25- Saving Azura

Back to Zephyr who was miserable after knowing Aldina's identity as the pain of he never meant anything to her agonized him.

But, amid that ache of being unloved by his dearest Aunt- 

The ones who supported him wholeheartedly, came for his rescue when Aldina attacked.

"Young Lord!"

"Zephyr!" 

His jaw dropped, watching them protect him, "You guys…?"

Even after knowing it was his fault that he lost Delphia, his father and summoned that monster known as Zirkos.

"Don't you dare to hurt my friend!" 

Delvin hissed as they both pushed her back and made Zephyr stand strong too.

"Why…?" 

Zephyr gulped sorrowfully, finding himself at his lowest point. 

It hurt to know that he never meant anything to her.

Was that what he gained after giving her the position of his mother?

Displeased with their interruption, Aldina pushed her long hair behind, arching an eyebrow temptingly.

"What, Yor? Did you not hear what I said? He summoned My Lord Zirkos." 

They glared as she continued, tapping her staff on the ground but Yor and others jumped back, not trusting her deceptions.

"He is the reason Katlan is like this, why King Hayden died, why Delphia is like this," 

She continued seductively, attempting to manipulate them into her words which weren't wrong.

It was his fault, he couldn't deny it.

"Yet you are supporting him?"

Zephyr lowered his gaze out of dejection, accepting any judgment they would place on him.

And without a doubt, he was afraid of Yor's resentment. 

To all his fears and distraught, Yor pointed his sword towards Aldina along with a smirk. 

"How do you expect me to not protect the boy I watch growing up as my son-alike?" 

"Huh?" 

Zephyr shot his head towards him, instant admiration brimming in his chest along with a tear.

'He… didn't hate me,' 

He thought sorrowfully to the point his lips quivered. He wanted to hug Yor for not leaving him. 

For not attending him because he was scared to death.

He didn't have many people to call family left anyways.

"I apologize but my heart is not stone as yours, Lady," Yor enunciated.

Smirking at the prince's expressions before placing all his attention on the woman before him.

Scoffing when her attempt failed, she got in a fighting stand. 

"Tsk. Then all of you shall perish,"

"As if we would allow it,"

Before she could cast her spell, Marcus attacked her with his lance, stopping her, also joining them in a fight.

Fighting the upper 2 commander was no joke. They knew all of them together could lose too.

She was unbelievably strong. 

"Hmph, nuisance,"

"You two, go and help Azura in evacuation. Another commander is lighting up houses on fire. Stop him," 

Jay said sternly as the three warriors prepared himself to fight the second malicious commander.

"Yor?"

"Don't worry about us, Young Lord, go," 

Nodding sternly, he didn't question, not wanting to become a burden and make things difficult for the warriors.

"Let's go, Delvin,"

Grabbing his sword, he ran away with Delvin, leaving this matter into their hands. 

Delvin glanced at him from time to time, witnessing the distress and anguish etched on his face with compassion. 

Janessa who was there in the corner all this time remained silent and joined them when they ran.

"Zephyr…" 

Delvin attempted to call him softly but he stopped him.

"Don't say anything." 

He swallowed hard, posture stumbling slightly, "I can't bear it,"

"Take care," Delvin spoke sincerely to which he hummed. 

His jaw clenched, converting all his disheartened and painful feelings into rage. He won't fall weak.

He was about to sense Azura to hear about her well-being but as they were running, a scream reached them.

"Ahh!!"

Zephyr instantly recognized the sound which caused him to panic in distress.

"Azura!"

"You guys go," 

He didn't wait for their reaction as his body acted on its own and he rushed to save his princess.

The slightest imagination of what happened to her infuriated him.

He was already disturbed mentally to the core by Aldina's divulgence and now when someone dared to hurt his lady-

He had enough.

Azura was laying on the ground, her back wide open with burn marks. 

Quint was tracing his finger on her skin, making her scream and wail out of pain.

And the sadistic bastard was indulging in the sound she was producing, laughing at her weakness. 

"Scream more, how-" 

Before he could touch her back to burn it more, going unnoticed, a clash came out of nowhere along with a certain wrathful prince.

Cutting the fingers which were about to touch her.

"How dare you hurt my Lady's skin with your filthy hands?"

Quint only blink, jumping back upon sensing the strong powers only to find Zephyr there. 

A deadly, heartless gleam in his eyes, holding his sword so rigidly to indicate they won't tremble to slit a throat tonight.

"Hah," 

Quint flashed a shaky smile, sensing the rage and power emitting from the prince. 

"Z-Zephyr…" Azura called him weakly.

Tears and soil smeared all over her face and was about to hold his boot but he bent on one knee.

"Shh. Don't say anything, Azura. I am here," 

Softening his gaze, he brushed the dust and tears from her face, caressing her tenderly that made her heart clench.

"You should pay attention to your opponents," 

Quint, who also took it as a chance, came from above and released a fiery fire.

"So now you expect me to pay attention to unimportant ones too?" Zephyr hissed.

Not shifting his attention from Azura while releasing his purest magic that absorbed his fire and reflected it back to him.

"What the-" 

Surprised by the attack, Quint was thrown far away.

That was why purest magic was the most formidable. 

It absorbs, reflects all magic types less powerful than it's.

"Give me a moment, My Lady," 

He whispered gently before rising from the ground, shifting his glare towards the heartless man. 

"Oh, so you are the notorious Zephyr?" Quint smirked. 

"It's Prince Zephyr for low beings like yourself." 

Coming closer, Zephyr was not in the mood of creating amusement. He was well aware of his capabilities. 

"In fact, you know what? Don't use my name with this foul tongue," 

He didn't train so harshly only to lose to a lower commander too.

Plus, He was anguished- doubling his powers.

"Let's see what can you do then,"

Pouring his magic in his surroundings, he sprinted, attacking him furiously, throwing him against the house, breaking his bones.

Growling, Quint released a giant fireball that Zephyr reflected by his sword, approaching him slowly with fumes emitting from him.

"Maybe you need more force, here-" 

Not giving Quint a moment to speak, Zephyr cut the hand from which he was about to burn Azura again.

"Ahh!"

Grabbing his hair and throwing him to the ground. Not caring if the blood was staining his boots, kicking him outrageously. 

Each time Azura released a sob and whimper, Zephyr's wrath enhanced. 

He won't fail to protect his betrothed at least.

"You low, unworthy creature, how dare you burn her?" 

Zephyr continued to hit it until it lost consciousness but it was not satisfactory for him so he stabbed his heart with his sword.

Zephyr killed the man without a thought.

Azura was staggered, it was his first kill but those hands didn't tremble.

He ended life so smoothly, scaring her by the heartlessness flashing in his eyes.

'I-Is that truly Zephyr?' She thought worriedly but the second Quint died, he took a deep breath, regaining his posture and turning to Azura.

A shiver went down her spine, afraid of his reaction but he just ran to her, picking her burned body hastily from the ground. 

"Azura!" 

"Z-Zephyr…" 

"It's alright, I am here now. I will get this treated. Lady Red-" 

Realizing she was no longer an ally, losing their only medic, he grit his teeth and took her along. 

Hoping to find someone to help her.

 "Let's go,"