Chapter 132

Vorbuk sat by the warm water of the natural hot spring while listening to the sounds of the others talking from behind at the campfire after eating. Many things were on his mind and he was still not use to being around others. A moment of silence by himself was just the perfect remedy for his stress. With his tail wrapped around himself and his body relaxed he breathed in slowly. Holding his breath for a brief second he exhaled.

Mana flowed throughout his body as he took his time to observe his own body. He had not had a moment to relax since waking up to further understand his condition. There was definitely a difference and he felt more comfortable then he had before collapsing.

Is this the benefit of having help from a dragon? Vorbuk asked himself.

Flicking his ears he heard the sound of footsteps approaching him. There was no need for him to turn his head because he could recognize the sound of their footsteps. It was the crown prince, Leo, who had come to look for him after noticing he had left the group to sit alone.

"You know," Leo said as he plopped himself down beside the wolf on the cold ground and gazed out at the hot spring. "I don't think I have ever enjoyed myself as much as I have in this time that we've known each other."

What is this guy talking about? Vorbuk thought to himself as he listened to the prince.

"Although we've had some close encounters along the way.. I think the moments like these are the ones that make it worth the struggle." The prince leaned back until he was laying down.

"Maybe," Vorbuk sighed and decided to stop trying to guess the prince's mindset. "but the others are going to think your avoiding them as well if you sit over here with me like this. Are you not worried?"

"My companion wandered off on his own and I am simply checking on him." Prince Leo smiled brightly.

Yes, Leo's personality is just naturally one that cared about others. Vorbuk had noticed that about the prince a long time ago. Prince Leo cared about those around him and that included Vorbuk who he had opened up to before anyone else in their group. It was truly a strange feeling that he could almost consider the prince a friend.

No, maybe the prince already considers what is between us as friendship.. Such an unknown feeling for Vorbuk was something that he could not completely understand. He cared about the prince as well as the others in the group and that was something he was not familiar with feeling towards others. That was something he was not use to having in his life but that could be said about the others as well. Everyone in life had their own emotional struggles in life.

Whether it was Bredret who he felt thought he was above all others, Leo who was afraid of being abandoned by others, or Vorbuk who was afraid to let others close to him emotionally. Everyone had something they were struggling with and he knew that well.

"Moments to relax like this might not come every day but they are still worth it to me. I can not deny that any more then I can deny that I think you close yourself off a bit too much." Prince Leo muttered quietly. Regardless the prince knew that the wolf could hear his words without a sense of regret in speaking them. He was worried that the more Vorbuk held back with everyone in the group it would in time only cause the wolf more pain.

"Ah, I feel like you're trying to become my private councilor when you talk like that." Vorbuk felt uncomfortable with the sudden focus on his personal feelings.

"What?" The Prince felt confused at the wolf's words.

"Nothing. It's nothing." Vorbuk wanted to change the topic quickly. If there was something he could not handle dealing with it was definitely awkward situations like the one he felt he was currently sitting in with the prince.

"Once we make it to Theapan we will be able to make a move towards taking down the king there and work on locating the god Chynir," The prince thought deeply about his words. "Have you thought about how you want to deal with the princess, Isis? If he chose to fight alongside her father you-"

"That wont happen." Vorbuk interrupted him at the idea of the princess getting in their way. Theapan's princess was not something that he was worried about dealing with. She was not someone that he felt would get involved by trying to protect her father. There had seemed to be a deep rift between the princess and her father.

"What do you.. No forget it.. If you say she wont get in the way of what we'll be doing I will just trust you to deal with it. You know her better then me anyways." The prince smiled with a faint chuckle at the thought.

"Shut up." Vorbuk growled in annoyance at the prince's teasing.

"Are you going to cho-" The prince wanted to ask him a question but without Vorbuk even needing to speak up he quickly stopped himself and changed his question to another. "Do you think you'll ever decide to become someone's companion officially?"

"... Never." Vorbuk stated his answer bluntly. He had no intent on ever becoming the companion of another person. Though there was a faint pause in his response's speed. For some reason his response had hesitated and he was not sure why he held that slight hesitation.

Reaching out his hand Leo gently and cautiously stroked the top of Vorbuk's head. His petting repeatedly pushed his ear down against his head but the feeling was warm and comforting. Vorbuk did not like the thought of being treated like an animal but he could not find the will to fight with the prince over the a matter. They could not even tell whether it was day or not since they were underground so the least of his worries was to refuse the kindness the prince offered to comfort each other.

Yes, the prince is probably under a lot of his own stress.. As they say one should not bite the hand which feeds them. I can endure this much. Vorbuk thought this as he kept silent. A warmth radiated from the palm of the prince's hand that gave him a sense of comfort.

Is his hands so warm because he can use fire? Or was it a sense of warmth from knowing someone cared about him? Vorbuk could not understand himself.

[ WARNING! ]

[ The Crystal Tiger has caught up to you! ]

What now?! Vorbuk shouted in his thoughts at the warning he was given from the system.

ROAARRR! SPLASSHHH!

There was a loud splash at the bottom of the waterfall with a heavy thud. As the Crystal tiger jumped down from above. At the moment its paws touched the surface of the water the entire body of water crystalized. What would have been a splash of water from the tigers impacted had crystalized like a beautiful piece of abstract crystal art in front of them.