Zeeta and the Wizarding World
The Night Before the Storm (1/2)

A few tens of minutes before Zeeta meets Azure, in the royal capital of Aurora, community life there runs lively because of the ongoing festival. The festival is always held every three months and this festival does not involve luxury. Only with knick-knacks such as the royal flag, shops that give discounts, and various festive events. For the last eight years, the festival has been held in a minimalist manner. Usually, this festival is so large and evenly distributed to the countryside. After losing the Queen and her King, their temporary new leader, Grand Duchess Ashley Alexandrita, remains respectful of royal traditions.

The residents of the capital continue to enjoy this festival even though it tastes different. The smiles engraved on each person adorned the dim heart of the Grand Duchess. On a night that should be minimalist festive, Ashley who decided to stay in his large residence with a typical model of an ancient building with black bricks and various unique furniture in it, the, met a figure he had not seen for a long time, the Fairy.

Elves, as Sylva had mentioned to Zeeta, were always in touch with the royal family. After what happened between the Elves five days ago, the situation changed, and now Sylva will explain it to Ashley.

Sylva, who had entered the Alexandrita residence, found so many bottles filled with magic powder, similar to the grains falling from the flapping of her wings or the grains coming out of every Human being. The magic powder stored safely in the bottles was colorful, some were dark blue, pink, white, and other colors. Not only magic powder, this residence also has butterflies and ornamental plants that have unique mana displayed in various corners of the room.

The furniture that he saw in the house like a tower widened this enough to impress him. In addition to the bottles containing magic powder, butterflies and plants, there are books neatly stored on the shelves like a library, he said, and there were also chemical bottles on the table that seemed to be used to concoct magic powder. This place is more unique and classic with a chandelier that hangs almost on each roof of the room, and there is a transparent bowl that spouts a small fire that is no less bright than his chandelier on the pillars of spacean.

Oh, there is one more thing that can impress her, Ashley has a pet, which is a pair of white furry Angora cats. They seemed to be calmly enjoying themselves on the maroon-colored rubber sofa in the same room as his master.

......................

Ashley is currently staring at festival activities through a large and wide door model window. The window glass is designed to have many pieces on two sides. From the reflection of the window, only the lethargic face of Ashley appeared. He felt so empty when he saw the festival without the Queen and the King. When he was upset about it, he heard a good night from someone. He refused to turn his head and said, “Who are you these nights? Go to the festival and leave me alone. I don't want to be disturbed."

“Look who you're talking to first, you man.” This speech directly affected him.

Her long blonde hair, brown eyes, and slight wrinkles around her lips and forehead finally appeared. Ashley, wearing a dark red one-piece with brown studs lined with black blazers.

“Pe-Peri?!” Ashley was surprised there was a Fairy as close as twenty inches from her head.

“Yes. It's an emergency, listen to me carefully.”

Ashley cleared her throat, “Ehem. Alright.”

“Live to the point. We Elves have only allowed the royal family to see our figure since three hundred years ago, do you know that?” Sylva started the conversation and kept flying in her place.

“Yes, I know. Since my disciple is a royal family, I have seen several times the figure of you talking to him. And I also know, they let me see because it was asked by my students. Then, what's up with that?”

“Good, this shortens the time. The situation has actually changed since five days ago. Although I know this is sudden, the Fairy Queen said this decision was taken for anticipation.

"After the decision was made, the Fairy Queen sent three Elves to the three main nobles, namely Cloxzar, Ophenlis, and Dormant for the safety of all living things.” Sylva continued her conversation.

Ashley's forehead frowned. “Ha... huh? What do you mean by the safety of all living things?”

“I also do not know clearly why the Fairy Queen changed it suddenly, but the Fairy Queen also said it was related to her prediction three hundred years ago.”

“Oh, the forecast...” Ashley seemed to catch what Sylva was talking about.

“The Queen of Elves said, 'Faith disbelief, although all the royal families to date have done much to prevent the prophecy from happening, but it always ends up at the same point. Therefore, this decision was taken albeit suddenly.'"

“So... Then, what brought you here? There's no way you just want to tell me that.”

“Yes. You're absolutely right. For the other two nobles, Rowing and Alexandrita, according to the Fairy Queen, did not need us because Alexandrita would always be loyal to Aurora, and Rowing would end when they met the twenty-first descendant of Aurora, and I am the one who was sent to be with that descendant.” Hearing that there were descendants from Aurora, Ashley felt struck by lightning.

“Wait wait wait!” hatch Ashley. Her eyes widened.

“What?”

“Aurora's Descendants?!”

“Yes. That's why I said it had to do with the Queen of the Elves' prophecy!”

"...." - ".Ashley was silent for a moment after hearing Sylva's expression.

Moments later with a gaze thrown down, Ashley said, “Sorry. Even I just don't know what's going on inside the palace, everything is too confusing for me and makes me not know what to do.”

“Yeah, you have a point too.” Sylva nodded, but her face was indifferent. “But it doesn't matter, I'm here to tell you is the most powerful proof she is the twenty-first Aurora, and she currently needs your help, Madame Temporary Sovereign.” This time he was serious.

“What do you mean?” ashley's forehead shriveled again.

Hearing him, made Sylva invite emotion. “Hey, you don't know anything? You serious?! That Rowing had killed dozens of lives in the Southern Region! What have you been doing all this time?!”

Ashley's face turned sour. “Cloxzar, Ophenlis, Dormant, including Rowing, have not been too pleased with the way I have ruled since after three years of being ruler. They had also created a magic barrier through their Magic Books at each entrance to their territory. Without someone who is truly capable of removing magic from the Magic Book, I would not be able to do anything. To be honest, just wait for the Aurora kingdom time will end..” Ashley seemed resigned to circumstances that did not support her at all.

Hearing the nonsense from Ashley, Sylva felt disappointed. “Cih. Is this what I should expect from a Queen's magic teacher? If you're just afraid of not being able to eliminate magic from the Magic Book, then you're losing to an eight-year-old little boy who is still stepping forward for his obligations as Princess even though he doesn't want to!”

Instantly, Ashley felt mixed. In his heart he felt happy that a successor to the royal throne was still alive, but at the same time he also felt strange. He felt astonished by himself, what had he done so far until the existence of the son of the ruler of the kingdom escaped his supervision as a magic teacher of a queen? His abilities as a magic teacher were no match for his current self. If she was indeed a magic teacher of a Queen, Zeeta would not have had to go through what she was currently facing without her. He was too upset with the safety of the royal family to secure the most important task for him.

Although Ashley is a woman in her forties and is a Grand Duchess with great responsibilities, she is still someone who is heartless. Losing a person who was already considered his own child by him was suddenly too much for him. This was true for some of the royal people, but the impact was felt most by Ashley.

After learning that the child of his student survived, he was determined to return to being himself before this time. Being a self where he is always respected by everyone because of his charisma, decisions, strength, intelligence, and affection. He wants to pick up and immediately ensure Zeeta's safety and health.

“Sorry, can you cover your ears? It will be a little annoying,” said Ashley, “I will fix myself.”

“O-okay..” Sylva slightly moved away from Ashley and covered her ears.

Ashley took a deep breath, then shouted. “WHAT ARE YOU DOING BASIC ASHLEY?! You become a useless person! Be the old you again! Be the one you always respect!” then he slapped his cheek repeatedly until it turned red. What she did did did not reflect at all a Grand Duchess and her age of four decades.

“Tell me what happened all this time,” he said although he endured the pain from his blushing cheek.

Sylva tells Ashley the story of the first time she met Zeeta in the Fairy Forest, to the point that she was forcibly taken by Rowing.

......................

“Give me, I'll say this one more time. Magic books are magic that belongs to an individual. For a noble even once, canceling magic from a Magic Book was not as easy as one might imagine. To undo it, someone needs a very clear imagination and foresight,” exclaimed Ashley after capturing what had happened during these eight years in the Southern Region.

“You keep calling the Book of Magic, it's so great is the book?” tanya Sylva made a question mark.

“The Magic Book is a book that records all the magic that a person has ever created, while simultaneously amplifying his magic. When you use the magic that is in the Magic Book, you do not need to imagine it again—just open the desired page.

"Before, when the Book of Magic was first triggered by the Ninth Aurora, its usefulness was not for things like this, either, and I don't think the Magic Book will have any effect on anyone other than Humans after knowing that you can get out of the Southern Region.” Ashley explained more about the merits and demerits of the Book of Magic to Sylva.

“Grrr... That's why I still have hatred towards Humans!” grouse Sylva.

“Ya and no,” replied Sylva, “desanya vanished, but her people survived.”

Ashley frowned. “Why can that be? Did Zeeta do it?”

“No, I did it. Before Bastanil met with Zeeta, I disguised myself as a Human, and then got into the car he would enter. When Bastanil is about to launch his attack, that's when my magic is used. There's no way I'll let those precious Humans just die in front of my eyes.”

......................

Flashbacks when Sylva disguises herself as a Bastanil warrior....

After Sylva left Zeeta alone at the A n’ Z store, Sylva who had also seen the arrival of the Bastanil troupe, flapped her wings towards the silver frog car. After Sylva entered, she found the expression the driver had made empty. He looked like he would just nod whatever he was told.

“Hmmm. This is what I do not like about humans. But, this time I let it because this will make my role a little easier,” said Sylva. He spoke to himself after seeing the driver's expression.

Sylva touched the driver's shoulder with her left hand, then she placed the left hand under her wing. After that, he deliberately flapped his wings a few times to drop the magic grain, then he rubbed the magic grain with both hands. Lastly, he threw the magic grain up, and it became the driver's twin.

After Sylva disguised herself as a driver, she bewitched the car back to run itself at a steady pace. “I will drive, you rest next door,” Sylva said from the passenger seat.

“Good,” replied the driver unknowingly to whom he was speaking.

Shortly after the driver moved to the next seat, Sylva took her place. When the party reached the village, he told the driver to leave the village of Lazuli, while Sylva prepared the mana needed to save the village until Zeeta saw the fireballs scorching her village.

When Bastanil's entourage had returned to Rowing's residence, Zeeta unwittingly, Sylva returned her form and quickly flew to the Grand Duchess's residence.

......................

“Hmm? If you go that far ... but, don't you hate Humans?” Ashley wonders for Sylva's actions.

“A-I hate it, but they're the exception! When you're there, you won't fret someone's going to be outrageous to you.”

“So yes ... back to the main discussion, if Zeeta is currently in Rowing's residence, you need to tell her that the villagers are safe. When I found out Rowing was getting crazy when the royal condition was like this, I was getting worried about Zeeta.”'s safety

“You have a point. But do I have to go to the South immediately? With my wings too, it took half an hour, lo!”

“No. That's not necessary. Say your message to the powder in this bottle, I'll send someone and send them through my magic. I also have to act elsewhere.” Ashley gives Sylva a pollinated bottle of dark purple magic.

When Sylva had delivered her message and handed Ashley the bottle of magic powder, Ashley immediately rushed to the window and opened it wide. He made a magic circle in front of his mouth, then started to say something that made everyone speechless and made Ashley the center of the eye.

“Everything, stop the festival and listen to me!” he cried with a voice that became enlarged like through a toak.

“Eight years ago, when we were haunted by a giant root that suddenly enveloped the palace, we were made to worry for the safety of our King and Queen.” Ashley deliberately gave a pause.

“That day was absolutely crazy...” said the instantly lethargic man A.

“While Queen Alicia is such a beautiful and kind Queen, so is the King woman A responded.

“I miss the atmosphere when Queen Alicia reigns.. Everything is so fun!” woman B who is next to woman A is in harmony.

Many responses from residents who still remember the figure of Queen Alicia. As expected.

“BUT!” his voice so loud that everyone was shocked. “Tonight is a happy night for us! Just now, I heard the news that the successor to the throne of Aurora, survived the incident!”

“Most it's just a mere rumor..” man A turned his face away.

“But it is possible that Madame Duchess was right..” lady B looks to man A.

“Two of you!” Ashley pointed at the two people who had just commented that. “This news is not from just anyone, but from Peri!”

“Peri?!” both surprised.

“Therefore, I will once again say. Tonight is a happy night, during this full moon, the Princess will return to her home. Those of you who already know Queen Alicia, definitely cannot let our Princess feel uneasy here. As long as you guys prepare this and that, I'll pick her up!”

The inhabitants are silent. They still can't believe it completely. It is only natural that residents do not believe directly.

How not, the main nobles who had always sided with Aurora broke away since Ashley ruled. But it was something that could not be avoided, the queen Alicia and Ashley were already like close relatives. Her misgivings towards Alicia queen behind the palace made Ashley not so wise in ruling. But now, it will not be Ashley repeat again, he has made his determination.

“This is the result of my failure to rule the kingdom. When I'm upset while Zeeta is struggling, I can't lose. I have the title of Grand Duchess, and I am the twentieth magic teacher of queen Aurora. Destroying the magic barrier of the Magic Book should not be difficult for me!” inner Ashley after she heard the doubts of the inhabitants.

“Cih. Didn't you guys hear?! L'M. WOULD. FETCH IT!” Ashley clenched her right hand tightly and let out a yellow mana stream on her fist. He closed his eyes and focused so that he could break the barrier set up at the gate towards the Southern Region, which was located just in front of him.

“HAA!!” he shouted as he punched his fist towards the barrier. Before long, a crack appeared in his barrier then slowly the barrier shattered into pieces and returned to a stream of red mana.

Ashley immediately jumped out of the window and made a front roll to land. “I'm serious.” With a face they hadn't seen in a long time.

“EVERYTHING, OUR PRINCESS HAS GONE HOME! We must welcome him!” said someone who had seen Ashley's face.

“YA!” reply everything simultaneously and excited.

Ashley looked around and found her soldiers on duty guarding the festival. “Marcus! Come here!” his cry called out in a resolute tone of a soldier who was behind him.

“I-ia, Lady Duchess!” Marcus immediately ran over to Ashley.

“We don't have much time. You're going to Rowing's dungeon, there's the Princess. You have to give this to the Princess and don't forget to tell her that this is from Sylva, she's eight years old and she needs our help. I'll catch up,” Ashley gave a bottle containing dark purple magic powder.

“Ta-but how can I get there quickly?”

“Of course with my magic!” Ashley pointed her hand at Marcus's feet and appeared a magic circle under his feet. In an instant he moved into the dungeon of Rowing's residence.

“Uegh.... directly moved to the place of suspense?” murmured Marcus after looking around him. Shortly thereafter, he saw Zeeta being led by two soldiers. Just like Zeeta's reaction when he saw the soldier, Marcus felt strange. The two soldiers were empty.

Before following Zeeta from behind, he replaced the white long T-shirt layered in a thick leather vest, a pair of brown gloves, and the colorless boots with gloves into Rowing's warrior suit with his magic.