Zephyr: The Elemental Clans

102 - For His Happiness

Storm Zephyr - POV;

"They turned down Astra's help?" Satella questioned.

"They did. Dagan decided that it was for the best after all," I answered.

I was visiting Satella that morning as had been my daily routine since the ball. She remained mostly bed-ridden all this time due to unusually severe reactions she had experienced due to the poison. It seems that her experience was quite rare compared to most others inflicted with the same toxin and the doctors had insisted she stay warded until it was completely purged from her system.

"Will Xyder be okay?" she enquired.

"Of course he will be. He didn't do anything so they won't be able to prove anything," I assured her.

"I already know Storm. I heard some of the nurses talking yesterday. They already decided he was guilty and they plan to kill him. Why didn't you say something to me?" she muttered.

"That's...... crap," I sighed, "I'm sorry Satella. I didn't know how to even begin saying it. I couldn't do it knowing how it'd make you feel especially since.... well how you feel bout him."

"Storm..... Can I tell you something?" she questioned.

"Sure. Go ahead."

"I.... I think I'll give up on chasing Xyder," she confessed.

"What? What do you mean?!" I exclaimed.

"I always tried to get his attention... to make him mine.... but it was a selfish desire. I never thought about who he loved and well.... if being with Cheryl makes him happy, that's what I should want for him as well. Getting in the way of that would only hurt him and that's never what I wanted. I wanted to make him happy but... I guess there was someone better and fated to do that for him," she explained, shedding a tear.

"That's not true Satella. Cheryl may be good at heart but you're a far better girl than she ever can be. She's-" I began.

"Storm don't!" she shouted, interrupting me, "Belittling Cheryl doesn't change a thing. If anything, the lower you make her seem, the more you're insulting Xyder and his decisions. If that's the path he chose, we should do all we can to support him on it and that means placing Cheryl on a pedestal above any other. That's what it means to be his friends."

"Satella.... please don't do this to yourself," I pleaded.

"As long as he's happy, I am too," she smiled, trying to hide her sorrowful tone.

"But I'm not," I responded, "and you aren't either.... but maybe its for the best."

"Hmm? Why the change of heart?"

"Satella," I murmered, "I have something to tell you too. Even with the intervention by Nero, Astra and Neptulus, there's no guarantee that Xyder's case will be given a chance and even if they were to give in... who is to say that he can be proven innocent? For them to have pursued this guilty ruling so strongly, they must have some damning reasons. Dagan also feels the same and... should Xyder be taken to his death, we...... we are going to break him out of that place."

"What?! Are you crazy?! You'd be making an enemy of the World Heirarchy. If anything, you'll be directly opposing them! You'll have to live the rest of your lives running!" Satella squealed.

"We're already aware of it but, if its the only way to save Xyder, we're going through with it?" I stated firmly, "That's why its for the best. Once we go rogue anyone trying to be too close to us will be marked as well. You, Evelynn and all of the others have to stay away from all of this."

"Storm! Do you even understand what you're saying?! If you three go rogue the World Heirarchy will make-"

"The Heirarchy will place most of the burden of taking us down in the hands of Zephyr. I'm sure you guys will be sent to take our heads too," I finished her sentence.

"Storm.... don't do this," she whimpered.

"Satella, don't do what you just told me you would," I shot back. She pulled away in surprise as she heard my words before lowering her head and gaze.

"Huh? You were here?" a snarky voice retorted. I found myself looking at Winter who had just closed the door to Satella's room before walking towards us.

"I come here everyday?" I intended to say but it escaped my lips sounding like a question.

"Blah, blah, blah," Winter mocked me.

"Why are you here, Winter?" Satella inquired.

"Eh? Oh. Well I thought that I hadn't really visited you since then so I figured I would drop by. Oh and I brought these!" Winter explained as she handed a bag containing an assortment of fruits to the girl.

"Thank you!" Satella squeaked, peering in at the oranges and tangerines.

"Wait... you do nice things for people?" I snickered sarcastically.

"Oh, shut your trap," she pouted.

"This is lovely," Satella told Winter happily.

"Don't worry about it," Winter responded, "I just hope you're doing well."

"I am. They should let me out in only a day or two more actually. They said it should be completely fine then," Satella explained.

"That's great!" Winter cheered, "Oh, by the way, do you want me to peel one of those for you?"

"No, no, it's fine."

"What are you saying? Don't be bashful, I don't mind. They make your skin glow beautifully so I'm going to have to make sure you have your fill!" Winter insisted.

"Well? What are you waiting for? An invitation? Go get a bowl and a fruit knife from the kitchen!" Winter growled, turning her attention to me.

"A what? And why me?" I grumbled.

"Oh come on, are you retarded? Can't you do a single thing?! Fine, I'll go with you!" she exclaimed.

"With me? Can't you go yourself?" I questioned.

"Well, yeah... but you know.... well... I can't, um- I can't leave you here with Satella alone. What if you put your hands on her?!" she cried out.

"Are you kidding me? I've been here with her everyday!" I argued

"So?! You could do something at anytime!" she continued, "Honestly Satella, even if you've been friends since children, you shouldn't let your guard down around him. He's still a boy and they are all be the biggest monkeys!"

"Oh please," I sighed.

"Just go Storm. You're making this more difficult than necessary," Satella insisted.

"Oh, I am now? Okay, okay. So that's how it is. I'm going then since I'm the one causing a scene," I mumbled as I exited the room alongside Winter.

Satella joyfully stared at us as we departed and once we were out of earshot, she whispered to herself, "They've both found someone for them and here I am. I've been left behind."

****

??? - POV;

"The third round of the tournament has just been completed without any issue my lord," I reported through my cell phone.

"I take it then that Zephyr hasn't made a move?"

"Indeed my lord. I'm surprised they haven't even shown their face. I thought they would come to me for sure but I haven't so much as heard from them for quite some time. They may have reached their breaking point," I answered.

"Good. With Zephyr out of the picture, Blaze's mission.... our mission... it can be completed. Once we have siezed those lands, we shall bring a God's wrath to this world!"