Disaster

14: DISASTER

Uncontrollable sobs rocked Ziru who held me tightly in an awkward manner because I was taller than him. His arms were under my knees and back. A boost of air would get us farther from where we were initially after he makes his gigantic leaps. However, Garrison could still manage to catch up to us since pegacorns were naturally nimble in both air and land.

"Sorry…" he sniveled. "I got you into this mess and we just met, but if I don't do something, who will help my papa? He is all I have. I can't return to our village without him."

I didn't mind getting taken away. This was truthfully a great experience for me. It was sweetness added to this non-productive day. It was the kind of spice I was searching for.

Superb.

In our next few descents, Ziru collapsed to his knees. I stood, watching him curl his upper body forward and hit the ground with his fist. Droplets of tears dampened the soil. Ziru tried to stand again only to have his legs tremble from overexertion.

"Damn this...damn this!" he yelled. "I can't give up. Not now. Not ever!"

His resolve was perennial but his agony was piercing through me like a double-edged blade.

"Your papa...is he that of much value to you?" I asked, kneeling in front of him.

Ziru stared up at me with overflowing tears, causing his light blue eyes that reminded me of the skies to turn into a great big pond.

"Yes, he is, don't you have a papa too? He raised me and protected me and because of that, I want to save him too."

I pursed my lips, trying to remember what goodness otou had that would necessitate me to have this much determination to rescue him. All of his good deeds, however, were buried along with the death of my childhood.

Would I shed tears for him just as how Ziru was if he was taken away? What would I feel if his life was threatened and taken? He and okaa placed me in desolation where I was taught to feel nothing even for them.

Ziru must have wanted me to empathize with him, to place myself in his situation just as what onii told me. But I didn't need a father to be able to understand Ziru. Ziru's father was all he had just as Lucius and Fenris were to me.

"We were raised differently, Ziru." I placed my hand on his head. "But...I will lend you a hand of helping."

The boy's wrinkled face became more crumpled. He burst into an even louder state of crying. He dove into me for a hug, depending on me to cradle him in my arms to protect him from this cruel world and lift him up from his sorrows.

"Show me the way," I murmured, letting the winds twirl us up back into the skies. I will just have to leave my scent with the winds so that Fenris can follow.

Perhaps Garrison will pity me and keep silent about this with my onii, but Fenris might become a whistle-blower. He had an intricate level of communication that might sell me out.

The village was closer than expected. I wouldn't consider it a village now with the absence of its residents. The eerie silence and the burnt area made it dull and dead and not suitable to live in.

The soil was tattooed with dried up blood and corpses. The bodies belonged to various races and were scattered. The scent of rotting flesh lingered and birds of black feathers cawed at our arrival. The trees were torched, leaving its burnt trunks standing in place. It was unsettling.

I gently placed Ziru down. He ambled forward while avoiding the corpses in his path.

"The Right-handlers used the Djinns to torch the fairies out of their homes. Our party was coincidentally here during that time and there were other races too. We tried to fight them off but the Djinns' magic was too powerful. Papa asked Crowley to take me because...we didn't have a chance."

"Why did he stay?" I asked.

If he knew that they didn't have a chance, he should have escaped with his son. Ziru stopped on his feet and sighed.

"He heard a baby's cry..." he replied. "He couldn't leave with me because he was strong enough to help and I couldn't stay because I was too weak to be by his side..."

I sauntered beside him, placing my hand on his shoulder.

"The moment we were born we got thrown into a pit of fiendish monsters. The unfortunate ones get swallowed whole and the fortunate ones get saved by another survivor," I said, picking up a furry soft doll which had been drenched in blood. "The unfortunate becomes the next fiends and the fortunate becomes the next line of righteousness, however, best believe that that's not always the case."

"Which are you?" Ziru asked.

I stroked the doll's face with my thumb.

"I am the unfortunate one who became fortunate."

"Is someone there? I know someone is there!" A young boy shouted demandingly.

Ziru and I went to the source of the voice. A black-haired boy who seemed to be around Ziru's age was reading a book with a brown cover and a green gem stuck in front.

The glowing pages gave off a green steamy air as they turned themselves on their own.

A silver tiara sat on his head. His white robe was fairly dirty. Two round earrings were linked together with a feather dangling on the second hoop. Small dots of light that reminded me of stars floated around his head. He was sitting coolly on the ground with his back leaned against a burnt iron pole.

"I sprained my ankle," he said without looking at us. "Help a poor soul out, will you? I know you will."

Ziru was the first to get to his side. As soon as he got a closer look, he had to ask out of curiosity.

"Are you...blind?"

"Yes and I'm deaf too, " he replied.

I walked to his other side, finding that the pages he was looking at were blank and clean.

"How can you read then? And how can you hear?" Ziru queried.

"This book and the stars you're seeing fill what I'm lacking."

We hoisted him up. The book floated on its own, staying in the position where he could pretend to read it.

"My name is Koxteus but you may call me Kox. It's a pleasure to meet you, Lucian and Ziru."

Had I not fulfilled the necessary vegetable intake for today that I had forgotten when I introduced myself?

Ziru's eyes widened in amazement.

"What?"

"The book knows all yet it only lets me know what it wants me to read. I cannot tend to all your questions. Take me to Bellenau after you deal with your companions."

Our attention was taken away when we heard the neigh of a pegacorn from above.

"Are you alright my Lord?!"

The pegacorn landed in front of us. Garrison slipped off gracefully yet hurriedly before trotting towards us. Shortly, Crowley arrived with a worried Fenris who immediately scampered to my side. He rubbed himself against me with whines of concern before growling furiously at Ziru.

"I'd let this wolf maul you if it wasn't for the promise I made to your old man," the hanuman huffed and pointed at Fenris.

"Not today, werewolf. Don't even try or else I'll rip your jaw out of you."

Fenris was further aggravated. He was ready to snap at any moment.

"Fenris, shh," I deadpanned.

"Your Highness, we must hurry back. These areas are dangerous during tenebrosity," Garrison warned.

"What about my papa?!" Ziru protested.

"Enough of this, you've bothered the wrong people. I can't believe you had the nerve to kidnap the Prince of Ancients. Are you trying to spark another war?!" Crowley snarled. He whacked the back of Ziru's head, hauling him to force a bow in front of me.

"Apologize, warugaki (brat)!"

Ziru's shoulders trembled. Another round of tears was coming.

It was true that I had royal blood in me yet not returning when I had the chance was already considered treason. There was no point in having people call me of high status.

"I am no longer part of the royal family. I am with the Scums now..."

Garrison chuckled from behind me. Crowley and Ziru were hesitant to lift their heads.

"Stand straight and bear no guilt. No Prince stands before you to make you feel as if you have to apologize for every little thing."

If my old self was to be informed of the words that would come out from his mouth in the future…he would add that to a list of offenses.

Ziru straightened up and wiped his eyes. Garrison cleared his throat.

"Now that we're all here, let's just make it quick before the sun sets. Bellenau is a hidden fairy village near here. It was built in case such things happen and I highly doubt that the Vosredal Empire knows about it."

A big smile possessed Ziru's lips. "Kox is heading there as well. Can we take him?"

Garrison peeked at the other child who they didn't notice to be present. "And what would be your purpose there, young man?"

"I'm following some people. They are companions of mine," Kox answered.

"Well they are very callous to have left a child in a perilous place."

Kox grinned at Garrison's comment.

"I respectfully disagree. I believe they're quite lovely."

We traveled a short distance to a wooden cabin near Ecrin village that had a lotus pond in front of it. There were aggressive monsters along the way but Garrison, Fenris, and Crowley handled them with ease. Garrison tied his pegacorn to one of the fence panels barricading the pond.

"I will go first. This entryway will obviously get us wet and there is nothing we can do about that. Once we get in, we will ask the village chief for Ziru's father. We will not do any dilly dally. I promise Lucius that I will keep Lucian safe and that is exactly what I intend to do. If an event like earlier will happen again, you have my word that it will no longer be pardoned. Am I clear?" The feminine man was smiling but it was the type of smile that meant business.

"Like a glass," Crowley replied, pulling Ziru close to him.

Like what was discussed, Garrison went into the shallow water. A white light coruscated. Crowley and I helped Kox get in. I followed soon after with Fenris behind me. The water was chilly but as soon as the light spread out, its incandescence provided heat.

We resurfaced in a different pond. The fog was thick but we could perceive houses and people from afar. Compared to other fairy villages, Bellenau had actual life-sized houses made of wood. Our group headed straight for the chief's house. To Ziru's joy, the chief gave him the good news.

"Yes, they arrived as soon as Ecrin was attacked. The leader is named Guthrie."

"That's my papa!" Ziru piped.

"They are at the house across—" before the village chief could finish, Ziru dashed out in excitement. Crowley bowed on Ziru's behalf.

"I apologize for that child's behavior and thank you."

"My pleasure, hairy lad!" The chief chuckled, he stroked his long beard that pooled around his sitting form. Crowley faked a laugh to go along with the chief.

"Shall we go now, Lucian?" Garrison asked.

"Yes…but I would like to make sure that Ziru is alright."

Fenris gave a "woof", making an effort to paw my hand. The wolf seemed very pleased with what I said.

"I agree with Fenris. If your brother was here, he would be very proud of you too."

He would and the thought of telling him about today made me desire to head home as soon as possible.

We went straight to the house across from the chief's. There were men sitting around a low square table. They had a similar shade of blue hair with a noticeable trait of muscular legs that were evident underneath their leather black pants. Compared to Ziru, they carried with them blue capes and wore white feathered headdresses.

Ziru embraced his father tightly. The man returned the affection. When Guthrie was made aware of our presence, he gave us a nod of acknowledgment and a smile of delight and gratefulness.

"Thank you for bringing my boy back, Crowley."

Crowley snorted. "I gotta say he is a pain in the arse."

"I give my thanks to all of you. Have you said your gratitude already, Ziru?"

"Not yet papa." The young boy's face was shaded with embarrassment.

He scuttled off, stopping in front of us to genuflect.

"Thank you for accompanying me all the way here," he shyly murmured.

My eyes wandered around the room, finding most of his companions possessing disgruntled expressions. They didn't seem too happy to see Ziru here.

Was it the right thing to leave him?

My thoughts were cut off when I felt short arms encircle my waist.

"Thank you…I hope we can see each other again."

It took me a moment before I patted his head.

"Please take care of yourself then."

"Before you leave, can we offer you anything? This village serves good food. It would be my greatest pleasure to offer hospitality to the people who had taken care of my son," Guthrie offered, hoping that we would accept.

"We best be going," Garrison responded. "But thank you."

As we turned around, a female fairy entered the house, carrying a detka in her arms. We locked eyes prior to her scurrying past us. I heard Kox scoff. When he had noticed me looking, he merely grinned.

"Ah Ziru, come here. I'd like you to meet someone. This is Snowdrop and her child, Bluebell. We managed to rescue them during…"

"What about the two of you, what do you plan on doing here and out?" Garrison asked Kox and Crowley as soon as we stepped out of the house.

Crowley scratched the back of his head. "I will head back to Xoba republic seeing that the warugaki is safe."

"I see that you are a Hanuman of Integrity," Garrison noted.

"If you don't mind, I'd like to stay where you are staying," Kox said.

Garrison gasped in realization. "I forgot to ask the chief about your companions! Dear me, I am terribly sorry. Old age must be fogging my memory."

Kox grinned and swayed his head in disapproval.

"Truthfully, the companions I was referring to were this group. I would like to be of use to your organization," Kox transacted with a polite smile while focusing on his book. "And I have something in possession that one of the Lords you're serving would like to add to his scarce collection."

Garrison seemed intrigued by his offer. "I have the strangest feeling that you are something more than what you represent, little boy."

Kox stood firmly on his supposed sprained foot before sauntering forward without a limp.

"Hey!" Crowley snarled. "What is wrong with kids these days?!"

"Do you want to know a secret?" Kox asked.

Garrison narrowed his gaze. "Do tell."

"Most traitors façade weakness because weakness makes you pity and pity tears walls."

"Where are you going with this?" Garrison asked. His expression was shadowed with suspicion.

"What I mean is: be careful with the strays you pick up."

The place where we left Ziru exploded, fire broke out right away. A few of the fairies in the street had their lower half particulate into a small twister of sand. A black mask draped the lower half of their faces. They burned houses and set everyone on fire. Blood-curdling screams rose. Fairies were torched out of their homes.

"Djinns!" Crowley yelled.

"Everyone escape!" Garrison barked out. "Lucian, escape through the pond. I will catch up with you!"

"I refu—"

Fenris bit my arm, dragging me away as soon as he heard the first few parts of resistance. Crowley charged back inside the house where the Sky Hoods were. The house was further engulfed with fire, causing a tight stifling feeling in my throat.

"Wait, Fenris." I kept looking back. Leaving this brutality did not feel right.

Kox stood in place, bearing no urgency from his surroundings. He raised his head to our direction as if he could see us. He pointed at the house northeast from where he was standing as if he knew exactly what was to happen.

My eyes widened once a female fairy fled with a toddler in her arms. A djinn exited the same residence. Sand hardened in the form of a lance. It was aimed at the mother and child.

Death's pierce was fast and precise.

My feet stilled to the ground. No matter how much pull Fenris did, I didn't budge.

The pacing of my heart slowed. My breathing came to a halt. In my state of bewilderment, a velvety voice became a shepherd to my resolution. He seemed close but there was no one near me beside Fenris.

'When will you stop turning a blind eye, Lucian?'

Fenris began to understand my situation. He released my arm, waiting for my command. I unbuckled my belt and dropped it to the ground. A wave of tingles washed over me. A pressurized air sent me twirling above the village.

It was Fenris' cue to sprint forward and dodge the incoming balls of fire. He tackled the one who sent the conflagrations, ruthlessly mauling the Djinn.

Zephyrs blew strongly throughout the village, catching them off guard. I raised my right hand– the waters from the pond broke from their stillness. I extended my left hand and extracted bars of iron from beneath the soil. The ground trembled with such immensity.

Water trapped the Djinns in individualized spheres. Multiple iron spears pointed at the imprisoned as they were slowly drowned and electrocuted.

The voice in my head from earlier surfaced again. This time, he was much closer, as if he was speaking right beside my ear.

'What you feel now Lucian, is resent. Fascinating…isn't it?'