Her Identity

Coming back from the memory, he didn't know why, but after so many years, he remembered her.

Her mention made his chest clench, he knew she uttered her name.

Yet he refused to believe in Genevieve having any connection with them.

"Tsk,"

He would never accept it.

Making a tight fist, curling his toes, he was submerged into rage. Breaths become unstable only by thinking.

Which soon shattered, taking him out of his thoughts as two people came to check. 

"Zephyr?"

Turning, he saw Delvin coming with Janessa with his monotonous kind smile, waving his hand at him.

A grimace came to his features, never preferring his presence.

"Delvin? What do you want?"

When he didn't bother to glance, let alone mention Janessa, a vein popped on her forehead.

"Nothing, the weather is amazing," He chuckled.

Pointing at the attractive cloudy sky that seemed perfect for a heartfelt confession.

"Did Azura ask you to check up on me?" He sighed, holding his sides to ignore the possible reasons.

"Nope." 

He came closer, unlike others, he was used to standing beside him. 

He stood next to him to which he obviously glared yet Delvin didn't react and asked casually.

"So what are you thinking?"

"How were your parents?" Zephyr instantly regretted asking that. 

Biting the inside of his cheek, he looked away, not wanting to know about someone else's parents and enhance his ache.

"They?"

Delvin paused with a nervous chuckle, scratching the back of his neck. 

"They were the sweetest, my mama taught me how to make bread. My father always stood strong. They said I was the most handsome," 

Arching an eyebrow, he couldn't help but to ask vaguely, "What happened to them?"

"Interested in my life, I see,"

"Be grateful that I asked," He scoffed, making him laugh a little as he informed him with a sweet smile.

"Robbers killed them in front of my eyes,"

His mouth gaped, "What- How?"

"We used to live in a village too." Delvin told him, facing the village as the harsh wind hit his face, widening his smile.

No doubt he was sorrowful to mention yet bore with it and flashed his kindness. 

"Like this one?" Janessa asked softly, coming closer. 

"No disrespect, but more developed. I used to sell breads,"

Chuckling, he paused.

Resting his hands in his pockets when the day he buried in his heart to conceal the anguish of it was dug open. 

"When I returned after work with Father they had killed Mother and upon fighting, he lost his life too." He whispered.

Suppressing his pain while Zephyr gave him side eyes, noticing how hard it was for him to mention.

"That day I begged for life… and swore I would never fall weak again,"

"And your sister?" 

When Zephyr questioned her, a powerless tear rolled down his cheek, the trauma of that night revived.

Sending a shiver down his spine, he flashed a shaky smile, throat dried with a sob stuck around his throat.

"Delvin?"

Zephyr narrowed his eyes, thinking he probably shouldn't have mentioned it.

"Left in a broken condition…" 

He turned gradually and whispered in a broken tone, widening Zephyr's eyes upon hearing such monstrosity.

"... A point where no man would marry her," 

They were villagers, their mentality didn't allow them to embrace a victim.

She was left on her brother's mercy, they neglected her, blaming her beauty for what happened.

"What do you-" Janessa failed to understand and tried to ask.

But Zephyr could understand how difficult it would be for him to tell openly.

So with a heavy heart, no matter how unfavorable it was, he asked.

"I don't see your mother, girl,"

He changed the topic instantly. She was staggered, Delvin quickly wiped his tears and took a deep breath to regain his composure.

She blinked, taking a moment when the prideful young man bothered to talk to her first and when she did, she looked down.

"She died giving birth to me… I don't know anything but my father never made me miss her." 

"He is my father, my friend, my mother, my ideal, my everything," She enunciated, causing the boys to exchange a glance.

Because no doubt, she was a girl of strong resolve.

"And I won't fall weak because I am his daughter after all,"

Zephyr was taken aback for a moment but soon relaxed and smirked.

"And you? How were your parents?" She asked innocently.

Deepening his prideful smirk, he raised his head high.

"The most admirable, honorable and lovable ones,"

She giggled, "You sound like they were some royals,"

"Ob-"

Zephyr was about to declare his identity with pure arrogance but the change in air was sensed by two boys and he jumped down.

"Hey-" 

Leaving mid-sentence, Delvin caught Janessa, escaping from the spot to where a fireball was thrown, lighting the Church on fire. 

"What the-!?" 

She gasped with disbelief when before her very eyes the Church caught on fire immediately as it spread hastily. 

"Fuck," 

Zephyr cursed, eyes scanning to find anyone who could have possibly done it.

Before they could reach an outcome, a few houses from the village blasted, dispersing smoke in the air, creating a ruckus.

"Aahhh!!"

"What was that?!" 

They growled, failing to grasp who came this time to serve as a hindrance of their path and followed the sound.

The fire reminded him of his capital's state, of how horrendous that night was for Delphia's history and it made his chest clench.

"Tsk, not this time," Zephyr hissed, sprinting but another fireball came in their direction.

"Like hell this would work," 

Zephyr jumped, getting away from it, moving to the side.

"Janessa!" 

Delvin shouted, appearing before her to save her from the impact.

"Tsk, what a nuisance," Zephyr scoffed.

Not liking Delvin's habit of always jumping into helping and casting his spell.

"Holy Dispersion," 

By this attack, he neutralized that fire with his holy magic, moving his finger diagonal and it dispersed in the air.

"Oh Lord…" 

Janessa's eyes widened, jaw dropped when in one attack, he ended the giant fireball and didn't let it damage the village too.

That was when she realized his powers were much higher than she could anticipate. 

Soon a shadow flashed by them.

"I am going forward, Delvin, you go your way," Zephyr ordered, knowing he would help the villagers obviously.

But speaking it out loud that 'go and help villagers' would scar his pride.

To show care about mere people so he used other words and chased the shadow. 

"Okay, be careful, let's go, Janessa,"

Delvin left and Zephyr drew his sword, chasing the person in a cape, checking its calf but didn't find any number there.

"You won't get away." 

Zephyr hissed and threw his sword, stabbing the shadow from behind but the moment it did, the shadow disappeared, leaving the cape behind.

"What the hell is happening?" He scowled, throwing the cape away.

Before his mind could register, a strong invisible attack came from the side, throwing him against the mud wall.

"Argh, dammit,"

Zephyr was about to grab his sword but having less time, another sharper attack came, cutting everything coming in its way.

Zephyr shifted to down, barely evading it and smirked when the attack from behind and his best man Yor stopped it.

"Young Lord!"

He smirked, proud that at his one danger, he arrived hastily and glanced from his shoulders, turning to him.

"Yor, What is all this?" 

"Two commanders from the abyss are here," 

"Hmm, I could tell. One is a fire user and the other uses something deceptive and invisible," Zephyr hummed.

Then, on top of a house, the one from the cape appeared, face hiding, standing there gracefully.

Moving her leg forward, revealing the number 2 on her calf, emitting a strange temptation.

"Aldina," Zephyr growled.

Recalling his mother, the initial thought that she killed him evoked and his wrath doubled. He was about to attack but was stopped by Yor.

"Yor?" 

"I knew there was something wrong from the beginning," He hissed, releasing a strong fire of rage, taking a step forward, tightening his grip on his sword.

Zephyr was bewildered as a seductive chuckle came from the lady.

"Really?"

"I should have known…" Yor paused, moving his foot back, letting out his strongest aura that stunned Zephyr.

"Young Lord,"

Zephyr gulped, distressed upon finding such wrath etched on his features.

"What?"

Lowering his head, he shook it from disappointment before declaring number 2's real identity. 

"Aldina is none other than Lady Red!"