Zaffera's Pov
Arrow never fail to surprise me. The food is quite incredible and rich in flavour, dare I say as good as Zyron's cuisine. As the warm smell floats up my nostrils and my ravenous stomach never ceases to growl in hunger, I can't help but dive right into the bowl of food before me to my detriment.
"Oh hot!" I squeal at my burning tongue, instinctively pushing my body away form the piping hot plate, to which Fenyang finds great amusement as he breaks into a sonorous laugh, "Don't poke fun at my hurting." I shoot him a glare.
"I won't." he raises his palms slightly in defence. He's so cute.
Strangely enough this was just the distraction I needed to boil off the anger and disappointment. So I nod. I stand as Fenyang says "let's go" after we are done eating. We'll be making it back to Palace in just about 2 hours now so the earlier we set off the better.
"Apart from finding my Father and using him to take me back to Arrow, what have you been up to during my leave?" I ask as I grate to top of my tongue with my teeth to relieve itchy feeling left on it after the accident.
He takes his time to think, "Klaus has been really taking training seriously and every week it was a new set of training, mostly either on skill, endurance or accuracy. Quite honestly sometimes I felt like it was just a way of him getting back at me for my skipped sessions when younger."
"You and Klaus seem quite close, it's sweet." I smile at him which he mirrors.
"Yes he always has. He knows that I need to stay prepared and although the training has been tough I'm at least stronger now, even if Ginn were to come tomorrow I would be prepared..." His voice sounding so tenacious.
I nod and then we stay quiet for a short time until Fenyang tosses a similar question to me.
"And, what about you? How was seeing your Father again after such a long time?"
"Frankly I was perplexed at first, I didn't want him to appear as suddenly as he disappeared, but after he explained himself and wholeheartedly apologised I couldn't help but give him one more chance. He made breakfast like he used to when I was younger which reminded me so much of how life was before he... He left and all that was missing was Mother."
We walk in a comfortable silence for the rest of the way, giving me enough space to rehearse every possible outcome I could face when we are back.
"Ready." he checks on me just before pushing the door open to a pair of worried guardians.
"Oh Zafeera you had me worried sick!" Mother walks up to me but halts just a couple feet before me, "The two of you left without notice".
"That would be my fault, I do apologise. I should have warned you all", steps further into Palace Fenyang with a slightly apologetic tone.
"Can we talk?" I finally speak, my hands feedling with each other in agitation. With a glance I hint him to stay here as I talk to my guardians and he agrees with a nod. I'm thankful of his understanding.
When we are all sat in the room aeound the large table, I can tell Father is quite tense. Repeatedly he heaves heavy sighs and continuesly itches he's eyebrow as though there's something bothering him on his face.
"I'm ready to listen." I commence.
"You heard us right earlier, I refused your Father a second chance...I was hurt and wanted nothing to do with a man that would abandon his family, but having seen him now and the way he got along with you and your sincere apologies I felt myself too harsh having let my pain blind me." Mother holds both her hands in a fist on the table. I notice her trembling yet her voice sounds so still, a characteristic I share with her.
"Your forgiven Mother, truly. Now that Father is here I don't want to be the one stopping us from being a united family. Honestly, I don't think I would be so easy and quick to forgive if Fenyang hadn't done the same to me over and over again. We are humans and we make mistakes, now let's learn from them."
A geniune smile forms on both of their faces and Father being the character he is comes to hug me tight.
"He's good to you." he whispers in my ear before unfolding the hug.
After we leave the room I gesture Fenyang two thumbs up to which he exclaims 'yes' in excitement.
"The next step is tracing out the roots and history of Arrow and Zyron and they will be great help with that." I nod in agreement as I yawn, "Not today though, I'm tired", I say.
"Tut-tut."
I take myself to bed in great content only for my mood to be shattered by a letter I find on the floor by bedrooms window which I notice to be slightly open.
I pick up the ivory letter and read it. As I notice the signed name Ginn at the bottom I feel cold shivers run up and down my body as though I was now an electrical circuit. It says:
'Dear Zaffera,
I hope you had a good return to Arrow. I couldn't help but pop by myself to extend my greetings. The showdown we had in Zyron was far from the end and soon the deep wound you have caused me will heal. More determined than ever I will vengeance your departure. Believe me when I confess my unrepressed love to you and when I have a target I go after it. Sincerely Ginn.'
Knocking at Fenyang's door I feel bad for disturbing his peace but I must let him know.
"I don't think he wants another war... I think he just wants to get to the door and we are little obstacles to his prize." He responds lowly.
"We need to change our stratgy." I say to which he looks at me confused, "We need to get to the root of his obsession first."
"You."
I nod.