“Not every day that I get called upon by the great General Ralf Arvo” A Raavi woman said as she approached Ralf, who was standing on the city wall, overlooking the vast dunes of the Goliath desert.

She looked to be very young, a little older than an average 12 year old human child. She was clad in a rose-coloured dress, with white flowers and cerulean vines.

The woman had small prickly teeth that showed out from her lip, and her feline ears were drooped down unlike other Raavi.

She trotted forward and looked at Ralf playfully, like she was meeting an old friend.

“I can’t get used to seeing you like this, Lisandra.” Ralf muttered as he got down on one knee so his eyes would face hers. “This form will reduce your strength by a large margin, not to mention never being able to breakthrough to the next level.”

Lisandra’s face fell, she turned around to face the other side, and spoke. “Enough of your games, why have you called me for one measly human ship.” She said, irritably. “You showed up in my city unannounced, and I didn’t say anything, but now you want me to leave for this, I need an explanation.”

Ralf smirked and stood back up, he turned to look at the sky and whistled. “Don’t forget, why someone of your questionable past can stay here as governor so comfortably.” Ralf chided. “I only asked for you, because there may be some trouble ahead, and I need you to escort that ship.”

Lisandra wanted to turn and ask why, but before she could, she heard a loud screech. She too raised her head and saw a massive bird swoop down towards them.

“One of yours, I assume.” She remarked. “Quite an impressive beast.”

The massive bird flexed its legs and landed in front of Ralf, it then dropped its head and its wings in a light bow.

“It’s a Sky Eagle, I captured it in the Bleeding gorge. Although its strength is limited, its speed is unrivalled in the incarnation stage.” Ralf recounted as he got up on the wing and mounted the bird. “Get on, we don’t have all day.”

“I still need an explanation.” Lisandra didn’t budge, she did however seem intrigued by the sky eagle, she could feel its robust life energy.

“The humans on that ship have information that is vital to the empire.” Ralf stated, flatly. “Is that good enough. Now get on.”

“Fine.” Lisandra retorted, before getting on the bird. The massive bird flexed its wings, and then flapped them wildly as it flew off the city wall.

If Koren could see this bird, he would recognise it as the same sky eagle he encountered.

“That way Raka.” Ralf pointed towards the pyros dunes, as his other hand lightly patted the birds neck.

‘Kaaaaaaa’

The Sky eagle let out a piercing, loud screech, as its wings started to glow. When the intensity of the glow reached its highest, it rushed towards its distant destination in a blaze, only leaving behind a cloudy trail of green mist in its path.

************

Sappa looked over at all the women and children he was supposed to be protecting, then he looked back at the huge lizard like spiritual beast, whipping up a tornado like its nothing.

“Bro, don’t worry, we can get out of here.” Haruki declared, as he grabbed Sappa by the shoulder. “I can’t explain it, but I know we will be OK”

“That’s right Uncle Sappa.” Enri who had been standing behind Haruki this whole time, spoke up. “Koren promised, we will all be safe.”

Sappa who had been sweating profusely while trying to find a way out of this predicament, suddenly widened his eyes. He turned to look around the group huddled together on the top deck.

“Where is he?” Sappa asked, worry apparent in his tone. “Where’s Koren?”

Enri suddenly realised that she had slipped up. She was about to lay out an excuse but was stopped by Haruki.

“Its fine Enri, there’s no point in lying.” Haruki patted Enri’s little head, and then looked at Sappa, who assumed the worst.

“Don’t worry bro, Koren wasn’t on the ship.” Haruki said, soothingly. “He left the ship shortly after we departed from the village.”

“He’s been gone this whole time and you didn’t tell me.” Sappa wanted to get angry, but he knew what was at stake, he quickly concentrated his gaze back on the massive beast. “Where did he go.”

“Bro, you don’t know much about that kid. He’s very special.” Haruki replied. “He convinced me that he can get help.”

“So me and Enri kept his departure a secret. We just have to hold out for as long as possible, he will get help, I think.” Haruki calmly smiled, as a drop of sweat drooped down from his brow.

“For some reason that doesn’t sound too reassuring, I for one am very…” Sappa stated, however he quickly paused as he detected a change in the spiritual beasts aura. He raised his hand to gesture everyone to remain quiet.

The Cloud Komodo, who was calmly staring at the little humans, raised its head to look a the sky overcast with sand and wind.

It let out a roar followed by a hiss as its claws let go of the ship, and it started to float. It knew the ship was damaged, they wouldn’t be able to leave even if they wanted to.

The tornado dissipated and the sky finally became clear. A massive eagle type spiritual beast was calmly flapping its wings, as it stared squarely at the Cloud Komodo.

The Cloud Komodo stared back, fearfully. It was not scared of the bird, rather the creatures mounting the bird. It could feel their massive aura, even its master would not be their match.

Sappa was shocked. He looked at the 2 Raavi standing on the bird type spiritual beast, overlooking the desert like it was their personal domain.

‘Why are the Raavi here’ He thought. ‘Is it possible that they know about the sword as well.’

Things had become very complicated and Sappa just didn’t know what to do anymore. All routes had been cut, they were surrounded on all sides.

“Oh, a Cloud Komodo, how rare.” Lisandra stepped forward, lightly licking the bottom of her lips, her prickly teeth extending out. “It seems the Draco Kingdom wants this ship as well.”

Lisandra jumped off the sky eagle’s back, the soul stone on her forehead started to give off a dark green glow as she stopped mid-air, calmly floating like a cloud.

To others, she would probably look like a cute Raavi child, but the Cloud Komodo could feel her aura, it could tell that she was very dangerous.

“They are supposed to be related to black dragons, I wonder what its meat tastes like.” She joked as she fixed her eyes at the beast hungrily. “It’s master shouldn’t be far off, what do you want me to do, kill it.”

“Sure, do what you want with the beast, but make sure not to harm the ship.” Ralf who had already spotted the ship, replied promptly. He patted the sky eagle and jumped off.

Ralf didn’t float like Lisandra, his soul stone glowed with a pale blue light, as he dove down towards the ships deck.

The Cloud Komodo wanted to get in between and stop him, but it was crippled by fear. It could tell that this individual was a lot stronger than it. Perhaps it could take on that female for a little while, but facing off against this one would mean a quick and immediate death.

Ralf touched down on the deck right in front of Sappa, and before Sappa could do anything, a huge pressure suddenly pressed down on him.

Ralf stood straight and looked at Sappa, his old body, strangely filled with energy, unlike his usual feeble state. “Where is the artefact.” Ralf didn’t waste any time and directly questioned Sappa. “Tell me where it is, and I can ensure the safety of your people.”

Sappa heard a thump sound from his back, he panicked and turned to see almost all the women and children laid out unconscious on the deck, only he and Haruki were left awake. Even Enri and the spiritualist from Guar village had fainted.

Both Sappa and Haruki collapsed on their knees, breathing heavily.

Ralf looked at Haruki and creased his brows, he had just let out a mental wave, only sparing the bald human who appeared to be the leader.

However, somehow this human child spiritualist had resisted his mental wave, which greatly displeased Ralf. He concentrated on Haruki and let out another mental wave, the air in the surroundings vibrated as the glow of his soul stone flickered.

“Ah” Haruki screamed out before finally fainting as well, with Sappa looking on, unable to do anything at all.

Ralf was about to resume his interrogation of Sappa, but he was interrupted by a voice carried over by the wind.

“The Raavi have no business in the Goliath desert.” A Ship suddenly appeared over the horizon, two figures standing on the ship’s bowsprit. The figure adorned in Gold Armor continued. “If you leave now, I will spare you the shame of having to run with your tail between your legs.”