing the Zephyrwing.
[Sir Tej, I shall finish your task. Please await my response, once I reach the destination.]
*CAW*
*BOOM*
With a loud crow and an explosion of wind, the fused beast jumped into the air, disappearing into a streak of wind that disappeared the next second.
"What was that?" Bubble asked. He spoke for the first time after Aelios appeared.
"That's our informer."
That's all I said and walked back to the soldiers who were waiting for me. We walked back into the city. I went to my tent and sat down in meditation.
"Bubble, you are in charge of today's pictures. I trust you can do a good job."
With that, I lost myself in meditation. I started gathering mana, and meditating on my cultivation technique, to improve my magic cultivation level.