32. Auslin

Chapter 32

Auslin

I t fascinated Auslin that Tiora in the past felt so similar to the city in the future. He stopped in front of a storefront and stared at its window display in awe. "This is my favorite bookshop. I can't believe Storybook Square existed now, too."

"The owner is a turtle shifter who has owned this store for over a millennium," Kitaro said. "I am pleased to hear it is still doing well in the future, too."

"What little money my brother has goes straight here." Auslin's good humor faded slightly as he suffered a pang of homesickness.

"The seller helps Kisano find rare editions of books for his collection, so he is a friend of our clan. We can go in and speak with him if you'd like."

It was tempting, but Auslin feared the consequences. "I know Samtar in the future, so it's probably better I avoid him in the past. I worry meeting him now would change something for the worse in the future."

"Why am I not surprised you are friendly with the proprietor?" Kitaro shook his head in amazement. "It brings me great joy to hear Samtar is doing well in your era."

"He's so generous," Auslin said as they walked away from the bookshop. "He managed to get my brother a first edition of a Reskin book once. You would have thought he gave my younger brother all the treasures in the Divine Realm based on how happy he was."

"I still find it odd that two human mages are so fond of a shifter philosopher."

"Reskin's writing is just so soulful. Even though I've never met him, I feel like he knows me somehow and is writing directly to me. There's one book that resonated with me I'd love to talk to Kisano about, but it hasn't been published yet. But it's like Reskin gets who I am on a soul-deep level. It's incredible. I wish he wasn't so reclusive. I'd love to meet him sometime, and so would my brother."

"Perhaps someday in your future, you will meet Reskin."

"That would be amazing. I'd love to tell him how much his work means to me and my brother. Our entire temple, really. "

Kitaro shook his head. "It is truly amazing."

"Humans and shifters have more in common than they think," Auslin said as they continued walking through the busy streets of the city. "If they took more time to get to know each other, there'd be less strife."

"It seems like we have more problems with other shifters than humans these days." Kitaro nodded in acknowledgment to those who bowed to them as they walked. "My uncle just returned from a campaign in Shadron to dethrone a tyrant scorpion shifter."

Auslin shuddered. "That sounds dangerous."

"It was, but my uncle is a formidable general. The only person who would ever stand a chance of defeating him is my father. Thankfully, they are close and do not fight."

"I'm grateful they've both been so kind to me, especially your father. Because I was convinced he intended to kill me when we first met."

"Were you any other human, it could have been a possibility. But with truth on your side, I knew my father would do the honorable thing and offer you the protection of our clan."

"I'd hate to think where I'd be without your family's help."

"Then do not think of such unpleasant things."

That was fine with Auslin. The alternative was too scary to ponder.

Up ahead, a familiar face caught Auslin's attention by a fruit stand. "Isn't that the acolyte who helped us at the Fate's Gate Temple?"

"Yes, I believe his name was Roltan," Kitaro said once he noticed who Auslin was referring to.

The human mage looked up at the mention of his name. He bowed to them as they came closer. "Hello, Prince Kitaro and Lord Vanra. It is an honor to see you again."

"I'm sorry I haven't been back since our last visit," Auslin apologized. Guilt ate at him.

Roltan waved away his concerns. "It's okay! I'm sure you're very busy at the castle. We were honored you graced us with your presence at all."

"I appreciate you taking care of us that day. I'm sorry if I was rude. I wasn't myself at the time."

"Oh, you weren't rude at all! We would all love for you to come back whenever you'd like. It was our honor."

Auslin bowed his head in acknowledgment. "Maybe I can find the time in the future."

"I'll look forward to it," Roltan said with a bright smile. "I will let you get on with the rest of your day."

Once they were safely out of earshot, Auslin felt freer to talk to Kitaro. "Roltan really reminds me of my younger brother. I probably should go to the temple more."

"If you wish to, all you have to do is ask."

"It's funny. I'm always so eager to get away from the temple and all its rules in my time, but now, it almost seems quaint. Weird how time can affect that." Perhaps he would go more in the future. For now, Auslin was content to continue his enjoyable afternoon walk with Kitaro.

T he rest of Auslin's heat passed without further incident. Kitaro gave him the luxury of pretending nothing unusual had occurred. It was a relief as much as it was frustrating. Auslin wasn't sure exactly what he wanted from the shifter prince, but he still felt an ache anytime he remembered the dream he had about being with Kitaro's dragon.

As time passed, Auslin began spending more time in the library with Kisano. Being around him made Auslin feel like he was closer to his younger brother. It brought him as much joy as sadness.

But the sadness was slowly receding the longer Auslin remained in the past. He had grown accustomed to his life at the castle, and his close relationships with Kitaro and Kisano were a large part of that. Auslin also valued the time he spent training with Jaega. The general, who had seemed so fearsome at their first meeting, had truly become an uncle figure in Auslin's life. It was a first for him. Even Tatsuki had proven to be a kindly king, who treated Auslin as a respected member of the family. He had never lived such a well-cared-for life. It was easy to get spoiled by it all.

Since Auslin had come to terms with his relationship finally being over with Kio, he felt free in a new and exciting way. It also meant his need to return was diminishing significantly. His main reason was returning to his brother. Beyond that, Auslin was finding it hard to come up with reasons to return to his time other than it was what everyone expected him to do. He didn't want to overstay their generosity, so he knew he would ultimately have to leave, no matter how much part of him was becoming okay with the thought of staying in the past permanently.

"You seem pensive today," Kisano commented as he came over to the table where Auslin was sitting.

"Sorry. I guess I got more lost in thought than I realized."

Kisano took a seat across from Auslin. "What troubles you?"

The human ran his fingers through his dark hair as he leaned back in his chair. "That's the thing. I'm not troubled."

The shifter's eyebrows arched in surprise. "You are concerned you are not troubled?"

It was easy to open up to Kisano. "I should be obsessed about wanting to return to my time as soon as I can, but I can go days without the thought even crossing my mind that I want to go back. "

Kisano's expression was understanding. "That is a good thing. It would not be healthy to be so singularly fixated on something you know will not happen for many months. You have yet to make the journey to Satsuma yet, so it is premature to be worked up about the matter. You are doing the smart thing by focusing on living in the now."

It was sound logic, but Auslin knew that wasn't the real problem. He stared down at his hands as he fidgeted. "What happens if I don't want to go back?"

"You would still have a place here."

"Yeah, but it's contingent on it being temporarily, albeit a long temporary," Auslin argued.

"It is my understanding that Father has grown fond of you. I cannot imagine him not letting you stay."

Auslin frowned. "But it's selfish. I have no right to ask for anything more than what has already been so generously given."

"Even if Father was resistant to the idea, I am confident Kitaro would fight for you to remain here with him."

The thought of staying by Kitaro's side filled Auslin with a warm glow he knew couldn't be allowed. Staying in the past wasn't allowed. "Yeah, but to what end? He has his own life to lead beyond being my babysitter."

"Perhaps you should talk about this with my brother," Kisano suggested. "I am quite certain he would take umbrage at your description that he is merely your ‘babysitter.'"

"Okay, so I'm being facetious, but the point still stands. Kitaro has better things to do than take care of me forever."

"Something tells me that taking care of you forever would be the thing that would give my brother the most joy. I have never seen him as happy as he is when he is with you."

"Really?" Auslin asked in surprise. "But he always seems pretty happy."

"He generally is of good spirits, but his life has been a lonely one."

"I'm surprised I've never met any of his friends."

Kisano nodded in understanding. "That is because he does not have anyone other than you he would call a true friend. Father thinks friendship is an unwanted distraction, so we were all raised with that philosophy. He wanted Kitaro to be respected, which meant he was isolated from people his own age growing up and forbidden to mix with the common people. Father intended Kitaro to use the guise of friendship as a manipulation to building alliances, but my brother refused to play that game. He preferred having no friends instead of false ones."

"That's awful." Auslin's heart went out to Kitaro for being put in such a situation. "I had no idea."

"The only person Kitaro ever could have called a friend proved to be anything but," Kisano said with a frown.

Auslin wanted to know more about that, but he knew that was a conversation he should have with Kitaro directly if he ever felt brave enough for it. "If he has so little experience with friends, why is he so good at being one?"

"Given that I am the same in that regard, I believe it is because you make it easy to be friends," Kisano guessed, a slight flush in his cheeks. "It certainly is not something that comes naturally to me."

"People don't know what they're missing." Auslin ruefully shook his head. "I guess some people are always going to be fools."

Kisano hid an amused smile behind his hand. "I do not know if I would go that far."

"Seriously, getting to become friends with you and hanging out here is one of the best parts of being here," Auslin insisted. "I hope you know that."

"I must confess, I find that hard to believe. But I know you would never lie to me, so I must believe you."

"Good, because it's true." Auslin sighed. "I wish I could introduce you to my brother. You both have so much in common. You would become the closest of friends."

"If he is anything like you, I believe I might enjoy such a thing. Thankfully, with my long lifespan, meeting him in the future should be possible. "

"I really hope that happens." Auslin smiled at his friend. "Thanks for listening. I always feel better after I talk with you."

"I am always happy to do so," Kisano told him with a kind smile. "You are one of the very few things that can tear me away from a book."