Chapter 57: To the Border

Kairo gathered all his friends at his villa to discuss their plan of attack. They were standing around the dining table, studying a long map stretched out on it.

"According to Zindor-sekkan's spirit energy readings, Genie's lifeforce was detected in this area of Etshian." Jan pointed to a spot further west of the continent, which looked barren and rocky within a mountain range.

A black smudge concealed a majority of the area.

"What's that smudge?" Adell-guard soberly noted.

The annoying horn blasted through the place, which had Henka-guard grumpily yanking the doorbell crystal off the wall.

"Well, guess I need a new door bell." Kairo chuckled.

The door opened to allow Kalious-janissary inside and Nik-guard trailing behind him.

"Sir!" Kalious-janissary gave Kairo a stiff salute.

Kairo nodded.

Everyone returned their attention to the map.

"According to our scout intelligence, this smudge is a strong magic region where the Alurian Gardens Palace is located." Kalious-janissary informed them.

"Alurian Gardens Palace. Isn't that Manfred-nun's throne city?" Jan asked.

Kalious-janissary nodded. "Was. Our spies reported that the city was emptied and taken over by the Shadow Cabal when the Demon King conquered the country. If our young prince is anywhere, it'll be at the heart of the former throne hall."

"Why there?" Kairo asked.

"Because our spies reported that Alric turned the city into a laboratory maze. The strongest concentration of magic was coming from that location."

"A laboratory. What's that?" Nik-guard asked.

Kairo sighed. "If it's the same as on my planet, it's a place of testing."

Kalious-janissary nodded. "My elite unit can escort you over the border and close to the city outskirts. You won't be able to use teleportation magic once you're inside, it'll trigger alarms to stationed units."

"I guess we'll go by foot then." Kairo nodded.

The veteran patted his shoulder. "My men will get you there. The city is riddled with magic alarms and traps. So it's best you go with no more than the three of you."

Kalious-janissary stepped back to take his leave. "Pick your team well."

Kairo stared at the pulsating energy reading within the black smudge. "Genie, hold on. I'm coming."

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

They crossed over plain fields via a magic powered car, which flew across the ground on jets. Eventually, they changed their mode of transport to hover-boards and surfed the monster infested pine forests. Fortunately, the monsters weren't strong and they were able to reach the border. Kairo gulped as he saw a 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 disc of blue meteorite. It contained a map of other portal jump platforms.

"Use the discs 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 stood tall in her brown leather bodysuit. Henka-guard was doing his best not to ogle.

"Boss, help me set the mood when it's right," Henka-guard discreetly whispered into Kairo's ear when he sidled up to him.

"You really like her, hopefully for her personality too." 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. I had the lining laced with magic that will prevent itching."

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 sign up for a job at the palace. 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 lasted 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 sighed and handed him her handkerchief, cringing as he loudly blew all his snot into it.

"Ah, you can keep it." She gingerly pushed his hand with the handkerchief away when he was handing it back.

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

Kairo chuckled and stepped onto the portal jump. Everyone activated their disks when they were ready. The portal hummed and tickled their feet with vibrations. In one long swoosh, a column of light flared up, and they were gone.