Daryl's Stories (Part 1)

While their group was taking time to rest at the palace of Cista's King they spent their time preparing for the future. Vorbuk knew that their wish to go after the god Chynir was not one that could be taken too lightly.

With his ears pinned back tight he watched the crown prince, Leo, practicing his swordsmanship with Daryl. Every movement they made he etched into his memory the best he could. There was so much knowledge about the world that he wanted to learn. Some things he could only learn from experience while others he knew he could only learn in other ways.

A strange sensation in his mana made Vorbuk feel uncomfortable. It was slightly painful but lasted only a brief moment. Since their fight with the illusionist at the temple the feeling had begun to happen at unexpected times. He was not sure what the feeling was. Every time he felt it happen it was as if something was wrong with his own mana.

Somethings going on with my mana.. He thought to himself. The sound of clashing swords settling down in the distance from the others practice.

Prince Leo had caught sight of the wolf watching from across the training grounds. Wondering if Vorbuk was interested in practicing with them since he had a new shifting ability he was tempted to ask him directly. Since he was a companion beast though it only made him doubt his own assumption. Being an animal he could only wonder if Vorbuk even had a real interest in the thought of training his skill with a sword further.

Would swordsmanship really be something he would need later on? Wouldn't he rather train his natural abilities since he is a wolf after all? Prince Leo flinched as he had this thought. It felt to him as if he was having a momentary thought that would upset Vorbuk if he had known of it. At times he could not tell whether or not the wolf was really a companion beast at all.

"Vorbuk, are you here to join us?" Prince Leo asked with a smile as they both began to head in his direction. He could hear Daryl following him from behind.

Vorbuk shook away the strange thoughts he had about his own mana. That was something he felt the need to worry about later when the prince was trying to invite him to train. With all the things ahead of them he knew it was something he needed to do as well. His mana training he could practice from any location as long as he was comfortable and took the time to practice controlling it. It was knowledge about the world around him that Vorbuk knew he still lacked greatly in.

There were still many things in the world that he had to learn as things came and went around him. If there was a way to learn more while they were in Cista, he wanted to learn as much as he could while he had the chance.

"No. I was just observing for now.. Actually I was looking for some way I could learn more about the kingdoms." Vorbuk responded to the prince. He did not want to loose a chance at finding out more about the world. If the prince could give him a bit of direction then that was what he wanted to focus on while he had a chance to study in a calm environment. They both were aware that Daryl could not understand him in wolf form. Though neither of them paid any mind to the matter.

Prince Leo knew Vorbuk was different from other beasts but when he heard him mention the idea of studying he was still taken by surprise. More and more the beast in front of them acted different from most companion beasts. Already having heard Vorbuk's wish, he could only consider carefully how to respond.

"Ways to learn more about the kingdoms.." Leo pondered out loud for a moment before getting an idea. "Why not look at the palace library here?"

"The library?" Both Vorbuk and Daryl glanced at Leo with puzzled expressions.

That was not a place in the palace that anyone could just walk into without permission from the royal family. Some books that were kept within a palace library were not for outsiders to access. There were some royal families who were known to even use their royal libraries as studies for the royal family members.

Daryl did not know the entire conversation they were having between themselves. When he heard the prince mention the library he could only have a bad feeling about the situation. If the prince went wandering around with the wolf in the library and got caught their entire group could be in trouble with the king of Cista. Merely thinking about it gave him goosebumps.

"He wants to learn more about the kingdoms and the royal library is naturally a place with tons of information." Prince Leo directed his words to Daryl as he tried to help him understand what was going on.

"If he gets caught wandering around there alone and without permission.. Forget it.. I will go with him while you go check on Zoe and return the stone to her. She should be moving around well enough to take care of that thing now." Daryl exhaled heavily as he turned to walk away.

"Is there really that big of a difference if I take him instead of you?" Prince Leo could not understand why Daryl was so against him being the one to take Vorbuk to the library. In wolf form he knew that Daryl could not even understand Vorbuk when he tried to speak.

Glancing behind him he could see the wolf quickly catching up to his pace. Daryl was not going to leave room for the prince to complain against his suggestion. There were many things that he was more knowledgeable about then Leo. Over the years he had been throughout the twelve kingdoms and witnessed many things in his lifetime. Leo on the other hand was still lacking in experience as he was not allowed to roam as freely.

If they were to get caught in the royal library Daryl knew they would be in trouble. However he felt if he had not helped Vorbuk to get there personally; he was afraid the prince would have got caught much easier since his personality was more the type to get in trouble.

As they approached the library Daryl checked around for signs of guards or servants that could notice them. Silence filled the halls where ever he looked. It did not seem like anyone was currently in the area so he pushed the door open slowly. The wolf darting into the room from the cracked door as he followed him in and made sure to latch the door shut behind them.

The library was lit beautifully as gorgeously carved bookshelves made of oak lined the palace library's walls. They were filled from the floor to the ceiling in various books. From the shelves to the furniture it was as if the entire room had been hand crafted by the person who had decorated the room. A fresh scent filled the air giving the room the scent as if they were standing within the forest itself. Vorbuk could tell that the room was designed to give a calm feeling.