New Eden: Live to Play, Play to Live

The sentinel burst into action immediately after shouting, lunging toward the ground, turning around mid-fall. He hooked something up to an arrow and shot it at the underside of the main branch, hooking his bow back to his torso.

Astaroth looked at this take place and rapidly calculated something in his mind. He was looking at the bundle of rope at the man’s waist and his speed of descent.

‘He’s not going to make it fast enough.’

He didn’t hesitate either, melding with Morpheus instantly, feeling the wings grow out of his back. The entire process took almost three seconds, and he cursed himself for not finding a way to make it faster yet.

Once he was melded, he pulled out the Ad Astra, changing its form to claws, and slid his way under the branch. He was going to need for than fall velocity to make it to her in time.

Arcing his body up, he slammed his feet into the branch and focused all his strength on his legs. The feeling of power welled up inside them, and he launched like a rocket.

Castien was almost caught up to Coral, but he already felt he wouldn’t make it. His rope bundle was getting smaller and smaller, faster than he was closing the gap.

‘Come on! Come on! Please reach!’

His hand was out in full extension, trying to catch Coral’s extended hand; her eyes filled with a feeling of impending death. Just as his fingers grazed Coral’s, he suddenly lurched to a complete stop, recoiling upward with the rope’s tension.

“No!” he screamed, his fears coming to fruition.

But as he shouted that, a shadow shot by him, going much faster than he was, and colliding with Coral’s falling form. Wings extended out of the form, and for a moment, Castien thought the bad had just turned to worst.

‘A monster?! How did it slip by our vigils and defences?!’

But as the winged creature glided its way down, sticking close to the side of the tree palace, he saw it slow down and finally land in front of the palace entrance. Then it transformed, and thanks to his Elven eyesight, he was able to recognize the face of the one that saved his dear Coral.

Castien quickly climbed back up his rope, in a hurry to go see if she was ok. In the meantime, the scared-to-death young maid was currently gasping for air, on her knees, reeling from almost dying.

Astaroth felt bad about what had happened since it was theoretically his fault. He crouched down, putting his hand on the girl’s shoulder.

“Deep breaths. In, hold it, then out slowly. In, hold it, then out slowly.”

After following his instructions a few times, her breathing stabilized, and she started sobbing. No one would react well to a near-death experience, after all.

Astaroth stayed by her side, knowing her Elven boyfriend was already on his way. Guards rushed to their position since he was about fifty meters away from the palace entrance.

They hadn’t seen what had happened, aside from the winged form land and disappear, and when they reached near, they recognized the man.

“King Astaroth! Where is the monster?! Stay behind us!”

The four guards surrounded the king and the maid, their heads spinning, on the lookout for the winged monster. Astaroth looked at their backs like they were fools, but said nothing.

The palace door suddenly burst open, Castien rushing through, his eyes already locked on the group of guards and what they were surrounding. He kept running, closing the distance in moments.

The guards stopped him, as they looked at him with anger.

“Halt! Sentinel, you should be up on your perch, not here on the ground! How could your people let a monster through your watch and assault the king in the middle of the afternoon?! Shame!”

Castien barely listened to the rebuke, his eyes locked on Coral, who was slowly grasping the surrounding situation.

“Move out of my way, you buffoon! That is my fiancée with the king!”

He rapidly shoved the guard before him, seemingly with no effort, as the three other guards kept watch over the surroundings and skies.

Throwing himself to his knees, he grabbed Coral by her shoulders, looking her up and down, checking if she was wounded. Seeing not a scratch on her, he turned his rage-filled gaze on Astaroth, who was already back on his feet, arms behind his back.

Castien jumped to his feet, his fists clenched tight. He wanted to punch this man so badly, for having brought his fiancée to such a dangerous place, especially when she was terrified of heights.

Astaroth rose a hand up in front of him, a single finger raised.

“You get one. I deserve it. I won’t retaliate.”

Astaroth then brought his arm back behind his back, closing his eyes.

This angered Castien even more, feeling like he was being looked down on. He finally snapped.

*Whack!*

With an impact noise that would have been worrisome, if targeted towards a regular person, his fist smacked into Astaroth’s jaw to the left, sending him to his ass.

‘Ouch. He has quite the sting,’ Astaroth thought, caressing his jaw.

The four guards immediately went into a frenzy, turning to face Castien, her swords suddenly aimed at him.

“What do you think you are doing, you idiot? That is the king you just struck!” one of them shouted.

Another one was already raising his blade to strike at the Elf, but Astaroth stopped the blade barehanded.

“Enough! I deserved that hit, and you will not penalize him for it! Now stand down. There is no monster, you dolts. That was me landing.”

The men looked flustered for a moment, unsure what he meant.

But someone landed near them and rapidly defused the situation.

A tall Elven woman, with traits that seemed familiar to Astaroth, pulled a small curtsy, before looking at the five armoured men around with an icy glare.

She fixed her gaze on Castien.

“I don’t approve of your actions against the king, but he has allowed it, so I will let this one slide. Go back to your quarters, for now, Castien.”

With a grumble, the Elven man nodded his head, leaving, but not before throwing a worried look at his fiancée, and a death glare at Astaroth.

‘Yikes, he’s mad.’

“As for you four morons, I heard you say we failed our duty. Do you honestly think my men would miss a large winged creature flying into our city?”

The four guards stood at attention, making Astaroth understand she held some sort of authority.

One of them stepped forth.

“Commander Alena, we only reacted without thinking. We apologize if we have spoken out of place.”

“Hmph. You better stick to minding your own duties, instead of slandering mine. Now go back to your posts. I will see to the king and the young woman.”

“Yes, Ma’am!”

All four of them broke formation, jogging back to their positions, not looking back.

‘Alena. Why does this name sound familiar?’ Astaroth thought.

“My king, if you would come with me, please?”

Snapping back to attention, Astaroth picked Coral up, asking her how she felt, before following behind the tall woman.

‘I guess I’ll find out soon enough.’𝘦𝘯.𝘰𝘳𝘨