Zephyr: The Elemental Clans

157 - A Toast To Zephyr

"I won't force you to go with us. Nariko, your father and I will go on ahead. If you feel as if you've changed your mind however, call me and I'll be here to get you," she assured me with a smile and a kiss on the top of my head, before leaving me alone to contemplate upon the picture in my hands.

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Xyder Zephyr - POV;

"Took you guys long enough," Jacqueline called out when Satella, Cheryl, Evie and I finally arrived at Lord Grisha's designated venue... and what a venue it was! Being the business mogul he was, Lord Grisha had rented an entire building for the night that catered heavily to parties and events. Along with the intricately designed walls, embossed doors, pristine furniture and clean windows, he had hired a host of chefs, waitresses and other personel to tend to all of the preparations and our needs. The wide, spacious, central room served as our primary celebratory area.

Gathered around trays of sandwiches, sweets and drinks were Naomi and her siblings, Dagan and the rest of our friends from Zephyr, Regulus Damon Neptulus accompanied by Aurora as well as his second wife, Delilah, and of course Regulus Grisha Astra who stood beside his wife and Nariko.

"The main attraction has arrived," Lord Damon joked as he shook my hand and pat me on the back. His wife bowed her head slightly and I emulated.

"Xyder!" Regulus Astra exclaimed as he stepped quickly towards me with open arms.

"Lord Grisha," I responded as he held me for a moment in his embrace before taking a step backwards. Emilia smiled and greeted me with a hug herself.

"This is it my boy," Lord Astra decleared as he held onto my shoulders, "You have accomplished a formidable task by toppling the great evil that was Blaze."

"I didn't do much. It's you, Lord Damon and Catherine who did the majority of the real work to corner them," I told him.

"That's far from true. Zephyr may have been tracking Blaze and their crimes for some time, Neptulus may have provided the greatest counter to Blaze's flames in the battle and Astra may have been able to convince the Heirarchy to take action against Duran but none of this would have borne fruit had you not brought us together. Once the truth is revealed to the world, you will be heralded as a Hero!" Lord Grisha insisted.

"Even so, I still owe it to each and every one who stood by me: my friends from Zephyr, the Ailani's, Neptulus and you Lord Astra. You and the rest of Astra who stood with us... speaking of which, where is Indira? Aquarius is missing too but I heard she was supposed to be here already," I pondered aloud.

"Well... about that. Indira's feeling a bit ill," her father responded.

"That's certainly not true," Emilia denied her husband blatantly, "Indira is still at home. Aquarius went over to be with her when she heard."

"Is that so? In that case...."

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Indira Astra - POV;

"Indira, I know you feel terrible about what happened but I can't watch you like this," Aquarius pleaded as she sat across from me, "Staying here won't fix anything. If you go to them and explain that it was an accident, they'll understand. Trust me. I'll be there with you. I promise it will be fine."

"I want to trust you. I want to go make things right," I told her, "But what if it doesn't work. What if he still hates me?"

Aquarius looked at me silently for some time before continuing, "Indira, you never were one to care about what others think."

"But this time I do. This time I really do," I said under my breath, "Especially after seeing something like that."

"Knock! Knock!"