To Become A Protector (Part 2)

'I.. had no idea real fights would be this deadly… was Zephyr right all this time?' She thought weakly.

'What should I do now? They are dead on my watch. Did I fail? Was I not prepared for this world? For fights?' 

Those thoughts intoxicated her, etching the realization that their deaths were on her head. It hurt her terribly. 

She felt like she failed as a protector.

She shivered violently along with a tear pricking in the corner. 

"What have you done…?" 

Her mind shut down for a heartbeat, body shaking in pain of failing to shelter them and Quint took that as an advantage. 

"See? How useless were the ones you intended to save?"

Not giving her a moment to react, he appeared before and caused an explosion behind her. 

She groaned from the unforeseen pain yet managed to land on her knees, directing her anger towards him.

"Prince's betrothed, hmm? Well, let's see how much your prince cares for you," He smirked darkly.

He created a screen of smoke, hindering her vision. 

"What the-" 

Grabbing her hair and throwing her towards the burning house, turning everything into ashes he got back.

Upon hearing she was his Lady, he decided to torment her more to evoke misery in Zephyr.

"Ahh!" 

She winced, coming out after burning her arms and came to attack still but he was too strong for her.

He grabbed her arm, twisting it so he could push her on the ground.

"Maybe your voice isn't reaching him. Let's try one more time,"

He chuckled malevolently, breaking her arm, making her scream out of overwhelming pain she experienced for the first time.

"AHH!!" 

Unable to move, on the verge of sobbing from the pain draining her energy, closing her eyes. 

Laughing wickedly, he was about to hurt her more but her scream and wailing sounded off.

Soon he sensed something wrong and stopped, furrowing his brows. 

"Hmm?" 

Curling his lips downwards, he let go of Azura, revealing it was a deception as the girl he held dispersed in the air.

"Huh? Deception?"

She escaped from the blazing house and sent a fake shadow of herself to create an opening for her.

She jumped from above, piercing his arm with her sword.

"Like hell I will let you!"

"Argh! You bitch!" He growled, holding his bleeding arm, glaring at the girl who managed to land an attack.

"How dare you kill them on my watch," She growled back, rushing to attack.

He was in pain so to fight properly was hard. 

She attacked him continuously, not giving him a moment to do something about his bleeding arm.

They fought. He studied the fighting style and attacks, instantly recognizing them.

She slashed her sword from the middle but he jumped, getting on top of the house, making an 'o' face of understanding.

"Oh, I understand now. You must be Aldina's student,"

"What…?"

Upon hearing it, her whole being stiffed. A strong hesitation emerged that she was taught by… Aldina. How? 

She had no idea nor would she believe in those people.

Gritting her teeth, she collected her feelings but in a split second, he appeared before her, too close to her face.

"Advice, girl, never let your emotions control you during a fight." 

Whispering huskily, he grabbed her face, "What the-" 

Casting fire on the ground and throwing her there so that it could hold her down and burn her body gradually. 

"Mhm!!" 

Due to his hand on her face, her scream of pain was muffled. Her hands got burned, leaving her unable to hold her sword.

"Do you know who is the second commander of the Abyss?" 

Flashing a malevolent glint, he kicked her after stealing her weapon and gathering his fire in his hand.

"It's none other than your dearest, your most favorite, Lady Red,"

"Liar…" 

She couldn't utter those words properly, holding the soil in her hands. 

"Believe whatever you want though I have no reasons to lie." 

Coming closer, he watched her whimper and writhe in pain, smirking at her vulnerability. 

Leaning forward, he gripped her hair in his palm, whispering mockingly.

"Where are those words now?"

Cracking his knuckles, a ruthless glimpse flashed in his eyes before announcing what he was about to do.

"Let's try calling your prince again," 

Closing her eyes in defeat, a tear rolled down in defeat. 

'Is that all I could do…?'

Mentally preparing for any anguish while losing hopes that she was ready to go and fight in the first place.

When she had lost, her head hung low.

Making a fist to remember about the time where she pleaded to become strong.

BACK, 

"Lady Red, I beg of you, make me strong too," 

She requested Lady Red in the beginning desperately. 

Zephyr was training, Katlan left too, she wanted to do something too, to help.

"Azura, dearest, you know that the Young Lord is strictly against it. If you did this, you might lose his affection towards you," She whispered softly.

Hoping that would make her understand but she refused to listen.

"I need power more than his affection. I couldn't be dependent on him. I don't want to become a burden," She declared strictly.

"Who made you think like this?"

"Everyone here is a warrior except me. I can't even lift a weapon. Is Zephyr going to take care of Delphia or me?" 

And Azura had a perfectly valid reason to learn, she wanted to stand beside him.

Not behind him.

"Please, he already has a weight on his shoulders, I don't want to increase it," 

She continued, almost bowing at Lady Red, willing to beg if she must for his sake.

Taken aback at the girl's resolve, she leaned forward, holding her face in her hand with a tempting smirk.

"You know what? You have convinced me, I like your determination," 

"Very well, from now on, I shall train you personally, Lady Azura Bruke,"

But, sadly, she failed herself…

The fact she lost pierced her heart.

Maybe she was truly not ready for the true world, moreover fighting a commander, yet.