Leo's Breakdown

Step. Step. Step.

SLAM!

Prince Leo stormed out of the temple doors. He felt a heavy suffocating feeling inside his chest. It was like his entire world had shattered to pieces in a matter of minutes after hearing everything from Damien about Cadirade.

Curtis.. to father..

Curtis had killed their own father. While Prince Leo was away and unable to hear word from home his father had been killed. Leaving his brother to claim the throne with ease. His stomach jerked as he puked from the emotions overflowing inside of him.

No, Curtis was always that kind of person. That was a fact known since childhood. Leo had always known the truth about Curtis. Like his father he ignored that darkness that his brother had tried to hide in front of everyone over the years. Ignoring something never made anything better.

"Leo!" Vorbuk called out his name as he rushed after him from behind. Seeing that the prince was not acting right. The prince was having a breakdown after the emotional blow he had just received. This was not something easy to endure after hearing about his own family.

"Hah," Prince Leo couldn't help the pained laugh that came out of his mouth. Usually Vorbuk would keep up a respectful attitude with him and refer to Leo as Your Highness when in human form. The fact that the wolf was calling out his name somehow gave him a sense of comfort. "I'm alright."

"You're alright?" Vorbuk felt annoyed with those words. "You just stormed out of the temple to puke after hearing the news about Cadirade. What part of you has the look to pass those words off as truth?"

"You're really.." Prince Leo sighed heavily as he squatted down where he stood. There was nothing he could say to retort those words. It was true that he was a mess inside and out right now.

"I had a feeling about him, but I never thought he'd do something so drastic." Vorbuk spoke honestly as he sat there.

"No," Prince Leo said as he heard those words. "I never had a doubt he would be willing to do something drastic like this."

I think that is what makes it hurt even worse. Knowing that you saw something inside of someone while holding out hope for the better in them. Then in the end you are left with the reality that some people simply can't be changed. If they never personally wanted to change for the better the hope you held feels even more distasteful when you realize your hope was wasted.

"He's following the god Chynir like the others." Vorbuk could not look directly at the prince as he spoke those words. They both knew what things would come to in the end.

"Let's not talk about things that haven't come to happen yet." Leo sighed as he chose to avoid the subject on that matter.

As a prince he had an obligation to protect his kingdom even if it was against his own brother. There might have been rumors about prince Leo floating around now because of Prince Curtis but that would not detour his choice. He had already decided to do what he could to protect his home when he came outside Cadirade Kingdom. It would be impossible for Prince Curtis to clear out everyone that was against Curtis sitting on the throne.

When the time came Prince Leo would be forced to make a choice to take that throne back even if it cost Curtis his life by his own hands. Prince Leo had always loved the thought of his freedom. Though he loved and cared for the people of the kingdom in earnest he had never dreamed of taking his father's place on the throne. He knew the truth of how heavy that burden was when everyone looked up to the king to protect them. It was his love for their father that made him pained at the thought of letting Curtis tear all that King Hamelot had built up for his people.

"We don't have to dwell on it right now. When the time comes we will deal with it together." Vorbuk said to ease the prince's mind as he towered above the prince from his side. At a glance he looked like a guardian beside a fallen angel. Reaching his hand down to the prince in order to help the squatting prince rise to his feet once more. A still look in his red eyes like a calm enchanting beast.

"Thank you." Prince Leo said while neither of them could be certain what he was thanking Vorbuk for. It could have been for the words that Vorbuk spoke to ease the prince's worry. Then again it could have simply been for helping him to his feet. They felt no desire to clarify as the prince wanted to end the conversation.

Vorbuk helped Prince Leo to his feet. The prince stumbled from the emotional strain on his body. His legs had even gone numb from squatting down for so long. He felt lucky thought he had Vorbuk there to catch him when he fell. The wolf truly felt like family to him.

"Do you really think Bredret kidnapped that guy like Daryl said?" Vorbuk suddenly asked trying to ease the tension in the air.

"Pffft!" Prince Leo could not hold back the sudden laugh. "If it was Bredret I would think it is possible."

"I will just have to hold a bit of faith that he isn't that foolish." Vorbuk nodded with a serious expression on his face. He knew Bredret did not kidnap the man but honestly brought him along. Yet he felt conflicted cause he truly felt Bredret would be able to kidnap someone if the situation arose. Not because he was a dangerous individual. It was something he felt because Bredret was simply lazy and would have probably brought the man by force if he refused to come on his own.

"We should probably avoid putting him in as many social interactions as possible in the future." Vorbuk shuddered at the thought of how many problems could arise in the future if the dragon did something reckless.

"That.." Prince Leo got goosebumps as he imagined the same scenario as Vorbuk in his mind. The two of them stood still for a moment as the atmosphere got heavy. It would be disastrous! "I think I agree to avoiding situations where we make him socialize with others."

"Are you ready to head in?" Vorbuk asked the prince after feeling the tension had lifted.

Prince Leo paused at the question. Brushing that action aside he smiled and nodded at Vorbuk. They would need to rest if they were going to catch Aoki. He knew he could not afford to let others waste their time over his every problem. With an enemy in front of them they would need to deal with them first before worrying about his personal matters.

"We should head back to rest for a while." Prince Leo said while moving towards their room to get some proper rest. Instinctively forgetting that he had been thrown out of the room the two of them shared because he was in a rush. The princess had already exposed herself so what reason did he have to care if he came off rude right now? He could not sleep comfortably without the sound of the wolf sleeping on the floor by his bedside.