To the Border

The next day Kairo, Lady Bluesteed (in her prune) and Henka-guard left the Palace of Princes with Kalious-janissary's elite unit.

They crossed plain fields via a magic powered car, which flew over ground on magic-powered jets.

Eventually, they changed their mode of transport to hover-boards and surfed the monster infested pine forests. Fortunately, they were able to reach the border with no casualties.

Kairo gulped at the massively high cliff face of a waterfall stretching miles from one end to another. Water gushed into a bottomless fissure that was several hundred miles wide.

"I don't see anyone crossing that border illegally."

Kalious-janissary laughed. "They can try, but they'll die." He let out a wolf whistle for his men to set up a portal jump platform.

He handed Kairo, Lady Bluesteed and Henka-guard a disk of blue meteorite. It contained a map of other portal jump platforms.

"Use the disks to activate the portal. It'll jump you to the next platform within our patrol checks. You can reach the city outskirts this way."

Lady Bluesteed looked concerned as she stared at the gushing waterfall.

"Is your body okay in the prune?" Kairo asked as she scratched her arm in her brown leather bodysuit.

She nodded.

Henka-guard was doing his best not to ogle at her fine curves. A thought entered his mind as he sidled up to Kairo.

"Boss, help me set the mood when it's right," he discreetly whispered.

"I hope you like her for more than her fine body." Kairo's eyes narrowed.

The man frowned. "I'm not a goon! She's been my sweet angel for so long. So help this warrior out okay?"

Lady Bluesteed chuckled, overhearing the conversation. "I'll be fine. My prune lining's been laced with anti-itch potions and healing magic."

Kairo nodded, but kindly reminded her, "It's still not too late to head back."

She shook her head. "Genie's my dearest friend. He was the first demonkind to welcome me to the palace."

Kairo listened to her brief tale of how Genie rescued her from bullies when she tried to apply for a job. It was through him that she came to be in Jan's care and eventually earned his sponsorship for her nobility.

"Did Genie ever mention that he and I had dated?" She giggled at Kairo's shocked and blushing reaction, then added. "We didn't last when we realized our romantic taste for people was the same. We weren't a match. But our bond is stronger as friends."

She faced him with fierce determination. "Besides, I owe Genie. We have to bring him back."

"Lady Bluesteed's my heroine!" Henka-guard sniffed back his tears.

She handed him her handkerchief, cringing as he loudly blew snot into it.

"Ah, you can keep it." She gingerly pushed his hand with the handkerchief away.

This gesture had him blushing like a fool and mumbling about treasuring his woman's gift.

Watching the moment made Kairo feel guilt. If his plan succeeded, Genie could never see his friends again. His hands curled into fists, reinforcing his determination to go home with his love.

If Genie carries the Star Crystal, the demon king will continue to target him. This would put strain on Lyon's rule. Genie is important to him as a brother and prince for the continent.

His mind was set. The civil war had to be resolved in Lyon's favor: his plans hinged on Alric being with Genie. But he couldn't bear the thought of leaving Lady Bluesteed in the dark. He decided to trust her.

"Hey, can we talk in private for a moment?" He discreetly called her over when Henka-guard was busy talking with the others.

She nodded and frowned when Kairo led her toward a quiet spot far from the others, where the rushing waters were the loudest.

"What is it?"

Kairo chewed his lip, then came out with his plans to take Genie back to Earth with him.

"Why?" Naturally, she was shocked and almost speechless.

He calmly explained his reasons and the means to do so, with his concerns for Genie being a constant target. Elaborating on the potential strain it could cause Lyon's forces, if they didn't attempt an interstellar jump to Earth.

"But Genie wouldn't leave our Demon Prince still fighting the war."

Kairo explained that he and Genie potentially had the power to make the jump and succeed. "This is all speculation, but if I can't kill the Demon King, and it's highly likely, I could somehow take him to Earth with me."

Lady Bluesteed shook her head vigorously, disliking that plan. Even if it would work, the Demon King would be on Earth! The planet would face a dire threat.

"Didn't you say that your planet is non-magical? What if the Demon King enters your world still with his powers? This is too rash." She felt convinced he hadn't thought it through properly.

Kairo calmly reassured her, if the demon king had magic then so would he and Genie. "Remember we wield cosmic powers: my magic is from star systems."

She bellowed with a frustrated sigh, realizing he wasn't going to change his mind. Knowing Genie, he'd follow Kairo. Earth was always a fascination for him. Provided Lyon was the Demon King.

"Okay. I'll help you, but if at any point none of it is going to work, you drop the idea." She firmly stated, showing a stern and commanding presence.

His mind recapped the moment she had knocked him to the ground, all flustered and apologetic. The lady before him was now a resilient, courageous and solid leader.

Kairo's mouth stretched with a smile. "Thank you."

They returned to the others, where Henka-guard was eyeing them suspiciously. But neither said a word as they stepped onto the portal jump, which hummed and tickled their feet with vibrations. Their disks activated. In one long swoosh, a column of light flared up, and they were gone.