LUNA: The Invisible Princess
Chapter 28: Aero Kingdom

[Third Person POV]

Joaquin and Bryle sat on the grass. They still don’t know where to replace the air stone. They were traveling for days and yet they still couldn’t replace the other stone. Bryle was very upset with himself because he still couldn't feel the presence of the stone.

Joaquin just remained silent while lost in his train of thoughts. Bryle didn't bother him, for which he was grateful. He was wracking his brain for ideas that may lead them to the stone’s whereabouts.

When the two felt hungry, they decided to eat first.

"Joaquin, why don't we try to replace the air stone in the Aero Kingdom?" Bryle's suggestion halted Joaquin.

"Bryle, you're so smart!" Bryle grinned and high five Joaquin. They hurriedly eat their food to get to their destination immediately.

They wasted no time, and Bryle whistled to summon the pegasuses that would take them to the Aero Kingdom.

Moments later, they saw two white pegasuses coming toward them and they landed in front of them. They immediately boarded it and the pegasus flew up.

They couldn’t help but be saddened upon seeing the entire situation of Moondrous. It looks haunted like no life at all because the plants were all dead and only the structures give color to the whole place. But it is also gradually losing color as the snow pours down.

A little while later, they passed through the thick clouds. And they felt the wind blow gently. They seemed to relax by breathing fresh air.

After two hours, they saw a huge white gate at a distance. An enormous floating island surrounded by smaller floating islands and clouds looks so enchanting. The pegasus landed in front of the knights, all dressed in white armor.

"Are we in the Aero Kingdom, Joaquin? We're not dead yet, are we?" Bryle trembles at the thought. Joaquin kicked him and Bryle grunted while pouting.

"Ehem. What is your purpose in our kingdom?" asked the knight on guard.

Joaquin and Bryle looked at each other because they didn't know what to say. They can't say they're looking for a stone.

"Ah, eh, we'd like to talk to the King and Queen. We're from the Faraway Kingdom." Bryle replied, somewhat tense.

The knights looked at each other and then informed the knights inside through a communicating device that they had unexpected guests. It immediately reached the King and wondered what was the purpose of the magic users living below in their kingdom. They know what’s going on down there and they can’t do anything about it. So what is their purpose in them?

Joaquin and Bryle silently rejoiced when the knights opened the gate and let them in.

But Bryle immediately halted his steps upon feeling a familiar force coming within the kingdom. The aura of the air stone!

"Joaquin... the air stone is here," Bryle said with excitement, which caught Joaquin's attention.

They continued walking while following the knights into the kingdom. They looked around and couldn’t help but be amazed at the surroundings. And they notice everyone wears white dresses and they look so clean. A few minutes later, they stopped when the knights also stopped in front of a chariot.

They led them inside the chariot that would take them to the palace. People look at them differently because they are the only ones who have different clothing. They looked at themselves because of their red and black armored suits, which were also mixed with white.

A few moments later, they reached the front gate of the palace. Suddenly, the big gate opens and lets them in. The chariot stopped, and they got off. They were ushered inside and they quickly turned around to see the fantastic view. They followed the knights, and a few minutes later, they entered a room.

A wide room greeted them. The throne room. They saw a man with a crown on his head at the center, who looked to be in his 40s. The man is the King of the Aero Kingdom. Beside the King are the Queen and a beautiful maiden with a princess tiara on top of her head. The princess’ beauty is magnificent. Their dresses differ from all the people of the Aero Kingdom. The King has a yellow and red layered dress, while the Queen wears a red and white elegant dress, and the princess wears a blue and white stunning dress, matching her porcelain complexion.

Joaquin and Bryle paid their respects to the royalty.

"What is your purpose in my kingdom?" yielded the king with doubt in his voice. The two looked up and met the King’s skeptical gaze.

Bryle was still restless because of the energy he felt from the air stone. And what surprised him more was that it was inside the princess. He knows because he sees the aura wrapping around it. Bryle just remained to stare at the princess, which made the princess feel uncomfortable. The way the young man was staring at her was as if he was undressing her.

"Don't stare at our princess like that, young man." the King said to Bryle's surprise. He scratches the back of his neck in embarrassment.

"My apologies..." said Bryle, ashamed of his actions. It was a misunderstanding.

Joaquin fell silent and then said, "Your Majesty, we are on a mission. We are looking for the stones of life to wake our unconscious princesses. Perhaps you know what is happening below. When our princesses disappeared and fell into a coma, the world below suffered drought and many lost their lives because of hunger."

"Stones of life? What have we got to do with it?" the King asked, confused.

"Because the air stone is in your kingdom," Bryle said, startling the King. The princess was surprised and felt nervous. Bryle looked at the princess, who turned pale as a sheet.

"What do you mean?" the King creased his forehead.

"The air stone is here in your kingdom, Your Majesty. We need it to form the stones of life." Joaquin uttered calmly.

"W-What does the stone look like?" asked the princess while stuttering in nervousness. They turn their attention to her.

Bryle smiled. "The stone is almost the same size as a fist. It's a round object."

The princess gasped and turned slightly pale. Joaquin and Bryle noticed her reaction.

‘Joaquin, the stone is in the princess's hand.’ Bryle says to Joaquin, using telepathy.

‘What? How did that happen?’

Bryle didn't answer and stared at the princess again.

"I know you have the stone, dear princess..." Bryle said, which surprised everyone and especially the princess. The princess’ eyes widened, completely appalled.

"What do they mean, Aira?" the King asked.

Princess Aira fidget and gulped. "Father, they were right." She hesitantly showed her right palm and then a round white stone appeared, floating and glistening in the light. The King and Queen gasped and their eyes widened in awe.

"How did you get it?" the Queen asked, surprised.

The princess sighed. "I saw this on Pilak's forehead. I fought him the other day when I came out of the palace—"

"You came out of the palace?!" the King blurted out.

"I'm sorry, Father..." the King sighed at his princess' stubbornness. He shook his head and let out a sigh.

"There's nothing we can do about it because it's already happened. Now continue what you're saying." the King said.

"Okay. During my flight toward the crescent bridge, I faced Pilak. Then I saw something glimmering on his forehead and it was a round stone, so I begged Pilak to give it to me. But he suddenly lost his mind and attacked me. I don't even want to fight against him. I didn't intend to take that from Pilak, but it was as if the stone was calling me…” Joaquin and Bryle looked at each other knowingly.

Just like the princess felt, Joaquin and Bryle felt the same way when they saw the stone. It's as if it calls them which they don't quite understand.

"I felt the same way when I saw the firestone..." Joaquin said and showed the stone out in his palm. The princess gulped while staring at the glowing red stone.

"It's the same with me when I see the earth stone," Bryle said as well and showed the stone in his right palm. It is a glowing green stone.

"Wow!" the princess’ eyes twinkled in awe.

"How can those stones help?" the King asked, puzzled.

The two smiled. "This is the key to waking up the princesses," said Joaquin shortly without beating around the bush. Upon hearing the word princesses, the princess felt excitement.

"I want to see the princesses, Father!" Princess Aira let out excitedly.

"Aira, you can't. What if you get hurt?"

"Father, Mother, please. I want to see the princesses. I promise I will be safe. All my life, I haven’t seen the world outside. I want to see the world below..." the princess said sadly. The King and Queen looked at each other with guilt and then let out a sigh. Their princess has been sad for the past few months and she always runs away without them knowing. Reluctantly, they nodded to grant their princess' request. The princess beamed and jumped in delight while hugging her parents.

Joaquin and Bryle scratched their heads while feeling trouble. They do not expect the princess to come with them.

"Can we take the air stone, dear princess?" Bryle asked, but the princess shook her head no, which worried the two.

"No. I'll only give it to you when I meet the princesses you're talking about."

Joaquin and Bryle sighed in defeat because of the princess' stubbornness. They can only shake their heads in amusement.

The King did not allow them to leave without eating, so he prepared a feast for them. The maidservants accompanied them to a room to rest for a while, which they quickly accepted because they both felt tired without a proper bed for the past few days. When the two were left in the room, they immediately sighed deeply as if they were in big trouble.

"How can we get the stone from the princess, Joaquin?"

"I don't know, Bryle. The princess looks stubborn..." he sighed.

They almost jumped in surprise when the door suddenly opened, and the princess entered, wearing an armored white suit. Bryle and Joaquin's jaws dropped in awe. The princess is really prepared!

Seeing their reaction amuses the princess. "I will go with you on your mission," she said with excitement and determination.

"You can't, dear princess. Our mission is too dangerous," Bryle replied, eyebrows furrowed together and looking slightly troubled.

"How dangerous is it?" Princess Aira said with a playful smile on her lips. "I'm used to fighting, so don't worry about me. I will not be a burden, and I know I can help."

Joaquin and Bryle could do nothing but scratch the back of their neck of the princess' stubbornness. They know they can't stop her from doing what she wants.

"And one more thing, I have protection because I have the air stone." the princess added confidently.

"How will it protect you?" they asked, puzzled.

"Duh. Don't you know the stone's ability? It has a strong power that can help in combat." the princess rolled her eyes at their stupidity. However, Joaquin and Bryle looked at each other in amazement. They do not know that they could use the stone’s power.

"You want to see the stone abilities?" the princess said, smirking. The two nodded hesitantly, still doubting the princess.

The princess summoned the air stone and cast a spell.

"Invisibilia!" she chanted and suddenly, the princess vanished. Joaquin and Bryle were stunned when the princess disappeared.

"Where's the princess?" said Bryle, while scanning the room in astonishment.

Meanwhile, Princess Aira held back her laughter. Slowly, she approached the two and blew into Bryle and Joaquin's ears, which startled the two and yelped in surprise. Princess Aira laughed so hard, amused at their reaction.

"Waaahhhh," Bryle shouted when he heard a laugh next to him. While Joaquin wore a poker face because he knew the princess did it.

Princess Aira couldn’t help but revoke the invisibility effect because of the laughter.

"If only you could see your faces! Hahahaha, that's epic!" the princess burst into laughter.

Bryle couldn't believe it because the princess effortlessly used the power of the stone. He frowned and scratched his head.

They can tell that the princess would be a headache once she comes with them.

~~~

A cool breeze greeted them as they faced the vast ocean. Not used to the cold, Princess Aira shuddered and let out a shaky breath.

"What are we doing here?" she uttered, smoke came out of her mouth as she spoke because of the cold temperature, and stared at the ocean in amazement. It was her first time seeing a vast ocean.

"We will try to replace the water stone in this vast ocean..." Bryle said and was still pondering about how to replace the water stone.

"Really? Cool!" the princess said with excitement rushed to her veins. She wanted to swim and look at what was underneath the deep, blue ocean.

Meanwhile, Joaquin focuses on their surroundings. But he couldn’t feel the energy of the water stone.

Finally, he thought of a way, and only he could do it.

"Bryle, I've figured out a way to replace the stone," said Joaquin.

"How?"

"By diving into the ocean and seeking help from the Mermaiden Kingdom," Joaquin said and stared at the two companions.

A sudden realization dawned on Bryle. "What?! Eh, I can't swim, Joaquin."

"Me too..." the princess seconded when she realized she couldn’t swim at all.

"I know. And you'll just stay here and I'll dive into the sea… alone." Joaquin uttered, determined.

"What?! I won't let you go alone, Joaquin! What if you will fight a monster?! We know what's underneath, Joaquin. What if Aloquita wakes up?" Bryle said, a bit afraid.

Aloquita is a giant creature that lives in the depths of the sea. That creature is the fiercest opponent of the Mermaiden Kingdom. Aloquita is a half-mermaid half-octopus. She is powerful and couldn’t be trifled with.

"But what if Aloquita is the one holding the water stone? That's not impossible, Bryle." Joaquin said. The possibility is fifty-fifty and Joaquin's speculation might be right. Bryle let out a sigh and fell into deep thought.

Princess Aira remained silent and looked back and forth between the two young men while waiting for their decision.

Upon pondering for a bit, Bryle had decided. "You're right, Joaquin. All right. I'll agree, but Princess Aira and I will come with you."

"Bryle, you can't breathe in water for long."

"Well, use your power on us so we can breathe underwater..." the princess suggested and rolled her eyes. Bryle's face lit up at the idea.

"The princess is right, Joaquin!" Bryle said with excitement.

Joaquin could do nothing but use his ability on the two companions.

It amazed the two when they became mermaids when they stepped on the water. They couldn’t help but feel excited. Joaquin let out a sigh while looking at the two and wore a poker face.

However, seeing Princess Aira transform into a beautiful mermaid, Joaquin and Bryle silently praised her beauty. Of course, they didn’t say it out loud, afraid the princess would get the wrong idea.

They immediately dived into the very dark ocean. Bryle and Princess Aira just followed Joaquin’s lead. They went to the very bottom, and they felt the strange coldness of the water. The water flow is also different and very clear.

After a few minutes, they couldn’t help but marvel at what they saw. They wouldn’t have thought that there was such a hidden beauty under the ocean. The seaweeds glow as they pass by. All the plants serve as light throughout the place. They hid quickly when they heard voices. At a glance, they saw a place that is so enchanting and a lot of mermen and mermaids lurking around while doing some business.

"Wow!" the princess uttered in awe.

But they gasped when someone pointed their weapon at them. It is a trident. When they turned around, they saw a handsome merman looking at them coldly. His tail is a combination of gold and silver, which is unique from all the mermen they have seen. The color of his eyes is a mixture of gray and striking blue. They were terrifyingly cold and intimidating.

"Why are you hiding here? I could feel the strange energy coming from you."

The three looked at each other and stared at the merman in front of them. They wonder why they didn’t feel his presence earlier. In their inference, they are not just facing an ordinary merman because they felt the strong energy coming from him even though he was trying to hide his powerful aura. They wonder why the merman hides his full strength. However, the merman looks unfriendly and calculating, and they can tell they are in big trouble.