Chapter 195

Prince Leo watched Aoki carefully while holding his sword ready. He knew that the wound Ashley inflicted would not hinder how dangerous Aoki was. Aoki could feel the wound but his expression did not show one of someone in pain. That kind of wound was not something he could not endure. It was something he could ignore as if he felt nothing.

Aoki was starving. The more he fought the more desperate he felt for something to eat. It was only wearing his body down the longer things dragged out. He felt uncomfortable and tired.

"Hungry." Aoki muttered under his breath as he scanned his surroundings.

POP!

Johan Lovette popped open his umbrella. Twirling and pointing it in the direction of the executioner. At the tip of the umbrella a small ball of wind formed. Growing larger and larger as seconds passed. Eventually opening up and spreading as a small and violent tornado broke out in front of them. Wind blowing so violently that they had to shield their eyes.

The vampire dropped and grabbed hold of the ground as the small tornado tried to suck him up. Parts of the temple were pulled from the ground and roof into the tornado. Becoming violent particles in the wind.

"What are you waiting for? Take the opportunity when given one!" Ashley shouted at Leo as he felt Johan's aid was a chance for Leo.

Whistling~

A pleasant whistle in the air called out to Aoki. It was that pleasant sound that he'd heard once before. Trying to block his ears he could not escape it. The sound of the whistling distorted into a cruel screech among the violent winds of the tornado.

Prince Leo knew that to drive Aoki out they would need to give him a push. They had to strike a sense of fear into the vampire. To drive him into a state of fight or flight.

The fire on Leo's sword burned hot. His mind clear as he thought about what he needed. The outcome that he desired. Flames burning more sharply as the heat grew around him. Swinging his blade towards the tornado as if he had the desire to cut it down.

Those flames that covered his blade flew out like blades. Colliding into the tornado they were swept away with the wind. Worried about the flames being blown out Prince Leo dropped his sword quickly. Reaching out his hand as he tried to grasp a mental control over his flames from a distance. Inside he could feel something warm within his chest. He could feel the light of flame in the wind.

Pouring out all the mental strength Leo could he focused on those flames. The fire began to grow larger. Cold gusts of wind becoming violent raging flames. What was once a simple tornado began to form a cyclone of flames. At the center of that cyclone at risk of being engulfed was Aoki. Trembling where he stood the vampire panicked.

With a loud ringing in his ears Aoki shouted a series of violent swears. His heart was pounding in his chest as fire threatened him from all around. He had no choice but to make a suddenn dash towards the first opening his could locate. There was no time for him to consider that the opening was a specific one that the prince had directed with his control over the flames.

As the flames began to dim themselves down Aoki was already focused on rushing back over the wall. The prince, Leo, however was exhausted and collapsed to his knees panting. He had never used so much effort on controlling his own mana in the past. That experience was something new for him. It allowed him to see how much he had grown so far.

"You aren't going to pass out right?" Ashley asked him while worrying that he would have to carry the prince back if he collapsed. Not that he was worried. He simply didn't want to touch him.

"Shut up." Prince Leo could tell that the vampire was insulting him in the back of his mind while asking that question.

"I only ask because I worry." Ashley said while thinking it was not a lie to say he worried. It was simply that it was not the prince he was worried about.

"It's still early and we already had to deal with something like this." Prince Leo sighed as he thought about what happened. If things like this were already happening before daylight he could only imagine what might happen during the day itself.

"..." Ashley went silent for a minute before speaking again. "Nothing will happen."

"You have some magic that tells you nothing will happen?" Leo laughed.

"No." Ashley replied.

"Then what makes you so sure that nothing will happen?" Leo asked seriously.

"I won't let anything happen." Ashley muttered.

Prince Leo sat quietly as he pretended not to hear Ashley's words. He could not tell whether it was best to ignore them or not. It was simply what he felt best in his situation. They were not exactly close with each other for him to try and provide the vampire with anything along the lines of comfort. He simply felt uncomfortable at the thought of it.

"We should get back inside and check on him. The other two are waiting over there for us." Prince Leo said while walking in the direction of Princess Isis and Chase. Not casting a glance at Ashley once the entire time they were talking.

Ashley was not interested in what the prince thought of him. Keeping his silence he followed after the group as they headed back into the temple. They were worried about leaving Vorbuk alone unconscious for long. The temple people were good people but they did not trust them completely. It was impossible to tell what another person was truly thinking. One person being good did not mean that every single one of them was.

Ashley was someone who did not trust easily. He had no problems with following them back inside to protect his master. When it came to trust he did not give that out easily. As master, Vorbuk, naturally had his trust due to the bond that tied Ashley to him. Trust was something he had no choice but to give unconditionally to the person that owned him. When it came to others Ashley was indifferent.

Master trusts this man.. Ashley thought as he watched Prince Leo from behind as they walked. His master trusting Leo made him question the prince. It made him curious about whether or not the prince was safe to be around his master. He could not help but subconsciously weigh the pros and cons to keeping the prince around.

At least he's putting more effort in to become less useless.. Ashley pondered as he compared the prince to how he use to act when they first met. Feeling like he could he tell the prince was determined to improve himself. It was hard to understand what drove the prince to better himself. Whether it was for himself or something else. Ashley felt conflicted in what his own opinion on the prince was.