3.2

They had to move carefully through the woods, trying not to make any sounds, but the branches everywhere still crunched treacherously. They left their shuttle far from the village so as not to attract the attention of the locals. As always, they did not have a specific plan on how to lure Princess Farenia out of the village and they would have to act according to circumstances.

"Someone is looking at us," Lariel whispered and began to pierce the space with his eyes. "The teen is watching us. What do we do? He can run to the village and cause panic."

"Then let's go back, let's go from the other side," Kamily suggested, gazing into the dense thickets.

"He doesn't run away, he just looks and is not afraid," Lariel found out.

"Hey, come out, I see you," He shouted towards the spreading berry bushes.

They were dumbfounded when a teenager came out to meet them and said:

"You came for me?"

Dark wings fluttered behind the blonze-skinned teen. He looked unkempt: a torn cloth on his thin body, long black tangled hair.

"Where did you come from among people?" Kamily and Lariel looked at each other in surprise.

"They kicked me out when my mother died," his thin voice rang pitifully. "Take me with you!"

The boy fell at the feet of the astonished Lariel.

"Of course, we'll take you! Get up off your knees!"

"Do you know who your father is?" Kamily asked.

"I've never seen him!"

"It's clear now why you're here alone."

"I'm not alone, I have a wingless sister, Lasha. She works for people, they don't kick her out."

Kamily whispered to Lariel:

"This is her, our princess."

"What is your name?"

"Zen."

"How can we meet your sister?"

"Will you take her too? She will come to see me soon. She kept saying that the winged ones would come for us. She dreams about you often," Zen's voice rang.

"Yes, dear, we came for you," Kamily answered tenderly.

Lariel decided to look after the boy while they were waiting for the girl from the village. He changed him into a created blue tunic, cleansed his face and body with invisible plasma, combed his hair, and tidied up his wings. Zen screamed with joy every time magic appeared.

"Will you teach me magic?"

Lariel, amusing himself at the boy's reaction, continued to show him tricks:

"Certainly!"

"Will you be my dad? What is your name? You are so handsome! I want to live with you!" The boy hugged him enthusiastically.

Lariel exchanged glances with Kamily. She giggled quietly.

"Sure… I am Lariel. We have a little son, Ekiloren. Will you play with him?"

"I will, I will!" Zen happily jumped up, trying to fly up.

Kamily had never seen winged children of this age and asked:

"When do syrinxes begin to fly?"

"After fifteen years. The main feathers must grow to a certain size."

"How old do you think he is?"

"Almost fourteen... such cute boy. I'm afraid it won't be easy for him in our society."

"Will they pester him?"

"Yes... most likely. What should I do with him? He will need special protection, I will take him straight to Rohen. It seems to me that this is his son."

"Like this? When did he have time?"

"Who knows? Looks so much like him... only darker skin. Take a closer look, the same facial features."

Before dusk Lasha appeared and froze in amazement among the trees, looking at everyone, anticipating that a new, completely different life would now begin. 

Her sweet, ruddy face, framed by long black hair, lit up with an admiring smile. She was undoubtedly very pleased to meet these strangers.

The neat looking Zen rushed to her:

"They came for us as you said!"

"I am Kamily, the Queen of the Syrinxes," a beautiful blue-eyed woman in good quality clothes approached Lasha. "You are invited to live in my kingdom as Princess Farenia."

"What?" Lasha exclaimed enthusiastically. "I am a princess?"

She covered her face with her hands, not believing her happiness.

"Do you agree to the title?" The Queen asked softly.

"Yes, yes, I agree!" Lasha happily nodded her head.

"Right now, you and your brother Zen are coming with us to your new home," Kamily showed her the direction to follow.

Lasha saw the beautiful Lariel up close and became embarrassed. She remembered her father blue-eyed syrinx, he was also handsome, but not so much. Lariel seemed to her to be a young celestial being of stunning beauty, whom it was impossible to look at enough.

"How many inhabitants are there in the kingdom?" Lasha asked the Queen, leading her brother by the hand.

"Many and all men. I hope this doesn't scare you?"

"No. Dad told me a lot about the heavenly city of Azaren, he wanted to show it to me. He promised to find me a husband when I grow up. But he disappeared without a trace..."

"Probably died. Our heavenly city was destroyed by aliens. Now a new Azaren has been built on earth so that people can live and cooperate with the syrinxes. It's good that you are so prepared for life among us and are not afraid. There were difficulties with the first princess, but now she has gotten used to it."

"Is there another princess? Did she get married?"

Kamily answered with a smile:

"Well, not yet! Her beloved is following us."

Lasha's face darkened slightly from the thought that this unearthly handsome man was already taken.

"There's a lot of choice, you'll have to get to know everyone," Kamily added.

Lasha saw a shuttle ahead, silvering among the bushes.

"What is this? I've never heard of such things."

"It's a very long way to go on foot, and this is the ship of the star syrinxes. We will quickly fly to Azaren on it.

"Are there also stellar syrinxes?" The girl blurted out with delight.

"It's better for you not to think about them for now and stay away, they are strong and dangerous magicians," She warned. "You will look for a husband among the locals."

"How can they be dangerous for me?"

"They won't take your wishes into account and use you for their own purposes with the help of hypnosis… It's time for us to go."

***

Rohen, living separately from Azaren in his own castle not far from the city, stared tensely at the appearance of Lariel with the boy.

"Well, I found a teenage hybrid in the forest! His name is Zen! Looks like someone!"

"Umm," Rohen raised his eyebrows, straightening up. "Probably my nephew..."

"As you say," Lariel said in confusion. "We need to adopt the boy in this case."

"You will be his adoptive father," came the order.

"Zen… who would you like to become in our society?" 

Rohen turned to the boy, piercing him with his gaze.

"I don't know," the teenager was embarrassed. "I'm not a wizard!"

"You need a patron, someone who can protect you."

"I'm a kid, who can offend me?"

"With your beauty, you won't just have to fight off men. If you want to be a lover, then there is no problem, accept courtship. If you want to be a warrior, I can provide special protection so that you will not be touched."

"A warrior... I want to be a warrior!" Zen stated decisively.

"Take the oath then. Say: I am your servant, Lord!"

"I am your servant, Lord..."

"Accept my seal... I name you Gedeon!"

Rohen extended his hand towards him, from which a seven-rayed diadem of bright purple color emerged and hovered above the boy's head, dissolving after a few moments.

"The phoenix powers will gradually enter you over the course of several years. You don't have to worry about all this time, my eye will be watching over you. You will live with your mentor Lariel in the palace for now, then you will begin service when I call you."

On the way to Azaren, the boy bombarded Lariel with questions:

"Is Rohen my uncle? So my father looked the same?"

"Maybe…"

"Didn't you know each other?"

"Many perished by endless war, I can't remember them all..."

"Why did you bring me to him?"

"I thought that you were the closest relatives. Appearance is similar."

"Why did he call me beautiful? This is true?"

"You're still a child, don't think about it."

"Where will I live? With you, Prince?"

"A-Ah!" Lariel snorted. "You'll stay in a separate bedroom."

"You have to keep an eye on me, right?"

"Oh! What a pain you are!" A dissatisfied exhale was heard. "I can't imagine how to bring you up..."