Chapter 68
"Tyson was victorious, once again!" Zeal shouted loudly in order to pacify the worry in everyone at the sight of the expression on Tyson's face. Not sure what happened within the ice with Hide he could only imagine that it was something causing the man to struggle within himself.
At the sound of his powerful shout of reassurance everyone began to brighten up. Part of them even cheering excitedly that the threat had been dealt with. They knew Hide was only one of many threats to come for them but together they stood more of a chance at survival against what was yet to come.
"Tyson are you-" Zeal casually rushed his way over to Tyson in order to ask him if he was alright. The others followed him from behind with their own worried expressions.
Before they had a chance to reach him Tyson spoke up in a tone so heavy and stern that everyone halted where they stood. Unable to make so much as a word to interrupt him.
"Tai, have you seen any sign of Zeref yet?" Tyson was not in the mood to listen to words or questions about his own condition. Since those who moved according to Zeref's orders were in the area he knew it was only a matter of time before larger problems arose. He could not be certain what area of Numen's Garden the man was in.
"Negative. I have only noticed the three that were just here." Tai shook his head slightly as he answered. During the fight he had done his best to keep open to signs of others in the area with his crow in case there were more to the group. But no sightings had been noticed by him.
"Keep watch. I am certain we will be seeing him soon.. We leave this place at once without delay." Tyson ordered them without hesitation.
"You mean directly after the attack you want me to mobilize everyone to move out?" Zeal felt surprised at the thought of moving so quickly after everyone had just experienced such a thing. Other then the few of them among the rank ten the others were new to Numen's Garden. He knew well that they were not all as adapt to life threatening situations as they were unless they happened to be from a situation in their home world that required them to be in a similar situation.
Without giving Zeal a response to the question Tyson stepped forward. Scanning the people who followed him under Zeal's help he knew as well that they had to be feeling fear, confusion, among many other troubled emotions in their hearts.
"Listen up!" Tyson's voice echoed throughout the castle as he gazed at the faces that all turned in the direction of his voice. "I know that all of you are tried, scared, some of you are even hurt right now. We can not stop here. We must keep moving. Everyone is to pack up their things and move out immediately. We are no longer to remain here at King Sobek's castle."
None of them among Tyson's group whether it was someone he knew nothing about that was simply following him to escape the dimension or one of those who stood by him such as Chi, no one expected him to speak up himself. It was like he had deliberately voiced out the order himself so that those who felt wronged about moving too quickly would put the blame solely on him instead of Zeal and Tai for acting out his demand.
Many of the people did not complain due to the fact that they no longer felt safe at the castle while there were still few who felt annoyed at the thought of leaving. The wounded who could not keep up with the group were only destined to drag them down and so if they could not take care of themselves to continue forward they were simply left behind to fend for themselves. Tyson had no time nor interest in carrying every weakling along with him only to be dragged down. His fate was to push for the top and destroy a god; he had no room for those who only hindered his goals.
After what could only be considered several hours the group completed in getting ready to leave.
Standing outside of the castle grounds and looking back at the place a strange feeling took over his chest. It was tight and caused him to ache. Tyson was not sure what was going on with himself lately but it seemed that since he had met Chi that old emotions he had long given up on were starting to surface. Biting his tongue he could only push those things down within himself.
"Are you okay?" Chi asked as he walked up behind Tyson from their group. Seeing clearly that something was bothering him, he wanted to be of help to Tyson if he would just let him in. Even if it was just a tiny bit he wanted to be closer to him no matter how small. Knowing that something was bothering Tyson only made Chi ache himself for the sake of the man.
"I don't have the luxury of not being okay, little rabbit. Do not worry over me." Tyson forced a faint smile in Chi's direction. Inside he was like a raging storm of emotions that he could not comprehend. There were too many things going on inside his head for him to understand exactly what he felt in that moment when he was glancing back at the castle.
Walking over to Chi he wrapped his arm around the man's shoulders and pulled him along as he headed straight for the front of the group. He was the one who had to lead everyone so he could not allow himself to falter in the least. No matter what choices he had to make in Numen's Garden it was dangerous to let his guard drop over something or someone else.
"W-Wait! That's not-?!" Chi wanted to refute what Tyson had said but was interrupted before he could get the chance to. His body shaking at the thought that Tyson honestly might believe that he had no right to allow himself to mourn over the things that he had done. He could only imagine how hard it was to do such a thing, let alone how much he imagined it probably hurt Tyson.
"We're all ready to move out when you are, Tyson!" Zeal shouted from up ahead next to Tai and Fae. They were all watching Tyson and Chi from where they stood. Even King Sobek and his spirit knights were mixed within the followers for the revolt against Numen.
Chi had never felt such a strong urge to hit someone for interrupting him as he did towards Zeal at that moment. Biting back the urge he could only curse Zeal inside his head for interrupting his talk with Tyson.