Overheard

The reason Vorbuk did not enter with anyone else was because Ashley was the best fit to be alone with Aoki in that room. Vorbuk waited outside for Ashley to finish. If he had entered the room or anyone else it would put Aoki at risk of attacking. He wanted the vampire to have time to properly calm himself down before he came into contact with others. That was the reason he sent Ashley in while waiting outside with Prince Leo and Priestess Mai.

The last person in the room was Bredret. Leaning against the wall he was silently listening to everything going on around him without word. There was a sense of distance in the aura the dragon gave off. Vorbuk couldn't help but wonder what Bredret was thinking so deeply about as he stood there. Not casting a look in anyone's direction.

Ashley came out to find them waiting for him. "He'll be fine after some rest. I will bring him out for you once he has stabilized, master."

"Mm," Vorbuk nodded. "Don't let him be alone for now. We can not be sure of what might happen in the future."

"I understand." Ashley peeked in the direction of Bredret. Intending to use the dragon as a body guard for Aoki while he recuperated. The dragon was the only one capable of a fair fight against Aoki on his own.

Vorbuk turned to leave while Prince Leo and Priestess Mai walked with him. The three of them heading away from the pope's bedroom. Ashley and Bredret stayed behind to take care of Aoki. It was the first time in a while that Vorbuk truly felt himself without a bodyguard while with the prince. Only company beside them only being the priestess.

"By the way.. I've been meaning to ask," Prince Leo broke the silence first between them as something he really wanted to know came to mind. "does the pope really need that umbrella to fight with his mana?"

The three of them sunk into silence. A look of bewilderment or embarrassment could be seen on Mai's face.

"Of course not," Priestess Mai blushed at the question as she felt embarrassment towards her father for this subject. If it wasn't for him being obsessed with that umbrella this topic wouldn't come up! "That is just how father is.."

"Huh?!?" Prince Leo was surprised to think someone would have such a strange interest.

As Priestess Mai went on to talk about her father they both had blank expressions while listening.

In fact according to Priestess Mai her father, Johann Lovette, did not need his umbrella to cast magic. The weapon did in fact help with his magic. Material used to craft the pope's umbrella was special and rare. It gave a dangerous boost to Johann's power. However this item was not required for him to fight.

Johann Lovette wielded an umbrella as a weapon not for fighting but because it was his style. His element was the wind and he loved the element. Feeling that the element complimented him perfectly. He used the umbrella while using his element because it made him comfortable with his element. Whenever he rides along with the windy breeze he would pop his umbrella and make himself feel at home with the wind element.

"Priestess," Vorbuk called out to her while they resumed walking. "I would like to take you back to the palace when we go."

"Pardon?" Priestess Mai felt startled by the sudden words.

"I think you would do great as a teacher and I will need people in the future." Vorbuk explained. "I hope you will consider it."

"Ah," Priestess Mai blushed. Vorbuk was not certain why she was feeling embarrassed right now. "My father would have a hard time with something like that. I do not think he would consider letting me leave the temple."

"I have already told him my intention to hire you in the palace after the fight is over." Vorbuk assured her. "The only question is whether or not you will agree to go with us."

"..." Priestess Mai thought for a moment as she had never been outside the temple without her father before. The only time he allowed her outside the temple walls was when she was going somewhere with him. He had known he could not keep her caged forever so he would placate as best he could by taking her with him whenever he could. To allow her glimpses at a wider world she would one day dream of experiencing for herself. "I will think about it."

"Good enough," Vorbuk smiled as he took that as a positive response from her. "For now we need to find a way to locate and deal with the king of Theapan."

"Are you going to kill him?" Priestess Mai asked while trying to move past their previous conversation.

"I don't like to think that is the only option, but.." Vorbuk pondered in his head. There really was no other way to deal with the king. No matter how he thought about it that was the only option he had right now.

"If we want to make it known we shouldn't do anything right away. To take the throne it has to be clear it was us that means-" Prince Leo was cut off by Vorbuk.

"We need to drag him back to the palace with us to declare the throne mine and deal with him at the palace itself." Vorbuk thought out loud while listening.

Yes, that would be the best option. If the king was taken back to the palace in front of those who worked at the palace it would be the best way to draw out those who'd rebel against them. The rebels would need to be dealt with quickly to secure the throne. Vorbuk pondered that thought deeply while standing there.

"Vorbuk," Prince Leo hesitated to say anything. "are you sure the princess will be able to deal with this.."

"Would you be?" Vorbuk asked bluntly. "There is no way she will be okay when the time comes. She is probably a mess already knowing just the fact that something will happen eventually. How would anyone be alright with that?"

"Are you alright?" Prince Leo asked while gazing at Vorbuk. Rather then the princess the one Leo was worried about himself was Vorbuk. He knew Vorbuk cared about the princess and that was why he asked in the first place. If the princess was affected by everything going on it was only natural that Vorbuk would feel frustrated as well.

"We do what we must for a better future, right?" Vorbuk smiled as he understood what Leo was trying to do.

The three of them were so obsorbed in their conversation at the time that they did not notice something. From behind in the distance someone was still lurking. He had been intending to make sure his master got back safely while Aoki was guarded by Bredret. From start to finish their conversation had been entirely absorbed by Ashley. His eyes gleaming with a strange light as he took in his master's hesitation to take care of the King of Theapan when the time comes.

Master is hesitating with something important...

He wants it done but he feels guilty to do it himself... Ashley twitched.