Chapter 20

"Crown Princess!" 

I could hear them yelling in the distance. They sounded terrified and urgent. I continued pouring my tea into the teacup, muttering about people not allowing me to relax even though the situation was very critical. Everyone was highly strung due to the appearance of the Witch's sword.

"Crown Princess!"

The door to my tea room slid open with a loud bang, almost rattling in its frame and two of my staff stood at the doorway, panting heavily. I raised my eyebrows as I noticed how breathless they were, they must've run a long distance.

"What seems to be the issue here?" I asked.

"It's Aidan."

I let out a growl. "What did he do this time?"

"You need to go to him quickly," one of them answered. "He's fighting with Hansel and Blake at the Bridge of Destiny. He's stolen the stone key again. It looks like he's attempting to do something terrible there."

"If he destroys that bridge, we're doomed," I said flatly. 

For Hansel and Blake to be summoned meant that Chief had known all along what Aiden was trying to do. I cursed, annoyed at the turn of events.

Thanking them, I left the room and disappeared from there immediately to appear a few meters away from the bridge. I could hear the sounds of battle coming from the usually closed stone doors. To think that Aidan had stolen the stone key from the guard again, I didn't know what could be worse than that.

What was he planning to do?

Please don't tell me he's going to break the bridge!

"Stop with this foolishness, Aidan!" I hear yelling.

I entered the room. Strong winds buffeted around us – causing a maelstrom of sorts. The narrow bridge spanned across the inside of a mountain, supported by thick columns, and the uniqueness of this bridge is that there's an enchanted sea below. If we fall into it, our magic will be stripped away, and we'd most likely perish in there. 

The fight between Hansel, Blake, and Aidan was upsetting the balance of the bridge – the loss of some columns had caused a chain reaction to the enchanted sea below. If they continued, the bridge will be destroyed and we'll be in deep shit. I saw the three of them in the midst of the tornado, each man eager to show their prowess. 

I had never seen the enchanted sea react this angrily before. 

This worries me.

"Aidan! Stop! Aidan!" I yelled, but my voice was drowned out by the buffeting winds. I cursed inwardly, there was no way he could hear me against all that noise. I felt helpless, I needed him to stop fighting but I could not see him clearly through the tornado to wrap the bubble spell around him. 

None of the men listened as they fought. I doubt they could hear sense. Their every move, their every swing of attack, and their every step caused the bridge to crack even more underneath their monstrous strength. I needed to step into the fight, and stop them before anything bad happened to the bridge.

I fear the consequences if I were to use the crown on him.

"Stop this! You're going to break the bridge!"

If the bridge breaks, it's going to cause a chain reaction to the Instruments in the Destiny room and it'll cause havoc here. I stepped into the battle when I saw an opening. In the midst of the highly-fueled fight between the three immortals, I blocked Hansel and Blake's attack, flinging the trio backward with one swift movement.

"Stop this meaningless fight!" I shouted, my voice finally being heard as the wind quieted down. "What the hell is wrong with the three of you? Bring this fight somewhere else! There are too many important equipment and precious artifacts in this place! You're going to break the bridge if you keep this up!"

Before anyone could react or reply to my statements, Aidan decided to whip out a weapon from his side – my eyes bulged in shock when I recognized it – the stupid monkey had stolen it! I had been wondering where my pen had disappeared all week. All along the idiot monkey had taken it!

"Aidan!" I yelled. "You crazy monkey! Stop!"

The unique thing about the pen is that it can grow into a staff if the wielder transfers part of his power into it. The more powerful the wielder is, the bigger it can grow. He made the staff grow triple in size, and with his monstrous strength, slammed it down onto the bridge – successfully breaking it under our feet. This idiot - 

"NO!" 

We fell into the enchanted sea – causing a storm to brew as it sucked our powers. I was pissed. We were suspended in the liquid – unable to struggle out of it as the magic began its work. Pain enveloped me whole as my magic was forced out of my body – and I could barely move as I started a spell to bring us out of there. 

Anywhere, as long as we were brought to safety. 

The pain disappeared as quickly as it arrived, and I felt the liquid disappear. My eyes fell shut in exhaustion. I remembered falling. Cold air. Freezing winds. The endless, starless night sky. I could hear someone screaming my name. I could hear someone chuckling.

Then, I fell unconscious.

Oh, Athena, you're back here again.

Didn't you say you're not coming back ever again?

Welcome back, my dear. I missed you.