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Chapter 2 'Sharky Kidnapped'
Five years had swiftly passed since the day Sharky Starwind was declared the Crown Prince of Sylvarion Kingdom. It became an unspoken rule for anyone who met Sharky to strive to bring joy to his face.
Sharky was an effervescent and inquisitive young boy, eager to explore and learn about everything. In his short five years of life, he had already delved into the intricate devices crafted by the Technical Department. Every blacksmith in the kingdom valued the opportunity to create various items for him, with his possessions taking precedence over even the demands of the High Elders.
A significant event occurred when Sharky's father, Elarion, specially selected a branch and 100,000 leaves from the World Tree, causing considerable damage. The World Tree would require a decade to fully recover. Furthermore, Sharky, at his father's behest, consumed a potion meant to transform him into an Elf. However, the transformation did not take place, a phenomenon that astonished everyone. This was the first time World Tree leaves and branches had failed to turn someone into an Elf. Had it been any other human, they would have been swiftly transformed.
Despite this, something even more remarkable happened. Sharky gained all the powers of a Royal Elf. He acquired time powers, plant powers, and air powers, a reason for great celebration. Sharky was already adored by the kingdom, and now his new powers made him even more exceptional.
Magical Beasts continued to flock to him, bringing various fruits, playing with him, and making their presence a common sight for the citizens of the kingdom.
On the warriors' training ground, Sharky was honing his skills with a bow and arrow under the guidance of his sisters, Elysia and Freya. He learned different types of arrow powers, including those derived from plant, air, and time magic.
Throughout these five years, Elysia and Freya doted on Sharky, enjoying their playtime with him, whether it was toying with his hair or playfully pinching his cheeks. If Sharky was the most beloved by someone, it was these four individuals.
He was cherished by his mother, Synthe, who continued to provide him with nourishment and love, even at the age of five. It was quite a big age for any child to forget about drinking milk from their mother. But Sharky still drank milk from his mother's Synthe breast.
Elarion indulged his son, picking him up and playing with him during serious meetings, often allowing Sharky to ride on his shoulders. The love he received during these moments surpassed that given to Elysia and Freya.
Thus, five years passed, with Sharky growing more mature in his magical abilities and enjoying a blissful and cherished life within the kingdom.
One day, Sharky was joyfully playing with a rare Magical Beast, a Unicorn named Luna, which belonged to his father. He was riding and soaring through the skies on Luna's back, reveling in the adventure. They lost track of time as they ventured far beyond the Elven Kingdom.
"Sharky, perhaps we should return now; we've come quite far, and the day is waning," Luna suggested, even though Magical Beasts couldn't speak in the conventional sense. Yet, when bonded with someone, their thoughts and feelings were conveyed. Elven King Elarion was always aware of Luna's thoughts and concerns.
However, Luna was not bonded to Sharky, and this raised a mystery. Somehow, since childhood, Sharky had been able to hear the thoughts of Magical Beasts and communicate with them. The origins of this gift remained enigmatic.
"No, Luna, just another hour. Let's savor this beautiful scenery." Sharky was captivated by the scenery and declined the request, wishing to savor another hour of their flight.
As they continued to fly, an unforeseen arrow struck Sharky's back suddenly, causing him to plummet from Luna's back. It was a swift and unexpected attack, leaving Luna unable to react in time.
Luna focused on Sharky, who had fainted on the ground, and her determination to protect him surged. She wanted to identify the assailant who dared to harm her beloved companion. Spotting a group of around a thousand people, each armed with different weapons and wearing identical attire, Luna grew concerned.
Luna's gaze settled on the archer who had fired the arrow. This person had a distinctive feather on his back. Within seconds, with the pattern of the feather. Luna recognized the creature he was bonded with a rare magical beast, the Sleeping Butterfly.
Sleeping Butterflies were rare Magical Beasts with limited physical abilities but possessing a unique and potentially dangerous power – their sleeping pollen attack. Even formidable beings like Void Dragons and Space Phoenixes could fall asleep when exposed to the pollen, though only for a brief period. The pollen was non-poisonous and not inherently harmful.
In the context of the slave trader group, obtaining a Sleeping Butterfly and forming a bond was a game-changer. Sleeping Butterflies were highly sought after and prized, capable of elevating a village-level trading business to a kingdom-level enterprise. It was a coveted partnership for those in the slave trade.
Recognizing the significance of the feathered archer and taking stock of Sharky's condition, Luna knew that she couldn't engage a thousand people alone. Instead, she memorized the appearance and clothing of the assailants and quickly departed, leaving Sharky behind, to convey the alarming situation to Elarion.
As the slave traders observed the Unicorn's retreat, they realized their grave mistake. It was a well-known fact in the Beast Universe that Unicorns were unfailingly loyal, willing to risk their lives but never leaving their partners alone. This indicated that the real owners of the Unicorn were not the child who lay unconscious on the ground but rather his parents. Given that Unicorns were only found among Elven royalty and especially within the Elves Kingdom, the slave traders began to feel a growing unease, sensing an impending danger as they contemplated what to do with the Elven child.
"Boss, this red-haired child is not an Elf," one of the henchmen pointed out, causing a stir of surprise and concern among the group.
"What?" Amit, the Butterfly-winged Archer, flew over to Sharky, scrutinizing the lack of pointed ears that marked him as non-Elven.
"Boss Amit, what should we do now? We came here for an Elf, and he isn't one," another henchman inquired.
Amit breathed a sigh of relief, realizing that the child was not an Elf. If his parents were indeed human, then they were part of a larger organization known as the Bajra Dal, and it would be a significant undertaking to deal with them. "It's not a problem. Look at how exquisite this child is; he's even more beautiful than an Elf. He'll fetch a high price at the upcoming auction. He will be a precious commodity," he reassured his group.
The Sleeping Pollen's effects gradually wore off, and Sharky awoke to find himself surrounded by unfamiliar faces. Although apprehensive inside, he concealed his fear, and his face displayed an air of curiosity. "Who are you guys? Why are you surrounding me? Where's Luna?" He fired a barrage of questions at the strangers.
Instead of responding, the slave traders erupted in laughter. Amit, recognizing that Sharky was about to employ his powers, quickly equipped an Anti-Powers Device, severing Sharky's connection with his abilities.
With the Bajra Dal members gathered together and Sharky now in their custody, they set off toward an uncertain destination, oblivious to the perilous situation they were about to encounter due to the kidnapping of Sharky.
Luna, in her fast and frantic flight, reached the location of King Elarion's meeting. With great urgency, she called out, "Elarion, Elarion, something has happened! Something has happened to Sharky!" Her words and the distressed expression on the Unicorn's face immediately captured the attention of those present.
The mood in the meeting turned somber as Elarion's loyal Unicorn displayed signs of distress. Although the attendees didn't understand the specifics, they could sense that something grave had occurred.
Elarion, anxious yet composed, addressed Luna, saying, "Take a moment, Luna, and tell me slowly, step by step, what has happened."
As Luna recounted the incident, she mentioned the presence of a yellow mace symbol on the attackers' clothing, a detail that caught Elarion's attention.
Elarion absorbed every detail, and his anger flared into a scarlet rage. While he wasn't familiar with the concept of a slave trader group, he did know of only one human kingdom aside from his own – Somtar Kingdom, ruled by King Natwar, a grandmaster tamer with a formidable magical beast, the Ice Dragon. Though Ice Dragons might not be the most potent, the name "Dragon" alone carried significant weight and suggested considerable power.
"Summon the warriors; we're heading to Somtar Kingdom," Elarion commanded, his anger evident, as he was determined to take swift and resolute action against those who had dared to kidnap his son.
The Elves present were taken aback by this sudden decision, as it implied they were preparing to confront Somtar Kingdom, which, while not the mightiest, was still a recognized kingdom. Yet, they did not question their king's decision, even though they were unsure of the circumstances.
Edward, the Prime Minister, sought clarification in the midst of this tense atmosphere. "Is there a particular reason for our response? Has Somtar Kingdom been involved in this?"
Elarion clarified, "No, it's not Somtar Kingdom. It's a group of slave traders who have kidnapped my son, Sharky." The words hung in the air, evoking a heavy silence.
The gravity of the situation began to dawn on those present. Sharky had been the most cherished and nurtured individual in the kingdom for the past five years. He was not only the beloved child of King and Queen but also the future king, a role he had publicly accepted.
Witnessing the urgency and seriousness of the matter, Edward turned to Aragorn. Aragorn had once been the primary contender for the throne, but with Sharky's declaration as the next king, his aspirations had been set aside. Nonetheless, Aragorn was renowned as a mighty warrior and held the position of General in the Elven army.
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