The king fiercely stared at the brothers before letting out a sigh to ease the tension "although I might hate to admit it, I know all humans aren't like this, you two also proving to be a little different isn't that right Jörmundgander".
Vanta, who had been hiding behind Ash, cautiously emerged and replied in a soft voice, "Y-yeah, I thought they seemed weird too."
Ash unable to contain his confusion shouted "Jörmundgander, I thought you said you name was Vanta? "
The sly snake replied, "yeeeaahhh I lied"
King Drakonis' gaze burned with murderous intent as he fixed the brothers with a piercing stare. "So, it's confirmed," he growled, his voice low and menacing. "You two were summoned here with the Nexarion Crystals. Only those with Royal blood can understand the Titans' language. You're not even of our kin, and yet... Axel, I've sensed the stench of void magic emanating from you since your arrival. I dismissed you as a seasoned mage because your magic's been leaking all over the place like a novice's. But now that you've both appeared, it's clear something's gone terribly wrong with the summoned humans before you."
The king's stare intensified, his aura crackling with violence. "I should end you both now, before you can even think about turning on us," he spat, his words dripping with venom.
Jörmundgander sprang forward, landing with a thud on the floor as he implored King Drakonis to spare the brothers. "Can't you see, Your Majesty?" he pleaded. "These boys are different from the humans of our world. They aided me without knowing my true nature or purpose. Perhaps showing them mercy could prove beneficial. We could even utilize them in our struggle against the tyrannical humans. Let's not judge them solely on their unfamiliarity, but rather consider the potential advantages they might bring to our cause."
King Drakonis's rage slowly dissipated, replaced by a weary resignation. He rubbed his temples, letting out a deep sigh. "Perhaps you're right. We've tried everything else, and it's gotten us nowhere. I'll spare their lives... for now. But mark my words: the moment I sense they're a threat to our people, I'll be the one to end them. Personally."
The King turning his attention back to to the boys "Let me clarify something for you both. You were summoned here by the power of the crystals by those humans, but it seems the coordinates were off, and you ended up in my territory instead avoiding their brainwashing. Now, I've observed your abilities, and it's clear that you, Ash, possess the makings of a BeastMender a rare and valuable skill. And you, Axel, display the traits of an Umbrael mage, wielding the power of the shadows.BeastMenders possess remarkable abilities, including Beast Speech, Shape-Shifting, Feral Senses, and Beast Summoning. As for you, Axel, I'm less familiar with the specifics of Umbrael mages, having only studied accounts of them in ancient war texts. However, it's said that Umbrael mages wield extraordinary power, making them forces to be reckoned with."
The two brothers locked eyes, their faces mirroring each other's shock and awe. Ash's voice barely contained his excitement as he exclaimed, "Wow, we have powers! I'm a BeastMender... and you, brother, you have powers too!" Axel's gaze met Ash's, but his thoughts were a jumble of confusion and skepticism. "Yeah, the king said I have powers, but I don't feel any different. Ash is already showing signs of his abilities, but I haven't seen anything from mine yet," he thought to himself, his eyes searching for some sign of the mysterious powers that were supposed to be within him.
Noticing Axel's troubled expression, King Drakonis offered words of reassurance. "Don't worry, child, I can sense the mana emanating from you. You're simply untrained, that's all. To harness your power, you'll need to open your mana veins – a process that requires a trip to the Pixies of Luminari."
~~~~~
Back at Helios Castle
The wizard, his brow beaded with nervous sweat, knelt before the human king on his throne, his voice trembling slightly as he reported, "Sire, the teleportation was a success."
The king's expression transformed, his face relaxing into a look of palpable relief, as if a massive burden had been lifted from his shoulders. "Wonderful, news wizard," he said. "That means we can finally dispense with the... services of that drunkard. Bring the newcomers in straight away."
The wizard's voice barely rose above a whisper as he mumbled, "I'm afraid I... can't, sire, not at the moment."
The king's expression darkened, his voice rising in annoyance. "Stop testing my patience, wizard! I said bring them in – what do you mean you can't?"
The wizard's voice trembled as he explained, "It's because the destination coordinates got scrambled during the teleportation, sire." His head dropped, eyes fixed on the floor, as if awaiting judgment.
The king's voice thundered through the chamber, "What ?! You Lost them?! You dare to tell me that you've lost the very individuals who held the key to our plans?! The last two Nexarion crystals, squandered due to your ineptitude! You have one chance to rectify this disaster, wizard. Find them, or face the consequences. Your life hangs in the balance, and I assure you, I will not hesitate to take it."
The wizard sprinted out of the courtroom as if his life depended on it – because, in truth, it did. "Panic is setting in... Our Nexarion forest isn't producing anymore crystals... and now the king's prized prospects are lost due to my blunder. I need to track down those boys, no matter what. Failure isn't an option; the king's wrath would be merciless."