John took a curious peek at the spell book after Ruben opened it up, a flash of envy passed over the blonde. Of course a Prince would have access to such a powerful spell. He sighed and leaned back in his seat, letting the scenery pass them by. It wouldn't the lad's choice to what station he was born into. No more than it was his choice on who his mother is...
His thoughts urged him to look back at the spell and he took another glance down at the spell book. "Legend stated that the heirs to the throne of the Silver Alliance had bodyguards, Guardians." John commented, "Never heard anything about the Knights who protected the castle and the ruler though."
"According to this, this sentinels are just empty suits of armor designed to protect sacred places. More or less just husks of magick to take on dangerous work in place of real soldiers." Ruben mused curiously.
"I can see how the Prince managed to slip away from his mother, and from my Team. He must be quite the illusionist. Perhaps we could used that as an excuse for Her Highness when she starts demanding to know why we haven't found her son yet.."
"If you can't catch a wave then you're never gonna ride it..."
"It'd be a good story, but keep in mind- she lost her husband and her other kids, she's going to send out whoever to bring him back home." John grumbled under his breath. "... we'll be buying them time." Even if they did get the spell broken off of himself, and hid away the Prince and his friend- who knew what other type of people Jade would send after them.
More magick users- and have their magick drained from them too?
Or mercenaries, who would kill the Daeva, and drag the Prince back by force?
Ruben grimaced, turning to look outside the window as the buse drove along through the city and out towards the vast mountains and valleys that made up the Guizhou Province's broadleaf forests.
The two men sat in a comfortable silence as the bus puttered along down the highway. Then there was a sudden feeling that passed over them. Or rather, that they passed through.
Most would only notice it as the serenity of being out in the beauty and quiet of nature, away from the loud bustle of the city, but Ruben and John felt it's true nature. A barrier. One that was being feuled by the Prince's magick.
John let out a faint hum of content once passing through the barrier, a faint chuckle leaving him. "This is our stop." He smirked to himself. He wasn't sure why the Prince set up a barrier, but he needed to learn to be more subtle with his magick. But one question remained, why was he putting up a barrier to begin with?
He was doing something he didn't want others to see... or was trying to keep others protected from something he was doing.
"Looks like." Ruben agreed. "Though I have some strong words for the High Mage in regards to the adequaticy of the Prince's magick lessons." He muttered
"That's your only problem with the High Mage? What about the bloody spell he and his Queen created to put on me?" John remarked with a huff. Patting him on the shoulder to get Ruben to follow, the blonde got up and headed towards the driver- he spoke in Mandarin that was still rather heavy in his British accent, before flashing the bus driver... what looked like a playing card from anyone else's perceptive.
"Of course not, I have a rather long list of-" Ruben started to say, only to grumble when Constantine got up and headed to the front of the bus. Why did he ask if he wasn't even going to listen?
"I didn't know you spoke Mandarin." The Siren noted curiously, raising an eyebrow at the...playing card? It must've been enchanted with some like of illusion or perception magick for convience sake, but that was more clever than Ruben was willing to admit
"Well you pick up a few skills here and there." John smirked shamelessly as the bus driver slowed to a halt- the door opening up a moment later. Nodding his thanks to the bus driver, the Warlock headed off the bus. He took in a shaky breath, the fresh air actually decent after getting out of the city.
Still didn't explain why the Prince and the Daeva saw fit to come all the way out here. Why not Europe? Why not Canada? Or anywhere else? What was so special about this city? Pushing aside such thoughts, he began walking alongside the road to where he felt the start of the barrier. He couldn't trace it magickally... meaning he'd have to put in the leg work for this.
Ruben thanked the driver as well as he stepped off the bus and looked around. "Hearing that the Prince and his friend fled to Guiyang didn't surprise me much, but I thought they would've wanted to hide in the city, not all the way out here." He remarked curiously.
"Perhaps the rumors of something being out here in these woods aren't just rumors." Ruben thought out loud.
"Come again?" The blonde regarded with a curious eyebrow and turned towards Ruben. He resisted the urge for another smoke. He was cutting back...ish. Today had been a taxing day, and it wasn't even over. Plus, cigarettes were getting more pricey by the minute. The blonde tried to make the packs last...ish. Tried to make the packs last-ish.
He sighed and motioned for Ruben to follow as the continued walking- "Where is it.." John muttered under his breath.
"If I knew, they wouldn't be just rumors, would they?" Ruben gave a roll of his eyes. "So it goes, there's been an uptick in odd phenomenon going on in these forests for the past five-or-so years. Some say the area's haunted. Some claim to hear wailing late at night. I think even some folk believe it's a Spirit that wards off evil. I've kept my ear out for information, but whatever's going on hasn't caused anybody any harm, so I've never come to investigate for myself. It's become somewhat of a local legend by this point. The Yaoguai of Guiyang is what it's most commonly known as." Ruben explained quietly.
"We're only a few miles away from where people claim it lives."
"Meant the barrier.." John muttered under his breath, but he didn't stop Ruben. Instead, he listened intently, a thoughtful frown on his face. What were the odds the Prince and his friend decided to come here of all places?
It was too much of a coincidence.
He smirked to himself, "You fancy a walk with me?" The blonde regarded Ruben. It was a long shot, but... most of the puzzle pieces fell into place. Somewhat at least, and he's gone on much less before.
"You want to look for the Yaoguai?" Ruben blinked in surprise. He grimaced as he considered it for a moment. It was probably their best lead, and now that they had crossed into the barrier of the Prince's magick there wasn't any telling how much ground it covered.
"Heavy thoughts tonight, and they aren't of Snow White..."
"I have a hunch it could lead us to who we're looking for." John admitted as he continued walking. "Either that, or trying to find this... Yaoguai, may accidently let us find the Prince and his friend." He shrugged. "If not, then you can at least confirm if this creature exists." The blonde smirked.
John just hoped once they found the lads, either one of them would get this damn shackles off his wrists... or maybe, if he got lucky- the Yaoguai. That last option was a big maybe though...
"Has anyone ever told you that it's annoying when you're right?" Ruben asked as he waved his hand, sea green magick bringing up another holographic map of the region a thoughtful look on his face. "We'll have to head off any beaten path. About five miles southeast. Hope you've got your hiking boots on today."
"Ain't about the glamour, click goes the hammer..."
John didn't bother hiding his smirk once more at Ruben's first remark, "I think you're warming up to me." The blonde replied with a chuckle. Upon hearing how long they'd have to walk, he simply shrugged and began walking. He didn't mind. The fresh air was actually rather nice compared to the smog from home... even if he was used to it.
"I most certainly am not." Ruben scoffed. "Don't be ridiculous."
They got perhaps a third of the way into their hike through the woods before they began to notice something strange about the forest.
There were magick runes carved into the rocks and trees around them. Not many, just every few yards or so. Runes and wards dedicated to masking the presence of anything magickal. Just like the barrier, Constantine and Ruben could sense the Prince's magick feuling them.
Ruben didn't hesitate to bring out his journal, quickly noting everything down. "This is getting stranger by the minute.." He thought out loud. "These runes look far from freshly carved.. and what could possibly be out here that the Prince would want hidden?"
John sent Ruben a knowing look at the question he asked out loud. "I imagine it has something to do with the Yaoguai, wouldn't you agree?" Something was out here, something the Prince and his friend saw fit to runaway to. Whether it be the Yaoguai... or something else. The Warlock continued on, silently cursing once more at the spell still literally shackled to him- he may not use magick as actively as Zatara and/or others... but he still needed it like one needed air to breathe!
"John, the Prince had never stepped outside of the castle walls until now." Ruben growled out. He didn't blame Constantine for not knowing, but having to share the news always made him angry. "Why would he spend his first moments of being in a new world to come here to hide a Yaoguai that's already been here for the past several years?"
The Siren glared at the rune in front of him for a long time, before his eyes flickered over to the shackles on John's wrists.
