Chapter 86: Chapter 86 – Finding a way

“Ethan, go search the other side,” Aiden shouted and ran around the deck.

The pirates were all dead and burned on the ground while the passengers were running around in panic. The ones who were frozen in time were all still, as if nothing had happened. Only their wet clothes indicated the incident that had happened on deck.

As he turned the corner, he noticed a dirty white cloth peeking out from behind the barrel. “Feng!!” he ran towards it.

Feng Mei stood up in surprise. “Aiden!!! Shh, come here,” she pulled him into a tight hug. “Oh my god, are you hurt anywhere. Let me take a look.” she glanced at him from head to the tip of his foot. The kid was completely unharmed. “What about the others? Are they okay? Is your brother and Elle safe?” she hurriedly whispered.

Aiden, who remained silent till now, gave her a warm smile. “Feng~” he hugged her waist tightly. Her wet clothes chilled his cheeks and hid his red flush.

“Aiden...., oh baby, don’t be scared..” Feng gently tried to lift him up into her arms but the kid had grown up. He was heavier and he was taller than her shoulders now. She just awkwardly hugged him with a hand on his butt. “Did you close the closet before coming here?”

“Both Ethan and Elle are good. We took down the pirates!!” he said with a dazzling smile.

.....

Feng looked surprised for a second. “Took down? How? Is that why I’m wet....” she pulled at her wet top.

Aiden gently hugged her. “Yeah, we fried them,”

“Fried.....” she confusedly looked at him.

“I wish to show you but the bodies are too gruesome....” Aiden mumbled, nuzzling against her shoulders.

“T-the pirates are dead.... they... are dead?” a hesitant voice whispered from behind another barrel.

Aiden vigilantly pulled Feng behind him. “Come out!!”

A tall man stood up with his back slouched. His hair was matted and wet and his face was dirty as heck. “Pirate!!! Feng, stay back!!” he swiftly summoned his ice to form a long sword.

“Wait!! He is with us.” Feng stopped him immediately.

Aiden just paused for a bit, his eyes stayed on the man, unblinking. “Who is he? What is he doing here?”

“He is the one who can unfreeze the others.... I don’t have time to explain now. We have to go to Yubiri.” she tugged at Aiden’s hand. All three ran to the other side of the deck and Ethan half way.

“Feng!! Feng!!!” he ran to her and threw himself into her arms. “You are hurt!!!” he hurriedly pulled away from the hug and knelt down.

Aiden, who was besides her gasped loudly. “I-I did not even realize it!” he knelt down as well and glanced at her bruised foot. “We have to heal her somehow. Do you know any spells?”

“I... haven’t learnt of any...” Ethan mumbled with a guilty look. He turned over and showed her his slouched back. “Get on Feng I’ll take you back to our room,”

She awkwardly tried to stop them both, but the twins fussed around her like buzzing bees. “Ummm guys.... I’m good.”

Aiden gently held her hand and glanced up with his eyes shimmering with tears. “How can you be fine? You must be in immense pain....”

Feng Mei sighed loudly “okay time out. Both of you, I understand that you are worried about me but we have another bigger issue at hand. We have to somehow find a way to unfreeze these people or else they might die of starvation.”

She glanced at the time mage with an expectant look. “We have to help him out for that,”

“Is he the one controlling time?” Ethan looked confused for a second. {‘Aiden what do you think happened? Was it Feng or that guy?’}

{“Feng’s powers last only seconds, it must be this guy,’} Aiden replied in their mind link. He then glanced up at the tall man. “You will unfreeze them all...”

“The thing is, it’s not that easy.,..” Feng mumbled softly. “You can explain it better, right?” she glanced at the darker man.

He nodded. “I... my powers are out of control; it freezes anyone that comes in contact with the range of my powers. To control that, my parents sought out a great mage. He made me this control pendant that way it restrained my powers. Now... it’s like this,” he lifted the broken ruby and showed it to them.

Ethan frowned deeply. He carefully took it from his hands and peered inside. “There is a spell engraved inside. Maybe if we can replicate it, he can unfreeze them all...”

“oh it’s like my pain reliever sphere...” Feng mumbled softly.

“Hmm... let’s check Yubiri’s room. He might have some this exact spell.” He hurriedly ran to other edge of the floor.

Yubiri’s room was at the end of the deck. It was in a secluded area.

Elle was right by the corner, sitting there with her head lowered.

“oh Elle,”‘ Feng ran and hugged her tightly. The little girl hugged her back.

“My grandma is still frozen... so is brother Yu and Alvin...” the little girl was trembling.

“Don’t worry, we will wake them up. Just like sleeping beauty, they will wake up soon and will not feel anything,” she mumbled, rocking her gently.

Ethan stood in front of the door. “Elle, did you ‘look’ in? He is not frozen by the door, right?”

“No.... brother Yu is sleeping on the sofa.”

“Oh.... that’s good,” Ethan swiftly kicked it. The door cracked in the middle. Aiden helped him tear apart the wooden planks, and they both squeezed in.