The Guardians' Throne - The First Magic Swordsman

"That happened three days ago…" Noemi explained what had happened when the whole group reached the village where the kids were.

Noemi said with her head down while she was biting her lips due to the anger and frustration… She failed in protecting Milliendra, and the half of the island that she had grown up in had been destroyed in the eruption. Her feeling of helplessness only increased since she had to take care of the aftermath of the battle, and she didn't have enough hands to help. Now that Dalyor appeared and fell on his knees due to the shock, it felt like the whole sky was crushing her.

"Where is Drannor?" Zaos asked with a darkened expression on his face.

"... The battle had been too difficult, and he exerted himself, since the end of it, he has been unconscious," Noemi replied.

"Where?" Zaos insisted.

"What are you planning to do with him?" Noemi asked.

"Heal him, he might have had his ass kicked, but the battle is far from over," Zaos said. 

"Aren't you going to blame us for what happened?" Noemi asked.

"If you fought until your entire army was nearly wiped out… you failed in the end, but you are not the only one," Zaos replied. "Besides, Millie decided to go with the demons to protect the other kids since the guards had been nearly annihilated… It was her choice. She must be scared now… but she is waiting for us."

Everyone could tell that Zaos didn't like that situation, but he wouldn't let despair make him any more mistakes. It wasn't easy to digest that what he did over the last ten years was everything to protect Milliendra from the curse of the demon god. Still, after seeing what the demons were willing to do, they could see that hiding her from everyone was the best option. Not to mention, her abilities made her unable to live a normal life…

Nevertheless, Noemi guided Zaos to Milliendra's house, and there he found Drannor unconscious and many depressed kids aside. It seemed that they knew what had happened… Heiti, the boy who was always asking Zaos to train him, couldn't even look him in the eye. He wanted to repay the favor for the man who saved him and treated him like family, but he didn't have the chance to do anything.

"Sorry for my delay," Zaos said, and then he patted Heiti's head. "What is wrong, Heiti? There is no need to feel so sad… I will rescue Milliendra soon enough."

When the other kids heard that Zaos and Aleni had arrived, they went to see them, but they frowned since they were helping those that kidnapped them. In the end, Zaos told them what he had done and that the man who orchestrated their kidnapping was Milliendra's real father… he just acted doing what he believed was the best for his daughter. At first, Zaos thought that the kids would be scared knowing the power that Milliendra had, but instead of that, they just asked him what they could do to help. They had been raised well…

While Zaos was smiling looking at the kids, a punch suddenly landed on his face and knocked him down. It seems his healing skills finally gave Drannor the chance to wake up, and while he had all the reasons to punch Zaos, that annoyed the heck out of him. So, Zaos punched his stomach and made Drannor grunt in pain.

"Sick people need to stay down to be healed…" Zaos said.

"You asshole…" Drannor said and then tried to get up. "How can you keep your composure right now… and after everything you have done."

"That is because my brain isn't just an accessory that keeps my ears away from each other," Zaos replied. "Anyway, punch me again, and I will make sure that you will sleep for a week more."

"Don't mess with me, Zaos!" Drannor said and tried to punch him again, but Zaos moved to the side and easily dodged the attack. "This is… this is…"

"Is it all my fault?" Zaos asked while smiling. "Come on, say it. That sure will make you look even more pathetic."

Drannor clenched his teeth and fists… he wanted to say that, but he couldn't. While Zaos took Milliendra away from him, it was to protect her from the curse, and in those ten years, he protected her from the demons. Still, Drannor couldn't do that even for two months... 

"Drannor, let Zaos heal your wounds," Drian said. "We will need your help if we are going to rescue Milliendra. We don't have time to waste."

"... Yes, father," Drannor said. "Hurry up and heal me."

"Is that how you ask a favor?" Zaos frowned. "I think you are healed enough. Some pain will help you cool down your big head."

"We have some ships with us, but not enough to carry an army," Aleni said. "Give orders to your people to deal with the aftermath of the battle and look after the kids. You will come with us and convince the people of the other islands to lend their ships to us."

"Do I know you?" Noemi frowned.

"I know you, and that is enough," Aleni replied. "We can't march up north on foot alone… it will take too much time to find anything once we reach the mountains."

"That is right... " Laiex said. "Not to mention, the followers of the demon god will be waiting for us by land… we can infiltrate their territory by using boats. Once we do that, even if they realize that another army has already entered their territory, it will be enough to put them into disarray. Your Majesty, don't give up on hope, yet… have faith in your granddaughter."

"Yes… I will have faith, but I will come with you as well," Dalyor said.

Those close to the king didn't want to let him get too close to the battlefield. While he had trained in his youth, he was almost fifty and hadn't trained in years… his life would be in danger, but no one could stop him in such a situation.