The Crimson Prince： Awakening 97 A New Plan

"Yeah, he just walked him back up to the surface as if the kid did nothing wrong."

"But didn't he attack Ava?" Another one asked from behind the two. "Surely that should give him more than just a day in a cell, don't you think?"

"To think that Jake went through all that trouble to catch the kid, just to have the prince let him out like that."

Ava walked the halls of the training facility, listening to the gossip. She couldn't believe that Will would just let Aiden out after all that she and Jake did to get him in the cell. She still remembered the stab wounds that bled through Jake's jacket as he carried Aiden to the Bianca's clinic. Though he was hurt, Aiden looked much worse. She had seen him carried on Jake's shoulders as he heaved the door open. When she looked at the young man, he had similar wounds to Jake, yet they seemed to almost tear both his arm and leg from his body. She looked at the sickening holes and almost lost her lunch. Yet after just a few hours, Jake hauled the still unconscious Aiden down to the detention center and both seemed perfectly whole. It was her first time witnessing the power of the white priestess's aura.

"All Wielder's report to the a.s.sembly hall." Will's voice boomed throughout the entire Emba.s.sy. "I have an announcement to make." The voice ended just as abruptly as it had spoken.

"He couldn't just tell us using that voice amplification trick?" Ava heard a couple other recruits complain.

"If he wanted to, I'm sure." Ava spoke out to the recruits. "But don't we call him our prince? Does that not mean we should do as he says as he says it?" Her eyes bore holes in the others until they moved uneasily, yet with a faster pace in order to get away from her.

Though she didn't know what was going through his head, Ava knew that she wasn't qualified to make such remarks. She had only gotten her affinity a few months ago, whereas Will and his friends had been fighting this battle for years now. She knew when to talk, and when just to follow.

Ahead, Ava was able to spot Alex who had his sister Lucy on his shoulders. She pat him on the back and smiled at him. Since he had come from Crystallia, they had become fast friends. "Do you know what's going on?" She asked as he smiled back.

"I'm not sure, but I saw Will lead Aiden into the a.s.sembly hall. I'm sure we are about to find out why in just a minute." They walked through the double doors together and found a place within the crowd of others.

Will watched as the last stragglers made it through into the room and waited for the talk to stop. As others noticed him staring out, they got the hint and quieted down. "As I'm sure you are all are aware by now," Will put a hand on Aiden's shoulder. "We are one less body in the detention center and I'm sure you are all wondering why."

There was murmuring through the crowd as they took notice of Aiden next to their prince. "Didn't he swear to end Will? Why are they standing together now as if they are friends?"

"He is with me now, because he is going to head the Emba.s.sies all over this world." Will spoke firmly as the murmuring became a choir of shouts. "I am not to be judge and jury over all with the aura!" He yelled, using his aura to amplify his voice. "All within this world that wish for the aura will have it."

"That means criminals and warmongers will also be able to use these abilities!" Someone spoke up from the crowd.

Will nodded. "That's true, which is why Aiden is going to oversee an upgrade in jails and prisons. Instead of the common iron bars of the cells, or bullet proof gla.s.s, they will have the black iron bars of Crystallia, which can negate our power."

"Look." Will cut off any other complaints. "I'm not going to lie to you and say that this is going to be easy." He looked as many in the eye as he could. "We are just going to have to get stronger. I know I'm going to have to as well, which is why I'm leaving this task to Aiden. If I find out that any are going against him, just know that you are also going against me. And I think we've been through too much to find ourselves on opposite sides in this matter."

"What are you going to do?" Alex called up as Will was about to depart the stage, leaving only a somewhat overwhelmed looking Aiden to watch over everyone.

"I'm going back to Crystallia to confront someone I feel will be waiting for me." Will said with a sigh. "I think someone left a back door open when Aiden came through from his own world, and I think we are in serious trouble. I need to figure out how to get the whole of Euph.e.l.lia under one banner, or the other me is going to have a buffet style ma.s.sacre across all borders."

Will patted Aiden on the shoulder one more time. "You said that I shouldn't have all of this power, Aiden." He said with a hint of amus.e.m.e.nt. "So show me how you can do it differently."

With that, Will's crimson and gold aura filled the room as he flew over everyone's heads and out the door. He touched down when he left the hall, right next to an awaiting Maya.

"Are you ready to go home?" Will asked with a shaky breath. He didn't know what to expect, other than a completely different Crystallia waiting for him on the other side.

Maya held him close and planted a kiss on his neck. She had changed into her blue jeans and black and gold blouse that Will had liked so much. "Anytime." She gave him a wink as he willed a portal to life in front of him. No matter what they met on the other side, at least they would be meeting it together.