Heartbreaking News

Holding Azura right near his heart, his feet rushed to help. 

Knowing Lady Red won't be able to present anymore to heal any wound.

"Don't worry, it will get better," He reassured her, knowing those were fake words. 

He was perturbed to death, hands turning cold to imagine who would help her now.

Glancing at the man who held her closely, she pressed her palm gradually over his chest.

"Zephyr…"

She called him weakly, hoping to apologize for not being able to fight and stand firm on her words.

She didn't want him to consider her pathetic.

"Don't say anything," He murmured, pressing her to him like a cherished possession.

"I am here now, I won't let anything harm you again," He whispered.

Kissing her head gradually for consolation, staggering her by his softness which she didn't expect before reaching Delvin hastily.

"Delvin!" 

"Zephyr- Azura?! What happened?!" 

Delvin panicked when he saw Azura in such a painful condition. 

"She fought the commander. I don't know what to do, she is burned badly," He murmured, glancing at her and back to him worriedly.

"What should I do, Delvin?" His voice almost broke, not letting her go. 

Upon witnessing the sincerity in his eyes, Janessa who was helping people escaped, stepped forward and offered.

"I can help,"

He asked immediately, "Do you know how to?" 

"Yeah, I used to treat my grandpa whenever he tried to hurt himself," She nodded sternly. 

"Please, Janessa, can you help her?" 

Delvin requested politely, not knowing if Zephyr would bother to request himself. He knew his nature after all.

"Sure, let's take her to this house," She nodded.

Pointing at the house which was saved from burning.

Nodding, Zephyr took her and placed her on her stomach.

"Can you heal this?" 

Revealing her burned back, causing them to flinch at how horrible one could be.

"Ah, what a horrendous burn. I think it will form a scar," She whispered, coming closer to see how he would react.

"I don't care! Just save her fucking life!" 

"Zephyr…" 

Taken aback at his level of exasperation and stress. His hands were shaky, mind not working properly.

Holding his sides, he moved back, covering half of his face with his hand while murmuring painfully.

"Not you too, Azura," 

He couldn't lose more people he adored again. 

This was taking a toll on his mental health, he couldn't bear it.

Upon witnessing his state, Janessa knew she was too precious to him and gathered her determination.

"I need to check her whole body, you boys have to leave, I will see what I could do," 

Agreeing, they both leave, sitting on the steps of the house. Growling, Zephyr, pulled his hair from frustration. 

"Fuck!" 

"Hey, she is going to be alright, don't worry." 

Delvin smiled softly, giving his back a pat before sitting beside him to which he confessed sadly.

"If anything happened to her, I won't forgive myself, Delvin," 

"This too shall pass…" 

He continued his consolation before lowering his gaze in shame.

"Don't be so hard on yourself. At least you saved her… unlike me who watched my sister…" 

Zephyr was astounded, "You.. watched it?"

How nightmarish it would be for a brother to witness their sister being ravished…

"Hmm. You are strong, you saved her," Delvin whispered, attempting to reassure him.

Humming, Zephyr looked down, bringing a brief silence between them before continuing sorrowfully.

"I bet you must have some questions about hearing that I summoned Zirkos,"

"I don't,"

"What?" He blinked.

"That is your matter nor that you deliberately wanted to hurt people. You didn't know either, right?" Delvin reminded him. 

"But the fact I am the cause of many troubles and sufferings is undeniable," 

"And if I told King Jude about it, he would throw you out and I will be lonely again at the haunted tower," He muttered, leaning back. 

"Haunted?"

"They say soldiers died there and their souls roam there so they sent me, a nobody that if I die, it won't matter," 

Delvin chuckled dryly, well aware that because of his origin, his life didn't matter much to them.

"Plus, no matter how much of a headache you are, I have made you my friend." 

"Hey," Zephyr frowned, hitting him with his elbow, rolling his eyes before expressing his worry.

"Do you think is Yor going to be alright?"

"Of course. The three most powerful warriors are fighting, she couldn't be that deadly, right?"

"Hmm, I guess,"

They were sitting, waiting for the fire, for the fight and this horrible night to get over but time passed painfully slowly.

Looking down, they waited for a moment until Janessa came, clearing her throat to get their attention.

"Ahem,"

Zephyr asked hastily, getting up instantly, "How is she?"

"Unfortunately, I don't have a consoling news," 

She took a pause, studying the distress on his face before continuing. 

"I have treated the burn from any infection and bleeding but…"

"But?" 

He gulped in dread to her disapproving reactions, drying his throat with anticipation.

"The flames had some kind of poison mixed in it. I don't know what it is to help. We must hurry to a medic in the next five days, else she won't make it," She explained in a disappointing sigh.

Getting away while leaving Zephyr hurt and discouraged at the condition of his future bride.

Looking down, he made a rigid fist, extremely outraged at Quint for hurting his innocent Lady so badly. 

He felt like he should have tortured him more for those actions…

Forcing the lump in throat, without moving, Zephyr asked vaguely.

"... Can I see her?"

"You can but she is unconsciousness," 

"I see." 

After informing the saddening news, she spared a glance at Zephyr before going back to Delvin, feeling more comfortable with him.

"Also, have you guys seen my father around? I haven't seen him in the ruckus," She asked softly.

Looking around but among those people who were running, a person stopped and turned to her with a hysterical expression.

"Your father, you say, huh?"

"I am not talking to you assholes," She hissed, not caring for those villagers that always hurt her.

But, they threw the unbearable reality on her face with an insane laugh.

"Do you know what happened to him!? Someone burned him and everyone around your area alive!" 

"W-What…?" 

"You guys were the cursed ones after all! You caused this! That Jonas' death did this!" 

They yelled before starting their running hastily, to get away from this mess.

Standing stunned, her eyes widened in appall, mouth gaping at how heartlessly they delivered the news that her father died. 

"No, no, no, this can't be…"

Shaking her head, she refused to accept it. 

Tears brimmed in her eyes, she only had Andy, without him, she found herself lost. 

"You are lying, my father can't leave me like this.. Who- who do I have left apart from him?" 

Stammering, a few tears rolled down painfully, not wanting to be left alone in this unwanted town.

"You can't leave me, Father!" 

Making a fist out of dismay and wrath, she grit her teeth and ran in the direction of her home with tears spilling from her eyes.

 "Father!!" 

Zephyr opened his mouth to tell her that the man was right. 

He had sensed Andy's dead body but couldn't deliver the news so he remained silent as she ran away with Delvin following her. 

"Janessa!"