Lord Shadow

Azief while he would always appear irrational when it is about the people he loved, only Sina knows that he is not an idiot. 

The only reason he goes against the World Government by his lonesome and why he would fight the world for Sofia was because he was confident in his strength. 

The percentage of him winning during that time might be low, but there is a possibility for him to succeed. 

If he fails, he might have been captured by the World Government. 

But if he won, he would win eternal glory. 

And everyone knows that battle between him and the World Government ended. 

Azief fought and he won and forge a name for himself and now after years had passed, is there any name more resounding on Earth than the name Death Monarch Azief?

Azief when he fought the World Government the first time, he never thought of the glory and the reputation that it would earn him.

All he thinks about is to save his friend Will. They fought in the Fake World when Hirate was worried about Death Monarch knowing about what was in the Closet.

If anything, it was more that he believes in himself. 

As such it was not some idiot move. 

He just decided to take the risk of losing and turns that probability of winning up. 

To Sina eyes even in time of irrational actions by Azief there is a bit of rationality that remains.

That is because Azief has always been a person who live for himself. 

He has been living for himself for almost all his adult life so it is not something that would just go away when he fell in love or found the joy of friendship. 

It was just hidden. But Sina could see it and she did not hate it.

Those who do not know how to care for oneself, would probably not that good in caring for others too.

It might not appear like it but he lived for himself. He saved Sofia for himself. He loved Sofia for himself. He is selfish in the way that he tries as hard as he can to not lose anything he wanted.

And he never denies that part of himself. The stronger he became, the honest he became about what he wanted and what he would do for it.

But the years changed and season pass and like the falling of the leaves in autumn turning into spring, people would also change.

That broken boy who loved himself, who would protect his heart first, is now growing to become a boy who knows how to live for someone else.

It is a happy growth. Then she asks him

‘Are you sure it is for her? And not for you?’

Azief was about to take a sip of the coffee but he halted

‘Right now, I am not sure. Probably a little bit of both’

Sina then shakes her head. 

‘I don’t know where you want to go and I tried as hard as I can to not try to meddle with your love life. We are all adults. And God knows, you ever listen to any of my advice before. But both of you are always so frustrating to see. I see two people in love that could not catch a break. You are both my friends. You are my….’ And she takes a breath and said ‘family’

‘We are all lonely people in the beginning, joined together by weird circumstances. We become friends, and then along the way we become family. You, me, Loki and Sofia. Us four have gone through a lot. Those hardships, those memories forged the bonds that we have now. Blood is not the thing that forms a family.’

Then they both said it in unison, like they practiced it a hundred times

‘It is bonds’ Azief and Sina said it at the same time and looking at each other face, they both laugh like it was the funniest joke they heard all day.

Sina is smiling and Azief is also smiling. But the moment didn’t last. Because she is about to scold him.

And Azief could sense it so his smile also didn’t last. She then said

‘She loves you. But she would not wait forever for you. It is not fair for her. She needs to live her own life too. You can’t keep holding her back with halfhearted feeling. Sooner or later, someone going to get hurt. The only question is; how deep the hurt would be. The longer it stayed the same, the deeper the cut would be’ she said

Then she takes a sip of the coffee. 

Azief also takes the sip of coffee that he missed before. They both put down their cups and Azief sighed. 

Sina only waited. She looks at the sea on her right, and while the distance between her hut and the shore of the sea is far with her eyes, how could she not see the waters of the shore.

She focused and she tries to see a ship. But she could see only normal ships in the distance. He is probably gone she thought to himself

Then Azief said

‘I know. And the more I do this, the more I felt guilty. And the more I felt guilty, the more I fear that the relationship will break. Because I fear, the guilt will surpass the love. I don’t want to stay with her because I felt guilty. And because of that, I need to go and see what I need to see.’

Sina once again focused and the sighing she ask

‘And you are here because you want me to look after her? Just like these couple of years’

‘Yes. That and because I want to an old friend. There is not a lot of that these day. You seem to talk a lot more now’

‘I am getting older. I guess I talk a lot now’ she replies.

‘And you are the same’ she shot back. Azief then reply

‘I also got sentimental after all of these years. Life passes by just like that. Years felt like seconds and I could not help but reminisce the past. 

They were silent for a few seconds before Sina asked him

‘You are not going to use me to find Loki?’

‘Loki is someone who knows how to hide. Even if you know something about him, I doubt I could find him if he really decided to hide. And I would never use you if you are not willing’

Sina smiles a bit hearing his words.

‘I don’t want you two to fall out with each other’ she said. Azief sighed again. It seems everyone is worrying about that. 

The six other Great Powers is also very concerned about the matter

But while those six great powers all have their own interest in Loki and him remaining close, only from Sina he could feel genuine concern about the relationship between him and Loki

Then he said

‘I don’t want that too. But I have certain lines that he should not cross.’

‘And if he crosses that line? What would you do?’ Sina asked

‘Truthfully?’

Sina nodded. Azief answer the question