Zephyr: The Elemental Clans

181 - Let's Go End This

Dagan Zephyr - POV;

"Return?"

"To Barington?"

The others in my group turned to look at me in shock and disbelief at my declaration; their mouths agape and their eyes widened.

"Have you lost your mind?!" Satella shouted, "After all of this, you just want to run away?!"

"Explain yourself Dagan!" Alva demanded.

"We aren't running," I explained myself, "We're simply taking time to prepare ourselves. Xyder is in there. I know it. With that said, we have no way of knowing his allegiance nor how he will respond to our arrival. We can't just run in just like this. We can't risk carrying the Ailani sisters into a situation as potentially dangerous as this. Not only that, but we're exhausted and drained from the past few days' events. If he attacks us, we stand no chance like this. He won't leave here. I just know he won't. We can spare a day just to ensure that the Ailani's are safe and our endurances replenished. after that, we'll  charge right in through the front door and demand answers from Xyder so we can put this madness to rest!"

****
Night had fallen once again before any of us had the chance to fully settle down. After arriving at the main town of the region, we had decided to spend a hefty percentage of our remaining funds to secure a few rooms at the local tavern. We spent some time lounging at the bar but by the time the sun had set, we all retreated to our respective chambers. I myself stood at the window of the room occupied solely by myself, looking out into the still streets of Barington.

"Knock! Knock!"

Before I could even respond, the door creaked open and the bold female made her way in, closing the door behind her.

"Come on Naomi, you know better than to allure me by walking in here with no pants on. I could make a mistake here," I sighed.

"Sorry to burst your bubble, Mr. Playboy. I'm wearing something underneath," she winked, raising her long top slightly to barely reveal her shorts, "So tell me hotshot, what's kicking?"

"What do you mean?" I questioned.

"Oh come on, you don't think I'm that stupid do you?" she sighed, "You brought everyone all the way back here. You rented a room all for yourself when you could have shared like the others.... you're planning something. Something incredibly dumb is what my gut tells me."

"It's nothing like that," I laughed, leaning against the wall and facing her with crossed arms and legs in a relaxed position.

"So you came here to keep us sisters safe?" she stared at me suspiciously.

"I really did. That wasn't a lie," I snickered, "I honestly don't know what to expect. When I and the others go to face Xyder, we may not be able to protect you if he and the rest of our friends go against us. I don't mean any offence, but the three of you are powerless against Vessels, especially of the calibre of Xyder and the others. It's too dangerous, you'd hold us back and I was serious when I said we don't want to see you get hurt. Plus, you guys can serve as critical aid from here and call in help if things truly becone dire."

"Yeah, I understand," Naomi stated as she leaned over the window sill. Her thick, dark hair blew magnificently in the cool breeze which rushed into my temporary abode, causing a light chill to jolt along my skin.

"You should be careful," Naomi murmered, leaning back and looking at me, "I was serious that day when I said your eyes looked funny. I'd noticed it ever since we first went to the... remains of Xyder's massacre. Your eyes seemed to grow a bit dull, and it only grew more and more so, escalating significantly when you and Fira got to the breaking point in your conflict. For a moment, I swore that I saw a surge of some... malicious force through you when you grabbed her. Your irises had become so dark and clouded. I just moved before I knew it... and it's a good thing I did. After I hit you, you seemed to revert to normal."