CHAPTER 21: That Warm Protection
"We didn't listen to orders," Nixon answered.
Hunter shook his head, "No, there is no one in command right now. We give our opinions and you can decide things on your own. She gave hers you chose what you wanted to do. Your mistake is that you didn't look at the bigger picture."
Both of them looked up at him after hearing what they did wrong.
"Yes, that is why she didn't confront you for not listening to her. Nor did she find fault on what you guys did. It is because no one is in command. You are in command of your own actions. So don't try to apologize about it, about what had happened."
They bowed their heads as they took in everything that he was saying.
"But, you have to understand and see the bigger picture. Understand why she would suggest such a thing, or why I would say other things. Look into it with a broader point of view before taking actions."
They stood straight as he continued giving them some advise.
"And always remember that we know her better than that person. She will never give a suggestion during battle that will put you into a disadvantage or will put you in danger," he finished.
He knew their prejudice.
It all stemmed from the tragedy of 8 years ago.
The prejudice that extended towards Saphira who was never at fault.
Nixon and Stormie nodded their heads in acknowledgement before Hunter told them to get some rest already.
Though they were still feeling a bit heavy because Saphira did not berate them or anything.
They really still wanted to speak with her regarding their misjudgement causing her harm as well.
Hunter watched their retreating backs before sighing.
As what had already known, Saphira always have that lazy side and because of that side, she wasn't present at the beginning of the tragedy.
Because she wasn't present a thought has evolved inside their heads.
That she was informed of what will be happening that she stepped out of the group before it starts.
But Hunter understood and never had such prejudice.
Because Saphira lost her inborn beast during that attack.
Which means she should have received more damage if not for her inborn beast.
He still has no idea how it died but after that tragedy, Saphira fell into a coma for three months.
An injury not one of them have received.
She was the one who received the most injury, yet they all think that she was informed beforehand?
How absurd was that?
At the same time, he felt it back then.
He felt the warmth of the fire protecting him back then, even though he was close to falling unconscious, he still felt it.
That warm protection, something he wanted to ask her but he couldn't bring up.
The next day, Saphira was fully recovered and was washing her face by the river when Nixon and Stormie approached her.
Even though they had heard from Hunter what he thinks, they needed to hear what she thinks.
They started with what had happened and how they didn't follow her.
Saphira shook her head, "I am not your leader or your commanding officer. You don't have to follow everything that I have to say. You can listen to it and then you can decide whether you would do it or not."
They stared at her, she was speaking of the same words that Hunter had spoken last night.
"And my injury is because of my own weakness, I am still lacking that I didn't do everything with caution. I should have approached it differently and then maybe I wouldn't have been poisoned or wounded."
She gave it some thought before speaking these words.
"I know why you are feeling guilty of what had happened," she then said after a while.
Both of them looked at her.
"Do I really need to keep on repeating it? What happened in the past, you can judge it on your own and I wouldn't blame you for that. I know that because of what happened, you can no longer take everything that I am saying as it is."
She voiced out what they were thinking all along.
"But you see, that doesn't mean I don't have my own thoughts as well."
She smiled at them before turning around and walking back to the main camp.
They understood what she meant.
They can have their own thoughts and emotions and she will let them have it.
But that doesn't mean she was never hurt or was she not angered by their words and actions.
"Saphira!!"
Stormie called to her.
"Are you mad at us right now?" she couldn't help but ask.
Saphira looked up while placing her finger on her chin, an action of thinking deeply.
Then she looked back at them with a smile.
"I was but not because of you not listening to me but because I know the reason why you didn't listen to me. I am not her and I will never be her. But that was only in the beginning, right now, I am no longer mad because I knew holding it in won't help me either."
She smiled again before really leaving this time.
"I..." Nixon started but he didn't know how to continue.
He didn't know what to say because she didn't hide her feelings at the same time she could let it go without any heaviness in her.
Sometimes people would speak of their anger but they still hold it in, yet her eyes showed she had truly forgotten the anger she felt towards them.
Just how can she do that?
How can she let go of her negative emotions and be free of them?
"How much more growth do we need in order to reach her level?" Stormie asked looking at the path that she took.
"Her letting go of her anger means she had forgiven us of our misjudgement and that there is no lingering negative feelings about it. But will we be able to act the same as her when we are placed on the same situation as her?" she added after a pause.
Nixon slowly shook his head, "We won't be able to do so. Because if we can then our prejudice towards her shouldn't have stayed for this long."
Stormie nodded her head, agreeing to what he had just said.
Soon both of them took a deep breath and shook their heads.
When they realized they were doing the same things they laughed.
"We may not agree all the time but we do have some things that are in common," Nixon said as they started walking back as well.
Stormie just shook her head with a laugh, both of them took a deep breath and shook their heads, this is their own way of resetting their thoughts and coming into terms to what had happened.
*****
"Your majesty."
Fenril and the rest of those who didn't do anything looked at the Emperor with fear after the report of what they have done was given.
"I am here doing my best to give you as much support as I can only to find out that you are actually just lying down while more and more of our brave knights are dying. I must say I am impressed."
The Emperor looks young but Saphira and the rest could feel the authority of an Emperor coming from him.
'I guess this land actually has Emperors who are righteous, should I say we are lucky? That we really are not meeting those up in the clouds kings and Emperors?' Saphira thought as she watch the event unfolding in front of her.
But soon the gazes are not to her liking that she stealthily left without anyone noticing, not even her friends.
'I'd rather sleep somewhere rather than listening to all those formalities. The one needed in such events is Hunter alone anyway,' she thought again.
She went ahead and looked around the forests near by, she may not be that keen in sleeping in the forests but she has no other choice right now, inns are not an option for her.
At the same time, she knew that Hunter will be able to find her no matter where she sleeps and knew that she will be found.
At the same time, she couldn't sleep at a place where fuzzy people are all over the place.
Too much attention is not to her liking. She'd rather stay away from all those eyes than to receive their admiration and other looks.
While she slipped away, the Emperor gave his verdict towards Fenril and the rest before thanking Hunter and his group.
Commending that such young people was capable enough in working with such people and in such a chaotic place.
"Hmmm? I thought there are seven of you," the emperor noticed their number.
All six no longer needs to look to see who was missing.
It was very obvious just who among them are too lazy for these kinds of stuffs.