Fighting is Meaningless

7. Warm

"Finally the Duke is back with us!"

"Yes, I wonder what was he doing in the monsters' territory, secret mission for the Emperor?"

"That bastard always asks for dangerous and long missions, does he hope the only son of the North Family dies? Hah! We killed his men, maybe he tried to trick him?"

Daerion and the other knights were preparing the tents for the night "Alright soldiers! Tomorrow we will finally be back home, make sure to check on supplies and your horses! We definitely did a great job!"

Arthur fixed the last thing for Blade's tent and a soldier got closer to him "Officer, who's the man the Duke always keeps close to him? He's a noble the Emperor asked to kill but he fell in love and he's willing to go against the Emperor to keep him?"

"Evias... you seriously read too many novels, man." Arthur sighed and pushed the elf who rolled his eyes annoyed "He's a noble of the monsters' territory, maybe he's taking him with us to ally" he replied vague, making the elf sigh confused.

Meanwhile Dan Heng was finding himself wandering in the forest they were camping for the night. The Crown Prince kept touching the leaves of the forest around him as his eyes were getting filled of images of the new around him. He really couldn't believe he was out of that territory.

He couldn't believe he was walking on the ground of somewhere new, and he was slowly reaching the territory he has known awful stories from the Emperor.

Blade's soldiers and knights weren't actually beasts when they weren't fighting. They looked actually just like any typical... people. The way they were looking at Blade was full of respect, something Dan Heng never actually felt.

Respect... and he was the Crown Prince theorically, how amusing and depressing.

Dan Heng let out a little giggle at his own thought to avoid to cry, and covered for a moment his eyes from the last rays of the sunset, when he felt a gentle grab on his wrist that moved it off his eyes "Your Highness, you really can't help but trying to make my eyes look for you anywhere I take you" Blade in all his beauty was standing in front of him.

Dan Heng looked at the Duke, who kept his grasp on his wrist to then gently move it down and leave it "Do you fear I might?" the Crown Prince asked and Blade's eyes were staring into his, trying to breech once again one of the many walls the Prince would rise as soon as he could

Blade crossed his arms and leant closer with his face towards him "No, I do not fear it." he tilted his head "If you do it, I will be more than glad to catch you again."

"Catch me..." Dan Heng said as it was something weird to hear. Blade nodded a little seeing the Crown Prince looking so soft and unreachable at the same time "You speak like I tried to run away from... anything life has put me in" he said looking at his own hand for a moment

"You wouldn't wish to run away right now?" he asked and Dan Heng looked apathetic at that question.

Why running away?

Honestly he couldn't believe he had the chance to see something different from Azarus Lands.

Only a fool would run away.

And Dan Heng would expect maybe even a punishment from his father. Maybe it was better for them to believe he had disappeared.

"No" Dan Heng replied "Everytime I tried to run away from my destiny, I never... succeeded" he confessed to then tilt his head "You're the North Duke, you know these territories more than I do. Even if I run away, you would catch me in no time" he exposed his thoughts and Blade smirked playfully