Uncontrollable sobs rocked Ziru who held me tightly in an awkward manner because I was taller than him. My lower back leaned against his shoulder with his arms wrapped around my waist. He can't stay long high up in the air and had to land back to the ground before leaping again.

Once we were up, there would be a boost of air that would get as farther away but even so, at this rate Garrison will still manage to catch up.

"Gomen...(Sorry)" he sniveled out. "I got you into this mess and we just met but if I don't do something then who will help my papa? My papa is all I have. I can't return to our village without him," he explained and wiped his tears vigorously.

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

Superb.

In our next few descents, Ziru collapsed to his knees. I took a stand and watched him curl his upper body forward and hit the ground with his fist. Droplets of tears dampened the part where they touch and Ziru tried to stand again only to have his legs tremble from overexertion of leaping up and down while carrying someone twice his size.

"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 before kneeling in front of him. Ziru stared up at me with overflowing tears that caused his eyes to sparkle.

"Yes I do but don't you have a papa too? Mine is a good man. He raised me and protected me and because of that, I want to save him too," Ziru replied.

I pursed my lips and remembered of what goodness otousan had that would necessitate me to have this much determination to rescue him like Ziru had with his papa. 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 okaasan placed me in desolation where I was taught of feeling nothing even for them. They desired it for me and feeling otherwise would only displease them.

Ziru must have wanted me to empathize with him; to place myself in his situation just as what aniki told me.

But I didn't need a father to be able to understand Ziru. Ziru's father was all he had just as how Lucius and Fenris were to me.

"My father...didn't love me just as my mother," I told Ziru. I raised my hand and Ziru followed it with his gaze until it landed on his head. "Therefore I know...I know how lonely you must be."

The boy's wrinkled face became even more crumpled and he burst in an even louder state of crying before diving into me for a hug. My arms didn't know how to function but as soon as I realized what I needed to do, I wrapped my arms around the little boy and carried him.

"I will help you so show me the way," I murmured before 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 aniki but Fenris might become my whistle-blower. His intricate level of communication might sell me out therefore I have to watch out for him.

The village was closer than expected but I wouldn't consider it as a village now with the absence of life 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 there were corpses belonging to various races lying down. The scent of rotting flesh lingered and black birds cawed at our arrival. The trees were torched leaving its burnt trunks standing in place and the feeling in my chest unsettled me.

I gently placed Ziru down and he walked 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. Crowley was there and my papa asked him to take me away because...we didn't have any chance," Ziru told me.

"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. "Because he heard a baby cry..." he murmured before staring up. "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 had no knowledge of what to say to make him feel better but his father did his best to let him escape and for a good reason. Aniki would do the same.

I sauntered to his side and placed my hand on his shoulder. "When we were born into this world we were instantly thrown into a pit of fiendish monsters. The unfortunate gets swallowed whole and the fortunate gets caught by people who had endured and had grown into something righteous despite being with fiends all their life," I said before picking up a furry soft doll which had been splashed with 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 and my body relaxed. "I am the unfortunate one who became the fortunate," I answered.

"Is someone there? I know someone is there!" a voice of a young boy shouted demandingly which severed our talk for next time.

Ziru and I went to the source of the voice and found a black-haired boy who seemed to be around Ziru's age reading a book with a brown cover and a green gem stuck in front. The glowing pages giving off a green steamy air slowly flip by themselves.

He had a silver tiara on his head and attached on top was another emerald jewel. His white robe was fairly dirty and he had a round earring with another round earring dangling on it which held a feather. Small dots of light which reminded me of stars floated around his head before going to the ear with the earrings.

His right short leg was extended while the other was flexed. "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 and once he got a closer look, the young boy had to ask out his curiosity.

"Are you...blind?"

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

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

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

"This book and the stars you're seeing fill what I'm lacking," he replied as we hoisted him up. The book floated on its own and stayed where he can read.

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

Had I not fulfill my 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 so I cannot tend to all your questions. Take me to Bellenau after you deal with your companions."

Our attention was snatched away when we heard the neigh of a pegacorn from above and Garrison's worried inquiries.

"Are you alright my Lord?!"

The pegacorn landed in front of us and he slipped off gracefully yet hurriedly before trotting towards us. Shortly, Crowley arrived with a worried Fenris who immediately scampered to my side and 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'd rip your jaw out of you."

Fenris became even more aggressive and was ready to snap at any moment that pushed me to intervene.

"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 before whacking the back of Ziru's head and hauling him to force a bow in front of me. "Apologize warugaki (brat)!"

Ziru's shoulders trembled and another round of tears was coming its way.

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..." I murmured causing Garrison to chuckle with delight. "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 slowly straightened up and wiped his eyes and Garrison clapped his hands.

"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."

"Kox is heading there as well. Can we take him?" Ziru asked.

"And what would be your purpose there young man?" Garrison asked in a friendly way.

"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," Garrison commented and which Kox grinned in return.

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

We travelled 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 the fence surrounding the pond and faced us.

"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 of 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?" Garrison asked with his expression highly stern and his tone giving a forewarning.

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

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

We resurfaced in a different pond and the fog immediately came into display. Garrison led the way and houses configured with movements of people etching 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 and Garrison had asked if they had taken in any Sky Hoods and to Ziru's joy, the Chief gave him 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 can finish, Ziru dashed out in excitement and Crowley bowed at the Chief in Ziru's behalf.

"I apologize for that child's behavior and thank you," Crowley acknowledged as he supported Kox up.

"My pleasure hairy lad," the Chief chuckled out and I watched as 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," I replied monotonously.

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

"I agree with Fenris and if your brother was here, he would be very proud of you too," Garrison praised.

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 the Chief's and saw people sitting on the floor around a short table. They possessed a similar shade of blue hair with a noticeable trait of muscular legs which were evident underneath their leather black pants. Compared to Ziru, they carried with them blue capes and wore white feathered headdresses. Ziru was embracing his father tightly and the man discovered returned the affection. When Guthrie was made aware of our presence he gave us a nod of acknowledgement and a beam of delight and gratefulness.

"Thank you for bringing my boy back Crowley."

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

"I give my thanks to all of you," Guthrie said before telling his son to get up. "Have you said your gratitude already Ziru?"

"Not yet papa," Ziru responded with a shade of embarrassment on his face. He scuttled off and stopped in front of us before bowing.

"Thank you for accompanying me all the way here," he shyly murmured. My eyes wandered around the room and found most of his companions possessing disgruntled expressions.

Ziru mentioned that he would no longer be accepted to his village if his father was to die. There was evident partisanship here towards him.

Was it the right thing to leave him here?

My thoughts were cut off when I felt short arms encircle my waist. "Thank you..." he murmured before looking up. "I hope we can see each other again."

My stomach fluttered and I landed a short pat on his head and nodded. "Please take care of yourself then."

"Before you leave, can we offer you anything? This village serves good food and 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 very young detka in her arms. Her gaze briefly rose and she scurried past us. I heard Kox scoff beside me and 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..."

I should feel accomplished for we had delivered Ziru safely, however, would he really be safe around people whose detestation was restrained only because his father was there?

"What about the two of you, what do you plan on doing here and out?" Garrison referred to Kox and Crowley once we got out of the house.

"I will head back to Xoba republic seeing that the warugaki is safe," Crowley replied.

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

"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 was this group and 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 with his offer. "I have the strongest 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.

His sprain act was just for show.

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

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

Garrison narrowed his gaze. "Do tell."

"Betrayal does not come from your enemies; it can be done by your friend, your family, your ally and it can even be done by the very person you saved. Most traitors façade weakness because weakness makes you pity and pity tears walls."

"Where are you going with this?" Garrison asked and suspicion rose from him.

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

Explosion erupted and 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 drape appeared and covered the lower half of their faces. They began to destroy houses with fire and attack the ones nearest to them. Blood-curdling screams rose and fairies were getting torched out of their homes.

"Djinns!" Crowley snarled.

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

"I refu—"

Fenris bit my arm and dragged me away as soon as he heard the first few parts of resistance. Crowley busted back inside the house where the Sky hoods were to perhaps caution them but the dwelling blew up causing a tight stifling feeling in my throat.

"Wait Fenris," I spoke and kept on looking back.

Kox stood in place bearing no urgency with his surroundings but he raised his head to our direction as if he can 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 when a female fairy carrying a toddler came out and soared away screaming and begging for help. A djinn exited the same residence and sand hardened in a form of a lance aiming for the mother and child. My heart pounded with distress and I reached back desiring nothing more but to save them but death's pierce was fast and precise.

My feet stilled to the ground and no matter how much pull Fenris did, I couldn't let myself budge.

My heart slowed its pace and my breathing came into a halt. In my state of bewilderment, a velvety voice became a shepherd to my resolution.

"Why do you keep running? Why do you turn away?"

"I did not desire to turn a blind eye..." I murmured.

"You are better than what they account you for."

"I want to be better than what I was before."

"Then you know what you need to do..."

"I want to fight."

Fenris was beginning to understand me as he relinquished my arm and nodded. I unbuckled my belt and dropped it to the ground. A wave of tingles washed over me and a pressurized air sent me twirling above the village. It was Fenris' cue to sprint forward and dodge the incoming balls of fire before tackling down the sender.

Just like how they pierce through the innocent, I shall skewer them to their doom.

Zephyrs blew strongly throughout the village catching all of them off guard. I raised my right hand up and ask the surrounding waters to rise from their stillness. I extended my left hand and extracted bars of iron from beneath the soil. The ground trembled and I shut my eyes and remembered the lives that they have stolen.

My eyes opened and water formed around the Djinns, trapping them in their individualized spheres. Multiple iron spears pointed at the imprisoned as they were slowly drowned and electrocuted.

The blood of the innocent had been splattered to the ground and because of that...

"I feel...resent."

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A/N: What do you think of Kox?