Winter Festival in Theapan (Part 16)

Prince Leo had clearly overheard them on his way over from the lake with the other two behind him. He had heard as clear as day that King Micah was trying to offer Vorbuk to become his companion. When he heard those words it felt like something inside of him snapped. Unable to explain the flood of emotion he felt in that moment he could only coldly speak up to King Micah. It felt like his blood was boiling inside of him.

Why did it bother me so much to overhear King Micah make Vorbuk that offer? Prince Leo thought to himself as he waited for King Micah to respond to him.

Vorbuk suddenly became deeply aware of the fact that he was stuck in the middle of three fire hazards. Quickly he walked over to the prince and hesitated to reach out to him. He was not sure how to deal with this situation.

They were also drunk and unable to remain rational. He was a bit drunk himself as well but he was still aware of the fact that it was a very dangerous position to be in right now! He wasn't sure what Duke Heket's element was because he did not know what race the duke was from. However three drunk fire hazards was already terrifying to be in the middle of.

"Leo," Vorbuk spoke up as he tried to change the topic and calm the prince down before something bad happened, "If you have calmed Bredret down we should probably return to the palace quickly."

Prince Leo heard Vorbuk's words and knew that he was trying to calm him down making that strange feeling in his chest tighten even more to the point that it felt suffocating. Stumbling a few steps towards Vorbuk the prince's head slowly fell forward until the prince's forehead landed against Vorbuk's shoulder. The prince did not move from the position even as he felt Vorbuk's body flinch reflexively at the prince's sudden action.

Sighing deeply the prince slowly muttered under his breath, "You can't disappear one day and leave me alone."

"I know." Vorbuk calmly replied while not moving an inch. Not knowing how to react to the prince's drunken mumbles.

The prince spoke again as if he didn't feel reassured, "You can't."

"Yes," Vorbuk repeated as he patted the prince on the back where they remained in the embarrassing stance together, "now I really think we should get everyone back quickly to the palace."

I don't know how much longer I can maintain the four of you! Vorbuk screamed internally.

"We finally have a chance to relax and you want to head back already..." The prince grumbled to himself.

Vorbuk pretended not to hear him acting like a child, "You know Daryl and the others will worry if we waste time out here like this with everything going on."

"You should ready the horses to head back." Vorbuk said to Duke Heket who was the only one halfway maintaining his head properly like himself.

"Do I look like a servant?" Duke Heket scoffed as he flopped down on the ground next to King Micah and began conversing with him. King Micah gave the duke a polite smile as they began whispering to each other with feint chuckles as if they found everything amusing.

Obviously not... If you were one you'd be the worst one possible! Vorbuk couldn't understand Heket's attitude.

Forget it! Vorbuk shouted internally to himself as he pushed the prince away from him and flopped back down on the ground himself. He could hear the sounds of Bredret and Prince Leo joining them as well. Before Vorbuk knew it the five of them were resting in the grass together. The scent of lake water, grass, and liquor lingered in the air from their clothes. It was a strong scent that Vorbuk found reminding him of his previous life. Those many nights he got drunk alone were not as comfortable as this one. Even if he could not completely trust everyone currently around him he still found more comfort in the moment that he had never felt in that lonely past of his.

"I've been wondering something," Duke Heket's voice could be heard suddenly, "I have not heard of Vorbuk until recently so I doubt you've spent your entire life with the prince..."

Vorbuk flinched at the strange feeling he got from the duke's words.

"For a companion beast you seem to manage well getting along with other mortals. Where did you learn to communicate so naturally with others outside of the other beasts?" Duke Heket's question caused a heavy silence among the entire group. It was something that nobody could decide how to respond to. They were also curious about how a beast that normally wouldn't understand humanity could fit in so naturally as if it was a part of himself. Prince Leo's attention was even drawn to Vorbuk the moment he heard those words. The prince wanted to say something about the duke being rude but he could not help himself as well when that question from the duke echoed in the back of his mind.

Vorbuk hesitated to respond as he felt there was no reason to mention his previous life as a human, knowing he could not avoid giving an answer, images of his previous life flashed through his mind as he opened his mouth to speak, "... There was someone I knew once."

"You were with another mortal once?" Duke Heket thought out loud as he pondered that knowledge.

"Who?" Prince Leo jolted upright and sat facing Vorbuk. Vorbuk knew another human? No, he had no knowledge of how Vorbuk lived before they met each other. It was possible the wolf had come across many people. He had even met Daryl before meeting the prince.

Vorbuk could not simply say that it was someone he had known in his previous life so he was careful with his words as he tried to explain to the prince who seemed worried, "It was a long time ago and our paths will likely never cross again in the future."

Because they weren't even from this realm! Vorbuk shouted internally with a calm expression on his face.

"Ah." Prince Leo assumed the person died long ago.

"Why?" Duke Heket was more blunt in his words.

"Stop it. You're crossing the line." King Micah was the one who spoke up to scold the duke for prying too far into Vorbuk's privacy. He could feel the strange aura from Vorbuk that made it obvious he was becoming bothered by the questions.

The bickering among them did not register in Vorbuk's ears. His mind had already became lost. Whether it was from drinking, the excitement of everything, or the questions from Duke Heket the past was haunting Vorbuk as he lay there. His eyes closing as he could hear that familiar voice calling out to him.

"~!" That voice was familiar and warm as it called out his name.

No, that voice doesn't belong here now.

What was that name they called out to him? It had been so long since someone had called him by that name.

That person was no longer here anyways. They had abandoned him without a word long ago. There was no longer a reason to think too deeply about his past. It made him who he was but there was no longer a chance to go back for him.

With his eyes closed Vorbuk began to doze off as he felt a gentle hand reaching out to touch his shoulder. It was the prince trying to comfort him. As Vorbuk fell asleep his human form naturally came to an end. A soft black fog covering him as he returned to his natural wolf form before dissipating in the air to show a wolf sleeping soundlessly.