บท 31: War Between Zirconia And Onyx Kingdom

Thud!

A blade almost struck Zane's ear. Lucky that he dodges it. If not, that blade surely landed on his head.

"Whoa..easy... Thunder beast." He said with both of his hand on the air. Raising it up like surrendering.

"Why did you agree?" He asks with cold eyes shooting straight at him.

"Because.." He gulps a bit. "She really wants to learn it. Why not, anyway? Archery is suited for a woman. And it's not that hard to learn too." He adjusting his collar of his shirt and try to pull out Hayden's blade from the big tree trunk behind him.

While pulling it, he frowned and panting a bit after a few tries. It is really hard to pull it out. Not only that. The sword is super sturdy and big too.

"She never held a weapon. King Edward will not agree to this." Hayden said and went to the tree trunk.

Pull his blade out of the tree trunk like pulling a needle from a soft pillow. Zane's jaw almost dropped looking at it before he clears his throat a little.

"Well, King Edward is dead. We're in the middle of the jungle, right now. She's not wearing any crown on her head. So, why not? For her safety purpose." Zane turns to him. To convince him, it would not harm her if she learns how to protect herself.

"But..she's.."

"Look, Hayden. I know you care about her. I know you worry. But, don't you forget, she is the reincarnation of Red Demon King. She is basically our leader. What kind of leader who can't even protect herself? The tales tell us that she is supposed to be a great King. So, have a little faith in her." He patted on Hayden's shoulder.

"And one more thing, you too protective toward her. It's not good though. She needs to be free to do what she wanna do too. You're not her father, nor her husband. So, let her have her own time, will you? If you keep like this, any women will drift away from you." He gives him advice.

Hayden lowered his head a bit. He trying to stomach all the word that Zane told him. It's true he is not her husband and yet he acts like she was his. And because of that, she drifts away from him since days ago.

Thought of she might drift even further make him a bit scared. He loved her. Even though it might be just a one-sided love, he's not willing to drift apart with her yet.

Maybe he needs to take Zane's suggestion. Give her space. Let her do what she wanna do. Be as much as he can to not be too protective toward her.

After Zane return back to the tent, Hayden sits under the big tree. Looking at the fireplace with a blank mind.

After an hour, he heard a rustling sound from the tent and soon, Yuina get out of the tent.

"Hayden?" She looks at him while rubbing her eyes a bit.

"Hm?" He replies without looking at her. He knows she might have a nightmare. That is why she awake in the middle of the night.

"Still not sleeping?" She went and sit closer to him.

"Yeah. I guarding until Zane's turn." He holds the urge to look at her. If he looks at her face, it might be a look that will make her drift away again.

"Oh. I want to go to pee. But.."She looks surrounding her. Of course, she is afraid of dark and jungle like this. Especially when it's night time.

Hayden took a leather flask, contain clean water and stand up. "Let's go." He also brings one fire torch with him.

Nod her head, they both went into the woods.

"Urm, turn around." She said and Hayden passes the leather flask and does as she asks.

"Hayden.."

"Hm?"

"You're not gonna mad if I want to learn how to fight, right?" She asks. She saw he look a bit displease when she talks about learning how to protect herself with Zane.

"No. Just makes sure you did it well and don't cut yourself," He said with a rather low voice.

"Ermm...I will not."

Once she was done, she returns back to her tent and Hayden continue to guard them until it Zane's turn and he went inside the tent for sleep.

They had two tents, where the first tent is for Kyra and Yuina while another tent is for him and Zane. The guarding job is split by the two of them. One need to on duty while another one sleeping.

When Zane's turn to guard up, once again, Yuina was awake and get out of the tent.

"Zane, I'm ready," Yuina said with a smile on her face.

"Okay. Come here. I show you how to use a bow and arrow." Zane patted on the tree trunk beside him and after she sits, he went to take a bow inside the tent slowly without waking up Hayden.

"Okay, watch how I handle this bow and point my arrow. You need to shoot at the tree trunk there. You got it?" He asks while stretching the string and the arrow to the tree he was talking about.

Yuina at the side nodded her head. "And then…lock your target before you strike it." He releases the arrow from his finger.

Swooosh!

Thud!

The arrow safe landed on the tree and Yuina clap her hand slowly after that.

"Okay. Now is your turn." Zane passes the bow to her and she positions her hand and finger just like what she saw Zane do it.

Stretching the string, Zane squinted his eyes a bit.

"Em...It is in the wrong position." He went behind her and readjust her position.

"Okay, hit the target." He said after done.

Yuina shoots the arrow and the arrow flying halfway before it went to the ground.

Her face turns red because of the embarrassment. While Zane, try very hard to not laugh at her first attempt.

"Well," He cleared his throat softly.

"It always happens to the beginner. Never mind that. Let's do it again." He encouraging her.

…

They only stop after 7 am. That is when Kyra woke up and ready to go to wash up her face.

When she was out of the tent, she looks at Yuina which is a bit sticky with the sweat and Zane also standing near her.

"What are you guys been doing?" Kyra ask.

"Practicing," Yuina said with half smile. Her arrow shooting still needs to improve. She has been shooting anywhere and wastes the arrow without one single hit.

"Hmm...Don't tire out yourself too much." Kyra advises her and takes out a clean cloth. Ready to go to the near river.

"Let's go. Clean yourself." Kyra said again. Without any delay, She follows her from behind and put down the bow on the ground.

"Wait up." She halts Kyra and runs to her.

After having breakfast and Hayden is up to go again, they ride their horse and continue their journey.

Yuina, as before, she will wake up every day at four in the morning and practicing her archery lesson with Zane as her teacher. She did not talk much with Hayden and she kinda misses it. Misses the moment where she could happily talk to him, hug him and she misses all his kind act toward her.

As this keep continues for days, they finally reach the village area which she could see is very deserted with dry ground, fewer trees and bushes. With hot weather and the village also nowhere near to the water source too.

"Where are we?" Kyra asks while her eyes keep wandering around the area.

"We're..basically in the Onyx Kingdom. That village is used to be in our Kingdom, but a few years ago, King Edward give this land to the Onyx Kingdom as compensation from the last big war between Zirconia and Onyx Kingdom." Hayden said with a tone of sadness in his voice.