Chapter 193

Leo opened his eyes at the sound of someone running through the temple. They were shouting at others in the temple but he could not make out what they were saying at first. As they came closer he could see it was Uriel, the aid that was always close to the pope.

"Your highness, there is an emergency!" Uriel spoke quickly while from the sound of his breathing the man was exhausted.

"What happened?" Prince Leo asked.

Uriel stopped in front of where Prince Leo was sitting on the floor with the others. "The executioner got over the temple wall. His Holiness requests your aid in driving him out before things get worse."

Leo flinched at the sudden situation being given to him. Vorbuk would not be awake any time soon and Bredret would not be back for a while. His back was against the wall as he thought about how to deal with the situation.

While he was silently in thought a rustling sound could be heard from the side.

"I will help. Master is asleep so I wont let that thing near him." Ashley's voice was cold as ice as he leaned on one arm. His strength was not completely back yet but he felt well enough to move.

Ggrrrooarrrr.. A low growl could be heard from the throat of a young child, Chase. Even in human form the young half beastman child gave off the aura of a protective beast. No words were needed from the gaze in the child's eyes that showed he would protect the wolf as well.

"Ashley, are you able to wield your scythe?" Prince Leo asked. The vampire was still not completely healed so he needed to be certain that Ashley would be able to protect himself if he went out.

"You don't need to worry about my scythe." Ashley knew it took a lot to wield his blood weapon. While his body was still healing from the poison it would be difficult to use his scythe. The weapon was formed from his own blood. It would take a toll on his body if he called out the weapon while it was still healing. He was not willing to admit defeat because of how difficult it would be when his master was still unconscious.

Ashley began to climb to his feet. At first he felt a bit unstable in getting up however he was able to quickly grasp his balance again. For someone with quick reflexes like he had it was almost impossible for someone to notice him falter when he got up. This small action however was noticed by the prince. He could tell how the vampire was putting on an act to look better then he truly was.

"Alright, we should get moving quickly." Prince Leo said as he stood up.

He could see Chase and Princess Isis following him from behind. At his side Ashley walked beside him while forcing a smile through the pain in his body. One could say from the look in Ashley's eyes that he was out to claim a debt someone owed him. No, perhaps it was more accurate to say that Ashley simply wanted revenge by beating the crap out of Aoki.

"You are aware we aren't killing him right?" Prince Leo questioned the look he saw in Ashley's eyes.

"Yeah," Ashley smiled brightly. It truly was an honest smile. Because he was picturing a dozen ways to beat up that bastard. "I know, we can not KILL him."

"You're really never honest with yourself in front of him.." Leo got the chills when he realized the facade that Ashley put on in front of Vorbuk was not currently on Ashley. The vampire's inner self is showing up.

"Can you say honestly that you don't want to beat that bastard up once?" Ashley spat out the question in a cold tone.

"..." Everyone went silent.

They could neither find the strength to reply to that question nor could they think of a reason to retort it.

"Question my personality when you have a better argument over it." Ashley said before walking more quickly in order to put some distance between them. It was difficult for him to get along with the prince. There was also no reason for him to put on an act with prince Leo at all. He was not afraid of showing his distaste for the prince for what it was between them. The only person who had to care about him was the one he was bound to.

"You were a bit rude there, your highness." Princess Isis spoke up as she walked past Prince Leo. Although she was not aware of what might be wrong between Ashley the prince; she could not agree with what the prince had said to upset the vampire further. It was like the prince was mocking Ashley for always trying to show a bright side to his master. To her it felt like a childish argument.

Chase did not say a word to the prince but he did not remain behind with him either. The boy quickly rushed forward to keep up with the princess. Casting a glance back at prince Leo as he rushed by. The prince was left in the back of the group. Pondering over what he could have said that upset them all so much.

BOOM!! Thuudddd!

They all walked outside the temple door. In front of them was Uriel who had lead the way.The group had to stop moving as a large statue was crumbling down from the side of the temple building. It was a large decorative statue that cost an extravagant amount of money to hire a sculptor to create.

"Your Holiness!!! The amount of money for the repairs!!" Uriel shouted in a panic. His eyes were almost watering from how upset the man was.

"Do you expect me to aim specifically so I miss every single statue in this temple?!" Pope Johan Lovette shouted while throwing another wind blade through the air towards the vampire Aoki.

"You- Your Holiness!!! Please at least try to not damage the statues of the gods themselves!" Uriel panicked because the statue had been one carved specially in honor of one of the gods.

"Why," Johan Lovette sighed while muttering under his breath. "are you worried they'll get jealous amongst themselves over which ones survived the damage?"

Uriel felt like his forehead was throbbing. A migraine was bound to set in soon if he kept listening to the pope's remarks.

This was not an unusual conversation for him to be caught in with Johan. He just felt sorry that the pope did not even try to put on an act in front of outsiders. Johan did not favor any god in the slightest. That was one of the main reasons he was able to be given his position. However that also made him very open to showing how little he cared about what the gods personally thought of him.

Booommmm! Thud. Thud. Thud.

Another sculpture was struck by one of Johan Lovette's wind blades as Aoki dodged his attack again. The sculpture began to crumble apart where it stood. Uriel could feel his blood pressure rising as his mind blanked out. The repair costs... The amount of paperwork... Why did he have to be the pope's main aid? He was tempted to retire in that moment.