Runaway

A hood covered August's head, a bag strapped behind his back, running in the midnight sky.

Jumping from the palace's roof, he soared into the sky. The village was not as far away as he thought, it'd be a few minutes before he had arrived.

August had never walked around the town personally, he was usually guarded by Vidar and others, or when the yearly parade had arrived, he'd wave at the people. He landed on the road searching street to street for an inn. He became lost in the streets.

He took a few more steps until he saw a banner– Hotel. After searching for who knows how long he'd finally been able to find an inn.

But since it was so late at night he'd expected it to be closed, but the door was unlocked. He had entered the hotel and there was a bearded man, old of age. He was quite curious why a young man, such as August, was roaming around late at night but he didn't investigate any further, "Welcome young lad, one room?" The bearded man asked.

August nodded his head, "Yes, sir."

The bearded man chuckled, "Such a young fellow, what's got you out so late?" He knew that he shouldn't have asked but his mind was so curious.

"Just a cultivator on duty," August chuckled nervously.

"Ah…I see,"

The bearded man walked August to his room, "your pay is two copper per night,"

August searched his coin pouch, all he could find was gold coins, no copper.

"Ah, is it fine if I pay with this?" August held out a gold coin, the bearded man shot his eyes out, "Young lad, this is way too much!" The man held back his greed.

"It's all I have, please take it and repay me later,"

The man took the coin from August's hand and politely opened the door to his room for him.

"Thank you sir,"

"I should thank you, please enjoy your stay!"

.

.

.

Once August took off his outer robe he rolled around on his 'new' bed.

He knew that running away was a bad idea and felt a sense of regret and sorrow, but he was also scared of the consequences, meaning the preceptor would most definitely give him a beating.

The next morning, loud noises came from downstairs, One man with a lavender robe with a floral design of Zinnias lined with gold. This was the official Zinnia knight uniform.

A sword was tied to his belt, he had his hair tied in a high ponytail, his looks weren't the best but still could pass.

The man held onto the other man's collar, who had his outer robe the color of black with light apricot underneath. His sword was hung on his back covered in cloth. Sharp chestnut eyes, he had beautiful facial features, but the situation he was in didn't make him look as handsome as he would be.

The man knitted his brows, grinning at the sight of the knight.

He grabbed onto the knight's wrist, pulling his arm and slamming into the table right next to them.

The knight gritted his teeth, "You poor commoners think you can really go against us, the knights of your kingdom!"

"Hmph, since you're a knight, shouldn't you be doing your job properly instead of beating up these commoners? Besides, they never did anything to you, have they?!"

August poked his head out, trying to catch a glimpse of the entire scene. The bearded man hid behind the counter, what a coward.

August lifted his hood up and walked down the stairs, "How presumptuous,"

The man glared at August, his hand on the knight's throat, choking him. Everyone around them crowded not too far away from them. The man was much taller than August, by half a head.

"Though, I may not know whats happening between you two, instead of fighting in this old raggedy hotel, why not go outside, I'm worried that you'll cause destruction, the old man might lose his own business," August shrugged, patting the man's back.

The man didn't reply, he just made a 'humph' sound and let go of the knight's throat.

The man walked to the entrance of the door then stopped, "I better not see you beating up anyone again," his threat went toward the knight that was still on the table, catching his breath. The man threatened to kill the knight if he did see him do it again, no mercy will be shown!

August didn't pay much mind to the knight, instead he shooed everyone else crowded around them away to mind their own business.

Once the knight got off of the table he glanced at August, "Thank you–"

SLAP…He'd been hit who knows how many times before now another hit to the count! This time he spat, he was shocked but then relaxed his face.

"Zinnia's knights aren't supposed to bully the people!" Just as the man before said, he continued, "You'd better fix your attitude, if anyone found out about you would be kicked out already!"

Since it was a knight he'd probably face more consequences than just kicked out, punishment would likely haunt him.

Everyone glanced at them again but August looked around himself and they all turned their heads away from him.

The knight was extremely furious, but still, he couldn't do anything. He had only clenched his fist out of a fit and stomped his way out of the inn.

August then looked at the counter where the bearded man hid, he walked up and paid his respects to him, "I'm all set, I'll see you whenever the time comes!"

The bearded man was confused, August just had been furious but then happily switched moods, "G-good day, young lad…Ha…ha…" The bearded man chuckled nervously, waving August off.

Once August exited the inn, the streets were rowdy, a huge clump of people pushing each other. August pushed himself through the crowd to see what was going on, he was shocked but yet amused.

It was the knight and the man, fighting, again.

How intriguing.

This time, the man had pointed his sword at the knight, "What? It's not like you're going to actually kill me, even if you did, you'd just be sent for prison waiting for death," The knight acted all haughty.

"Y-you!" The man said, gritting his teeth.

"Alright you two," August had interrupted their conversation, "Break it up, break it up, we had just settled this at the inn and now you're at it again?" August lifted his hood down.

August stood between them, the sword now presented at him.

"Do you even know what this guy just did?!" The man shouted.

"Nope, I have absolutely no idea what is going on," August proudly said.

The man humphed again, "This guy just doesn't know when to stop bullying others! He stole a young maidens purse and keeps on denying it!"

"Cause it's false you buffoon!" The knight yelled.

"How am I a buffoon? You thief!" the man yelled back.

"Is that true?" August looked back, towards the knight.

"No! Of course not! This guy is a liar!" The knight pointed at the man.

"Calling me a liar?! You–" The man was cut off by a young girl's voice, "It's true! That guy stole my purse!"

The young girl had her hair tied in two buns, her figure was slim, her eyes round, with a light blue color. A dress flew down to her feet, the color of the sunset with a bright pink color. Overall, she was a beauty.

The crowd chattered and started calling out the knight, "Give it back, thief!"

"What an ignorant fool!"

"Why are knights like you in our kingdom?!"

Everyone suddenly started to go against him until a man with a familiar voice, "What's going on? You guys are causing a racket across the street!" It was a man with long brown hair, half tied into braids, reaching his waist. His eyes were like the sparkling sea with the sun gleaming over. He wore Armor with garments around the wrist, a robe the color of bermuda with ivory outlines. A sword in cloth around his back.

It was Vidar.

At this point August freaked out, Vidar was distracted with talking to the young maiden and the knight.

He pulled the man in front of him, grabbing his arm and running into the crowd, the man didn't rebel but he was filled with confusion.

Sweat dripped from his face, he walked into the inn that was right next to him.

He thought to himself, Phew..that was close, I'd be dead meat!

"Uh…" The man said.

"Ah! Right, so sorry, but can you help me real quick, I promise I'll repay you," August begged the man.

August held both of his hands together, the man cocked an eyebrow and said, "I can't agree to whatever you want from me if I don't even know what you want."

August went out with it, "I need a ride to the south, I noticed you have a horse so it shouldn't be a problem,"

Before he went into the crowd when exiting the inn, he noticed a stable with a single horse in it, August was just guessing that it was his.

The man replied, "That shouldn't be a problem since I also am going near the south."

August was glad and thanked the man.

But first of all, They weren't on a first name basis, August decided to take the lead into starting a conversation with the man, "I'm August, and you?"

August, the crown prince of Zinnia, no one knew that 'August' was his actual name, so they just referred to him as the crown prince.

"Ning Yun," he said.

"Well, Ning Yun, do you possibly have a hat I could use?" Since Vidar was still taking care of things in the crowd, he couldn't let his face be seen.

Ning Yun was beyond confusion but he pulled out a bamboo hat from inside of his robe, "Will this work? If not I have this," He pulled all kinds of masks from his sleeves.

August's face was stunned. Just how many things can fit in his robe?!

"I'll just take a mask then," Ning Yun proudly handed him the hat and put the masks back inside of his sleeves.

Once the bamboo hat was placed on August's head, he shifted it to cover his eyes and show only the bottom half of his face.

Ning Yun glanced at August, just as he did August grabbed Ning Yun's arm, "If it's not too much of a rush, could we head out now?"

"It shouldn't be a problem," Ning Yun forcefully pulled away his arm. Ning Yun seemed to not like close contact with others nor is he used to it.

Vidar turned around and looked at the two who were just exiting the inn, "Hold it you two,"

August flinched, Ning Yun looked back at August, they seemed to both have the same idea in mind.

"Those are the two that I was talking about, general!"

Vidar wasn't only August's personal guard, but on top of that the general for the knights!

The knight probably blabbered about August and Ning Yun, and they were caught.

"Get on!" Ning Yun brought his horse out and August jumped onto its back, "Go!" Ning Yun pulled it's rears and the horse galloped its way out.

"You–! Get them!" Vidar called out with the guards who were patrolling the village, they all scattered all over the place chasing them.

But they were only human, though they had been fully trained they still couldn't keep up with the pace of the horse, indeed, this horse was trained well and speed was lightning fast.

The entrance to the gate of Zinnia was just about to close but luckily they got through before it fully shut.

Since they were out of the Kingdom, the knights couldn't do anything besides watch the sight of two men on a lightning fast horse.

At this point, August was filled with laughs, it seemed to be amusing to him, being chased by his own knights was thrilling after all.

Outside of the kingdom were valleys and mountains, it'd be a while before you would see humans venturing or old abandoned houses.

At one point, they'd stopped underneath a tree. August climbed the tree at the top, and searched for apples.

Ning Yun settled the horse and leaned against the tree trunk.

August shook the tree, apples came falling down, a couple even hit Ning Yun's head, "You–" He looked up at the tree, Nothing was there.

He turned his head back, he then was jumpscared of what was right in front of his face, a mere apple.

August laughed his guts out, "Ha ha, who knew you were scared of apples?" tears of joy strolled down his face, was this even that funny?

Yes, apparently to August, It was.

"Ridiculous!" Ning Yun held his sword out and sliced the apple held in August's palms.

"You could've sliced my poor hand off! Careful! Careful!" August cried.

"We've spent too much time dilly dallying, if we want to arrive before night then we have to leave," Ning Yun steadied himself and went back to hop onto the horse's back. August tossed the apple slices and followed. As Ning Yun watched August toss the apple he thought to himself, what a waste.

It's true that August climbed the tree for some apples but around eighty percent of the time he wanted to annoy his new friend, Ning Yun.

.

.

.

By the time they arrived it was midnight, the moon gleamed in the sky.

They camped out near a forest next to the village, a smoky fire was created, August took off his outer robe, using it as a pillow. Ning Yun, however, just lay himself in the grass.

August took a peek at Ning Yun, Ning Yun opened his eyes and caught August, "What is it?" Ning Yun moved his eyes away to look at the sky filled with stars.

"Heh," August smirked.

Ning Yun felt nervous by that 'heh' August made.

"Whatever," Ning Yun replied, he moved his back facing August, seeming to want to sleep, he closed his eyes.

August suddenly asked a question, "What made you come all the way to the South?"

"Just traveling around, I have nothing better to do with my life,"

"What about cultivation?"

"Boring,"

"Hunting?"

"Not interested,"

"How about becoming a chef, or a blacksmith, ooh! How about a–"

Ning Yun cut him off, "It's just better to see the whole world instead of doing the same old thing,"

"Ah, tsk tsk, what a shame."

"I'm also curious about you, a runaway child?"

"..."

Silence.

"It's not like I care, whatever your reasons are, I won't ask."

"Ha…Ha…"

"It's late, get some rest," Ning Yun once again, closed his eyes.

August however, was fully awake.

Many thoughts crept in his mind, I wonder if they already found out, it's been what, two nights since I left?

Mother's probably worried, Jin most likely would be scared, Vidar, ehhh…not sure on that one. Father, furious and disappointed, the preceptor would be beyond angry, well, let's not dwell on that part, I should get some rest.

The fire cackled, since it was cold at night, they kept it up.

.

.

.

The next morning, Ning Yun was gone.