Chapter 42

Minrad's feet left the ground as a strong force lifted him by his neck, pressing tight.

Minrad tried to save himself from being choked to death and slowly craned his head to meet the demonic gaze of the huge and furry…black Aeu?

Myan was terrified, shocked by what was happening. She gasped, moving away from the log of wood that was supposed to claim her life. She had never seen a huge Aeu in her life and she had only seen two. It had the form of a true beast with fur all over it, red eyes that made her shriek when they moved from Minrad to her.

The Aeu let go of Minrad and picked Myan up.

She screamed on top of her lungs while Minrad fell through a tree, from leaves to root, sustaining scratches on every part of his body. He was clueless as regards to what was going on. What was this Aeu he had never met.

Ash hated the look of terror on Myan's face and immediately transformed to his human form.

"Are you hurt? Did this monster do anything to you?" He frowned after asking that question, putting her back to her feet and turned to Minrad that was badly hurt and trying his best to gather what was going on together.

"How dare you?" Ash went at a speed that wasn't human at all and dug his fingers into Minrad's skin, receiving a groan of pain for an outcome.

Myan watched with amazement as he willed to bite off Minrad’s head. She was drowned in thoughts of Ash's form. How did he change into a different Aeu? How was he moving at super speed? So many unanswered questions. She sprang to her feet at a deafening slap across Minrad's cheeks that brought her back to consciousness.

"Ash, this was my choice!" She cut in, keeping her distance. He was erratic and she didn't want to stir his anger and get hurt. A large part of her didn't want to defend Minrad because this was less of what she wanted and he had selfish motives behind wanting to offer her as a sacrifice and like she had expected, Ash went ahead to battle with Minrad, completing shutting her words out.

He was more powerful and made Minrad appear weak.

He was ready to dig his claws into Minrad's skin when a flash of lightning across the sky hit the ground beside them.

He moved away from Minrad, panting like he had been involved in a marathon race.

The lightning continued until it appeared to be taking a form. It separated both men from Myan, taking a part of her gown with the wind that accompanied it.

"Yugi, what is this madness? I thought we agreed that no one else but the lord could summon an ancestor." He turned to look at Minrad. "We were trained yes but I was chosen for a reason."

"A true lord wouldn't pick love over everything,” he reminded him.

"What gives you the right to…" Ash asked as he charged for Minrad's bleeding neck a second time, but he stopped short by a loud wail from Yugi.

Myan would never have thought that in her lifetime, while she had been in the palace walls, she would have to experience her present.

"You fools, silence! Have you forgotten your manners?" Yugi snapped while both men went on one knee and bowed their heads.

"Sorry, Yugi." They both said.

"Ash, you have failed your duty as lord. Water would never mix with fire. It is dangerous for our world. Do you think the crops dying is our wish? It is nature. Minrad was willing to allow peace reign for the world, why would we deprive him of the chance?" Yugi asked him, "there is no other way. We would overlook it if you were nobody but you're the lord of fire, nothing comes first before your world, Ash." Yugi spoke out of anger, yet in a calm echoing voice.

"I would never agree for you to take her life." Ash deepened his frown, still maintaining his bow.

"It has to be done." Yugi said.

"What If I don't want to be lord anymore?" Ash lifted his head, waiting for a response.