(***Muriel POV***)
Muriel's revelation about the aether healing Yuto had caught Evangeline off guard. She knew that the use of aether by mortals was unheard of and that if an angel were to go around using it that this could lead to dire consequences. She quickly sheathed her blade and knelt beside Yuto to examine him more closely.
"This is serious, Muriel. We have to report this to Castiel immediately so that he can inform Nathaniel," Evangeline said, her tone now serious.
Muriel simply nodded in agreement. She knew that the presence of aether in the mortal realm might mean that there was a breach in the barrier between the different worlds and that it was her duty to investigate and report it. At least that is what is expected of her since she could easily tell this aether was too weak and incomplete to truly belong to an angel. The most likely scenario was that Sophia either birthed a nephilim or artificially created it. Either way, this could help her get Evangeline off her back.
“Yes, you’re right this must be reported immediately. I also believe we need to take a residual sample so that you can begin tracking down its source,” said Muriel as she extracted some white energy from Yuto and coalesced it into an orb tossing it toward
“Why are you giving me this you are perfectly capable of tracking this down. I believe you should take this back while I finish my original investigation.” said Evangeline
“True I could track it but your tracking ability obviously outclasses mine. Besides, I still need to investigate the rest of this entire island to see if there are others like him. Also, this energy is fell a little foreign when compared to the aether we command so it really falls underneath your jurisdiction rather than mine.” explained Muriel
Evangeline was silent as Muriel’s point was spot on. She could nothing but groan as she materialized her wing and took off. Muriel looked up at the sky and waited until Evangeline was far away enough then walked into the house. She felt her soul call to something inside this house meaning that her mistress had been here and left something specifically for her.
As she walked through the house the feeling pulled her towards the backyard. As soon as she stepped out cracks appeared in the air and a yellow crystal broke through the cracks like glass. The crystal flew and entered her body as the cracks closed.
Muriel’s body glowed as her mind filled with new memories and she understood what had occurred here. When Muriel stopped glowing all she could do was sigh.
‘So Sophia create a beast and that creature decided to mess with 2 souls that defied him. The young master managed to kill the beast and has taken Sophia. Luckily the mistress left me a way to clean this up. Now I just have to find where the young master used that item and take the residual mana back to Nathaniel.’
Muriel walked out of the house and as she was about to leave she picked up Yuto and placed him on the couch inside. Muriel quickly left the shrine and began her investigation. Unfortunately, the mistress hadn’t included in the knowledge where Zero would leave but she understood that she would find it quickly enough. Muriel logically concluded that the exit point must be somewhere in the vicinity of the shrine. So she took to the skies and expanded her senses as far as she could.
After searching for 10 minutes Muriel caught traces of mana coming from a forest not too far away. She instantly flew in that direction and when she arrived she sensed it. A subtle nearly hidden but powerful mana that outclassed that of her superior Archangel Phanuel. Muriel took samples of the mana and form another orb.
Once she was done she contacted Castiel and asked, “Castiel do you know where the others are I’ve concluded my investigation and found something I need to report to Nathaniel.”
“Roger understood I shall send you his location but please don’t move while I mark your current location. Location marked and I’ve sent Nathaniel’s location so you may proceed.” responded Castiel
‘According to this direction, the others seem to have located the city the young master built I hope nothing has happened yet. The mistress memories included an order to protect the girl named Mina. Apparently, she’ll play an important part in the future. I must hurry!’
Muriel sped as fast as her wing could carry her with the use of mana so as to not affect the world. She arrived at the island within 30 minutes and saw that everyone with the exception of Castiel had landed on the island.
If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.
Muriel descended and as she drew closer Nathaniel looked up and said, “Evangeline reported not too long ago that you were going to check all the mortals on a larger island for traces of that foreign aether. Why are you here instead of completing your task? Are you planning on…”
“Greetings Nathaniel I have come to report another anomaly I’ve recently discovered. I believe this is was originally drew Evangeline to that island so I came to deliver it as soon as possible.” said Muriel as she interrupted Nathaniel seeing whatever else he would say was pointless. She then handed over the new orb containing Odin’s mana.
Everyone’s eyes grew wide when they felt the mana. Evangeline was the first to recover from the surprise and say, “May I see it?”
Nathaniel handed it over to stared to probe the mana with a multitude of spells before she turned to say, “I believe this mana belongs to a god of the Norse pantheon, and the level of power radiating from this it must belong to Odin although I’ve never met him so I can’t be too sure. I believe we must return with the orb immediately to have Archangel Uriel verify this mana at once.”
“No, we will only leave if there is a present danger. For now, Micah and Michelle take this orb and return to Castiel until our return. Guard this orb and if something unexpected occurs you have my permission to return without the rest of us. Report to me over the communication network when you arrive and if anything occurs. The remaining 4 will head into that cave and figure out who this aether belongs to and the whereabouts of the missing aeon Sophia ” said Nathaniel giving orders to the group
Heeding his orders Micah and Michelle took the orb and flew toward where Castiel was stationed. With only Evangeline, Seraphina, and Muriel at his side, Nathaniel led them to the cave on foot. As they entered the cave they came across a large gate. Seraphina said, “Leave this to me,” as she had everyone place a hand on her shoulder turning the entire group intangible to pass through the gate.
When they released her Seraphina said, “I’ve gone ahead and cloaked us from their sight. Don’t use any of your power or the cloaking spell will break.”
As they entered the city, they were greeted by the sight in the distance of a bustling market filled with vendors selling exotic goods. The streets were crowded and filled with people, but there was a sense that something is off. As Muriel looked closer, she noticed that many of the people had slightly paler skin and sharp teeth.
Next, they were immediately struck by the size and scope of the city. The caverns have been expertly carved and expanded, creating a network of tunnels and chambers that stretch deep into the island. The cave walls are adorned with intricate carvings and glowing crystals that provide a dim, but ethereal light.
As they continued to explore further, they come across a group of people with tattoos of flames on their skin. They seem to be controlling fire with just a wave of their hands. They also saw a few women with a symbol of a wave tattooed on their shoulders, and they seemed to be able to control water just as easily. They also saw people with tattoos of mountains and a green tornado on their skin, They seem to be able to control earth and air.
They next come across a group of people that immediately catch your attention. They were tall and muscular, with piercing eyes and sharp, angular features. They move with a sense of power and grace, and their movements are full of controlled aggression. As you watch them, you notice that they possess an almost animalistic quality in their movements and behavior. They move in packs and they notice that some of them have tattoos of wolves or wolf-like creatures on their skin.
What surprised them next was a tower that served as the city's hub of magical power. The tower seemed to be able to harness the mana from the earth and sky to craft powerful spells that can change the very fabric of the city. Approach the tower, they realize that the cave ceiling had been transformed into a beautiful sky. The cave roof is now a canvas of blue, white, and red, with clouds, stars, and even auroras. The effect is so realistic that it's as if the cave roof has vanished and you are actually looking at the sky. With the cave ceiling transformed, the city came alive. The streets became bustling with activity as the rest of the residents came out of their homes.
As they notice the area behind the tower defied the typical cave environment. This section of the city is a verdant forest, filled with tall trees, lush vegetation, and a diverse array of wildlife. The forest is home to a variety of fruits, vegetables, and domestic farm animals, such as chickens, cows, and pigs. The residents of the city have created an ecological system that allows for sustainable agriculture, providing a source of food for the city's inhabitants.
In addition to the forest, there was also a large lake located in one of the caverns that provide an abundance of fish. The lake is filled with salt water and is home to a variety of fish species, making it a source of food for the inhabitants. The lake was also a place of recreation, where the residents gathered to swim, fish, and enjoy the natural beauty of the place.
The forest and lake area of the city is a testament to the ingenuity and resourcefulness of the inhabitants of this city. They had created a self-sustaining ecosystem within the underground cave system, allowing them to thrive in their isolated environment. These sections of the city also serve as a reminder that even in the darkest of places, life and beauty can still be found.
“This is truly amazing I would put this city on the level of the hanging gardens of Babylon. Whoever created this is a genius.” said Seraphina
“It’s somewhat impressive but keep focused we’re not here to look at these creatures but to find the source of this aether.” said Nathaniel
As soon as he finished speaking Mina flew down with her angel wing and said, “I can’t see you but I know you’re there. If you wanted to hide then you shouldn’t be carrying around my mana with you.”
Hearing this Nathaniel released a minuscule portion of their power to break the spell revealing himself while the others remained cloaked. Nathaniel then took out the orb, smiled, and said, “Well here I was searching for you and you decide to come straight to me. I must thank you for saving me time. It seems you have wings like an angel but are still mortal. I’ll get straight to the point. Do you know a being named Sophia?”
Mina twitched slightly when Nathaniel mentioned the name so he said, “Looks like you do know her. Would you mind telling me what happened to her?”
“And if I refuse? I don’t know who you are but to come to this place and demand things from me. What right do you have?” said Mina clearly nervous and on edge
Nathaniel released a sigh of exasperation and said, “Well then let me introduce myself. My name is Nathaniel I am a college of Sophia and I was sent here to find out what happened to her. I would very much like to simply ask you a few questions which you answer truthfully so that I may make a report. If you refuse I will simply have to capture you and force the answers out of you. I believe that would be a waste of my time and an unpleasant time for you so I opt for the easy route. What about you?”