Chapter 34
1875 Words
CHAPTER 34
The sun shone, giving light to the whole forest. Sphyra woke up with a wide smile on her face. She had a great night with Aragorn as they witnessed the dancers in one of the villages. She saw how fire, an element that humans are scared of, became a form of entertainment.
Sphyra went to the waterfall to clean the clothes that she wore in the past few days. She checked her available clothes in the cave and she only found a few. Meaning, she had to do laundry even if she didn’t want to.
Burn walked around the falls while waiting for Sphyra to finish her laundry. Sphyra can’t help but laugh at the cute dog. It looked like a bodyguard who’s ready to protect her no matter what happens.
In thirty minutes of doing her laundry, she heard howls from Burn. She stopped but she didn’t look at her back. She knew it wasn’t Aragorn. If it was Aragorn, Burn would not bark at them.
Slowly, Sphyra stood up and turned around. He saw two guys. He saw them before with Aragorn. But she didn’t expect to see them here. Oh crap, they found her. She hoped they wouldn’t look into her eyes.
“Who are you?” said the one who had an authoritative voice. He sounded like Leo but at least it wasn’t Leo. If it was Leo, she’ll be dead today.
“My name’s Sphyra.” Her name sounded fire. She hoped these men wouldn’t think of her as the phoenix. Even if she confessed that she’s the phoenix, she wouldn’t dare to attack these two guys. Aragorn helped her and by killing his two friends, it only means that she didn’t have any respect.
“Your name sounds great. I guessed you live in one of the richest villages in the palace.”
“No,” Hideo said. “She doesn’t live in any villages in the town.”
“Huh? Hideo what do you mean?”
A lump in Sphyra’s throat. She took a step back and if she’s going to step more, she’ll fell into the water.
“This part of the forest is restricted. Azrael, look at her eyes.”
Azrael did what Hideo said. He saw Sphyra’s eyes glowing like an orb. No, those eyes. Those colors of eyes. It can only mean that this woman is rare or… she’s the phoenix everyone is looking for.
“Prince Aragorn! Prince Aragorn! Wake up! You need to wake up!” Aragorn woke up from Yosef’s taps on his body. He squished his eyes and stood up from lying.
He glanced at the window and saw that the sun had risen. “What’s the matter, Yosef?”
“Leo said he won’t be here today. He asked Hideo and Azrael to search the forest if there’s someone who’s hunting illegally.”
“Then, what’s the matter with that?”
“Part of the forest is where the phoenix settles. We have to go before they capture Sphyra and Burn.”
Aragorn rushed to his tunic and sword. He knew Sphyra’s in danger once Hideo and Azrael saw her. Hideo and Azrael would not think twice once they saw Sphyra.
Azrael didn’t mind Zonia’s invitation for dinner. Yosef followed him to the forest. He needs to go there before Hideo and Azrael find Sphyra. He knew the two of them weren’t bad people but they’re going to hurt her because everyone thought the phoenix is the antagonist in the palace. The two of them can’t kill the phoenix because they didn’t have royal blood flowing on them. But once they captured her, they’ll bring them to the palace.
“Faster, Yosef!” He didn’t mind the odds that he’s taking on his track to Sphyra. He arrived near the waterfall and saw Hideo and Azrael facing Sphyra. On the other hand, Burn was there barking at the two men who dare to hurt Sphyra.
“Azrael, capture her,” said Hideo.
“No!” Aragorn showed himself. “Don’t capture her.” He ran to Sphyra and used himself as a shield.
“Your Highness, don’t go near that woman. She’s the phoenix of Caspian. She might kill you!” Azrael warned.
“No! She isn’t,” Yosef defended.
“Her eyes look like a fire orb. A phoenix is the only one who’s having that kind of eyes. We won’t do this kind of thing if it wasn’t the king’s order. He ordered that anyone who sees the phoenix must capture her.”
“She’s the phoenix but it’s not what you think of her.”
“Aragorn, stop. You’ve protected me for a long time. Maybe this is going to be my end.”
“Hideo and Azrael, listen to me,” Aragorn said authoritatively.
“We will believe everything that you’re going to say, Your Highness,” said Hideo.
“Sphyra’s my friend. She is the phoenix of Caspian but she’s not what you think. She’s kind and she didn’t dare to harm my father or any civilians in the palace. She only wanted to live.”
“How about the fire, Your Highness. Isn’t she the one who caused the fire that killed a lot of civilians?”
“No, she wasn’t the one who did that. There’s a person who does not like how my father rules the palace. That person even did not want me to become the next king. That person did the fire so citizens of that village will think that the phoenix exists and is alive so that the citizens will challenge me to kill the phoenix. That person planned this thing carefully.”
“We should tell this to Master Leo,” Hideo suggested.
“Don’t dare to tell him! Sphyra is the daughter of the phoenix that my father killed years ago. That same phoenix was the one who caused the fire that killed Master Leo. Sphyra only wanted to live. If I prove the phoenix isn’t the one who caused the fire in that village, people will stop believing that she still exists.”
Hideo gazed at Sphyra. “Is it true? Is the prince right that you wouldn’t dare to hurt any citizens in the palace? Aren’t you fooling the prince?”
Sphyra nodded. “I never fooled the prince. He’s the one who’s helping me. Even during the winter, she’s my helping hand. Why would I dare to hurt my only hope of peace and safety?”
“If you notice, Prince Aragorn leaves the hut during the night or even in the day. He’s actually visiting the phoenix here in the forest. When I was lost, the phoenix is the one who helped me. She didn’t hurt or kill me. She gave me safe and sound to Prince Aragorn. Hideo and Azrael, we are brothers, and please don’t dare to tell this to Master Leo,” Yosef pleased.
“Hideo, what are we going to do? Should we help the prince or should we be loyal to the king?” Azrael asked.
“Prince Aragorn, we only knew each other for months but I already felt the brotherhood between the four of us. You treated us without ease. You treated us your brothers. I wouldn’t dare to break your plan to protect the phoenix. I believe in what you are believing and I am willing to risk my life to protect her also. I am with you in this journey, Your Highness.”
Hideo fell to his knees and bowed at the prince to show his sincerity. Aragorn can’t help but let the rat inside his heart o start a party. He didn’t think that he’ll persuade his comrades to help him.
“Prince Aragorn, Hideo’s right. We are both willing to stay beside you and protect the two of you. We’ll do anything to prove the phoenix’s innocence and I also promise that we will not tell anyone about her existence,” said Azrael and copied what Hideo did.
“The two of you can now stand up. There’s no need for formality when there’s only the four of us. You said that we’re brothers and even if I’m the son of the most powerful man in the whole palace of Caspian, I’m still a man who’s wanting to improve himself.”
Aragorn walked to the three guys. Sphyra followed him. The five of them did a group hug. They laughed because they thought that danger is near but a new friendship has begun. They knew that days will come and their relationship with Sphyra will grow.
“I really thought that the phoenix is going to kill me,” Azrael said while they're hugging each other. “I never thought in my life that I’m going to face the creature that everyone’s afraid of.”
They released each other. Smiles matched each other’s faces.
“Thank you so much for your willingness to protect me. I am certain that I wouldn’t dare to hurt Aragorn. He’s my only savior back then and now I have four.”
“Sphyra, you don’t have to worry again about your food. We’ll visit occasionally here to check on you. If you want to, we’ll have a shift to guard you,” Hideo said. “You’re precious to Prince Aragorn and we’ll also treasure you also.”
“There’s no need for that. Thank you for your concern but I can protect myself especially at night.”
In the middle of the conversation, Burn barked.
“Oh, we almost forgot about Burn,” Aragorn said smiling. He picked Burn and showed her to his comrades.
“Your dog’s adorable, Your Highness. Can I carry it?”
Aragorn gave Azrael the dog. Azrael teased the dog using his face but Burn got pissed and licked it nonstop.
“It looks like Burn thought of you like food,” Yosef laughed. The others followed he laughed. He’s right. Burn thought to Azrael’s handsome face as food. The five of them shared a laugh while Azrael was struggling on carrying Burn.
- Writer
