Page 21 of Mage of the Dragon Prince
Too embarrassed to ask anyone for help, Auslin ended up hopelessly lost in the castle, with no idea where he was or if he was anywhere near his room. By the time he was ready to ask for directions, there was no one in sight he could have troubled to tell him how to get back to his room. It was only by chance he came across a door that led to the outside world.
He momentarily debated the wisdom of leaving. On the one hand, he was deeply indebted to Tatsuki and Kitaro for their kindness. But on the other, Auslin felt like a hideous imposition for causing family strife. Not being chaperoned by Kitaro would make it easier to get away to visit the temple.
Decision made, Auslin left the castle with more bravery than he felt. He took a moment once he was outside the walls to orient himself. Although centurieshad passed between then and the era he was from, he could still figure out where he was and which direction would take him to the temple.
It didn’t dawn on Auslin until he was halfway there that showing up dressed up in such fine clothing would give him some credibility issues with whoever would listen to his tale. Humans couldn’t scent emotions like shifters could, so it would be harder to convince them about the truth when he was wearing something as luxurious as blue satin in a world where few people could afford such a thing.
But would it even make a difference? Auslin was pessimistic about whether anyone in the temple would know anything about how to return him to his own time. But he had to do something besides wait around for almost a year before he had the chance to go home.
Although Auslin was lost in his thoughts, he sensed a shifter rapidly approaching him. It took a moment before he realized it was Kitaro. His guilt came back with full force, filling him with dread about a confrontation.
Kitaro suddenly appeared at his side, falling into step with Auslin. “It appears you have taken several wrong turns trying to find our room.”
Auslin wasn’t sure what response he had been expecting, but humored was not the reaction he would have imagined he would receive for leaving the castle unchaperoned. “You’re not mad?”
“The only one I hold any anger toward at this moment is Mitsuki for upsetting you.”
“But I left without you.” Why was Auslin trying to get himself in trouble by pointing that out?
“You were upset and not thinking clearly. Although I have known you for a short time, you seem to be the type of person who would rather leave than continue being a source of confrontation. I assumed you would go to Fate’s Gate once more out of desperation because my brother’s words affected you. And here you are.”
It shouldn’t have made Auslin feel warm and good that Kitaro already knew him so well. “Are you here to stop me?”
“You are not our prisoner,” Kitaro said. “If you wished to go to the temple, all you needed to do was ask. I would have gladly escorted you.”
“But it makes me look so ungrateful.” Auslin’s guilt flared again. “You’ve already done so much for me, but I have nothing to offer you in return.”
“If it were me, I could not sit and passively wait for almost a year because one person told me that was my only option,” Kitaro told Auslin, causing the mage to look up at him in surprise. “I would do anything I thought would get me home, no matter how unlikely it was. It is a natural instinct, Vanra. You should not feel guilty for wanting to do such a thing.”
It made Auslin feel much better about his decision. “Why areyou so understanding?”
“Because what you are doing is an understandable thing.” Kitaro gave him a sympathetic look. “I am not unfeeling.”
“If anything, you’retoofeeling,” Auslin said. “Why do you have so much sympathy for a human when your father and brother obviously hate us?”
“Because you are unlike any human I have ever met.” Kitaro chuckled at Auslin’s surprised reaction. “Your first instinct was to help me because you thought I might be hurt. You showed bravery, loyalty, and consideration for a creature you had only just stumbled across, then worried about offending my honor by protecting me.”
“I know a lot of shifters who would have seen my behavior as disrespectful.”
Kitaro chuckled again. “Luckily, I am not one of them. It amazes me that although you have strong powers, you are not arrogant. You are willing to apologize instead of stubbornly refusing to admit a mistake. You fascinate me, and not only because you travel with a half-dragon shifter and stepped back in time. I see no reason to judge you by my father and brother’s prejudices when you so clearly hold yourself to a higher standard.”
Auslin flushed at the praise. “I assumed you’re this way to everyone.”
“Mitsuki is the only one of us siblings who is so disagreeable,” Kitaro said. “Perhaps it is a result of his burdens of being the eldest and heir to our father’sposition. However, my suspicion is even if he was the youngest, he would still be as arrogant and foul-tempered.”
“I thought it was just me.”
“Even on his best behavior, Mitsuki is unpleasant. I know it is a challenge, but try not to let his attitude get to you. He will intentionally say things to get a rise out of you, to prove you are as awful as he says humans are.”
Auslin’s nervousness returned when they approached the clearing. “I will keep it in mind.” It would be easier said than done.
“You will always have an ally in me, Vanra,” Kitaro said. “As surprising as it may seem, the same is true of my father. Once he has decided, nothing in this realm can make him change his mind. He has declared you as clan, and you will be treated as such. It may take Mitsuki more time to come around to Father’s decision, but he will have no choice but to acknowledge you as such.”
Standing at the top of the stairs that led down to Fate’s Gate, Auslin looked up at Kitaro. “I truly appreciate your kindness more than I can express. Please don’t take this as a rejection of it.”
“Before you go, I suspect you might want to change.” Kitaro produced the clothes Auslin had arrived wearing, handing them to him in a neatly folded pile. “They may be less inclined to believe your story dressed as you are.”
“I don’t know how you did that, but thank you.” Auslin gratefully accepted them.
