Moving Forward

"Why didn't you let me take him along?!"

Yelling, Zephyr became senseless, emotional and sensitive as his death was too much for him to recover from.

They narrowed their eyes in compassion when he refused to think straight.

But it was understandable, Yor was too close to him.

"Because Aldina would have stopped all of us then and killed us," Marcus replied faintly. 

They were looking down while holding a deep admiration for Yor that he managed to save them else she wouldn't have permitted them to escape.

"So what!?" 

But Zephyr was overwhelmed by sorrow and failed to understand that. His death took a heavy toll on his mental capacity.

"He knew after losing his one arm, he wouldn't be of much use so he decided to save us all," They explained softly.

"Fuck!" 

Hitting the tree, he cursed loudly, averting his gaze as those words gradually sank it. 

Closing his eyes, he took a deep breath but everything slipped, to turn oblivious towards despair was impossible.

He failed to hide like he did in his father's matter.

"He died as a protector."

When they announced, his strength strained, falling on his knees, clutching his heart out of uncontrollable dismay.

The fact he witnessed those flames covering him threw him into desolation. How he died before his very eyes.

But, he couldn't do anything…

'Only if I am stronger than anyone…'

Jaw dropped, falling on his knees, tears stole his vision. 

Exchanging compassionate glances none of them dared to come closer, apprehending he needed solitude so they moved back.

"Do you think she had escaped?" Delvin asked.

Feeling bad for the people stuck in the fire, losing their lives for no reason.

"She is not that easy to defeat. She can control mind and souls," 

"That is why she took over your grandfather, over real Lady Red and continued to live," 

"Why… you?"

With tears glistening in his eyes, Zephyr was sitting on the ground after losing his strength as this was too much for him to bear.

His hands powerlessly gripped the grass, ripping it off.

Lips were quivering, the flames dispersed in the sky, bringing a new morning after another nightmarish one. 

"Yor…"

He tried, he tried so hard to suppress it between his throat but ended up releasing a sob.

A few tears rolled down his cheek, "N-Not you too…"

Refusing to move an inch until he would witness the whole village burn into nothiness with grief taking over him.

Hugging his knees closely, he remembered how he grew up with him…

"When Yor is here, I have nothing to worry about," 

Said the five years old Zephyr with pure admiration, sitting on his shoulders with the sound of his laugh echoing in the air.

"Wow, you are so strong, one day I will also become strong like you," Another grin came when he turned ten.

"Katlan, son, say sorry," 

Yor scolded his fifteen years old son who was glaring at the twelve years old prince.

"Why, Father? He started the fight," 

"Come on, it's alright. Do it, you are the eldest," He chuckled, patting his head making Zephyr laugh, teasing Katlan.

"Ha, see, Yor loves me more." 

"I will defeat you one day, Yor," Zephyr said with determination when he turned fifteen.

His energetic demeanor shone the whole castle.

And to be among those few people he favored, Yor always receive special attention. 

After his father and Lady Red, Yor was equally important to him.

"I am here to witness, Young Lord, I am honestly excited for that day,"

"Really?! You think I can defeat you?" He asked in disbelief as he spoke those words only playfully.

But his faith in him boosted his confidence. 

"Yes, you are the prince, Zephyr Sheria Elrond after all,"

"If you think I can, then I definitely will!"

And now… all of it is gone. 

There was no man he could look up to and hold admiration towards. No one for whom he could hold blind faith.

He suddenly found himself so lost, so disheartened.

"Yor," 

He cried a little, hiding his face in his knees so others won't witness his misery. Sniffling, he took a few deep breaths to collect his posture.

"Zephyr," 

Delvin called softly, breaking his moment of sorrow as he lifted his gaze. 

"Delvin-"

"Get up." He called sternly, knowing pitiful words weren't for him nor he required consolation.

All the anguish in his eventually disappeared. Scarring his perception, leaving a feral flame in his aura to make all those people pay. 

"Aldina will pay for it,"

All his emotions converted into fury that was all directed to Aldina as he swore that he would kill her next time.

He won't let those bastards spread further terror.

"I won't let your death go to waste. I will avenge you, Yor,"

Declaring, he stepped forth.

Not only she betrayed but his best man died because of her, increasing the urge to rip those evil people apart rose in him.

"That damned woman," 

"No matter how many times that creature will attempt to stop me, I will strike back." He hissed.

Holding his head high after wiping his eyes to gather his emotions and move forward.

"This won't stop me," 

"And me?" 

A miserable voice came, they turned and saw Janessa who had lost everything there.

Her home was burned, father and grandfather both dead, no fortune, no reason to live anymore.

"What should I do now? My home and family got burned now," 

Staying on her knees, she looked down, losing hopes for her life and almost considering demise as her final destination until Zephyr's arduous resonance came.

"Come along." 

"Huh?" 

He walked past her, not bothering to glance at her with a clear-cut offer.

"I have seen your accuracy while throwing stones, you are befitted to hold the privilege of being my archer with some training," He offered coldly.

Gulping the way he dripped dominance accompanied by a powerful aura, it surprised her. 

One moment he was sobbing after losing his ideal and now turned into a stoic man.

She didn't hear the conversation with Aldina too so she didn't know.

"Who- Who are you exactly?" 

To her soft murmuration, his lips curled from one side.

"I am the future King of Delphia, Prince Zephyr Sheria Elrond," 

"You are the prince of Delphia!?" 

Her jaw dropped, crawling back to fathom the prince of the former most powerful land here, to their measly village.

"Yes, I most certainly am," 

Stopping his tracks as he glanced from his shoulders with the reason why he held too much pride in his existence.

He always considered himself above them all.

"If you guys are done too, let's go. We have no reason to stay here anymore," He called, walking up to Azura, picking her up.

"We have got nothing to hold onto here. Let's go to the nearest town and treat Azura and all of your wounds too," 

Nodding, they rose as well, knowing it was futile to remain here and they must move forward. 

"How long might it take?" 

"I-I um, it will be here s-soon, your highness," She whispered, keeping her gaze lowered.

"Don't worry, Janessa, he is of our age, you can call him Zephyr," 

"Do not spread your foul manners to others, Delvin," Zephyr frowned, glaring at him. 

Delvin wanted to help to divert his mind as they were about to argue but Janessa cleared her throat. 

"We are here- what the hell!?" 

But, when they arrived, the town was already destroyed by someone.