CHAPTER 77: MEETING THE GUARDIAN

Anna, Neo and Hanna stood at the gates of the Kinten villa as they waited for the Night Tower’s carriage.

Hanna nudged Anna and questioned.

"How long do we have to wait?"

Anna turned towards her and answered with a thoughtful expression.

"Not too long."

Right then, they heard a loud shriek and turned towards it.

Their eyes fell on a large black carriage being pulled by a white and yellow eagle of gargantuan size, as big as a truck—wind blades swirled around it. The carriage looked like it had been cut out from the night sky; it was covered in celestial engravings, and the symbol of Night Tower was carved on it.

"Wow," a praise left Hanna’s lips when she looked at the majestic carriage.

Anna also wore an impressed expression as she looked at the carriage.

"Why is it not coming?" Neo questioned with a frown.

The whole area suddenly rippled as the visual barrier over the villa was removed.

"Because of the barrier." Anna turned towards him and answered with a smile.

Neo nodded at her words and turned his head towards the villa as a few words left his lips.

"Young master..."

Damien stood within his room and looked at the Night Tower’s carriage with an expressionless face, his thoughts unknown to all except himself.

The mystical eagle descended a few meters from the villa and let out another sky-piercing shriek as it sat down.

The carriage’s door opened, and a man wearing a black robe that replicated the night sky walked out. He had long blonde hair, and his slightly dark body and deep grey eyes contrasted with his hair.

He stepped towards the villa with a light, gentle smile, his deep eyes locked on the trio.

Anna stepped forward and greeted him with a smile as she spoke.

"It’s a pleasure to meet a guardian of the Night Tower."

The man’s smile widened as he asked.

"Aeliana Kinten, I presume?"

"Indeed," she took a pause and continued politely.

"May I have the honour of knowing your name?"

"Of course, I am Michael Eden," Michael replied with the same courtesy.

"And who may these people be?" He questioned as she shifted his eyes between Neo and Hanna.

"I am Hanna Morgan," Hanna replied with a smile.

"Neo Hames," Neo replied with a bored expression.

"Hmm? An unawakened?" Michael questioned with a puzzled look.

Neo’s expression crumbled into a dark look as he clenched his fists and looked at Anna. He knew that this visit was important to Anna and Hanna, so he didn’t wish to cause trouble just because of his worthless pride.

Anna turned her head towards him and nodded with a smile.

She turned towards Michael and replied in a prideful tone.

"You don’t have to worry about him; he is strong."

Michael shifted his gaze between Anna and Neo with a raised eyebrow as he spoke.

"I’ll take your word for it."

Anna smiled at his words as she thought.

’An Ignited from Night Tower is different, huh?’

She chuckled inwardly at her own thoughts.

"Let us leave," Michael suggested as he turned towards the carriage and stepped towards it.

The trio followed behind him.

The eagle narrowed its eyes as it looked at Hanna with discomfort; however, no one paid any attention to it.

Michael opened the carriage’s door and turned towards them.

"You all first," Michael said as he gestured to the trio to enter the carriage.

The trio nodded and began boarding the carriage. Michael stepped in after them.

The carriage was spacious enough for all of them to ride comfortably. It had dark blue seats and a wide window, which allowed one to see the marvel of Azor in all its glory.

*Whistle*

Michael let out a whistle, and the carriage began to shake. A few moments later, a loud shriek tore through the sky as the Windrazor Eagle started its ascension.

Hanna looked out the window with excited eyes.

Anna did the same, but she hid her excitement; she hid everything.

Moments later, the carriage was flying above the clouds as it made its way towards the Night Tower at the Aquadra.

Michael didn’t speak much and had his eyes and arms closed as he lay back in his seat. Neo supported his head with his hand as he had his elbow placed in the window.

Hanna turned towards Anna as she questioned.

"How long do you think it will take us to reach there?"

Anna placed a hand on her chin as if deep in thought and answered a few moments later.

"It will take us about half a night."

"I see..."

Hanna turned towards the window and began to look out.

A few moments later, her lips dropped in a frown as she spoke while pointing far away.

"Umm... I think you have to take a look at this, Sir Michael."

Michael opened his eyes as he stood up and looked out of the window.

"It appears to be a storm..." He said with a frown.

"What should we do?" Anna questioned as she looked at Michael.

"We can either wait for the storm to pass... or we can cross through it. Windrazor Eagles are masters of the skies, after all," he answered in a prideful tone as he looked at the Windrazor Eagle pulling the carriage.

Anna nodded at his words as she spoke.

"We should get ready for the impact then."

Neo looked at her with a frown as he questioned.

"What’s the need for the unneeded danger? Can’t we wait till the storm passes?"

The carriage turned silent at his words.

Anna shook her head as she spoke in a soft tone.

"We can’t delay reaching the Night Tower... The Night Seer will be busy soon."

Michael frowned at her words and questioned with a raised eyebrow.

"What do you mean?"

Anna shook her head at his question and replied with a cryptic smile.

"How would I know? It’s not like I can glimpse the future like the saintess."