29. Kizoshi

Chapter 29

Kizoshi

T hings had become very interesting at the castle. Kizoshi delighted in the effect Auslin and Sephen had on her brothers. "It is for the best that you both return now," she said as she enjoyed walking Auslin and Sephen back to the temple on such a beautiful day.

"Yeah, I've probably annoyed Kisano so much that he'll be glad I left," Sephen joked.

She laughed at the idea of Kisano ever tiring of Sephen. "I do not believe it is possible. But this is for the best since you will begin your heat soon."

"Heat?" Sephen asked in confusion. "I thought only shifters went into heat."

"No, apparently, humans do and don't know it," Auslin told his brother. "I never feel any different, but it apparently makes an enormous difference to shifters because of their heightened sense of smell."

"Oh, great! Just what I needed: one more way for me to embarrass myself in front of Kisano," Sephen playfully bemoaned.

"To the contrary. I suspect Kisano would find your heat a very enlightening and enjoyable experience."

The baffled look on Sephen's face was adorable. "Why?"

It was hard to contain her amusement at his naivety. "It is beyond me how both of you are oblivious to the effect you have on the shifters around you."

"What do you mean?" Sephen asked.

"You will come to understand one day soon," Kizoshi promised.

At Sephen's protest, Auslin reached over to rub his brother's back. "Don't try to figure it out now. She always says mysterious things, which only makes sense much later."

"I have to have my fun somehow," Kizoshi said in an airy voice before laughing. "Be patient, Sephen. You will have your answers soon enough."

Sephen didn't look convinced. "If you say so."

"I am very much looking forward to that day." Kizoshi couldn't wait for the events to unfold.

"Will you still be here when I come back to the castle?" Auslin asked.

"Oh, yes." Kizoshi could barely contain her excitement. "I would not miss this for anything in the world."

"And ‘this' would be what?"

"All the fun, of course!" Kizoshi winked at him, making him laugh.

Auslin shook his head. "I can only imagine what's in store for us."

"Nothing but good things," Kizoshi assured him. " Very good things for you both."

Sephen glanced over at his older brother with wide eyes. "Is she always this confusing?"

Kizoshi answered for Auslin. "It is all part of the charm of my enigmatic personality."

"You really are nothing like I imagined." Sephen marveled at her. "I assumed you would be scarier and angry."

It was a common assumption she had used in her favor on more than one occasion. "War and life are two very different things. I am far more concerned with having a good time than dealing with bloodshed."

"Isn't that against the rules or something?" Sephen asked. "I thought you always had to be all war all the time."

"Kitsuki loves peace above all else," Kizoshi replied. "I have no interest in bringing any unnecessary wars to his lands."

She expected Auslin to ask a follow-up question, so it surprised her when it came from Sephen. "What about necessary wars?"

"It is my job to ensure that those who are fated to fight will have their day on the battlefield. However, I have no interest in warmongering for the sake of bloodshed like my mother."

"Which is why there's been no war within my lifetime," Sephen said.

Kizoshi nodded. "That is correct. War will come one day, but neither of you have any reason to fear it."

Auslin's voice grew terse. "What does that mean?"

"Exactly what I said." She softened her tone when she smelled how upset he was by the prospect. "You can rest assured my primary interest is always in my brothers' happiness, which both of you are a part of with them."

Auslin still seemed unsettled. "Would you tell me if I had a reason to be worried?"

"I have always given you my honesty, and I intend to always do so," Kizoshi reassured him. "There will be times when we must discuss unpleasant things. But I swear you will live a long life full of happiness with those you love. Do not fear the inevitable when it will all work out in your favor in the end."

Some of the stress disappeared from Auslin's demeanor. "I appreciate you looking out for me."

She smiled at Auslin to soothe his worries. "It is my great pleasure to do so. The same is true of you as well, Sephen."

Sephen seemed more puzzled than before. "Why? We've only just met."

"You are both clan and will always have my protection."

"I really appreciate that kindness." Sephen suddenly grew excited. "Is it true you know Liros?"

Auslin snorted at the question. "Why do you think I would lie to you about that?"

"Because it's too good to be true!" Sephen replied with a laugh.

"Liros, Sophina, and I are all close friends," Kizoshi said.

Auslin grinned. "They're why she seems to know everything before it happens."

She hid a laugh behind her hand. "It certainly helps."

"What's he like?" Sephen asked. "Please tell me everything!"

"He is a lively spirit who pursues knowledge in all its forms." Kizoshi couldn't resist teasing Sephen. "It is why he's such a huge Reskin fan."

Sephen's squeal of delight was precious. "I knew it!" He hit his brother on the arm out of excitement. "I knew Reskin has a special place in Liros's heart!"

"He does indeed." Kizoshi chuckled to herself. It was too fun seeing Sephen's enthusiastic reactions. Liros would be thrilled to hear about it. "You also hold a special place as well."

Sephen stumbled in shock. "Wait— what ?" His voice went up an octave. "He knows I exist ?"

"Knows and is quite impressed by you and your insatiable quest for knowledge."

Sephen covered his face with both hands and squealed again. "That's the most incredible news I've ever heard! He knows who I am ! The Knowledge Power I've dedicated my life to worshipping actually knows who I am !"

"I'm so happy for you," Auslin said.

"You're so lucky you get to be friends with him, Kizoshi!" Sephen heaved a dreamy sigh. "I'd give almost anything to meet him in person. But he never comes to the Living Realm."

"I would not say never ," Kizoshi corrected him. "But he has a tendency to lose himself in his quest for new knowledge, so he waits until he has something special to investigate."

"Hey, I'm special! He could come investigate me," Sephen joked. He laughed hard at the idea. "Maybe the two of us could team up for the ultimate quest of knowledge to find Reskin."

Kizoshi could barely restrain her mirth. "You are indeed special. Even more than you realize." She looked over at Auslin. "You both are."

"You know, when you say stuff like that, it makes me wonder what secrets you know," Auslin said with a laugh.

She couldn't resist teasing them. "Everything happens for a reason. You will find out in due time."

K itsuki and Kisano were already in the dining hall when Kizoshi returned from escorting Auslin and Sephen. She had stayed longer than she originally intended because she had been having so much fun with the brothers and the reactions of the other mages.

As the servants brought them dinner, her brothers had mirroring glum expressions, as if all the light had gone out of their lives. "You both could at least try not to look so forlorn," Kizoshi teased as she took a seat at the table. "After all, it has only been a few hours."

"I know why it had to be done," Kitsuki said as they began to eat. "It does not make it any easier to endure."

"It is for the best since Sephen was also nearing his heat," Kizoshi commented with a pointed look at Kisano, who blushed at the implication. "I suppose those are lessons you will have to learn later."

Kisano grew flustered. "What do you mean?"

"I am quite confident Sephen will successfully draw forth your long-dormant dragon," Kizoshi predicted.

He laughed at the notion. "You say that, but we know I do not have a dragon. There is no reason to believe Sephen will help me discover one after this many centuries."

"Sure," Kizoshi said in a tone that implied she didn't believe her brother in the least.

"It is true Auslin can reach my dragon without even trying," Kitsuki added. "Perhaps Kizoshi is not wrong about this."

"When am I ever wrong about anything?" Kizoshi asked with an arrogant laugh. "I would think you would know better by now than to doubt me and my infinite wisdom."

Kisano shook his head. "There is simply no way that would be possible."

"Fine. If you are so confident I am wrong, visit Sephen at the temple in a few days to check on him and Auslin," Kizoshi challenged Kisano. "If nothing else, they have a library you have never been to."

He hesitated. "I do not think it is a wise decision."

"Perhaps you shall feel differently after a few more days without Sephen's presence in your library."

Kisano looked down with a blush as he idly pushed his food around his plate.

She took pity on him. "I do not say it to be unkind, dear brother. I say it to give you the confidence to do what you secretly wish to do."

"I wish to do nothing more than enjoy Sephen's company when he graces me with it," Kisano said. "Anything more than that would be far too selfish."

"You have my permission to be as selfish as you wish with Sephen." Kizoshi took a drink of wine.

"I could never," Kisano weakly protested.

Kitsuki counseled his brother in a gentle voice. "I think you will find Sephen far more amenable to the idea than you believe."

"Why would someone like him ever wish to be with a recluse like me?" Pain seeped into his words. "He is far too good to be saddled with me."

"Do not make the same mistakes I did," Kitsuki urged Kisano. "I wasted far too much time trying to convince myself I did not wish to be with Auslin. To this day, I still regret it."

Kisano scowled. "I know nothing of romance."

"With as many books as you have read?" Kizoshi scoffed. "Forgive me, but I do not believe you, Kisano."

"This is real life," Kisano insisted. "What I know from books has no relevance in reality."

"Only because you are too scared to apply it to your own life," Kizoshi countered. "Do you not think he is worth the risk?"

"I cannot do as you suggest because I am unwilling to lose him," Kisano protested.

She gave him a sympathetic look. "Do you not think these are the same questions Sephen is struggling with regarding you?"

"There is no way that is true." Kisano's lack of self-confidence was frustrating at times.

She tried a different angle to convince him. "If he understands Reskin's writing so deeply, why would he not understand your heart as well?"

"Because it is not possible," Kisano stubbornly insisted. "I do not wish to lose him because my heart unwisely developed affection for him."

"Refusing to act would result in the same thing," Kitsuki said. "Therefore, would it not be better to make your feelings known to him so you at least had the chance of finding out that he reciprocates them?"

"I am content with what I am allowed." It was rare for Kisano's stubborn streak to show.

Kizoshi shrugged. "You say that now. I can guarantee Sephen's heat will have you saying otherwise, though."

Although he hadn't finished his dinner, Kisano stood up. "If you will excuse me, I have things to attend to." He left to return to the sanctuary of his library.

"I fear we may have pushed too hard," Kitsuki said with a sigh. "Now, he will refuse to go to prove a point."

She shook her head. "No, the seeds have been planted. His intellectual curiosity will get the better of him despite his beliefs he is not good enough. He will visit Sephen."

"Do you truly think so?" Kitsuki questioned in surprise. "For Kisano to leave the castle would be out of character."

She couldn't resist teasing him. "And how many out-of-character things did Auslin inspire you to do in the past?"

"You have made your point well, sister."

"I would not push Kisano if I was not completely confident that it would lead him to where he needs to be," Kizoshi added.

"Meaning Sophina has clued you in to how Kisano's and Sephen's lives are to become intertwined in the future?"

Kizoshi's enigmatic smile was her only answer.

Kitsuki finished his dinner. "I do not understand why he is so resistant. Kisano truly could not have found a more kindred soul than Sephen."

"Agreed." Kizoshi had faith Kisano would do what needed to be done. "I can finally be at ease that my two brothers have secured their happiness at long last."

"Only a little longer, then all will be right in our world."

"And what a day that will be." Kizoshi raised her glass to toast the occasion. She was eager to see the future unfold as fate had dictated.

"It grows late, and I still have things to attend to," Kitsuki said. "But I wish to speak with you tomorrow."

"About what?"

"Do not pretend you are ignorant, sister. It does not suit you."

Kizoshi couldn't stop herself from grinning. "Very well. We will speak more tomorrow." She would have to resist the temptation to reveal too many details. It was the burden of having insider insights into the workings of the Living Realm.