18- Midnight Talks

AT THE VILLAGE

Zephyr was about to lay down and rest for the time being.

No matter how 'unfit' this place was for him, he was exhausted and needed to slumber but was called by Azura.

"Zephyr,"

"What is it?" He asked coldly, not bothering to turn or react. 

"Please stop making that face for me, it is hurting me," She insisted, pulling his shirt from behind yet he remained stoic.

Her lips quivered as he sat up gradually and turned to her partially. Forming her lips in a thin line, she gave him a pleading look.

Which he ignored and removed her hand.

"And what you did hurt me too, Lady," He added strictly. 

She whimpered, "Please. I just want to help, to stay with you," 

"Azura-" 

"Who do you think I have left to call my family? I have lost my parents early, I have no siblings, I lost my friends too." 

Losing her posture, she held his shoulder desperately, inducing a strange hesitation in him.

"I only have you and in that case, if I won't stand beside you then to whom I will?" She continued sorrowfully but he merely blinked.

"Are you emotionally manipulating me?" 

Having zero concerns about the glares he received from everyone, he sighed, rising from his place. 

They wanted him to forgive her but to no avail.

He always did whatever he wanted.

"Why do you have to take everything negatively, Zephyr?!" She whisper-yelled but he stretched his arms and walked out. 

"I am distressed. I have a lot of other things to worry about, Azura,"

"Zephyr-"

"I am going out for a moment," 

Cutting her off coldly, his mind was going through a strange sting. 

A horrible one which he was impotent to show.

He couldn't and got down, hoping to refresh his mind only to find Delvin down with Janessa.

"They used to hurt him, they never cared about what Grandpa went through." She expressed her grief. 

"Don't worry, this too shall pass, everything does," He smiled.

Being kind as usual, he was hoping to help the poor girl. 

Zephyr rolled his eyes, well aware of his friendly nature that always pissed him off.

"I want to support my father now, I am all he has after all," 

"Hmm. I am sure you-"

Before Delvin could continue, Zephyr interrupted in between. 

"What are you doing?"

Delvin continued to smile, "Getting to know about things. What about you?"

"I am going to the Church and-" 

"I will tell Azura if she will ask me," Delvin chuckled.

Making him grit his teeth as he had always acted as a bone in helping them get together for the past year.

"You are the most annoying man I have met, Delvin." 

Growling, Zephyr walked away furiously. 

With a constant grimace, Zephyr was at the roof of the Church, standing exactly where Jonas did before he died.

Indulging in the cold and windy weather, he decided to sit down and empty his mind.

But, Azura was distressed by his anger and sent Yor to talk and convince him but when he came to talk, he noticed there was something else.

It was not Azura that was disturbing him but something else he couldn't reveal. 

"What happened, Young Lord?"

Coming closer, he stood behind his prince, glancing down at Zephyr who was staring into nothingness. 

"You said my father screamed when I was born, right? That my habit of cursing it like him," 

He curled his lips upwards, turning to Yor who was taken aback.

"Yeah, are you still thinking about it?"

"It… made me feel good, Yor, it made me happy," 

He nodded sincerely before looking down at his empty hands.

"Am I anywhere near him?" 

"You are, you are his only son, his pride, his happiness, his world," Yor reassured him. 

"I am well aware, after Mother's death, he gave me whatever I pointed my finger at. He made me believe I could attain anything,"

Yor spoke teasingly, "You think now you can't?" 

He returned his habitual prideful smirk, holding his head high. Never ever, he had doubted that. 

"I most definitely can, I deserve everything. I am Zephyr Sheria Elrond, future king of Delphia after all," 

To his enunciation, Yor continued to smile but soon noticed his lips trembled slightly at the corner. He was astounded. 

What could possibly occur?

"Is there something you would like to share?" Yor asked sternly, taking a step forth.

Zephyr arched an eyebrow perfectly, "What do you mean?"

"I felt like you had been carrying something in your heart. Tell me, Young Lord,"

"Tell you what?"

"What did Zirkos whisper in your ears? Because I had never seen you this horrified before," 

That was his initial guess, that something about Zirkos was disturbing him though it was not the case.

Yet his question revived that horrendous sensation he buried in his heart. 

"Listen little prince, one sentence and your life will fall apart." 

He. Summoned. Me.

Three words will all it takes to fall him lower in his own eyes.

He shivered slightly and turned his back on him. Gathering his composure, he stole a glance and made a failed attempt to declare.

"Nothing,"

"Please, tell me," 

"I can't,"

"Do you not trust me?" 

Yor continued sadly, hoping to convince him but those words were too much to bring to the surface.

"It's not about trust, Yor, you and Katlan are too close to me and I-" 

He gulped, "I don't want you guys to hate me," Lowering his emerald gaze tentatively.

"Why do you think I will hate you? I am here to lay my life for you gladly, Young Lord, I will never stop supporting you," His mouth gaped in disbelief.

He couldn't believe anything could evoke resentment in his heart for him.

To his persistence, Zephyr ended up yelling.

"I know and I trust you blindly with my life, Yor, but, do know I only have you for someone to look up to!"

Yor's jaw dropped, watching his Young Lord expressing pure emotions that were rare coming from him.

"Young Lord…?"

Realizing what he spoke instantly, he hastily changed his words, waving his hand in the air.

"I-I mean, you are strong. An admirable warrior, I-I fucking respect that."

He mentally cursed at all things, he inherited such a foul habit from his father, earning a chuckle from Yor.

He understood. 

"What? Go. It's late. You should sleep." 

"Yes, yes," 

Waving his hand, he turned to leave but stopped. Pressing his teeth, Zephyr was attempting to collected his falling emotions which were stumble when Yor came back.

"You know what, Young Lord?"

"What do you want now?" Zephyr frowned.

"I sometimes wonder why you don't mention your mother? Or ask about her?" He asked with curiosity.

After his father died, he had asked many things about him from Yor.

But, when his mother died, he didn't question nor ask a single thing.

"Because Lady Red never made me remember her. She loved me as her own child," He shrugged his shoulders calmly. 

"Okay, I respect that." 

Yor hesitated, sparing a questioning glance at Zephyr who seemed nonchalant about it.

Taking a deep breath, took a shot, unaware of how he would react.

"But, Even now, how did the book mysteriously reach your mother? How did she give it to her?"

Zephyr lost it, grabbing Yor's shirt, an unknown, a fiery flame burned in his eyes. 

"Are you accusing my mother of having any connections with Zirkos just because she was a purest Sheria?"

Yor was staggered, feeling a sense of fright and shiver at his display of wrath.

He thought over the coming years, his attachment might have ceased but he was wrong. 

"No, no, certainly not-"

"Don't ever use my mother's name wrongly, Yor."

Almost threatening him for daring to bring her name into this mess.

Zephyr became extremely sensitive and infuriated- which was unforeseen- before pushing him away.

"Then I deeply apologize for my words and actions, Young Lord," 

He bowed, noticing how his hands trembled, witnessing his hidden powers for a mere heartbeat.

"Leave." Zephyr glared at him,

"Yes,"

Without questioning further, he left immediately after pushing Zephyr into another storm of unwanted thoughts.