Zephyr: The Elemental Clans

170 - Once And For All

Dagan Zephyr - POV;

"It's been quite a while," I addressed the Ailani's as we settled down in the living room of their private abode in this rural  village, "We haven't heard from you since the tournament went up in chaos."

"How did you find us Dagan?" Naomi asked, cutting to the chase.

"You know you haven't done a great job of hiding your presence here," I muttered.

"We weren't exactly trying to go off the grid. We were just enjoying a simple life with these people," she defended.

"And that's fine, but in that case you shouldn't be surprised that we found you. After all, that's probably how Blaze found you to come after you in the first place," I stated.

"Blaze?! What do you mean they came after us? Are you saying those monsters were-" Naomi began.

"Sent to kill you? Yes, that's exactly the case," I finished.

"Wait, how can you say that for sure? I've been scouting their movements for weeks and I haven't seen evidence of Blaze tampering!" Emiko argued.

"Maybe it's not one hundred percent proven, but I think it's pretty likely. Someone told us that Blaze were plotting to kill you, and what do you know you were almost dead because of a demonic attack," I explained.

"Anyone can say anything they want. I could tell you that it was Eclipse that plotted to kill us. Doesn't mean it's true," Zeliel reasoned with crossed arms.

"Fair enough, but there's more. You asked how we found you. Well, we received a tip from the same individual. They told us exactly where you guys were. I think I can say that they atleast know something. They may be knowledgeable about Blaze's movements. It could be a hoax but I think they are somewhat credible," I revealed.

"Who even is this informer of yours?" Naomi pressed.

"No idea," I admitted, "They remained anonymous."

"And you trust them?!" Zeliel exclaimed.

"I didn't and I still don't," I answered, "But what I do know is they actually pointed us to you."

"Okay... that aside, what exactly did you want? Are you expecting us to team up with you to fight Blaze again? Duran Blaze alone took down three of the Reguluses of the Elemental Clans! Blaze destroyed and obliterated the vast, vast majority of Fenix City and the Fenix Elemental Clan of Fire. They can't be beaten!" Naomi declared, "They rule this word now. The World Heirarchy is just biding their time until they are decimated!"

"I'd bet you wouldn't have said that to Xyder though," Fira grunted, " If he said he was going to bring them down, you'd never have said it was impossible. In fact I'd bet that you'd believe with all your heart that it could be done."

After thinking for a moment, Naomi spoke back, "Perhaps I would have, but not anymore. He spoke of so many grand things but in the end all he did was aid Blaze in annihilating an entire nation and then he went to hide from his crimes. The reason I put my life and the lives of my family on the line to defend him was because I believed in his good heart and his innocence! On that day, he betrayed me on both fronts!"

"That's what the Heirarchy has been spreading, so to some extent I can't blame you for saying that," Satella spoke up for the first time, "Xyder Zephyr has sided with the greatest global threat of Blaze and unleashed anarchy upon Fenix. That's what they've been propagating but I know Xyder better than that. He'd never do such a thing even if he had a knife to his throat. I know Xyder and I believe in him. The question is, do you?"

A grim silence permeated the room as an unnerving tension swelled up within it.

"Xyder may have done a few messed up things on that day, but we have no answers and no facts. We can't go off of the Heirarchy's word of all things. I know that we aren't the ones you felt you owed and became close friends with. That was Xyder and Evelynn. Now... Evelynn is gone. Xyder is missing but all hope isn't lost for him. You still feel as if you owe him for saving you, do you not? If that's the case then it's still possible for us to rescue him from whatever he is currently doing and get the answers that every single one of us is dying to know. But, we can't do this alone Naomi. Xyder has gone into hiding. If we're to get to him before our enemies do, then we must act now and we must gain the help of talented individuals," I said, "So tell me Ailani's... will you help us to locate Xyder and thus allow us to stand a chance to end this once and for all?!"

****
Seraphim Zephyr - POV;

I stood at the centre of the main room in my humble abode, facing the raging blaze burning brightly in my prominent fireplace. I stared intently at the framed image depicting myself alongside both my sons; Kristæl and Indendio, before stepping closer and lifting it gently to reveal what was beneath.

"It seems that I have failed you my son.... No. It is certain that I have," I murmered, "Evelynn has met the worst fate. I'm certain of that you already know. After all, she must have already reunited with you both in that paradise where all benevolent souls come to reside. I won't be joining you there. I would never be allowed to, so I can only speak to you while I am here. Losing her was already far too much, and yet we managed to lose Xyder as well. He has been corrupted; his mind twisted by the cunning and malicious Deity of Darkness. Tenebrae's hold on him is far too strong... We cannot free him. I failed to protect your children. I failed to keep them away from the wickedness and evil of this world and now our worst nightmare has been realised. The primordial terror has risen once again. Zephyrus walks this world once more. Everything we have fought for is slowly being undone. If we continue on this path, our sacrifices... your sacrifice... it will have been all for naught. We are at our wits end, Kristæl. We have reached a solid wall. We have nowhere to progress and it's far too late for us to turn back. I made a vow when I came to take up this mantle as the Regulus of this Clan.... but now, it has all fallen to ruin. How can we proceed Kristæl? Where can we go? If you were still here now, I know that you would have known the way."

"Father! It's terrible!" Catherine exclaimed, bursting through the door in a panicked frenzy.

"Catherine?!" I cried out in surprise, hurriedly replacing the image I had taken down, "What's the matter? What's going on?"

"It's the children! Dagan and the others! Even Alva! All of them have disappeared! They couldn't have-" she gasped, cutting herself off.

"There's no doubt," I grunted, "They are going after Xyder!"