The Story of the Wind Wanderer
Minimal Information #159

Sailing, hitchhiking on one of the merchant ships that was about to dock at the Port of Aetheria. Altezza and his three friends finally arrived at the port of Lagarde Kingdom after being adrift on the calm sea. The atmosphere of the harbor and its small town that feels soothing, even with a crowd that seems to have not stopped. Late in the evening, the city lights slowly lit up, the torch flames installed in each building as well as the entrance of the Aetheria Port also lit up.

Altezza walked down the not-so-great streets of Aetheria, along with his three friends. In his heart he was moved to keep walking to be able to go home soon, back to his kingdom and palace. However, the three friends decided to rent a room at one of the inns in Aetheria. It is not hearty if he himself decides to go ahead of his friends, with enough forced himself to choose to come along and try to be patient.

As in the previous inn at Neverley, Altezza was one room with a blond man named Eugene who seemed to have collapsed on the first bed near the door. Eugene seemed to be sighing heavily, tired after making a long journey between continents.

"Altezza, don't you want to immediately break down your body? It feels so good, as if the bones in this body are straight back." Eugene spoke with happy intonation, smiled, and looked at the ceiling of the room made of solid wood.

The man had black hair, and was still wearing his robe. Just like when he was at the inn before, Altezza was more interested in spending his night by leaning against the window of the room, looking at the night sky. But the view of the night sky was much different from the previous few nights. Dark, dense, and wind gusts that feel irregular. There are no stars, not to mention the moon tonight.

"If something really bad happens in your hometown, what are you gonna do, Eugene?" cetus Altezza suddenly raised his voice and asked. His gaze did not look at Eugene, his body was more likely to face out the window with both eyes that could not escape the deep night sky.

"Depends on what happened, anyway." Eugene answered the question, then slowly got up and sat on his bed asking, "what really happened in your hometown? Is that what makes you restless and unsettled every night?"

Altezza seemed to drift to look at the black sky above, and then replied, "it is rumored, darkness has arrived in this world, and my country is one of them that is threatened."

"What did you say ...?!" eugene said, jumping up, getting out of bed, and then standing right next to Altezza, "what darkness do you mean?" continued.

From under his black cloak, Altezza picked up a newspaper, and then gave the newspaper to Eugene next to him. The letter contained a news article about what happened in the Central Continent, or precisely in the Land of Zephyra.

"Darkness slowly enveloped the Central Continent, and attacked the Zephyra Kingdom. Not to rule out the possibility of Darkness will also attack and envelop other regions." Eugene's mouth panted, reading one of the titles of the article written in capital letters and thick ink.

"Is what Legolas said true? The creatures we encounter in Arcadia, they're a sign that Darkness is coming?" muttered Eugene, looking at Altezza from the side with a face that seemed to be thinking, wondering.

But there was no response from Altezza. The black-haired man was silent, with a fixed gaze staring at the dark night sky. He slowly closed his eyes, and felt an irregular gust of wind. Seated, in his heart, Altezza pleaded and prayed, "O Lord, protect my kingdom, all my people, and the precious people I have."

The wind instantly blew louder than before as Altezza was praying in his heart. Her hair was waving, as was Eugene's blonde hair. It was so calm and cool, not so cold. Eugene was slightly startled and stunned when the wind blew into the room through the wide open window, because the wind managed to bring a calm atmosphere in his heart.

***

Prince Welt was still with Prince Azura and Prince Xavier, standing guard over the capital's fortified gate with his thousands of troops. No one could escape the guarding of such a large number of soldiers, they were completely filling in every corner of the royal fortress.

"Too calm" muttered Welt with an inescapable look at the South region of his kingdom. A dark scene under the pitch-black night sky with no moon or stars, the first prince of the Zephyra Kingdom continued to use his magic eyes to see through the darkness of the night.

"The archers and the magicians are in their positions" said Xavier, followed by Prince Azura who said, "our war orchestra has also been prepared."

"Have you heard from Neverley, Arandelle, and Flowring?" ask Welt to his two best friends.

Azura shook her head, "Victoria hasn't received any letters from Flowring and Arandelle."

"Neverley had sent his letter to Lagarde Palace this afternoon, under the leadership of Kiara their troops had sailed the sea and arrived at the Port of Aetheria. It may take two days to get here" Xavier timps, takes a letter from his white trouser bag, and hands the letter to Welt.

"Two days is a long time, especially we do not know when and what the battle will be like," said Welt, choosing to pocket the letter given by Xavier.

"We also lack information about what the enemy forces are like, and their abilities and weaknesses. This can be very troublesome" Azura said, folding both arms and leaning against the boulders above the fortress.

"We also don't know what Asta really is like, as long as we are with a dozen years, Asta has never shown his ability and strength, he prefers to be quiet" Xavier said.

"Is His Majesty unconscious?" azura asked turned her head and looked at Welt.

Prince Welt shook his head, "yet, but his condition could be said to be better than before."

Xavier let out a heavy sigh and said, "we haven't been able to ask him about the enemy forces we're about to face."

The three princes were both made to think. They did not have much information regarding the enemy forces, plus only the two survivors from the Battle of Pearls managed to return to the capital in a safe state. King Aiden was still unconscious, and a knight named Kenan had left the capital due to the duties given by Queen Caitlyn.

"It's my first experience in a very serious situation like this. Man, what am I supposed to do? I'm not ready to be a leader ...!" the Inner Prince Welt, filled with doubts that could not escape enveloped him.