The Devil's Cursed Witch

436  Powerful Aureus

The sound of flapping wings pulled Aureus out of his daze. He realized someone was coming towards him. The older eagle landed at the deck of the nest where Aureus was standing. "Greetings, Lord Aureus."

"Granduncle, I told you just call me by name." Despite saying that, Aureus' face brightened. "Is there any news about my uncle?"

The gray eagle shook his head. "Not yet. I am here for another urgent matter."

"What is it?"

"I am here to ask you to take control of the clan as the situation needs it now."

Aureus lost his smile. "We've talked about this matter already."

Agraleus gave a brief summary of the situation within the territory. "...and they keep neglecting my instructions. The elders ended up indulging in fighting with fox clan members, and the warriors tried to cover each other's behavior, not reporting the correct situation. We do not want the King to meddle in the internal fighting of us shapeshifters…"

"Why don't you ask for help from the leaders of other beast clans?"

Agraleus let out a deep sigh. "I have tried that, but as you know, my role as Chief is mostly as a middleman, and I do not control the representatives of various beast races. I have no real enforcing power. When it comes to respect, especially regarding the pride of warriors, Morpheus is no doubt the spiritual leader. "With their commander assaulted, forget the Divine Eagle Clan, the majority of the feathered races won't listen to me. It is not like the Divine Fox Clan can forgo protecting themselves. Their allies, like the wolves and other werecreatures, would also try to protect their interests. At this point, the situation might escalate where the feathered races will have a full-blown war with the furred races. No one wants to see that.

"To avoid the situation worsening, the Lord of the Divine Eagle Clan must step in. You have a high enough status to mediate as well as the power to back it. Our people will listen to you. I believe you won't want your uncle to wake up and learn that war broke out because of him, that he became the reason the peace he had been maintaining for centuries was destroyed. Even if not for our people, even if it is just for your uncle's sake…"

Agraleus got on one knee and lowered his head. "Granduncle, what are you—"

"Divine Eagle Agraleus officially requests the Lord of the Divine Eagle Clan to intervene. Please take control of the situation." Aureus helped the older eagle get back on his feet. "I've told you many times. I am no Lord. I am not suitable for this role. I am glad to be part of our clan, but—" "I am aware that you, my Lord, never wanted to hold power, and we respect your wishes; however, this is a situation that calls for you to step up to your rightful position. Please do it for our commander who sacrificed his own life for the sake of this kingdom."

Aureus did not have the heart to refuse the old eagle's pleas. "Alright, but I will do it only for the time being. You know I have to return to the human kingdom after my uncle wakes up."

"I won't stop my Lord if he wishes to leave by then."

"Take me to Dylan."

The two Divine Eagles soared towards  the sky, and in a matter of minutes, their sharp eyesight caught the scene of  patrolling feathered race warriors fighting with a small group of Divine Foxes who were outside the city gathering food. There were about twenty feathered race warriors, the leader of them a eagle, and they were beating up a group of thirty ordinary foxes who were being protected by ten fox warriors.

Aureus was shocked to see the situation. He had seen human battles as Dusk, the pet of the King of Megaris, but this was the first time he had really seen a fight among supernatural beings.

Not only were the warriors bleeding, the terrain was destroyed, and even innocent people were injured.

Anger boiled inside him. His uncle sacrificed his life for the sake of peace and these thoughtless beings were making his effort go to waste. His entire body shone with divine power, golden rays emitting out of his body. It was as if the sun had descended on earth.

From what Agraleus told him, if Aureus wanted to control these beings consumed by their anger, he needed to give them a huge impact. Words and persuasion were no longer useful in this madness.

Aureus had to stop them with a show of strength.

Boom!!!

Blinding gold light hit the ground. A strong gust of wind followed the shockwave, the explosion causing the people to be thrown out here and there like dried leaves blown away from the ground.

Even after the initial burst of wind, no one was able to keep their feet steady on the ground. After a while, everyone stopped struggling and only then did the wind disappear. What they saw next was the Lord of the Divine Eagle Clan high up in the sky, glaring down at them with anger in his golden eyes. Every member of the feathered race got on their knees despite being injured, lowering their heads out of respect. Meanwhile, the reaction of the foxes was no different. Though he was not their lord, it was instinctive for beastmen to kneel in front of one with superior bloodline, not to mention Aureus was more powerful than all of them combined.

"You seem to be adamant to show off how destructive your attacks are," they all heard the loud voice of the golden eagle, but no one dared answer him.

"In my name as the Lord of the Divine Eagle Clan, I issue a challenge to you all to fight me. Show off to me your combat magic, the very skills you take pride in. You warriors who bring shame to the Commander's hard work, I swear in my uncle's name that I will spare no one who destroys the peace of this land."

The once chaotic place turned deadly silent. "No one dares?" he asked, but there was no reply to his provocation. "Remember, Commander Morpheus sacrificed his life for the sake of you all and you have no right to act like this. How dare you make his efforts go to waste? Tell me, warriors, why do you fight? What do you want to prove? If you injure a fox, will that hasten the Commander's recovery?"

The warriors from the feathered races could only lower their bows. Aureus continued, "You are angry over the action of one fox, and punish the innocent for what? To show insult to the hard work of the very person you claim to respect? The peace that my uncle valued more than his own life, you ungrateful beings dare destroy it?"

Sensing the dangerous aura Aureus was emitting, the leader of the patrolling warriors finally spoke with his head lowered. "Apologies, my Lord. We made a mistake."

Someone from the Divine Fox Clan spoke as well, "Forgive us for our thoughtlessness."

"When you disperse and return to your own clans, spread my word. I want this madness to stop. If I catch another unreasonable fight erupting, they will personally get a taste of my wrath." Aureus then ordered the patrolling warriors. "Take care of this entire place. I want the terrain to be like how it was before. Not a single sign of battle should be left behind. Am I clear?"

"Yes, Lord Aureus," the warriors said in unison. With Aureus personally stepping in to mediate the battles he discovered after that, public order finally returned within the territory of the shapeshifters. Both Agraleus and Ailwin felt relieved, and Aureus was able to return to his uncle's home in peace.

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