Theapan Temple (Part 11)

Vorbuk entered the temple with Prince Leo. Injured people were carefully placed around the room. The priestess was working hard to use her light mana to heal the wounded the best she could. At a glance one could tell she was pushing herself.

fwip

Daryl draped his jacket over Zoe who was passed out while sitting on the floor. Shifting her body in her sleep. Her head gently tapped against Daryl's leg as she leaned against him. Breathing calmly as she slept Daryl gave no reaction as he turned his gaze to see the prince coming in with Vorbuk.

"Looks like someone has been working hard." Prince Leo said as he walked up to Daryl.

"Its probably exciting for her to meet someone with the same element. You know well, your highness, how her element is looked down on." Daryl placed his hand on top of her head as she slept while talking.

"It's the first time I have seen her work so hard with her mana. She may not be on the same level as the priestess but shes definitely getting better." Leo complimented her effort.

Different methods of using mana was something that one had to work out on their own. The way mana was used was determined by the person using it. They had to form their own mental control over their element by how they personally felt comfortable. Control over an element had to come naturally as if it was another form of breathing.

Knowledge to aid a person's growth in their element could be recorded to some extent in books. Books could not perfect it to the extent that they would make you a professional by simply studying. That was what had caused Zoe's magic to remain low for so long compared to her knowledge she had gained some self studying over the years. Since light mages were rarely found she had never had someone she could first had witness with a similar element to truly give her that nudge she desperately needed.

"Someone should probably carry her back to rest in her room." Prince Leo said as he knelt down in front of Zoe. Reaching his hand out he intended to check if the girl had a fever.

Pap!

Daryl's own hand quickly slapped the prince's hand away from Zoe's forehead before Leo could touch her. The prince's face went completely blank as his mind tried to register what had just happened. He could feel a chill down his back. Wondering if he had imagined it when he heard Daryl start to speak.

"I will take care of her, your highness." Daryl said bluntly. Not feeling comfortable with the idea of the prince helping Zoe back to her room. It was not that he did not trust the prince. There was just a strange annoyance at the thought of it that he could not explain.

"What did I do?" The prince whispered to the wolf beside him. He could not understand what he had done to provoke Daryl so suddenly.

"Those two have always been weird." Vorbuk laughed as he gave up understanding the situation between the two of them. He noticed a long time ago that Daryl was protective of Zoe. The relationship between the two of them was not something he understood completely nor was he interested in figuring it out.

"You're all ridiculous!" Bredret scolded from somewhere causing everyone to flinch. He had enough listening to the joyous atmosphere the others were having.

Bredret stumbled to his feet from behind a decorative statue of a phoenix. In his hand was a bottle of wine unopened. Making his way towards them as he glanced from one person to the next. His chest throbbing from the aching pain he felt.

"There is a bloody vampire outside, a madman of a king with his knights, and we have been cornered into this temple by a fucking crazy god."

"Calm down, Bredret." Daryl said sternly to the dragon that was losing his mind in front of them.

"No!" Bredret shouted.

"Bredret-" Daryl started to talk again but was cut off.

"I want to tear that god to shreds! I want to rip him limb from limb!" Bredret's blood felt like it was boiling as he recalled what had happened to him and Celeste.

"You'll get your chance eventually. If you want to help fight him later you need to be patient and do things properly. Not everyone is born as mighty as the dragons. Everyone had to work for their goals to achieve them in the end." Vorbuk soothed Bredret as he walked over to the dragon.

His ear flicking back as he watched the dragon's cold gaze turn to him. The gaze in his eyes slowly calming down. He knew the dragon was not thinking straight now and would be willing to fight Chynir even if he died right now. There was nothing holding Bredret down right now except what was left of his rational thinking to keep going for the sake of what Celeste had done for him.

"What should we do?" Bredret asked after calming down amidst the silence. Everyone had stopped talking because they could not find words to speak when Bredret was raving at them.

"The first thing would be to find a way to deal with the executioner first since they are using that vampire as a cover for themselves. Since vampires wont drink from werewolves they can move around him easily while everyone's main focus is on him." Prince Leo thought out loud.

"It's obvious the king doesn't care about his men that die from the vampire when they get too close to him. A lot of King Luke's knights have been getting slaughtered out there by the vampire himself. He's clearly not on either side but a distraction or rather a weapon the king can't even control." Daryl said while rubbing Zoe's head.

Vorbuk listened to them talk as he stepped around them. Shifting into his human form as he walked towards the priestess. She had her hand held over a man's forehead. A bright light emitting from her hand covering his entire body. Fatigue could be seen visibly leaving the man's face as his breathing regulated.

"You look exhausted." Vorbuk said to her as he stopped behind her.

The priestess looked like she could collapse at any moment. If she did not rest soon she would push herself past her limit. She cared about the well being of the temple's people to the point that she would risk her own condition to heal them. It made Vorbuk feel troubled but he could not order the priestess to rest.

"I wish I could say the same to you.. but not everyone can spend the past few days resting." She teased him back.

"Would you mind taking a walk with me?" Vorbuk asked. There were some things he wanted to ask her about. Taking a walk together would also give the priestess a chance to breath properly. If she remained inside healing the others without a proper break it would harm her in the end.

"Alright," Priestess Mai replied as she collected herself enough to stand. "I could use a break anyways."