Page 110 of Mage of the Dragon Prince
“I’ll come back soon,” Vanra said. “I can’t wait to hear all about the books she brought you.”
“I wish a pleasant afternoon to you both.” Kisano waved goodbye to them as they left.
When Kizoshi didn’t immediately start talking as they started walking through the castle, Vanra spoke up first. “I didn’t get a chance to tell you earlier, but you were amazing at breakfast yesterday.”
“Not too bad, considering I had yet to drink any coffee,” Kizoshi teased. “They both got off too easy.”
Vanra glanced up at her. “You’re so much different from what I imagined you would be.”
“How so?”
He made an indecisive noise. “I thought you’d be a different kind of fearsome. Maybe more ferocious, I guess?”
“Oh, make no mistake. I am a deadly force to be reckoned with, especially when my opponent has earned my wrath.”
“I hope this doesn’t offend you, but you’re also much funnier than I expected. Powers aren’t exactly known for their great senses of humor.”
Kizoshi laughed instead of taking offense. “You are quite right. My idea of fun is drastically different from most of the beings in the Divine Realm.”
They sat in her living room, which was so bright and white, unlike the rest of the castle.
“Am I allowed to ask what the Divine Realm is like?” Vanra asked. “I’ve read a lot about it butobviously have never been.” It was a place where only beings with Divine heritage could go. Not everyone who lived there was a Power. There were also Ascendants, Incites, and servants.
“It is much brighter. Everything in the Living Realm is so dreadfully dreary with all the earthen tones. It always looks so dirty here. Thankfully, the Enchanters can keep my things clean here.”
He brushed his hand over the fabric. “Well, if your white couch is any evidence, it truly is a different place.”
“It is nice having the comforts of home here.”
“Did you grow up here in the Living Realm?” Vanra questioned. “You seem so close to Kitaro and Kisano.”
“I did,” Kizoshi said. “Father thought it was best for my education in battle. I trained alongside Mitsuki and Kitaro. Sometimes I miss the days where I regularly sent Mitsuki sailing through the training hall wall.”
Vanra laughed hard. “Something tells me you did that as often as you could.”
“With great pleasure, as a matter of fact.”
“Sorry for getting us off topic,” Vanra apologized. “What did you want to talk about?”
“I wanted to let you know I will be leaving tonight.”
Vanra looked crestfallen. “Oh, really?”
She smiled at his sweet reaction. “Unfortunately.But the good news is, we will have occasion to meet again. You have something you must do first, though.”
He was puzzled for a moment. “You mean going to visit Satsuma?”
“Yes, it is a journey you and Kitaro both must go on.”
“But why?” Vanra’s misery was present in his scent. “I’d rather stay here with Kitaro in this time, but Father says we must go.”
“He is right. Fate brought you here for a reason. It is of the utmost importance to seek Satsuma out for the answers you need.”
“Does anything good come out of it?” Vanra asked in a dejected voice.
“Your relationship with Kitaro will be even stronger as a result.” Her gaze softened as she looked at him. “You have my word it will not be a wasted effort.”
“That makes it slightly less awful, I guess.”
