66 Chapter 66. Memories

Aaak! Chirp! Cuckoo!

The sweet calls of multitudes of crows, sparrows and other exotic birds filled the lands as the group arrived upon familiar lands.

"Woah! This was our home?" Lex called out in amazement as he looked at the majestic scenery in front of him.

His appearance has somewhat changed as the shape of his pupil had changed to a diamond shape, his hair color had changed slightly as the tips of his hair had turned black. and horns seemed to be growing on his elbows. Other than that, everything else was still the same. He woke up about a day before they arrived here and was extremely scared when he found out about his change. Thinking that they were ugly, Lex wore a long piece of cloth that wrapped around both his elbows.

Green grass flowed beautifully in the flat plateau and a myriad of different plants and trees were beautifully scattered across it, creating an epitome of mother nature's work.

Beautiful translucent tears fell from Aurora as she silently let her eyes tear up while she look at the landscape.

The land where everything was once filled with crop fields and simple wooden houses that brimmed with noise from kids and housewives was now replaced with an equally beautiful scene. Some parts of the houses remained standing though the many years and vines and moss had flourished on them making the whole place seem like a ruin.

"This place has really changed," Leo spoke with a very heavy tone of nostalgia. The group then walked forward into the village grounds.

"Ok. Feel free to walk around or to explore around for now. I'm going to take Lex to meet our parent's gravestones. You guys are free to follow us if you want," Leo announced as he walked forward and Lex quickly followed.

"I'm going to go and see my parent's grave as well," Aurora spoke as she also walked off.

Laura and Leila were still in a unresponsive state so the two ladies could not decide what to do so they ended up just accompanying the sleeping girls.

Leo took Lex to a hill that had a large green banyan tree growing from it. The tree itself was grand and majestic as it gave off a very sagely feeling. Next to the tree facing down at the village was a badly carved tombstone that had a note scratched on it:

Here lies the heavenly bodies of dear and loving mom and dad, Ava Areia and Reon Areia.

Leo took a few steps first as he fell on his knees as he approached the tombstone.

Tears began to well up in his eyes as he forcefully tried to hold back his tears. With a smile he spoke, "Mom and Dad... I did as you instructed and took Lex all the way to Sapphire city. We only came back and I thought you guys would want to see Lex."

Leo could no longer hold back his tears as they slowly fell to the grass.

"I wish you guys were here to see him in real life."

Lex then walked forward and touched the tombstone curiously. He placed his arms around the tombstone and looked at the scenery around him as a gentle breeze flowed across the land, causing the grass and other greens to dance.

"Brother, you did a good job. Mom and dad would be really proud," Lex consoled Leo as he approached him and gave him a big hug.

Feeling his brother console him. Leo accepted the hug. How weak was he? Out of all people, it was his brother who was hugging him. He forced his tears to a stop as Leo took Lex and they both hugged the tombstone, imagining that their parents were still here.

"It's so peaceful," Lex commented as he enjoyed the light breeze that was sweeping across them as he laid under the secure shade of the majestic tree.

"Mom always loved you Lex. You are carrying her will, you must do her proud. She died protecting you, she died to save you," Leo spoke as he wanted Lex to use this as motivation to cultivate.

"Hmm!" Lex nodded furiously. Leo had spoken about their mother's death countless times but it seemed to have made the most impact here.

"What will I do about my aura and horn though?" Lex couldn't help but ask with a tinge of fear.

"I don't know yet, Lex. We are going to wait for Pwea's leader to find out more on it. As for now, I think your horns look cool and with your aura, there shouldn't be much of a problem."

Disappointment filled Lex's face as he looked at his cloth wrapped arms with utter dread. "I hate these horns. People will think that I'm ugly," Lex complained helplessly.

"Dad... Mom... I hope you are all well. I'm so sorry that I couldn't visit you guys sooner," Aurora knelt down and bowed to two gravestones that were next to each other as she became teary eyed and left after spending about an hour there.

As she arrived back at the village ground she saw Pwea and Wenella still there and the two bothers nowhere to be found.

"Let's get a good place to settle down. Come with me," said Aurora as she led the ladies to Lex and Leo.

Both seemed to be filled with tranquility as they were both sitting under the giant tree as they observed the beautiful processes of nature taking place in the land down below.

Hearing their footsteps, Leo turned around and gave them a warm smile as he told them to join him.

"Any news on your leader?" Leo asked curiously as Pwea sat down.

"I have no clue. But judging from how far they were last time I contacted them, they should be arriving today evening or tomorrow," she replied.

"We're here," a voice of a female sounded as a small group of soldiers dressed in black robes leapt out of the bushes.

"Leader!" Pwea immediately ran forward bowed and saluted in respect to the lady who was standing in the front of the group.

"Rise up, explain the situation," the leader spoke, not planning on wasting any time. She seemed to be in her mid-thirties and she wore a thin bold black robe giving off the air of an assassin. A serious appeared on Leo's face for a fraction of a second as he observed her cultivation. Her cultivation was a whole realm above Alfred and the current him was not able to threaten her at all.

Immediately without hesitation, Pwea began to explain the situation to the leader while Leo and the others curiously watched.

"I see, hmm. No time to lose. Now that the princess has achieved her transformation, we must take her back immediately. And along with that, we will also need to take the boy," the leader spoke as she pointed towards Leila then to Lex.

A look of confusion appeared on Lex's face as he stared at the leader questioningly.

The soldiers behind her immediately moved forward to retrieve the two but were instantly blocked by Leo and Aurora.

"Let's have a short conversation," Leo spoke as he walked into a wrecked home that managed to have a small rock bench still standing.

"I would like to know what is happening to my little brother," Leo spoke out as he looked at the leader expressionlessly.

"So he is your brother," the leader spoke out understandingly.

"Very well. I shall tell you. He interrupted with her highness' bloodline awakening, he now has been imparted with the royal family's bloodline in him. Thus I have to take him back before he loses control," the leader explained.

"Loses control?"

"Yes. The bloodline is very unstable right now and we need to consolidate his body and cultivation. That way he will be able to overcome it," the leader continued.

"I don't want to go!" Lex suddenly spoke out loudly.

"What will happen to him?" Leo asked coldly as he tried to squeeze out every detail.

"He will be taken care of by the palace and he may become a prince if he is as talented as Pwea said he is," the leader replied.

Leo paused for a few seconds before nodding understandingly, "I see."

"I see. You don't seem to be affected that much. Don't you know that I am basically taking your brother away from you?" the leader asked calmly with a hint of confusion.

Leo then turned to Lex as he brought him to one side of the hill for a conversation.

"Brother, I don't want to go," Lex complained as he did not want to leave Leo.

"Lex," Leo spoke as he lovingly smiled at his brother, "I think this is best for you."

"No!" Lex screamed angrily as the child inside him slowly came out.

The two brothers seemed to engage in a heated conversation for a few minutes. They both soon returned as Lex walked forward and spoke, "Ok. I will come with you."

"You are indeed not simple. I am impressed," the leader spoke as she looked at Leo with interest.

"Thank you for your compliment," Leo replied with a slight smile, "Why don't you guys stay for today? I wanna know everything there is to know about where you are taking him."

"Sure. I also want to see if there's more to you than I think," the leader agreed and Leo happily walked back to the edge of the hill and observed the sunset again.

"Leader, why did you not just kill them?" a soldier couldn't help but secretly ask.

"You're not wrong, it would be better if we killed them. But this boy is not simple. He is hiding his cultivation and able to think so clearly. My mental energy is not able to enter his head" the leader replied as she walked forward and took a seat next to Leo while the rest of the soldiers began cheerfully engaging in a conversation with the other girls.

"Why don't you tell me your name? I might come to visit your kingdom sometime in the future."

"The name's Eya. I am one of the heads of the princess of Drunken Kingdom's personal guards," the squad leader replied.

"Who's the ruler of that kingdom?" Leo asked curiously.

"Our ruler is the venerable Drunken Immortal"

"Huh!" Leo suddenly shook in shock, "Drunken Immortal? The man who needs wine to survive?"

"Yes!" the squad leader was suddenly amazed, ' how does this boy know about him?'

"I see. I'd love to meet him one day. Wait… Hmm, is your kingdom a part of an empire?" Leo anxiously asked.

"Yes…" Eya replied confusedly.

"I see, that means that your kingdom is a part of the Jade empire that has eight kingdoms, right?"

"You! How did you know?" Eya asked with shock as she could not believe how Leo had come up with all of these correct assumptions.

"I read a lot of books. Anyhow, I'm sure that I will have to come to the Jade empire sometime soon," Leo replied as he tried to act mysterious.

And before anyone knew it, morning had come and it was time for Eya and her squad to leave. Lex seemed extremely unwilling but he still agreed to leave.

"Big bro, don't worry. I will do it for you," Lex spoke forcing himself to stay positive.

"Lex, don't worry, your brother will always watch over you," Leo spoke with a smile hiding his unwillingness as he felt powerless to do this. He felt that if he stopped then Lex's life could be in danger.

As he saw Lex walk off into the distance with Eya's group, Leo called out to Lex and shouted, "Lex! Remember our clan motto: We were, We are, We will be! Live is what you make it!"

After saying this Leo brought his right hand to his chest and pressed his thumb with his fingers and cracked it loudly.

Boom!

A sudden burst of energy occurred as a large stream of black dangerous killing intent emitting energy flew from Leo's fingers into Lex's body.

Lex smiled brightly and did the same and the two brothers parted.