'Fucking hell… they did lock me in after all.'
The door did not move, no matter how much Shuu tried to force it.
Shuu shoved it again, harder this time, his shoulder slamming into the old wood. The impact rattled the hinges, but the lock held. He was too weak to do anything about the door-or his circumstances.
'Those fuckers. I knew I would be in trouble one day because of the temple.'
He pressed his forehead against the door and exhaled slowly. He needed to find another way out of the barn because he was sure he wouldn't be kept alive for much longer.
The barn was quiet except for the slow breathing of the horses.
Shuu turned.
Six large shapes shifted in their stalls as he moved closer. The horses had woken up, and they looked irritated at having their sleep disturbed.
"I'm sorry. I won't take long. I just need your help with something."
He tried to calm the horses immediately, but it seemed to be of no use. They were too irritated to listen to him.
One of them even almost stomped him before realizing that Shuu was the one who fed him all the time and finally calming down.
"Please come with me. I just need you to do one thing."
Shuu held the horse's leash and pulled at it gently. The horse tossed its head, unimpressed, but it did not pull away.
Shuu led it toward the door. He gestured toward it, trying to show the horse what to do, but he was afraid it would not understand.
Luckily for him, these horses had much sharper minds than most people around and understood exactly what he wanted.
The first horse kicked, causing the wood to crack.
Shuu jumped back as the door shuddered under the impact. The horse squealed, agitated, and struck again, hooves slamming into the planks.
"Wait-"
Shuu started.
Too late.
The second horse joined in, then the third. The barn exploded into noise. They were all irritated and eager to assert their dominance.
Within seconds, the door separating the barn from the outside no longer existed, and Shuu did not hesitate.
He slipped through the opening and ran. He needed to make it to safety… he needed to make it anywhere that was not the temple.
'I need to get out of here. I'll think about where to hide later. The horses ran in the opposite direction, so I should be fine… right?'
Unfortunately, Shuu had no idea what was happening or where he was heading.
__________
On the opposite side of the temple grounds, the saintess walked at an unhurried pace. Her eyes kept drifting toward the crown prince standing beside her.
Not only was Crown Prince Kaiden handsome, but he was also the hero chosen by the goddess. He was the perfect person to be by her side. He just… needed to see it himself.
Crown Prince Kaiden strode beside her, hands clasped behind his back, his expression polite but distant. He was not interested in the saintess-but she could change that with time.
'I just need to make sure the hero chooses me as his partner for this journey. I don't know what made him interested in that cursed child, but surely it's just a passing fancy. I need to help him change his mind right now.'
"Your Highness, you must understand that traveling with an unblessed fortune reader is dangerous. She has no protection, no combat ability. She cannot even heal. She will only hold you back if you choose her."
The saintess said, her voice warm and measured.
Kaiden nodded absently.
"So you say, but I have a feeling things will be quite different. Also, you do not need to worry about my journey. I have capable people accompanying me."
"But it is my job to watch over the hero's journey. If you require guidance, I would gladly accompany you. My blessings-"
She continued, only to be cut off by a loud crash echoing across the grounds.
Kaiden stopped and looked in that direction, but the saintess quickly realized she needed to distract him and draw his attention back to her.
The saintess smiled faintly.
"It is likely nothing. The outer barns are old. I will have things taken care of."
She reached for Kaiden's arm.
The moment her fingers brushed his sleeve, he pulled away.
"Do not touch me. Your intentions don't feel pure to me."
He said flatly, and the saintess froze.
Kaiden's gaze sharpened, all warmth gone. He turned toward the noise without another word and broke into a run, his cloak flaring behind him. The saintess could only watch him go, her teeth clenched.
"Did I just get humiliated by the hero?"
She muttered, but no one dared answer her. That silence made her anger boil over.
"…Find out what happened… right now!"
She snapped at the nearest attendant.
Her smile did not return, and the priests knew better than to question her any further.
__________
Shuu was almost free.
The forest swallowed sound, dampening his footsteps. This was his only chance to escape, and he was about to make it when-
The air shifted, and Shuu immediately felt danger crawl up his spine.
He twisted on instinct, throwing himself sideways as steel sliced through the space where his neck had been a heartbeat earlier. He hit the ground hard and rolled, coming up in a crouch.
A sword gleamed in the moonlight.
Crown Prince Kaiden stood a few steps away, his stance relaxed, eyes locked on Shuu with sharp interest.
"You run fast, Lady Shuu."
Kaiden said.
Shuu's heart slammed against his ribs.
"You have the wrong person. I'm just a stable hand."
He said, his voice tight.
Kaiden smiled.
"There is no point in lying. Do you think I would not recognize you?"
He replied.
Shuu's fingers dug into the dirt. He needed to deny the hero's words-right here and now.
"I don't know what you're talking about. Can't you see that I'm a guy?"
Shuu said.
Kaiden tilted his head.
"Oh? But your clothes say something different."
Shuu realized his mistake instantly. He should have changed before running. Now there was no denying the truth.
And just when he thought things couldn't get any worse, footsteps approached from behind him. Guards burst into the clearing, weapons drawn.
"There he is!"
"Seize him!"
Shuu's muscles tensed.
Kaiden lifted a hand.
"Stop."
The guards hesitated.
"He is under my authority now, and I will take the auspicious man into custody myself."
Kaiden said.
The guards exchanged uncertain glances, then lowered their weapons.
Kaiden looked back at Shuu, his eyes glinting with something unreadable.
"Congratulations. You've just become my problem."
He said softly, and Shuu felt a sinking certainty settle in his chest.
Somehow, he had dug his own grave.
__________
This is my last edited chapter. I do not have an editor after this. So if you feel a chance in writing, it's because my editor had to leave.