13- Disobeying
By dawn, they all departed for their journey. Rays were scattering in the ground, starting anew with a new effort.
Upon going outside, Delvin was highly thrilled, scanning everything in admiration.
"Wow, my first outside mission," He beamed.
Frowning at his presence, Zephyr mocked him with a smirk.
"Really? Then you are unfit. Why don't you go back?"
"No, I would love to share some experience with our warriors, Zephyr," He grinned.
Observing his surroundings as it was his first time outside and everything looked so enticing to him.
Zephyr's jaw clenched, "You damn soldier, use my name,"
Leaning forward to his face, Delvin smirked widely.
"Zephyr,"
"Tsk,"
Scoffing, he went ahead, disliking his presence immensely. He wanted him to leave but to no avail, he was stuck here with them.
Yor smirked at them before turning back to the warriors accompanying them.
They both looked middle-aged guys with a strong buildup, one could feel their powers from afar.
"Where are we going?" He asked nonchalantly
"To a certain village, looking for a man named Jonas, apparently the writer is alive," Marcus replied coldly.
They all turned to him in disbelief.
"Really?!"
He nodded, "Yes,"
"Though books of dark and demonic arts had perished long ago yet that man managed to rewrite it," Jay added in the same tone.
"And surprisingly it worked too, must be a man of great knowledge," Lady Red mumbled, holding her chin.
"Hmm. Let's find out more about him and the book from the village."
"Then how come you have it, Lady Red?" Yor asked.
Intrigued if it was written not long ago then how could it be considered 'ancestral'?
"I don't know, my sister gave it to me," She sighed, not giving a thought.
"I see,"
They stopped for a while under shades to fill their stomachs. Keeping a stoic posture, Zephyr got down to grab an apple from the food cart.
"Young Lord, No-"
They tried to stop him but ignoring their call, he looked only to find Azura there, holding an apologetic expression.
"Zep-"
She attempted to call him softly but with transparent rage, he folded his arms at his chest after dragging her out of the food cart.
"What the hell do you think you are doing here, Lady Azura Bruke?" He growled, barely holding his wrath.
Her actions disappointed and enraged him to no extent.
"What I should," She mumbled
Inhaling sharply, she gathered her resolve to stand firm and do what she must, stay beside him.
"Even after I forbid you? How could you go against my orders?"
He hissed in a low tone to avoid them listening but a scene was created.
They were listening carefully, to see how he would react.
"Do you think my training, my efforts are a waste?" She argued, taking a step closer.
She was totally against his decision of forcing her to stay back.
"I was doing this for us, not to stay there and watch you," She enunciated strongly, being stubborn.
To her uncaring and firm statement, Zephyr lost his mind and unintentionally ended up yelling.
"Do you have some obligations as my future bride or do you want me to fall lower in my eyes!?"
She flinched at his unexpected shouting that astounded everyone too. He had always kept his tone lowered with Azura and Lady Red.
But, today, he lost his mind.
To his yelling, a tear pricked in her eyes as she yelled back.
"What do you mean by this?!"
"Do you want to show me that I failed to protect my father, kingdom, friend and now my future bride too?!" He whisper-yelled, keeping his position in mind, glaring at her furiously.
She shivered when a fire as if his previous scars were burned by her actions. The remorse he suppressed was evoked with much force.
Seeing her here reminded him how he had failed and it hurt.
"I have no such intentions and you know it," She scowled.
Coming closer to hold his shirt, expecting him to listen but he placed his hand in between dominantly.
"Then go back,"
"No. I shall not," She hissed.
"Azura-"
Before they could continue their argument, Lady Red interrupted, placing her hand on his shoulder to soothe him.
"Zephyr, we know you are worried about her protection,"
"Yes, I most certainly am but her tiny brain is incapable of comprehending that," He mocked, glaring at her, folding his arms at his chest.
"Please, Zephyr, I am your partner, I deserve to stand strongly next to you," She insisted tenderly, making an almost crying face.
"Not like-"
"Young Lord, she is right," Lady Red said strictly.
They didn't understand it was not about power for him- he didn't want her to fight-
Why was he training? For both of them. He didn't want her to needlessly injure herself.
"What?! There is no way I will make-"
But, they didn't grasp that point and merely focused on strengthening the team.
"In my words, let her tag along. I have trained her, I know what she could do." Lady Red declared.
He narrowed his eyes suspiciously. Certainly against it but all of them were looking at him with approval.
"Trust me, your Aunt, she is capable," She insisted.
He scoffed, "Tsk,"
After the final glare, he rolled his eyes, losing his appetite too.
"Zephyr-"
She called but he pretended not to listen and got back.
Her chest pricked, looking down in dejection when he walked on her, continuing their journey.
He slowed down his horse to match with Delvin's who was humming to himself.
He was busy admiring in the surroundings. Zephyr cleared his throat to get his attention to which he chuckled.
Zephyr continued to frown until Delvin returned a tender smile, turning his attention to him.
He commented, "You sure are protective about her,"
"Since you are here, better keep an eye on my lady and ensure no harm reaches her," Zephyr muttered.
Tightening his grip on the reins with a clenched jaw.
"I doubt she needs that, unlike you, I have seen her train," he informed playfully, making his jaw clenched.
Zephyr opened his mouth to order him but Delvin cut him off.
"And besides, I will protect her but wouldn't doing so hurt your fragile ego?"
After taunting him, Delvin sped up his horse to go further as Zephyr glared at him but soon exhaled from disappointment.
Lowering his gaze, he murmured his worry.
"I just want her to be safe,"