Burning Soul

To the Ruins, we go!

The following day, before anyone could wake, Theodore tried to sneak out of the palace. 

He quietly left the room and walked towards the end of the hallway. 

He pushed the door and tried to peek, 

but just as he thought he was clear, a pair of hands suddenly grabbed him from behind and pulled him back. 

"You think you can make a fool out of me? 

You are still a kid to me, stupid." He was startled by being found out by his sister, 

again. 

"Theo, you need to find something new to try. 

Well, 

I assume your ‘Great Escape’ is unsuccessful today." 

Nicholas walked past them with a peal of laughter. 

"I was this close, if not for you." 

Theodore glared at his sister to which she pulled his arm, due to a sharp pain he felt he twisted his body to turn around and made her let his hands go by force but failed. 

"Look at you, 

all energetic and excited, and for what? 

You can't go if I don't want you to little brother" 

Merida replied with a despicable laugh.

‘What is she, some villain! I knew she’d enjoy that.’ He was sweating hard looking at her dominating figure, which to others looked quite small! 

"Will you stop all this noise in the morning? 

Merida, 

You at least!" As Evan spoke she let him go, suddenly making him slip and fall to the ground. 

With a loud bang and a squeak afterwards, Theodore was pinned to the ground. 

Looking at his fall both Evan and Merida burst into laughter. 

There was quite a commotion. To see what was going on Jason along with his daughter walked towards the hallway, where Evan and others were. 

As they closed in, they found an angry person pinned to the ground. 

With a red face, Theodore pouted and gave a sharp glare to his sister. "You did it on purpose, right? 

Now that you have enjoyed your share, watch me." 

As he said, he took a strange looking ball out of his pocket and threw it on the ground. 

.

..

"That's…" Before Vivian could finish, there was a burst of smoke. 

"Seriously? 

Idiot!" Merida yelled in a louder tone making the in-house guards run towards them. 

.

As the smoke vanished, there was nothing on the ground. 

Evan was furious and to his surprise, suddenly Jason burst into laughter saying,

"ha hahaha! 

That reminds me of when you escaped the king's gathering when we were young Evan.

Like father like son!" 

Hearing this he replied, "This isn't funny.”

Hiding his embarrassed look he ordered the guards, 

“Search him, guards! 

Why are you standing still?" To his command, all the gathered guards scattered. 

.

"Let him be father, that idiot would get a piece of beating one day,” Merida replied with an angry pout,

“Maybe I’d be the who’ll give him a piece of a beating!

Look at my dress! 

Damn, how dare he try to pull such a prank on me?” She was stomping like crazy in anger. 

Everyone was quite taken to her, ‘So adorable’ It was rather a treat to the eyes! 

“Hmph! 

I'm not going after him. 

Leave him on his own." Saying this Merida walked out of the hallway stomping her feet.

.

"I hope he doesn't get into any trouble.” Evan touched his forehead as the stress was real!

“Anyway,

I should send in a few guards after him, not that they'd find him, yet…" Saying this Evan walked past Jason. 

"Now that the commotion is over, shall we?" 

Jason who was still bubbling with laughs asked his daughter who was looking at the end of the hallway in concern.

She suddenly felt something in her pocket, it was a piece of paper!. 

"When did he… 

What?” The contents seemed to have shocked her,

“I can't believe it! 

How dare he left me behind?” She was angered by it and it was quite visible on her face.

“This time I'll give him a piece of mind along with sis, 

I swear." Vivian spoke to herself, somewhat irritated. 

.

In that piece of paper, he wrote, formally, 

"I apologize as I'm leaving right now. 

Don't worry about me, I'll be safe. 

Just forgive me this time Vivi.

We’ll go together next time, I promise" 

.

"He promised we'd go together… 

God" Thinking that a wave of embarrassment hit her turning her cheeks plush pink. 

With a red face she walked past her father who was curiously thinking of, how did Theodore escape? 

.

.

…

In a corner, as he watched everyone leaving, somewhat relieved Theodore jumped out of the window. 

‘Shady Lurk! What a skill you’ve taught me Vivi!’ He thought proud of it.

At the edge of the castle walls, he cheered himself as he said, 

"No one can stop me. 

Ha Haha! 

I am the best!” His loud roar almost scared nearby animals.

“Here I come to my talking statue, 

oh wait,

it's not mine yet. 

Who cares? It surely will be.”

With a sigh he continued to murmur, “Still, I feel bad for leaving her behind though but, if what I read is true, it's dangerous out there. 

Umm-hmm, what's done is done. 

Let's get going." 

Excited about the adventure, he carelessly jumped into the woods and rushed to the ruins.

.

.

…

The Arboria was in a rainforest zone thus had vast forest regions. 

Towards the neighbouring nation, Etherblade, there was a widely spread forest known as 'The Forest of Wisps'. 

Locals believed there were fairies living there who protected the locals from strange beings and dangers as well. 

Theodore also was running through the same jungle.

.

..

After running for a while, it became clear that no one followed him, thus he slowed down. It took him about 3 hours to reach the deep region of the forest. He stopped a bit to look into the map for further directions. 

"Damn, these old maps are really difficult to understand. 

As much as I can decipher, it should be further down this way." Saying this he put the map away and started walking in the direction. 

Just as he was walking by the road he heard some noises from the bushes nearby.

Carelessly looked at the bushes, 

his complexion turned pale, and started running fast, 

"It can't be…!"