Zeeta and the Wizarding World
Mana

Today, for the third time, the kingdom of Aurora lives in peace. The atmosphere that begins with the warm morning sun, then followed by the accompaniment of melodious chirping of birds flying and perching in various corners of the building, is always present in this kingdom. Although most of the residents already knew about Queen Feline's prediction of their future when led by Zeeta, they trusted more in what was before their eyes.

Zeeta has proven that he can protect his people with his extraordinary magic power. They also doubted that the ever-smiling Princess would bring destruction to them. However, whatever they believe, it still will not make them know what will threaten them next, especially if it is more terrible than a prophecy that has been told down the generations.

On the same day as Zeeta, Edward, Ella, Gerda, and Danny at Neko's Inn, somewhere in the depths of the jungle that no one could possibly live in, there is a house with a model like a residence belonging to a noble. It looked luxurious, yet also dilapidated. It also looked elegant, yet unkempt. The house was mossy, surrounded by vines that had been tightly clutched throughout the house, even a tall black fence that became a "fortress" in front of it.

There was no sign of animal life around the house. As far as the eye could see, it was just a house that seemed to have no clear meaning amidst the depths of the forest. Even though it looked like that, inside the house....

"So three generations, they all have a very large mana...."

Armed only with the light of the sun outside, a man looks at a book that reads the names Scarlet, Alicia, and Zeeta. Each of them has a little biography about them.

"Can't be allowed. Can't be left alive. I need to get rid of him right now!"

The red reflection from the eyes and the entire body that was enveloped by purplish black smoke, could not allow to know what the man looked like. To be sure, he came out of the house, then from the ground, appeared again many creatures that look exactly like him. Everywhere they went, the plants he passed by suddenly turned black, withered, and died.

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

Neko's Inn, right after Zeeta went down with two kids that some of the customers knew who they were, her first reaction was gaping, stumbling, and rubbing eyes.

"Tu-Mr Princess Zeeta?!" they scream at the same time.

Hearing the voices of the customers, made the innkeeper rush out of his room located behind the receptionist, and immediately saluted Zeeta by kneeling before him.

"W-What are you doing stopping by a place like this, Your Majesty?" ask the owner. He's a guy at the age of five.

"There's no need to be stiff like that, stand up" Zeeta said. The man also agreed. "Hehe, I didn't expect my arrival to make a scene. Am I interrupting?"

"N-no! Absolutely not! It's just... we're all confused... why...?"

"Ah, actually, I just want to cook for my cousin."

The innkeeper looked at Edward and Ella who were holding onto Zeeta tightly, then again asked, "Cooking...? Princess...?"

"Uhm. I haven't touched the kitchen in a long time. Can I?"

"Te. of course. But, why should it be in a place like this...?"

"Well, there's some trouble. Right, right?" Zeeta asks "yes" from Edward and Ella.

Edward and Ella nodded.

"Ah...."

"Then take me to the kitchen. They've been waiting a long time."

"Follow me, Your Majesty." The innkeeper took Zeeta to the kitchen on the left side of the reception.

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

At the residence of Alexandrita, Lowen, Agatha, Karim, Arthur and Ashley, there was still talk about Zeeta while the servants were serving food on the table.

"Grand Duchess," said Karim, "of course you know this, but let me say it. Zeeta we'll take care of. You don't have to let this man named Arthur continue to take care of him, while he has his own family."

Arthur quiet. He understood Karim's intentions.

"I have no right to interfere in people's family matters, but Zeeta is the Princess, let her choose" Ashley replied.

"No. It can't be like that. Even though I didn't like the way Lowen treated his son, I still understood what he wanted. Zeeta is my granddaughter. He's my family."

Ashley sipped a cup of iced coffee, then looked at Karim. "Mr Karim, did you know the explosion that occurred at Rowing's residence came from Zeeta?"

"W-what? That blue explosion?!"

Agatha and Lowen looked surprised.

"Yes, that's right. There's one thing that's interesting to me after seeing the conditions there, which is that other than Rowing, no one else was hurt by the blast."

"That-can't be!" Lowen's breaking the table.

"Nobody knows that Zeeta will be loved by nature, not even her own mother and father. However, his strength is not only because it is loved by nature, but also comes from himself.

"Lord and Lady Levant, let's think this through. Normally, all children would behave like Edward and Ella who were carelessly laughing and grieving. But, our Princess is not like that.

"Arthur, once only ordinary commoners who with active capital to study and continue to train hard, could enter the Dormant Academy and finally take care of Zeeta. This time I'll open up what I didn't tell you about the Erigona incident fifteen years ago.

"Scarlet once said, Erigona— before it evolved, is a plant from the Yggdrasil section. I don't know how, it could get here."

"Tu-wait a minute ... Yggdrasil? Isn't that just a legend...?" Lowen looked frightened.

"Grand Duchess, why did you keep that matter quiet with us?" karim's hands also shook.

"Simple, Scarlet doesn't want you guys to know. After all, you guys are special, aren't you?"

The three Levant tremble, as if seeing the scourge so threatening.

"Grand Duchess.. What is Yggdrasil?" ask Arthur.

"You...?! You're the one on the scene and fighting him, don't know what Yggdrasil is?!" Lowen suddenly rose blood.

"Well what else if I really don't know?!"

"Sir Lowen, control your emotions. Let me explain" Ashley said.

"Ba-good." Lowen set his breath to calm down.

"Arthur, you know Aurora's kingdom can use magic since the legend of the witch exists, right?" ask Ashley.

"Yes, of course."

"Then, did you ever think, where did that come from, or even why Elves and other magical beings could do something so magical in the eyes of humans before the legend of witches existed?"

Arthur dropped sweat from his temple. "Wait a wait wait... So... there are still many mysteries about which one we always use this?!"

Ashley nodded, then continued her explanation.

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

According to Ashley, whose information has been obtained through Scarlet, Yggdrasil is the mother of all creatures—including Humans. It gives life and mana to use for survival. Furthermore, Ashley explained, before the legend of witches in the kingdom of Aurora existed, Elves and other magical creatures lived near Yggdrasil in order to protect its existence from greedy Humans. This gradually triggered a war between humans and the guards of Yggdrasil, including the Elves. It is said that even the Dragon, which until now has never been seen again, exists to guard the tree of life.

"Then, what's the end of Yggdrasil?" ask Arthur.

"They turned themselves into spirits so that the bloodshed would not continue" Ashley replied.

"I.. I don't know anything about this.... how can...?"

"Huh...? Wait... What does Zeeta have to do with all those stories?" Arthur looked upset.

"Scarlet told me once. At that time, unlike usual he had a sad face .. anxious ... and afraid. At that time, he said this...."

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

[Kingdom of Aurora fifteen years ago.].

In Scarlet's private room located in the palace which of course looks magnificent and luxurious, Scarlet and Ashley were talking about Yggdrasil's problem. Scarlet stood looking at the stars on the porch of the room on Ashley's back.

"Scarlet, what's wrong with you today?" asked Ashley, "you don't look as excited as ever."

"Hey, Ashley .. be honest with me, have you ever thought about why I'm so strong?" ask Scarlet.

"I just think you're a genius, that's all. Anyway, seriously, what's wrong with you? I get goosebumps seeing you worrying excessively about something like this!"

"Hahaha.you were right. I'm surprised too." Scarlet raised her head to look at the moon. "I wonder why Humans are so easy to control."

"uh? Whatchu mean?"

Scarlet walked up to Ashley, then took off her full moon earrings, then presented them to Ashley.

"The magic is more complicated than we all thought. All this time I thought I was just continuing my ancestral legacy to save my grandson from his future. I don't know if my ancestors saw this or not, but....

"I see the past. A very distant past from my ancestors who could control mana for the first time, Clarissa. There, I was shown, how exactly can there be."

"Well what are you talking about? Doesn't where it comes from nature?"

"No. That's incorrect. It doesn't matter if you want to believe this story or not, but listen." Then Scarlet told him.

After finishing, Scarlet expressed her opinion, "In my opinion, that message from the past is that one day, there is someone who will revive Yggdrasil by gathering all the Spirits scattered around the world."

"Don't joke! So you think you've been chosen by a Spirit and he showed you that past?!" Ashley exploded. He doesn't know what to emotionalize. Should he be happy with this new information, or upset because he has been living in ignorance.

"No, this is not the work of the Spirit. This is what he did." Ashley pointed at her moon earrings.

"uh? Whatchu mean?"

"Since I was a child, I've always wondered, where and how these earrings were made, and who was the originator? Of course I've asked Queen Feline this, but she doesn't know anything about it.

"Although in the inner part of the kingdom, there are still mysteries that I—not, even my ancestors and successors do not know the truth."

"Then...what do you want to do, Scarlet?"

Scarlet's wearing her earrings again.

"As usual. To be queen to my people and to keep them safe from all threats. But, there's one thing I don't seem to be able to accomplish."

"What's that...?"

"I don't want my granddaughter to carry all this weight on her tiny shoulders. I might not be able to be present by his side due to my easy nature of making enemies. I've put Alicia's life at risk because of my decision to expose and really make sure that Morgan's not on our side.

"It made me realize, my life might not last long to see my granddaughter grow, or even accompany Alicia to give birth."

At that moment, Ashley was touched. The Blazing Ruby who was always burning by soul fire to continue protecting her people—even if it made her hated, dropped her tears. This was probably the first time she cried.

"Ashley," said Scarlet after wiping away her tears, "don't tell this to anyone, but Erigona is part of Yggdrasil."

Ashley frowned. "Why?"

"They won't be ready to accept the facts, like you and me. Especially...."

"More?"

"I am very confident that my grandson is the one who will raise Yggdrasil."

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

"Me-awakening?! Are you serious?! It's the tree of life, you know! Do you know how big the tree is?! How could Zeeta be able to resurrect Yggdrasil, if he was only a Human!?" Karim suddenly stood up and slammed the table.

"Ho? Scarlet didn't even tell me about Yggdrasil's height, Mr. Karim. Maybe, this is what Scarlet wants to keep from telling you, huh?"

"Sad...." Karim sat back down, then wiped the sweat off his face with a handkerchief from his white coat pocket.

"Grand Duchess, darling, I-I know this matter is very important, but.we are in the middle of lunch..," Agatha said, trying to melt the atmosphere.

"You're right, Madame Agatha. We'll continue this conversation next time." Ashley's gonna fill her belly with a spoon swing, but....

"G-Grand Duchess, sorry to bother you!" a soldier came slamming the door.

"What the fuck are you, where's your manners?!" shout Ashley.

"Pardon me! I-this is the matter of the Princess!"

"uh? What's wrong with her? Wasn't he following Edward and Ella?" ask Ashley.

"I-it's true.but.we received a report that the Princess and her cousin ... were in an ordinary inn called Neko's Inn!"

Ashley dropped her spoon. "WHAT DID YOU SAY?!

"I forgot he could teleport! Then, what's he doing there?"

"So-about that.he only cooks for his cousin...."

"WHAT DID YOU SAY?!" Lowen shouted this time. "Mr. Princess... Cooking?!"

"Bwh.. bwahahahahahah!" Arthur laughs.

"Huh?! What are you laughing at?" ask Lowen.

"No-no.... Only, even after becoming the Princess, Zeeta is still Zeeta from the village of Lazuli!"

"Agh, my appetite's gone because of that kid. Rommy, get Marcus over there and keep an eye on him!" Ashley's orders.

"Come it!" the soldier named Rommy immediately ran.

"God... Zeeta is very different from Scarlet or Alicia.... I never thought I would witness such a huge difference in the nature of the royal family...." Ashley pressed her right and left temples with her index finger and thumb.

"Mr Karim, I hope you understand, you can ask Zeeta to stay with you, but let Zeeta choose her" Ashley said.

"I understand" Karim replied.

On that day, it could be said that it was the day before the nightmare arrived. The threat they face is far more dangerous than anything they have ever faced before.