The Guardians' Throne - The First Magic Swordsman

                                      Zaos lost more than three weeks… was really trying hard to avoid that kind of thing from happening? Did he need more training despite everything? Or perhaps he was just unlucky for having to deal with enemies that could do crazy things like make a lightning bolt fell on his head?

"Take me to where they are," Zaos said. "I want to see if I can help them in some way."

                                      In the end, Noemi nodded and offered him a shoulder to help him walk. It seemed that was becoming a common occurrence. Regardless, it was quite difficult to cope with the feelings of seeing someone getting beaten up so many times, only to get up and then get beaten up a few weeks later.

"Zaos? I am glad to see that you are ok," Drian said.

                                      When Zaos and Noemi found the room where Drannor was, they found Drian, his wife, and Ameria in the room. Drannor still was unconscious, but he was just using the sleep to recover from the wounds.

"Sir, my lady," Zaos said and then slightly bowed to Drannor's parents. "It has been a while."

                                      Zaos didn't know much about Drannor's mother, but she didn't seem as ever so serious as the queen. Despite the situation, both of them greeted Zaos with a warm smile. Still, Drian seemed a bit weird, probably because he never saw his son in that situation.

"I am sorry, Zaos," Ameria said. "I wasn't there when you woke up."

"No problem," Zaos said. "You saved our asses again. You have done more than enough. I came to see if my magic can be of any use. Still, it seems that healers already did everything necessary during those three weeks. Well, I am going to check Erean as well. See you guys later."

                                      Those three nodded, and then Zaos left. He felt a bit troubled since he woke up in his room alone, but in the end, he quickly got rid of that kind of thought. After all, Zaos wasn't exactly the friendliest guy that the capital has seen until now.

                                      Noemi helped Zaos walk again, and then Zaos also found another room more or less filled with people. Erean was unconscious, but he was snoring as well, so he probably will wake up in a day or two. On his side, there were four women, his wife, and three daughters. After greeting them, Zaos left. In those kinds of situations, it was better to let them stay with their families.

"Zaos, about your family…" Noemi said while they are heading toward his room.

"I can imagine why they aren't here," Zaos said. "My mom's health isn't that good, and my father and Drian couldn't leave the king's side at the same time. It is understandable, and that doesn't bother me all that much. Rather than that, do you know where my things are? I need to resume my research."

"… We left on the ship, I will bring for you," Noemi said.

"All right, thanks," Zaos said and then smiled.

                                      Zaos was feeling a bit weird like he wasn't the same as before. He probably was being gentler than before because he couldn't feel his strength. That seemed like a problem since the fact that he was a bit strong shouldn't be a reason to make him be so cold and harsh. There was also the next theory that Zaos didn't want to admit it… since he put the life of a single person above all others, the others did the same to him. It was weird… Zaos couldn't believe that the fact that he woke up alone would bother him that much.

                                      After Noemi brought him back to his room, Zaos thought alone for a while. Trying to sort out his feelings. Dying almost three times in a few months, letting anger control his actions several times… feeling sorry for himself because he woke up alone… in the end, Zaos punched his face because those feelings were annoying. He certainly wasn't wrong in trying his best to heal his mother, so why should he feel bad?

"… What happened to your face?" Noemi asked when she returned.

"It was nothing," Zaos said. "Anyway, thanks for bringing my stuff."

"All right… I will take my leave since I don't want to bother you," Noemi said. "Take care, Zaos."

"Roger that," Zaos said.

                                      Zaos had to catch up with the lost time. While the whole trip hasn't been a total waste of time, his goal still was far away. Regardless, just as Zaos had imagined, Erean woke up the next day, and despite the fact that he lost some weight, he still was as noisy as ever. As for Drannor, he woke up after three days. Although almost one month of his life passed and he didn't do anything, he didn't look weird in any way. On that same day, Drian went to Zaos's room to talk to him.

"Sorry for not coming before, Zaos," Drian said.

"No problem, sir," Zaos said. "Your priorities weren't wrong."

"Thanks for understanding that as well," Drian said. "Regardless, I came to explain why your father didn't come as well."

                                      In the end, Zaos's guess was completely right. The king couldn't leave the capital since the situation in the West still was complicated, and moving to the opposite side would only be a trip to the side of the country longer.

"I also came to tell that we will start the journey back to the capital in three days," Drian said.

"It seems a bit abrupt," Zaos said. "If you are worried about me, you don't have to hurry up the trip. I will fulfill my duty and obey my orders until the end of the mission. Since all of us aren't we condition to do that, maybe we should wait to recover a little more."

"I also agree with that, but Drannor and Erean are missing home," Drian said. "This journey has been a long one, so it is time to end it. So, we will leave in three days. You should say goodbye to your friends in the meantime."