Page 24 of Mage of the Dragon Prince
“I see. I appreciate you taking the time to speak with us on this matter.”
“I regret I do not have a more helpful answer,” Varski said with a respectful bow of his head. “Vanra, as you practice in this temple in the future, you are welcome to come here in this time.”
“Thank you.” Auslin was too caught up in his emotions to appreciate the offer.
“I can only imagine how disheartening this is, but fate does not act without reason,” Varski said. “All isas it should be. I would encourage you to embrace whatever lesson fate is encouraging you to learn.”
Unable to say anything further, Auslin could only nod.
“I appreciate your insights, Elder Varski,” Kitaro said. “We shall take our leave now.”
“If we may ever be of service to you or your family, we are happy to do what we can, Your Highness,” Varski replied with a bow.
Kitaro stood up, then offered his hand to Auslin to help him do the same. “Thank you for your time.”
Auslin automatically accepted Kitaro’s offered hand to stand. “I appreciate you meeting with us, Elder Varski.”
“It was my honor. You are both welcome at any time,” Varski replied.
With that, Auslin and Kitaro exited the room. Roltan showed them out of the temple, where many mages had gathered to catch sight of the rare presence of the shifter prince on their property. Auslin was oblivious to it all as he tried to figure out what he was going to do now.
Chapter 11
Auslin
Auslin’s heart broke anew when he went through Fate’s Gate to leave the temple and it once again failed to take him to the future. It further drove home the elder mage’s pronouncement that Auslin was stuck in that era until he fulfilled whatever purpose fate had set for him to accomplish in the past. Despair set in that he was really and truly stuck. Auslin lost the fight not to get overwhelmed by everything.
Kitaro glanced down at the troubled human as they walked back to the castle. “What are your thoughts?”
“What if he’s right?” Auslin worried his lower lip. “What if I never get home?”
“You will. I have made you a promise, and I intend to honor it.”
The human desperately wanted to believe inKitaro’s faith, but his heart was in too much turmoil. “Is it even worth it to make the dangerous journey to see Satsuma? What information could she possibly have that we don’t already know?”
“Satsuma is as ancient as antiquity itself and wiser than anyone in this realm,” Kitaro told him. “She possesses knowledge and wisdom that no one else does. She will have an answer for you.”
“But what if she doesn’t?”
Kitaro stopped Auslin, placing his hands on the human’s narrow shoulders. “I understand the impulse to give in to despair, but I will help you find your way home. You cannot give up hope because the answer is not to your liking.”
Auslin’s heart still wasn’t capable of listening. “What is my brother going to do if I never get home? And what is…” Auslin trailed off before he finished asking about Kio, mostly because it was another level of hurt he wasn’t ready to deal with at the moment.
Inevitably, Kio would permanently stray to Maseo’s side. Their relationship may have deteriorated into shambles, but Auslin’s heart still desperately clung to what little love was left for the half-shifter.
“Your brother will continue to be safe at the temple,” Kitaro pointed out. “As for your companion, I am confident he will go to any lengths to find you.”
Auslin fought back the tears that welled up at Kitaro’s latter statement, but he lost the battle as one fell down his cheek.
“Did I misspeak?” Kitaro asked with concern when the human cried.
“My companion is many things, but patient is not one of them.” Auslin wiped away his tears as he tried to get in control of his emotions.
“I do not understand. Why would he not do everything in his power to find you?”
“Because he’s nothing like you,” Auslin told him with a sniffle. “I’m pretty sure the only reason he’d try to find me is to yell at me for being gone.”
Kitaro furrowed his eyebrows. “But you are intimate together. Surely, his love for you would make him desperate to find you at any cost.”
