Defeated and Lost

After leaving Delphia with no clear path and a heavy soul accompanied by their king's body, they buried it in a forest.

They never thought King Hayden would be buried in the middle of nowhere after dying gloriously. A gloom spread in the air. 

"His Majesty…" Yor whispered, tears glistening in his eyes. He hated the fact he was unable to help.

'I should have died protecting Delphia instead of you.' Yor thought painfully.

"Zephyr, how could this happen?" Azura sobbed.

Resting her head on Zephyr's shoulder as he was staring at his Father's grave with a dead look. 

An inscrutable expression not leaving his face, holding his head up.

"Zep-" 

"Azura, don't cry. I don't fancy my lady wailing." 

His cold tone came out, pulling away as he put his hand over her shoulder.

"But-"

"Shh."

"...Are you okay?" Katlan asked worriedly, not liking his harsh demeanor. 

It made him concerned to wonder what must be going through his mind.

"Hmm." 

The boy who was miserable at his Father's death yesterday was now emotionlessly staring at his grave. 

Pulling away from Azura and staring deathly at the stone, a fire evoking in his emerald eyes.

It made everyone worried.

"Zephyr…" 

Lady Red was about to pat his head but he put his hand in the air coldly to stop her. 

He didn't need any consolation. No words could bring his Father back.

"Let's go, Yor. I just wanted to give him a respectful burial. Who knows what he'd do to him if I had left him there? There is no point in staying here." He ordered.

Steps retreating from the grave to probably never return there again and grabbing his bag from the cart, placing it over his shoulder.

They all looked at him in disbelief. 

"What?" 

He was right, there was no point in staying but he had no intention of staying and continuously mourned after losing their home, after the destruction.

"Get up. All of you." 

A strict order came from their Prince which they all obeyed without questioning.

"Young Lord, where should we head?" Yor asked, standing behind him.

He also buried his emotions and stood strongly behind his leader, willing to protect him till his last breath.

"To Laysa. It is the only kingdom which could shelter us for now." He sighed, creating a plan in his mind to save them from future predicaments.

"And what about Delphia?" Katlan interrupted, arching an eyebrow. 

"Do you think we are in any position to fight that monster?" 

He sighed in disappointment. They had to accept that they were lost before a dragon. 

Yor was about to speak something for support but Zephyr didn't need any and returned a deadly smirk in a low husky voice.

"But, don't worry, I will regain my Delphia. There is a place for only one king and it is going to be ME."

They were taken aback, after what happened he was still stuck on his words and that smirk, growing darker. 

Admiring this unwavering determination, they followed their Prince. 

"So, let's go. We have no time to waste." 

Declaring, they all left for Laysa. It took them a week to reach there and upon coming, Zephyr didn't waste a moment.

"I, Zephyr Elrond, future king of Delphia, demand to speak with your King." 

The news of the arrogant Prince's arrival was astonishing, also knowing that he was eighteen, the King of Laysa thought he had come to invite him for his coronation as the King.

King Jude was in his lavishing throne room, looking out of the window as his laugh echoed in the room.

"Fancying seeing you coming out of your circle of pride and-" 

But when he turned, he saw an injured, messy young man who had no emotions in his eyes. 

"Zephyr?" 

Calling worriedly, he didn't expect to find him in this condition.

Dead, dominant yet not showing any sign of pain or misery. He held his head high. 

"I am here to alarm you about the upcoming threat for not only Delphia or Laysa but the whole Rose continent." Zephyr enunciated, holding his hands behind his back. 

"And what is that threat?" He raised an eyebrow. 

'If he came to alarm me then it would definitely be serious.' King Jude thought.

"My Uncle attempted to release a dragon to control it for power apparently and it resulted in utter devastation."

"...What?!"

"Last week, my Father sacrificed his life while fighting Zirkos." Zephyr explained the situation. 

To say he was shocked would be an understatement. He became dire, jaw clenching from rage at the mention of that cruel creature.

"Zirkos? Dragon of the Abyss? Do you have any idea who you are talking about? That creature itself spells death." He hissed in a low tone. 

The thought of what doom would come by his arrival sent a shiver down his spine.

'If Hayden didn't stand a chance against him then who am I?' He thought worriedly.

"That is why my Father is no more with me. Our capital has been destroyed." Zephyr informed in a cold tone.

"And you ran away?" He mocked. 

It didn't affect him, Zirkos had hurt his pride enough.

"He let us escape. He had taken over Delphia and it wouldn't be long when his powers would spread to everyone and all of us would fall victim to this monster. He would ruin Rose."

Though Zirkos didn't say it, Zephyr used his statement of taking over to his advantage, having no solid idea if he'd truly do it or not. 

"What…?! This has to be a nightmare." 

King Jude gasped at the thought of what monstrosity could happen.

"It is."

King Jude pondered about his words for the next minute to contemplate the situation and turned to Zephyr sternly.

"What do you want from us?"

"Nothing but shelter for now."

"Why do you think we will shelter you?" He scoffed, folding his arms at his chest and finally after the whole talk, Zephyr showed a reaction.

He curled his lips in a dark smirk, taking a step closer with a strange power merging with his aura. 

Blinking at his emerging power, King Jude stood still.

"If you think I would sit quietly and not take my land back then you are wrong. You help us and it will benefit you or else we might have a problem in the future." 

Standing before him, refusing to look down, Zephyr rested his hands in his pocket, giving him an open threat.

"And let me tell you already, I am not kind like my Father." He whispered.

The faith he had in himself was immense. It surprised King Jude.

"How come you are so sure about defeating him? How come he won't follow you and ruin us as well?" He narrowed his eyes in suspicion. 

He chuckled dryly, "Obviously. I am Zephyr Elrond. The purest blood."

"And about following us, as I said, he let us go, he gave me a chance. Meaning, he wanted me to become strong so he won't do anything for now." Zephyr explained calmly, growing weary of his extending this talk needlessly.

He sighed, "I don't have any choices, do I?"

"Either way our land is going to fall into doom if we don't do anything." He smirked, shrugging his shoulders. 

"What are you going to do now?" 

Defeated, King Jude put his hand in the air. He also knew helping him was the right and only choice.

"For now, I will train myself and become strong." 

"Very well."

With a handshake, their deal was made and they were provided with shelter and clothes to clean and relax after witnessing their horrendous night.