"What have I done? This is not what I wanted…"
His trembling tone came out heartbroken.
His whole body was shaking with distress blurring his vision. He couldn't believe a dragon would be this powerful.
He didn't stand a single chance before it.
He failed miserably.
"Isn't it, Prince Zephyr Sheria Elrond?"
Lady Red groaned in pain, forcing herself to stand, pushing her red hair behind to glare at the green eyed prince.
And being unable to accept his mistakes, he curled his hands in a fist, slamming them down with a glare.
"What did you make me do, Lady Red?!" He yelled. The fact he was unable to do anything made him frustrated.
"I did?"
She raised an eyebrow out of disbelief, folding her arms at her chest.
"You are the one who wanted to prove his power to His Majesty. You are the one who believed who could summon Zirkos and control it." She mocked, pointing her finger at him, leaving him taken aback and stunned.
He knew it was his pride that led him here. It was all him…
"Are you realizing now that you are weak?" Growling with a final taunt, she walked away,
"Tsk. I am going to alarm His Majesty."
Not wanting to spend a second with him. She had high hopes, his high head always made her believe he would stand firm.
She had faith in him.
And it all ended up in failure.
When she was out of sight, he looked down, a tear rolling down his cheek with the sensation of being powerless.
"No, no, this is not what I wanted!"
He had never felt this weak, he had never been this defeated before.
"No. I am not weak. I am the future King…. I must live up to my name!"
Snarling, he slammed his hands continuously down on the ground. He was losing his breath, gathering all his courage and dealing with the mess he created.
"Damn it!"
Making up his mind, he rose from the ground.
The mocks from Lady Red burned him, it surged a sense of courage to rise and fight the devastation.
"I must do it. Stand up, Zephyr."
Thinking firmly, he wiped the tears glistening in his eyes and ran out of the cave, following the dragon's trails to stop it at all cost.
On a tall building, he saw his best men, Army General Yor and his son, his best friend, Katlan.
"Clear up the capital!!"
They were ordering the guards to deal with this monster burning houses, killing anyone coming in its sight.
Creating the darkest and murderous night of their history.
"Yor! Katlan!"
"Zephyr! Look! What is happening!" Katlan called, turning to him worriedly.
He was three years older than him, a strong and prestigious warrior of Delphia.
"I know."
Holding a straight, strong face to hide any sign of pain and regret.
"Young Lord! We are attacked by an enemy!"
A miserable call came from Yor. He knew he might fail as a Knight. He couldn't protect a country from a ferocious fire-breathing dragon..
"Whatever it is, finish this monster! Call all the archers here. Tell the soldiers to evacuate the civilians. Use the cave. Anywhere where this dragon won't come. Go, Yor, complete your duties."
Zephyr ordered, staggering the General to perceive how he could leave the young Prince with no protection against the demonic creature.
"You? I can't leave you, you are the only heir. Without you Elrond lineage would end-"
Yor asked but he held a dominant face, growling to do anything to fight it.
"I don't care! I will keep it busy. Go, now!" Zephyr hissed, losing his breaths.
He couldn't bring himself to sit back and took out a lance, imbuing his holy powers in it and throwing it on it, hitting its wing, making the dragon growl.
It made him angrier.
Yor was taken aback as he had never seen him serious before.
"I WILL protect my kingdom!"
Breathless, trembling yet resolved. Yor stared at his prince for the next few seconds before nodding sternly.
"Yes, Young Lord. Katlan, make sure to protect Prince Zephyr."
The friends smirked faintly at each, sure, "Don't worry, Father, we will take care of this monster."
Where Zephyr and Katlan were fighting to distract the dragon so the civilians could survive.
His Majesty, King Hayden Sheria Elrond saw the flames, destroying his peaceful country.
"How could this happen?! Who did it?" He yelled outrageously.
Turning to glance at Lady Red who held unaffected with a dead expression on her face.
"I believe it is your cousin, Rufus, My Lord."
"What?! Rufus?"
"Yes. He had always been envious of our young Zephyr taking over the land and not his son." She lied smoothly, saving Zephyr from the trouble.
She was his Aunt, of course, she couldn't ruin his image.
"Rufus… How could he do this!? Just because I was going to give it to my son, my Zephyr... He is destroying my land?!"
"My Lord!"
"Yor! Look, what is happening!?"
"Don't worry. Come with me. Young Lord and Katlan are stalling time. We must focus on evacuation."
Yor explained the situation, deep down he was proud of him for understanding his position and taking responsibilities.
"What? My Zephyr is fighting? Oh, my son."
His Majesty calmed down gradually after knowing his fight for his life so his people could survive.
Placing himself in danger to save his country.
"His Majesty-"
They tried to stop him but he put his hand in the air dominantly.
"If my son is protecting us then so will I. I am the King of Delphia, I fear none. You keep my people safe. My son and I will protect our land." His Majesty declared, taking a deep breath.
After a devilishly long time, he withdrew his holy sword, holding intense powers. The kings were the strongest ones of the family and he must live his name.
"Then I will also-"
Yor was about to join as his duty of protection but His Majesty stopped him.
"Not you, Yor. I want you to live and stay by Zephyr's side and protect him. Don't come this time. You too, Lady Red, assist Yor."
Yor was taken aback but protecting Zephyr from the wolves waiting to devour him without father was necessary too.
"I.. understand."
With a bow of respect, they went to their respective works. Allowing the Father and son to fulfill their duties as the rulers of their land.
"Zephyr! Come with me!"
King Hayden came immediately, motioning to Zephyr to come after him, taking him near the dragon to take the perfect angle to attack.
"Father!?"
Scared slightly, he went after his Father. Making a disquiet face to hear any scolding from for his actions but instead he growled, tightening his grip on the sword.
"It's Rufus and his damn son. Those motherfuckers are attacking our land. Katlan, you, go and help Yor. You are needed there more." He scowled.
Attaching his chain of magic with the sword and hitting its leg and then pulling the sword back. The dragon groaned, flying higher to avoid his attack.
"Yes. His Highness."
Zephyr was taken aback. They were trying so hard and his Father did what they couldn't in one attack.
Grazing its skin, making it roar and move back.
"Fuck!"
"Why are you cursing?" Zephyr asked, twisting his expression into worry.
He had never seen his father curse in eighteen years of his life.
"Look around us. Who can I not fucking curse!? Deal with this damn creature!" He yelled, attacking the dragon, tangling its chain around its leg, bringing him down.
"O-Okay."
He gulped as he attacked his neck, making it fall back, hitting a tower, breaking the house nearby.
Countless lives were losing themselves, people were dying here and there. Trapped in the fire, burning, tormented badly.
"Aim at its wing." His Majesty ordered.
Pulling it back while ordering Zephyr.
He nodded worriedly, following the instructions, attacking the dragon but it was not nearly enough as his Father's.
"Tch, It's not enough. I have to close the distance and fight from up close." King Hayden snarled, releasing the chain, releasing his immense powers.
"What are you going to do, Father…?" He asked vaguely.
His chest clenched, eyes narrowing in desperation. He felt horrible.
Swallowing the lump in his throat to bear, witness his Father's true powers, the reason why a king was considered as the undefeated.
"Today you shall believe that being a King is not only about sitting on a throne. It's about protecting, it's about taking an oath you must fulfill. It's about sacrificing." His Father enunciated.
"What….?"
Zephyr's strength dropped drastically after hearing that.
A white light emerged from King Hayden, holding his head high in pride to show Zephyr how it was done along with a kind smile creeping on his lips.
"Zephyr. Happy Birthday, My Son."