The Reborn Magus and His Prince

Chapter 13

As soon as she uttered her last words, her eyes fluttered closed. Yulian checked for a pulse, the girl was still breathing.

'She is lucky the dark energy had not fully consumed her soul or else there's no turning back for her.'

Ignis floated to study the girl. 'There's no dark energy left inside her. We can return her to her family.'

"What about that man?" Yulian asked while he heaved Minnie on his back. He knows how important that man was. He is the key figure in finding Calis.

'What can we do? He must have gone into hiding. First, we must secure the safety of this girl.'

"Okay."

With Minnie on his back, Yulian began his journey back at the madame's house. He only walked a distance from the archway for a short while when a coach passed him by. It stopped and the same coachman who warned him to not stay too late turned his head at him.

"I knew you would still be here, young man. Come on, get in!"

May the gods bless this benevolent uncle. Just thinking about the long walk he had to take makes his knees buckle.

"Oh goodness! What did you do with your lady?!" The older man only then noticed the girl he's carrying.  He went down to help him put the girl inside.

"I didn't do anything and she's not my girlfriend."

"Reckless child! You shouldn't have overdone it! Don't you know the first is -."

"By gods, no! I didn't come here to do it and for the second time she's not... we're not... just drive us, please to the same place we came." Yulian felt exhausted and had no mood to argue with the uncle. He climbed up inside after they settled Minnie inside. The coachman had the look of unbelieving his words and yet close the door after him.

Inside the vehicle, Yulian slumped on his seat. His stomach growled. He wondered if there's food left for him at the cafeteria.

He told the uncle to wait for him as he still needed his service for the trip back to the academy. They had reached the odd house of madame. He saw the porch and the inside were all lighted revealing that they had come back.

With Minnie on his back, he knocked on the door with his free hand.

A hurried movement came from inside followed by the opening of the door.

"You again? It's so late... Minnie!" May with frantic hands had reached for her sister.

"Minnie? Where's Minnie?" Ann came when she heard May's shout. "Oh my god! Grandma! Minnie's back!"

Ann ushered him inside as May was too frantic to care for anything but her sister. Ann led him upstairs where Minnie's room was.

"Minnie...what happened to her?" Madame had followed from the kitchen. They had been looking for her all evening and even employed some city guards. But when they found out that her granddaughter had eloped with a man, they called off the search. A private matter like this was out of their scope unless she was forcibly taken. With their advice, the three women went home, hoping Minnie would at least contact them.

Ann covered her sister with the blanket and gently wiped the dirt on her cheeks. Her sister though looked weak, her face is tranquil.

"How did you find her?" May asked softly.

"Not here, May." Afraid that they will disturb the sleeping girl. The elder lady closed the door after Ann nodded in her direction, she stayed with her sister's side to take care of her.

The three went down to the living room. Madame offered him tea but he refused, saying a coach was waiting for him. He then narrated to them the excuse he made up while he's at the carriage.

"I was on my way to back at the academy from a friend of my uncle when I ran to her. She's crying at a pavement."

May frowned, "But you've never seen her. How do you know it's her?"

"I assumed... same hair and features."

"Oh."

"May don't be rude." The grandma scolds her granddaughter softly but also curious. "What happened to that despicable man?"

"Minnie said in passing that the man wanted to elope together but she didn't want to. He got angry and left her."

"Despicable! Truly despicable!"

Yulian finished his story by saying the girl had passed out from too much crying and fatigue. Moreover, it's better to not distress her when he wakes up by not asking questions. It's better to let her open herself up to them. This one was for himself.

Everything would be messed up if the girl opens her mouth. And for countermeasures, he put a sleeping spell on her when they're in the carriage. She won't wake up until morning and by then, he will come back here to talk with her. Additionally, he cast a protection spell if ever that man will come back. Though it won't do much against him ever if he was a magus but it would at least alert him.

Yulian bid farewell after their endless thanks to him. He could see how relieved the women were.

He exited the house and went to the vehicle waiting for him. He told the uncle to head to the academy.

The night had deepened, he prayed that no one would scold him for being this late. He just wants to go straight up to his room. He badly misses his bed.

Yulian waved goodbye at the uncle after he dropped him off. He put his id badge at a hole at the side gate of the academy The hole had a rune that recognizes students of the academy. The gate opened and once he's inside, a problem had occurred to him. He has to walk again to the dormitory. They don't allow any public vehicle inside the premises.

"Mr. Albertine!" A voice called to him, stopping him from taking a step to start his weary trek.

A man he recognizes as Luke McAlister's coachman whom he had met this morning was on the right. On his side was the carriage they had used this morning.

His face lit up and happily bounced towards the vehicle. "Perfect timing, Mr.! Could you please drive me to the dormitory? I'll pay you."

The coachman shook his hand in refusal. "Oh no! There's no need for that, Mr. Albertine, I was ordered to wait for you here and take you to the dormitory once you arrived."

"By McAlister?" He had no reason to think why Luke would do that.

"No, Mr. Albertine. It's the order of the prince."

"Oh." Makes more sense.

Yulian entered the darkened hall of the dormitory after the carriage dropped him off. He halted his steps when he reached the second floor. As sleepy as he was, he had an urge to see Alex to thank him for his kindness.

Knowing the possibility that the prince might have already done to sleep, his feet nonetheless took him to the floor where Alex's room was.

He paused in front of his door. Lights spilled at the gap at the bottom of the door. Without much thought, he knocked two times. And not a moment had passed the door opened, revealing an Alex in his black satin pajamas. Freshness was seeping from that Yulian almost wanted to bury his face in that smell.

"Yul? Why are you...?" Alex's voice trailed off when he saw his appearance. A total opposite of him.

Yulian bet he even smelled of trash and sweat mixed. Not to mention all that dirt from rolling in the warehouse. He suddenly regretted coming here.

"I'm sorry I woke you. I wanted to thank you for the carriage. Yeah, that's it. I... better go. Goodnight!" He said without having a breath and turned around to quickly escape but he felt a hand grab his arm.

"Wait! Why don't you get inside first?"

Alex gently pulled him into his room. He guided him to sit on a chair. "What happened to you? Why did you come back late?"

Alex with a worried frown on that fine face of his kneeled in front of him. His face was too close.

Does this guy have a problem with his nose? Can't he smell how disgusting I was?

"There's an emergency that I couldn't avoid "

"And the scratches on your face? Which forest did you get lost this time?"

Yulian laughed. "Oh, these? They got scratched by the chief's friend's cat. Yeah, it did not like me, you see."

Alex touched his cheeks just like he did that morning. Golden threads of light slowly caressed the wounds. He jerked his head as he felt ticklish but Alex held his head in place.

"Stay still."

Yulian watched the handsome face in front of him. Anyone in his place could also not help but be dazed at the blinding sight. He believes if he could be taller, he won't be less than this prince.

"Done." Alex stood up and like a treating a child, he pulled Yulian to stand up and led him to a door. "Now go wash up."

"Excuse me?"

"You kind of smell... funny."

So he's not that immune, huh. He obediently went to what he presumed was a bathroom.

The prince's bathroom was big as his dorm room a twice bigger than their bathtub and shower room.

He began stripping and started to bathe in a daze and went along whatever he said. He had not even heard the door open until Alex's voice drifted into the shower room.

"I'll leave here your change of clothes, okay?"

That woke Yulian up but before he could respond, the door closes again. He realizes his situation and how shameless he had acted. He furiously cleaned himself so that he could face the prince again with his held high.

Yulian stared at himself in the mirror. He finished cleaning himself up and now had worn the pajamas left the room. It was the same pajamas as Alex wore, only the color was snow white. The sleeves and pants had been rolled up by him. It was too big for him that one side of his shoulders was exposed due to the wide neckline.

Whatever, he thought and went out.

A seated prince with his legs crossed and holding a book had greeted him. He cleared his throat.

"Thanks for letting me use the bathroom and... for the pajama."

Alex looked up from reading his book. "Don't mention it. I'm glad to see you fresh."

A roundabout telling him that he stinks earlier. He'd rather Alex be frank with him.

H shuffled his feet as he didn't know what to do next. "So I uh..." A growled came out from his stomach.

Alex chuckled at hearing that. "Come, seat here." He patted the space next to him. "I have some snacks here."

Only then did Yulian notice all sorts of finger foods on the table. Saliva almost escaped from his mouth but he quickly wipe it out. All the dignity he had mustered after showering went out of the window.

He went and plopped down beside the prince and without much further ado picked whatever he could first grab. Not caring about etiquettes in front of royalty, he took big bites on the sandwich. Not even a second later, he was on another dish.

"Slow down a little, you'll choke."

Alex's warning came late as he was already choking and flailing his hand for water.

The prince seemed to find enjoyment in his foolishness. He laughed before pouring water at a glass and giving it to him.

Yulian took big gulps from the glass. Alex took it from his hands after. This time he took his time eating.

"Aren't you going to eat too?" A bit of his manner returned and asked Alex while looking at him below his lashes.

Yulian didn't realize how he looked while saying that. Shoulders exposed, biting on a piece of bread, and eyes fluttering.

Alex's eyes hooded and weren't able to answer him.