Chapter 101

Sunshine coming through the windows lit the room up brightly. Shifting his body he could smell the scent of fresh morning grass wafting in the window. It was a refreshing feeling. Vorbuk felt his way would be a decent one. He intended to take a look around the capital of Cista while they were staying at the palace.

His form casually taking human shape as he made his way over to where Leo was still sleeping peacefully. The prince was deep within his slumber. It amazed him at times how the prince could sleep so heavily all the time.

Reaching his hand over he carefully pulled the prince's coin bag from his clothing and placed it carefully within his own. Backing away slowly in order to leave the room.

"Where are you going?" Leo's half asleep voice could be heard from behind as he was walking away from the bed. It was obvious that the prince was not completely awake enough to understand what was going on around him. He had only been slightly jolted awake by Vorbuk moving around.

"I am just getting a bit of fresh air while you rest.. Go back to sleep." Vorbuk spoke in a soft tone in order to soothe Leo back into his slumber without realizing he was actually sneaking out of the palace.

The prince exhaled heavily and flopped his face back into the pillow under him. Every word spoken to him did not register completely into his mind. He was too exhausted from sword practice the day before that his entire body was aching. Sleep was the only thing he could concentrate on and something he enjoyed at the moment immensely.

Seeing that the prince had relaxed back into his sleep Vorbuk opened the door and stepped outside the room.

Clack.

The room door closed behind him quietly on the way out so that the prince would not be woken.

As soon as the door was closed Vorbuk turned to walk away but from behind he could hear footsteps approaching. From the familiar scent he could tell that it was Isis who had found him awake. Being so early in the morning he had not expected to run into anyone yet. The sun had only just risen and most of the group liked to sleep in or jumped into work the moment awoke. At times Vorbuk wondered how they were even as efficient a group as they were. It was more like they were a family who stood together but fought over the most strangest of things at times.

"Where are you going this early?" A voice called out to him from behind as he was walking down the hallway just as he had expected.

As Vorbuk turned around he saw Isis walking over to him. Her beautiful tail slightly waving back and forth behind her gentle frame. For a moment he thought about telling her off when he heard someone trying to question him but when she entered his vision it was like the words were caught in his throat.

"I'm going out for a walk. There are some things I want to take a look at around the capital while we are here without the others. I have things to do." Vorbuk managed to push out a response after snapping back to reality. He could not understand why every time he saw her it was like he could not control himself. There was something about the girl that always drove him crazy. He could not think clearly when she was around him.

The princess could see that Vorbuk was acting strange. Pondering if she had done something wrong she wasn't sure how to go around talking to him. She knew things were awkward between them since the moment they had met. However she enjoyed his company when she was around him and she knew they would be parting soon, even if she had not yet told him.

"Mind if I come out with you?" She asked casually so that she could get more time alone with him. Her soft white ears flicking back excitedly as she held her hands together tightly. He was aware from her expression how much she wanted to go with him.

"... No. You cant come with me this time." Vorbuk's answer was slow and yet firmly spoken. If she went with him during his walk he felt it would only stress him out rather then help him.

He could see the disappointment in her eyes at his response. The way she felt rejected by him was written all over her face. Freezing up where he stood, he tried to think of a way to dissolve the awkward presence that had fallen upon them.

A strange look sparked in her eyes for a moment. Her hand raising slightly to her face as if she wasn't sure how to react in front of him. It was causing his heart to thump hard as he did not know what kind of reaction to expect from her. Without knowing her that well he could not understand her reaction. Was she angry? Would she cry at being told no? He had no idea.

Regardless of the expectations he had for her though none of that happened. Disappointment was the only expression in her eyes as she stared back at him quietly for a moment. Her hand gently held against her lips while she thought about her words.

"I understand.. It must be exhausting to have someone like me around you all the time.. I will just wait back here at the palace for you to return." Every word she said toyed with him. It made him feel guilty if he left her behind yet still gave him the option to walk away and leave her standing there. She was toying with his choice to leave without her company.

Vorbuk did not know how to respond back to her. A dozen responses were passing through his mind and yet not a single one was something he could make himself say. If he denied her going then it would look as if he was bullying her. Yet if he took her things would be more uncomfortable for him since he did not know how to react when she was around. She was from an enemy kingdom and yet she treated him so warmly.

Does she not understand that I will have to fight her father? Or does she really not care at all? I can't understand her! Vorbuk struggled internally as he tried to consider his options.

"I just mean- I just want to- Argh! Forget it! Come on!" Vorbuk struggled with his thoughts before caving in to her request.

As he grabbed hold of Isis by the wrist she was lead out from the palace side by side. A faint smile slipping onto her face as she intertwined her hand into his. Her movement was so subtle that Vorbuk had not even been aware of the fact that she had done it. His only worry was on getting out of the palace without even more people tagging along with him so that he could see the capital alone and get a better understanding of the world around him.