The Arrogant Prince

BEFORE,

King Hayden Elrond, was on his throne with a gloomy expression on his face.

"With great sadness I have to inform you that I don't find you fit enough to hold the title of the king, Zephyr." 

His disappointing tone came out, frowning at his only seventeen years old son before him.

"What?" 

The young prince with piercing light green eyes and brown hairs was left flabbergasted to know that. 

"I am your only son, the one with the purest Elrond blood, the strongest yet you think I am unfit?"

His mouth was left hanging, almost chuckling mockingly.

"May I know what made you say that?" 

"I never thought I would say this but sadly, you have become arrogant, Prince Zephyr Sheria Elrond." He explained further, rising from his throne and walking up to the growling boy.

He was about to hold his shoulder for reassurance but overflowing with anger, he put his hand up to stop his Father. 

"Why, Father? All of my ancestors took over the throne young. It is tradition the eldest son must take over the throne at the age of eighteen. Everyone did it. Why can't I?"

"That, Zephyr. You are gifted with powers, you are nothing on your own. What exactly do you know about the world? All you care about is your powers." 

And the answer was before him but he refused to take it as a valid reason and scoffed.

"Because I am strong. I have pure blood which no one had for five generations, for two centuries,."

"You are not strong. You are arrogant." 

His Father replied in the same tone, displeased with his stubbornness. To which young Zephyr further argued. 

"Why shouldn't I be? I am the in-line king Delphia. I have all the rights to hold my head high to the point no one can compete with me." 

"Please, son, this vanity will drown you one day. A king with no compassion is useless. You are young, you are immature. You cannot rule only by power." 

He tried to convince his son softly but he had enough. He didn't need consolations, he needed the power which belonged to him.

"Pride is a sin, Son. Please realize that." 

To his endless attempts to make his son listen and walk down a righteous path, Zephyr had only one reply to all of his whining.

"I deserve it, Father,"

"I deserve all of it, from the magic to this throne you are sitting on. All of it."

His jaw clenched, losing his patience with the young man and sighed loudly, putting his hands in the air in defeat.

"Fine then! You shall be eighteen in two months, right? Prove yourself to me. Prove it to me that you deserve the throne." He ordered seriously, bringing a proud smirk on Zephyr's lips.

Folding his arm at his chest, he held his head high. He had faith in himself. 

"Fine. I shall show you that I am worthy to become a King and handle the matter of MY kingdom."

Scoffing, King Hayden waved his hand off, dismissing him, "Yeah, yeah, we will see." 

He was seriously distressed because of his son and he only chuckled at his Father's growl.

Walking away with determination to teach his Father that he was capable of becoming a king.

He had sworn. 

Later, after ruining his mood by arguing with his Father, he was in the training grounds, practicing with his knight, Yor. 

Closest to him, his guide, his mentor.

Zephyr clashed his sword with Yor's lance, smirking darky after pushing him away.

"Grow stronger if you intend to defeat me." He enunciated, releasing a chuckle from the knight who smiled sweetly at the boy.

"Aren't you being too arrogant, Young Lord?" 

"Don't call me young, Yor. I just defeated you-" 

"Are you sure about it?"

Before Zephyr could continue, Yor appeared behind him, holding his wrist and twisting it behind his back as he pushed him on the ground. 

He growled, struggling to move but he held him down.

"Next time, I surely will." Zephyr growled.

Stopping his struggling and accepting his defeat for now as they got up and brushed the dust from their clothes.

"How come you are so sure?" Yor chuckled and was about to pat his head. 

He hissed and slapped his hand away, turning his head towards the horizon, refusing to lower his head as he declared.

"Because I am the future King of Delphia."

"Let's see what your Father will say." 

Yor teased as they left the training grounds and came back to go back to their duties.

"I will show him, Yor. I must." Zephyr declared seriously. 

His young blood was pumping with power and dreams to follow but according to him, his Father was not understanding.

"Good luck. Your determination has my admiration." Yor grinned, showing him a thumbs up.

"Hmm." 

He smirked and opened his mouth to speak something but a graceful lady, with long red hairs and blue eyes came. 

"My, My, Young Lord, there you are. I was looking for you." 

She was an epitome of charm. In her thirties, chuckling in her seductive tone.

Zephyr and Yor stopped instantly and bowed from respect at his Mother's sister, his beloved Aunt who could do anything for her nephew. 

She took care of him after his mother's demise and adored him. 

"Lady Red. If you needed me, you should have summoned me. Why did you bother to come by yourself?" 

Zephyr spoke in a charming tone, taking her hand and kissing her knuckles with a sweet smile. 

"I wanted to speak with you. Alone."

Lifting her hand in the air, dismissing Yor. When Yor left with a bow, he turned to his Aunt, grinning sweetly.

She was among the few ones he truly respected and was soft towards.

"Yes, My Lady?"

"Zephyr. I have heard about His Majesty's demand and it honestly disheartens me that he neglected you."

"Exactly. I hold all the rights to become the next King yet he refused to give me a position which belongs to me. Why is he doing this?" 

She stopped in her tracks and turned to the boy, a sly smirk reaching her lips as she asked in a low, tempting voice.

"Why are you not fit enough?" 

He blinked in confusion but coming closer, she held his chin, the eye-catching smirk not leaving her lips as she continued.

"What do you think? Give me your answer and I shall guide you accordingly."

He pondered about his Father's demand. 

Zephyr gave it a thorough thought, needing his Aunt's help desperately and breathed out. 

"I think he wants me to show him my Pure Magic. According to him I am not strong enough which is clearly wrong." Zephyr shared his perspective.

He failed to see that the main reason his Father rejected him was because he was not kind towards people, and he had a superiority-complex. 

Zephyr failed to understand that.

"So you want to show your true powers?" 

Lady Red continued, willing to do anything. 

If that was the path he considered choosing, she would guide him.

He chose power himself.

"Yes. I have the strongest blood after all." He nodded. 

"Fair enough. Come with me." 

Motioning to him, she entered her chambers and took out an ancestral book from her hidden chest, handing it to him.

"There you go. None of us could use it anyways, only a pure one can, which is you so.. It was supposed to be yours anyways." 

She chuckled, handing him a strange yet beautifully carved black book. 

Zephyr took it, confused, glancing at the book and back at his Aunt.

"The Perfection of Dark Art? I thought those books perished long ago. How come you have it?"

"Coming from generations. Leave that. To you, it is to prove your strength and I have given you a chance to prove it. This book has a spell to summon Zirkos." She explained further, intrigued as well how and what it could result in.

"Zirkos? The Dragon of the Abyss?" 

"Yes. Since you think you are that strong, prove it. Can you control a dark dragon with your holy blood, Young Prince? Can you summon him to prove your powers? Can you do this?" She shrugged her shoulders. 

Challenging to which Zephyr raised his head while affixing his eyes on the book. His chance to show his worth to those who didn't consider him wise enough.

"It's not about whether I can or can't, My Lady." 

A strong resolve rushed in his green eyes, curling his lips in a dark smirk as he declared. 

Mindlessly deciding to go too far only to show his worth.

"I will do it."