23- To Become A Protector

Zephyr was sharing the most heartbreaking and saddening moment for him- 

That all his time with his Aunt was nothing but a lie.

At that time, another commander of the Abyss was spreading fire rapidly in the air, burning houses after houses. 

"What is happening!?" Azura shouted.

Getting to the rooftop to watch how another devastation was occurring before her eyes.

She got up only to find Marcus and Jay already there, observing the place and thinking what they must do. 

"Two commanders of the Abyss had been summoned, we must stop them else they would burn the village down," Jay spoke with a frown.

Not liking the situation which was creating, the screams of misery from the people were dispersing in the air.

"Where are others?" Marcus asked, turning to Azura.

"They all are out, must be around," She whispered, curling her hand in a fist. 

"Azura, go and focus on helping the people. We will find the commanders and others," Marcus ordered, drawing his spear to go and join the battle too.

"Why are they doing this?"

The sight was disturbing her and with no one from her side to guide her, she suddenly found herself stuck and distressed.

"This attack shows we are on the right path, Azura. Someone doesn't want us to find out the identity of this Aldina," 

Jay informed sternly, rising from the ground too after studying the air and presence.

"That means…?"

"Yes, we could say she must be present here too. No matter what happens, do not engage in a fight with them. They are too strong," They ordered strictly.

"I-I understand," 

She nodded worriedly as they vanished in a split second, leaving her on her own with a special and hard task.

Taking a deep breath, she wanted to prove that she was not useless, that her presence won't become a bother.

Gathering her resolve, to show zephyr, she rushed down only to find Andy panicking around the house.

"Mister, come with me," She called, opening the door but he refused.

"Janessa?! Where is my daughter?" 

"I can sense her with Delvin, she must be safe then, you come with me," She told him sternly, taking him along with her along with all the other people in the vicinity. 

"Everyone! Don't panic! That is what this creature wants! Come with me!" 

She called out, understanding there were normal people and such frightening circumstances were too much for them.

"That is all that Jonas' fault! He called for the demise of our village!" One of them shouted, sobbing while running away.

"Will you stop blaming someone for your misery!?" Andy argued.

"Why not!? He did this to us! He was crazy!"

But, deep down, he could feel that it had something related to him and his family.

Which made him feel immensely guilty.

"Must be someone from that blabbering of his. What was it? Aldina! Must be that witch that made him crazy!"

"Stop speaking ill about my father! He didn't do anything wrong!" 

"Please have some compassion, my father just died in yesterday," 

Andy's voice broke, hurting to hear all those cruel things but they didn't care.

"Why not? He brought this-" 

Before their bickering could continue, Azura glared from her shoulder.

"Shut up if you want to live," 

Azura spoke in a warning tone, drawing out her sword that gave them an open threat, sealing their lips.

"Where are you taking us?" They gulped, changing their topic instantly.

"Somewhere safe and away from this mess-"

Before she could complete her words, a fire ball attacked them.

"Ah, ah, not so fast, Lady,"

Cutting it in the air, she suppressed the fire by imbuing her magic in it, saving the twenty people who were with her.

"Get back." 

They followed, maintaining a fair distance from the man who seemed too strong, emerging a strong, malicious aura. 

"Oh, not bad," A guy came, throwing his cape away, revealing his identity as the lower fourth commander from the Abyss.

Quint. 

"You…" She growled.

Tightening her grip on her sword, willing to do anything to become a savior and not being protected.

"It has a number too," Andy whispered, becoming afraid instantly to find a number eight on it.

'He is a lower four. Must be the weakest,' She thought in perturbation. 

Though it was not about the commander but the people she had to protect too. She couldn't do both simultaneously.

"So a weakling like you is sent to test our powers, huh?" 

Giving a shaky smirk, she decided to rile him up to test his capabilities to which he merely scoffed.

She was worried, distressed. 

For someone who had never fought before, it was scaring her. 

"Be grateful it was not Lady Nayah else you wouldn't be alive," 

He didn't think much about her words.

'What should I do? He won't let them escape. Can I defeat him?'

Swallowing hard, she scanned the place, hoping to create a strategy and her faith stumbled, causing her hands to tremble.

Shit. Shit. Shit.

It was the first fight of her life, that too with a commander.

Noticing her hesitation, he smirked, coming closer, spreading fire where he stepped.

"What happened? I see your hands trembling, Lady,"

'No, it is not about if I can or cannot. I must defeat him. These people are dependant on me,' 

"Trembling and my hands?"

Exhaling, she attempted to put her emotions and feelings at serenity and focus.

Nervousness during a fight was a high disadvantage after all.

"It's the future Queen of Delphia you are talking about," She enunciated.

Hoping those words would boost her confidence too, how they strengthened Zephyr.

"So they have started their women's fight too? How low are they going to fall? Tsk, tsk, tsk,"

Shaking his head, he held his sides, moving his hand diagonally and burning a house in the corner on fire.

"No, my house!" One of them screamed, falling on its knees.

"Tsk, nuisance-"

Quint was about to kill the guy who sobbed but she came in between.

"I won't let you hurt them," She growled, coming to attack him but he moved to the side, kicking her from the side which she evaded.

"You are weak, girl," 

She scoffed, getting up and attacking him continuously but his fire didn't allow her to reach him. 

When she attempted to focus entirely on fighting and disregarded the people, Quint smirked darkly, slamming his hands down.

"You should be attentive, girl," 

"What-" 

"Ahh!!"

Before her mind could register, he burned those people in a split second, weakening her whole being. Afraid at the unbearable sight, her body turned cold.

"Noo!!"

A tear rolled down her cheek, feelings so vulnerable and enraged, cursing herself to lose focus.

In one attack, he killed the people she was supposed to protect before her very eyes. They all converted into ashes before her eyes in a heartbeat, indicating-

She couldn't protect…