Exiled Prince and His Succubus Army-Chapter 13: Going hunting

"Until when?" Kaede asked, her voice cutting through the moment with practiced skepticism. She tilted her head slightly, blonde hair cascading over her shoulder as she fixed Renji with a look that demanded a real answer, not more of his usual deflections.

"Until I finish planning my next move, hottie," Renji replied smoothly, flashing that infuriating smirk that he knew got under people’s skin. Without waiting for a response or giving anyone time to protest his decision, he strolled casually outside the shrine, his footsteps echoing against the ancient stone floors before fading into the outdoor stillness.

The three women remained inside, and as soon as he disappeared from view, they exchanged long, meaningful looks that spoke volumes without a single word being uttered. The silence hung heavy between them, filled with shared exasperation and grudging acceptance of the chaos that seemed to follow their prince wherever he went.

"He’s such a weirdo, isn’t he?" Kaede asked no one in particular, breaking the silence with a statement that was half question, half observation. Her tone carried equal parts amusement and frustration, as if she couldn’t quite decide whether Renji’s eccentricities were endearing or absolutely maddening.

The two other girls, Aya with her dark hair and measured composure, and Rei with her pale features still processing everything that had just transpired, nodded in perfect agreement. It was perhaps the first thing all three of them had unanimously concurred on since meeting.

Outside, Renji was walking with purposeful strides toward the welcoming shade of a cluster of ancient trees that stood like silent sentinels near the shrine’s perimeter. Their branches swayed gently in the afternoon breeze, creating dancing patterns of light and shadow on the ground beneath.

He found a suitable spot, a fallen log that had been weathered smooth by time and elements, and settled himself down upon it. His expression shifted from his usual cocky demeanor to something more contemplative, more serious. He was deep in thought now, his mind working through the complex chess game that had become his life.

Now that he had both Kaede and Aya devoted to him, bound to him through means both supernatural and personal, he was considerably more protected than he’d been just weeks ago. The two of them would stand between him and danger without hesitation.

It would undoubtedly be even better if Rei joined their group as well, adding her light magic and strategic value to their ranks, but as it currently stood, the situation was still good enough. He could work with this.

His next critical decision, the one that would determine their immediate future, was whether to leave for the next town immediately or to remain here at the shrine for a while longer. If they stayed, they could venture into the surrounding forest and fight the beasts that dwelled within those shadows, using combat experience to grow stronger, to hone their abilities and his own skills. It was a tempting prospect.

The truth that Renji had to acknowledge, despite how much it rankled his pride, was that going to town now carried significantly more risk for him personally. He was still not very powerful in his own right, not compared to what he would need to be to face the challenges that undoubtedly awaited him. His combat skills were decent but not exceptional, his strategic mind his greatest weapon but not always sufficient against raw power. Furthermore, Aya and Kaede, despite their newfound supernatural abilities, still hadn’t fully mastered their powers. They were strong, certainly, but untested in prolonged combat, unpracticed in the nuances of their transformed capabilities.

So the better option, the smarter choice when he looked at it objectively without letting his impatience cloud his judgment, was to stay here at the shrine and try to grow stronger first. Build their foundation, test their limits, prepare for what would come next. Patience now would pay dividends later.

This entire contemplation and internal debate took him roughly one hour, during which the sun shifted perceptibly across the sky and the shadows beneath the trees lengthened and changed shape. Renji sat motionless for most of that time, occasionally running his hand through his messy black hair or drumming his fingers against his knee as he worked through various scenarios and possibilities. Finally, having reached his conclusion and settled on a course of action, he stood up from the log with renewed purpose. His joints protested slightly from sitting still for so long, and he stretched briefly before heading back toward the shrine with determined steps.

When he reentered the ancient building, the scene that greeted him was one of quiet domesticity tinged with boredom. Rei was nowhere to be found, having apparently retreated to some private corner of the shrine to process the dramatic changes her life had just undergone. Aya sat cross-legged in a shadowed corner, her dark eyes fixed intently on some intricate engravings carved into the stone walls, tracing the patterns with genuine interest and appreciation for the craftsmanship. Her expression was peaceful, almost meditative.

Kaede, by complete contrast, lay sprawled on her back in the center of the main room, her long legs stretched out and her arms folded behind her head as she stared up at the ceiling with a profoundly bored look etched across her beautiful features. She looked like a caged predator desperate for something, anything, to break the monotony.

Renji smiled widely, his features lighting up with mischief and anticipation. He had just the thing for her restless energy.

"Let’s go hunting, guys," he announced with a confident grin, his voice carrying through the shrine’s interior and immediately commanding attention.

Kaede’s entire demeanor transformed in an instant. She practically sprang upright from her prone position, her eyes suddenly alert and interested, all traces of boredom vanishing as if they’d never existed. "Hunting?" she repeated, the single word loaded with eager anticipation.

"Yes," Renji confirmed, nodding as he explained his reasoning. "I need to get stronger, and you two need to refine your abilities. We’re not ready for what’s coming next, so we train." His tone was matter-of-fact, brooking no argument. "The forest around here should have plenty of beasts to test ourselves against."

Aya rose gracefully from her corner, leaving the engravings behind without complaint. Her expression showed approval of the plan, it was practical, strategic, exactly the kind of preparation they needed.

Renji raised his voice slightly, projecting toward the inner chambers of the shrine. "Rei! We’re heading out! We’ll be back before dark!" He didn’t wait for a response, didn’t need confirmation that she’d heard. The priestess could take care of herself within the shrine’s protective walls.

With that announcement made, the three of them, made their way out of the shrine and toward the dense forest that surrounded it, ready to face whatever challenges awaited them among the trees.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​