4- Sacrifices and Escaping

"Zephyr. Happy Birthday, My Son." He whispered sweetly, glancing at his son for probably the final time.

"W-what…?" 

"Today, after seeing you fighting and protecting, I am reassured that you will turn out to become a good king. Take care." 

He spoke his final words. His lips quivered, he wished to stay longer to watch his son become a memorable king but to no avail.

A tear rolled down both Father and son's cheek. Having no other way out of this predicament.

"Father, no, no, please-" 

Holding his hand out in a broken tone, Zephyr tried to call his Father, praying to stop him with tears collecting in his eyes again.

"Open five paths. Burn my heart with devotion. I, for one, offer myself to consecration!"

He cast the strongest spell, gathering all his powers and taking steps in the air to fight this dragon. 

"No, no, Father, you can't do this, you will die-" 

Falling on his knees, Zephyr no longer had strength. He found himself utterly lost, tears spilling down his cheeks slowly, his hand still in the air.

But, it won't bring his Father back. Before he could gather his posture and emotions, everything slipped.

He watched his Father disappear before his sight, releasing a scream of anguish.

"Father, no!!"

And his Father went, sacrificing his life in order to save his country, leaving Zephyr miserable and defeated.

… All by his one mistake.

Zephyr was on his knees with tears, watching his father fight this dragon. White sparks emitting from him. 

He was not strong enough to fight but his willpower was firm enough to keep him going.

Shaking, he was only watching his Father getting injured yet not stepping back. He stood firm and continued to fight. 

As he was staring, Katlan came on his horse and called him worriedly, "Zephyr!"

"Katlan? Look- Father, look what is he doing? Stop him-" 

His shaky tone came out, pleading with his friend to help his Father but they all knew what was coming for his Father.

… And he did it not only for his country but for his son also, to help him escape. 

"It is too late, Zephyr. His Highness won't return. Come, we must leave-" 

He tried to make him listen calmly. Holding his hand out for him to come but he growled.

"How do you expect me to leave when my Father is sacrificing his life!?" He yelled, refusing to move an inch.

"Can you not see he is doing this for you!? For all of us!?" He yelled back, inducing the realization of the situation here.

It was a critical time.

"Stop crying. You are the future king! Come, you must survive. Don't let his efforts go to waste!" He hissed, coming up and grabbing him by his collar, taking him forcefully.

"Father…" 

Whimpering in a weak tone, he watched his Father while leaving with Katlan, going farther and farther away from him. 

Zephyr's tears shone in his eyes when he saw his Father was losing. 

It dreaded him yet he remained motionless until Katlan took him near a cart where some high officials were present. 

The second he stepped down, a seventeen-years old girl came and hugged him immediately.

"Zephyr!"

"Azura….?" 

"Look, what is happening! How could Sir Rufus do this!?" 

His breaths hitched when he saw his fiancée hugging him. 

Yes, they were betrothed young and were supposed to marry when she'd turn eighteen.

"What..?"

Pausing, he realized her words, turning to his Aunt who held a stoic face while he was flabbergasted. 

He couldn't believe his Aunt placed a fake blame in order to save him.

"It was Sir Rufus and his son. They tried to summon Zirkos, the Dragon of the Abyss and this happened, I found them dead in a cave. Look where their jealousy led them." 

She told them coldly, covering her face with her cape and getting in the cart as they left from there. 

"I couldn't believe it. What traitors." Yor growled, his jaw clenching. 

Everyone present there was cursing them and he held his head low.

"My Lady…?" 

"Don't look at me like this. I am only protecting the future king as the Lady and as your Aunt… You were the heart of my sister. Your protection is my duty." She told him in a low but dead voice. 

His lips quivered, lowering his head in embarrassment.

"Thank you… and I am sorry…"

What else could he speak? 

He knew someone else was being accused for his actions. Someone died for his actions.

But, he must bear the guilt as the upcoming king.

Exhaling from exhaustion, Lady Red looked up in the sky, narrowing her eyes in dejection at the sight of the ravaging land. 

"Look up. You have a whole country to console- What?!"

Before she could speak further, the dragon and king Hayden clashed fiercely, creating countless sparks in the sky before both of them falling into a forest, horrifying everyone.

"What happened!?" 

Everyone got alarmed quickly. They shivered upon witnessing the glorious clash of their times with grief. 

The day their king fell down with a dragon in a fight…

"I have no idea what is happening there." Yor breathed out.

Narrowing his eyes in woe. He knew he had been assigned with a duty to protect the price. 

He couldn't risk it. He hated the fact he couldn't help the king.

Within the upcoming moments, deadly silence dispersed in the air. 

They all gulped in anticipation of what happened. Zephyr shivered to fathom what could have happened.

"Why is it so silent all of the sudden? Where is the dragon?" Katlan asked, trying to get a proper look but to no avail.

"Did Father… Defeat him?" 

The second those words escaped Zephyr's lips, their cart was turned upside down, throwing everyone out, not knowing what happened or who did it.

"Ah!" 

They all fell from the cart, groaning and looking up to find who did it. 

"Who is it?" 

Hissing, they looked up to see who stopped their path.

Only to find a seductive man with the most eye-catching, deadly but tempting maroon eyes and long black hairs approaching them.

They were left astounded at the handsome man, unable to apprehend who it could be.

Wearing a black loose shirt and well fit bottoms with long boots, causing the sound of his heels echoing in the air. His aura was darker than they could ever perceive.

"What the-" 

Before they could fathom, the body of their beloved was thrown before them from the darkness along with a mock.

"You wish that a measly man you call your king is capable of defeating me."