"Your highness."

The doors burst open and Yuma lowered the covers from over his head. One of the royal guards hurried in and Yuma sat up slowly. There was a commotion outside. It was strange. He stayed out in the countryside outside the capital so there was peace. His parents wanted him to be safe with his grandma.

"Your highness, we need to hurry," the guard said, helping him up out of bed. "We need to get you away from here."

"Away?" Yuma cried. "Away where? This is my home and it's the middle of the night."

"There's no time to argue," he insisted.

Yuma nodded at the urgency in his voice. It must have been important. He slipped out of bed and pulled on his clothes as quickly as possible. He didn't have any time to look presentable. The guards quickly threw a green cloak over him and pulled the hood up, hurrying him towards the door. Yuma had no idea what was happening and what the rush was but he went with them without argument. Whatever it was, it seemed like a big deal. He didn't know where his parents where or where his normal guards were. Something strange was going on.

"I'm sorry, your highness," the guard whispered. "But there are Barians in the palace."

"Barians?"

The guard nodded and he was hurried out one the secret tunnels. He'd known there was a war going on just under the surface. Everything in the capital seemed peaceful, and he knew his parents tried to hide it from him, but he knew. Astral and Barian forces had been re-emerging for years and things had started to go sour a few years ago when Yuma was still in school. And now things were starting to come out into the open. It had become obvious with the Barians kidnapping his older sister, the Princess Akari, and things had escalated from there.

"I'm sorry, your highness, but whatever happens you must keep moving towards the Astrals."

"The Astral headquarters? Isn't the royal family supposed to be neutral?" Yuma whispered, following the group through the darkness. "Won't that just make things worse?"

"They'll look after you at least," the captain said softly. "And these are your father's orders. The Astrals will protect you from the Barians."

Yuma sighed and nodded. He supposed it made sense. The Barians seemed to have made their position clear by attacking their home. They must have known Yuma was out here. Everyone knew he spent most of his time out here since completing his schooling two years ago. He couldn't even remember the last time he'd seen his parents. It was supposed to be for his own safety but apparently not even that worked anymore.

They hurried out into the countryside and Yuma stumbled to keep up. The Astrals were supposed to be the better option. It made sense he would be sent to them. But the royal family was supposed to be neutral.

Suddenly one of the guards screamed and fell to the ground. Yuma staggered back, turning to find a group of dark Sorcerers. They were the Barian's forces. His royal guards weren't Sorcerers. He wasn't considered to be in enough danger to need even one Sorcerer in his squad of guards. They didn't stand much of a chance.

"Your highness," the captain hissed. "Run."

"I- I can't-"

"Just go!"

He hesitated for a moment, glancing between the soldiers and Sorcerers before nodding reluctantly and turning, running through the dark countryside towards the Astrals' headquarters. He was a coward. He was running for the terrorists who threatened and hurt his people.

He struggled to block out the screams of the dying soldiers and forced himself to keep moving. His soldiers were dying. The people he who gave everything for him. What kind of prince was he to walk away- to run from his enemies and the enemies of his people?

He stumbled down one of the hills into a small wood. Maybe he could hide. Maybe he could find shelter and find his way to the Astrals in the morning. But… the captain told him to keep running. He told him not to stop until he reached the Astral headquarters.

"Where are you running off to, little Prince?"

He stumbled to a stop as a Barian dropped from the tree canopy. Purple and dark grey robes. He recognised them even without seeing the face under the hood. Only the Barian Lords wore robes like that. The most powerful Sorcerers the Bairan had. And those colours belonged to one of the worst of them.

Vector.

Yuma grasped the key around his neck, glaring up at Vector silently. Vector was dangerous. He was the most dangerous. He was known for being cruel and sadistic. He was one of the leaders.

Everyone knew Nasch was in control. He was a warlord, that was what his guards said. He'd looked it up once. Warlord was someone who controlled soldiers who were loyal to him not the country or their King. That was Nasch. He led the Barian forces against their King. Maybe that described the Astrals too.

But Vector was one of the two commanders beneath Nasch. If Nasch had sent Vector out here after him he had no escape. Vector wouldn't let him get away. Yuma was a Sorcerer but he doubted he had the power to face a Lord head on.

"Come on," Vector purred, sauntering forward. Yuma stumbled back and Vector chuckled, almost warmly, pausing and offered a deep, mocking bow. "I don't mean you make you on edge, your highness."

"You're a Barian."

"I'm a Barian Lord," he replied, straightening up, hands going to his hips. "I'm not an actual Barian. Still human, your highness." He held out his hand as if to prove it but Yuma just glared at him from under his hood. "Please, your highness, come with me quietly. Lord Nasch and our masters are very eager to meet you."

"I won't ever give into you Barians!" Yuma cried. He gripped his pendant tighter and fire burst into life in his hand. He'd never used his magic aggressively before. He'd never needed to. It was for tricks and convenience, never to hurt anyone even in self-defence. "You're tearing our land apart!"

"It's for a good cause," he chuckled. "Come now, put that silly little candle away. Don't threaten to use power you're not prepared to kill with. Just come along with me and everything will be just fine."

"I'll never become a Barian! I'd never let the darkness take me!"

"They all say that at first." He held out his hand once more. "Come on. Come with me. We're not so bad."

He stepped forward and Yuma did all he could think of; he threw out a line of fire, hoping to stop Vector getting too close and made a run for it. He wasn't used to all this. He didn't get to run and explore. He'd always been confined to the grounds of his home and large and impressive as they were, they didn't prepare him for running for his life through a freezing wood in the middle of the night. He'd barely had time to dress or put on boots. He wasn't prepared for it. His clothes were thin and loose and his boots were barely laced and rubbing but he couldn't stop. He pulled the cloak around him as best he could to hold off the bitter cold and wind and kept running, praying he was at least heading in the right direction, towards the safety of the Astrals.

Vector's laughter echoed behind him and Yuma forced himself to keep running, his body moving on its own, pushed on by the terrifying thought of what Vector wold do to him if he was caught.

And finally he broke out of the woods and found the railway. The main transport line. They all ran from the capital city. This one must have been the one that ran out towards Spartan City. Right passed the Astral headquarters. He could follow them and they'd lead him right where he wanted to be.

"Your highness."

He spun and found a pair of young men in the tell-tale pale blue robes of the Astral forces. "Astrals. You're Astrals. Please, they- they killed- and Vector is-"

"It's alright, calm down," one said softly. "We're going to get you out of here. We have orders. They expect us to go to the Astral HQ. The paths are blocked. So we're taking you back towards the capital. We're getting you out of the country."

"Out- out the country?" he cried. "But my- my family? My people-"

"Need you alive. You need training and time to become the leader this country needs right now."

"My family-"

"Come on."

He was pulled away towards a dirt road and into a car waiting. The pulled his head further over his head and sunk into the seats. The Astral soldiers pulled off their cloaks, revealing a young man with pink hair and green eyes, smiling warmly. His partner was around his age with short blue hair pulled off his face and matching green eyes.

"So, uh…"

"I'm Michael," the driver said softly. "This is Takashi."

"We're Astral Sorcerers," Takashi continued.

"For the next week we're going to be your body guards," Michael said. "The Astrals have charged us with getting you to the Poseidon Docklands and out of the country. Until then you will have to do exactly what we say, when we say. Your life is in our hands and we will do our best for you but the Barians are ruthless and after you so you have to be prepared to run for your life and perhaps not make it."

"To summarise, this is going to be very dangerous, your highness."

Yuma nodded slightly, playing with his pendant. "Thank you… for saving me. For putting your lives on the line for me."

"It's not for you," Michael said. Yuma's head jerked up and his pendant bit into his palm. "We don't fight for you. None of us do. Not even the Astrals fight for you or your family."

"We fight for our own causes, your highness," Takashi agreed, turning slightly in his seat.

Yuma gazed up at him under his hood. His waistcoat was dirty and torn and his jeans were threadbare around the knees and pockets, his shirt wrinkled and creased like it had never seen an iron in its life. But the bracelet around his wrist was polished and clear. What caught Yuma's attention more than that was the holster on his thigh. There was a heavy looking blue gun and a sweet little cartoon like charm hung off it, battered and scuffed but obviously treasured. It was a nasty reminder that the Astrals' Sorcerers were soldiers first and foremost.

He'd gone to school with some of them. The Barians' Sorcerers too. Now he looked at Taskashi's face, he remembered a boy a lot like him at school. They were children. He was sixteen, they couldn't be much older, and they were soldiers.

"I'm sorry," Yuma murmured. "I didn't mean to assume."

"You can't help how you're raised," Michael murmured. "They've taught you the world revolves around you. You can't help it."

"It'll be a long journey," Takashi said softly. "Try to get some rest. We'll look after you."

Yuma fell silent, gazing out the window, playing absently with his pendant. He was having to leave his family behind. He hadn't seen his parents in so long and Akari was being held by the Barians. He could do nothing to help them. It was obvious his powers were in no condition to be any help. He could do nothing to help anyone. Not his people and not his family. He had nothing to offer anyone.

Yuma hadn't even realised he'd slipped into a deep sleep until he awoke to the sun's rays coming over the horizon. He didn't recognise the area but he didn't go far from home or the capital. The Poseidon Docklands were on the other side of Baria and Heartland City- the two biggest Barian strongholds- he supposed they had to go a long way. He glanced up at the pair in the front seats. They'd swapped. Takashi was driving and Michael had the passenger seat reclined, resting peacefully.

Yuma's lips twitched in the slightest smile. Michael looked so sweet when he was sleeping. His face was soft and round and framed by cute pink curls that almost matched his pink overcoat. He couldn't see any weapons on him but that didn't mean anything. Although, like this, he did just look like a young man without a care in the world and not a soldier fighting for his life.

Yuma yawned softly and Takashi glanced back in the mirror. "Good morning, your highness."

"Just Yuma," he murmured, stifling another yawn. "Just call me Yuma. Where are we?"

"Heading up towards Sargasso," Takashi replied.

"Sargasso? Isn't that the wrong direction?"

Sargasso was up north. North of Baria. That was the Barians' capital. Wasn't it ridiculous to head up there? It was a wasteland. Nothing could live out there. They'd tried. There was something out there that destroyed any attempts at civilization. They'd tried to put railways through the waste for quick access to the other side but the tracks got pulled up and twisted with inhuman strength. Not even Sorcerers could do what happened. At least not any Sorcerer he knew of. There was something wrong in Sargasso. Something that shouldn't be disturbed.

"The Barians recently have moved on the capital," Takashi said softly. "It's all-out war right now. That's how they were able to get to you so quickly. We can't go through it anymore. They know that if they have you the royal guard will fall. The people's morale will fall. You are hope for them, Yuma. You're their precious Prince."

"Not you two though," he said softly.

"No, but that doesn't mean I want you to be killed or taken by the Barians. Neither does Michael. Not just because you're the Prince and it'll cause trouble but because you're like us really. You don't deserve what the Barians would do to you. To summarise, we're going to meet so friends up at Sargasso and we'll go around Baria and Heartland and then south to the docklands."

"Oh, ok," he murmured. "And friends? You mean… more Astral Sorcerers."

"Yes. Please don't be afraid. We will do our best to keep you safe. We're all prepared to do whatever it takes for our people."

Yuma nodded slightly and tilted his head, gazing out across the countryside. He was Prince of this land and was useless, running for his life. Hot tears pricked his eyes at the thought and he quickly brushed them away. Crying would do no good. Princes didn't cry. They were strong for their people. Princes were supposed to hold their heads high. What good was a Prince or King who couldn't lead their people in a time of war? Grandma often said that about his father; he was a wonderful peacetime King but he would be lost in a war.

Perhaps he already was.

"If you get hungry, there's a bag of rations under the seat," Takashi called back. "And some drinks too. You can have one bag and one bottle."

"Thanks."

The days passed quickly, moving almost nonstop. Every few hours or so Takashi and Michael would stop and swap, letting Yuma stretch his legs and get some fresh air before they moved on again. And after three days driving through twisting dirt roads, Yuma saw the crystal spires of Baria on the horizon.

They pulled over on the side of the road and Yuma stirred a little more, getting up from his makeshift pillow and gazing out the window. There was a motorcycle parked on the side of the road; two rides leaning against the dusty white body. Michael got out the car and Takashi quickly followed, beckoning to Yuma to follow. He slipped out the car and hurried after them.

The two riders were both in black and white riding suits that looked lightly armoured. The bike rested on its one wheel and stand while the pair sat waiting. One had his helmet in his lap, watching as they approached while the other was still sitting on the back of the bike, his dark visor lifted but Yuma still couldn't see his face.

Yuma was at least as tall as both the riders but they were rather intimidating. Michael hurried over and gave the rider on the bike a one armed hug before the other got the same. He was blonde, with greenish blue bangs falling messily around his face, partly hiding his cold grey blue eyes. Yuma frowned slightly. He looked tired. He looked so tired and cold and broken. Perhaps that was how these soldiers were. Perhaps war broke people quicker than he'd ever imagined.

Michael stepped back slightly, brushing down his pink overcoat and turning to Yuma, beckoning him over. The blonde bowed his head slightly and the rider nodded his head slightly in acknowledgement.

"Your highness," the blonde said. Yuma smiled slightly and lowered his head respectfully. These people had his life in their hands. He was going to show them respect. "I'm Kaito, this is my partner Thomas, we're going to be escorting you around Baria and Heartland City and guard you as we pass the waste."

"Thank you," Yuma said softly. "Please, call me Yuma. I'm very grateful for your help."

"Alright, Yuma," Kaito said softly. "We're going to get you to safety. You just need to trust us. We'll take good care of you." He glanced at Michael. "Do you want to follow us, or shall we watch your backs?"

"Whatever you and Thomas think is better," Michael replied.

"Riding out front would be more noticeable," Thomas murmured. Yuma glanced over. His voice was smooth and soft, almost soothing and easy going. As if this was just a road trip rather than a mission. "We should hang back and not interfere unless you guys spot trouble."

Kaito nodded slightly. "I'll have Orbital scanning the area anyway."

"Let's get moving then," Michael said with a soft smile. "Being this close to Baria makes me uncomfortable."

Takashi and Kaito nodded but Yuma noted Thomas gazing off towards the city. Kaito seemed to notice too. His hand brushed Thomas' and his partner's head jerked around as he flinched away. Kaito and Michael frowned and Thomas turned away quickly. Takashi sighed, turning and leading Yuma back to the car and opened the door for him.

"What's all that about?" he whispered.

"Thomas is Michael's older brother," Takashi replied. "And their family and Kaito's have been friends together since they were children."

"A whole family of Astral Sorcerers?" Yuma said.

Takashi sighed and glanced back at Baria. "Not an entire family, no. You shouldn't bring it up."

Michael was returning and Yuma nodded as the pair got back in the front seats and they shut the doors. Yuma sat in silence once more, watching Kaito slip onto the bike as they passed. He pulled on his helmet and the engine started up with a mighty roar before quietening down again to almost nothing.

He gazed back at the pair out the back window, playing absently with his pendant once more. It warmed under his touch and Yuma frowned slightly. It had never done that before. He pulled it out from under his cloak and gazed down at it. The green gem stone set into the golden clasp had turned purple. What was happening to it?

"You're taking this all very well," Takashi said after what felt like hours.

"There's not really any other way to take it, is there?" Yuma replied. Takashi frowned and Yuma was sure he saw Michael scowl as well. Yuma quickly decided he didn't want to think about that though. He needed to distract himself from the mess he was in and the endless silence wasn't getting him anywhere. "What kind of Sorcerers are you?"

Takashi smiled slightly. "I'm Aether, Michael's Terra. Thomas and Kaito…"

"Are feared without their powers," Michael replied. "But if you must know Kaito is Aether and Thomas is Pyro, like you."

"You- you know I'm-"

"Because it was kept so top secret that the Prince was born a Sorcerer," he snorted.

"And I did go to school with you," Takashi chuckled.

Yuma nodded slightly. He'd been alone for so long he was struggling to remember the people he'd once known. He didn't even get to be friends with many people. They were just people at his school. There were a few people he'd managed to grow close to but he hadn't seen any of them since school. His fingers brushed his warm pendant.

He hadn't realised he was quite so lonely until now.

With Thomas and Kaito riding their bike, the group needed to actually rest more often. It seemed Thomas and Kaito didn't swap and it was only Kaito who drove. Yuma was uneasy, sleeping in the car so close to the Barian's headquarters, or Sargasso. But at night Thomas and Kaito would join them in the car and while he'd still yet to see Thomas' face under his hooded cloak he wore at night, Yuma didn't feel quite so bad resting between them.

Although his pendant was still unusually warm and seemed to be periodically growing warmer. It never seemed to settle and return to its normal cool temperature.

Still, it was interesting to be with the four Astrals. They were almost a family and definitely close friends. Yuma had always looked at groups of friends and wished he could have something like that. It was hard to find real friends when everyone was supposed to respect and serve you. Familiarity could be considered disrespectful and who would want to risk seeming disrespectful to the Prince?

Yuma awoke on the third night travelling with Thomas and Kaito to find he'd slumped against Kaito's side, wrapped in blankets. Moonlight poured in through the windows and Yuma yawned softly, shifting and about to get back to sleep when he noticed Thomas was missing. One of them was supposed to be on watch at all times but being outside the car wasn't so safe.

He sat up slowly and slipped out of the car, glancing around to find Thomas sitting on the roof, gazing over at Baria, still on the horizon despite them heading south once more. He seemed to be constantly watching Baria. Yuma cleared his throat and Thomas patted the roof next to where he was sitting. So Yuma climbed up slowly, sitting next to Thomas and watching Baria in the moonlight.

It was beautiful.

And for a while there was silence. Yuma's head fell against Thomas' shoulder and Thomas let him rest. It was nice. Yuma knew he was running for his life. He knew he was in constant danger, especially so close to Baria but he felt safe with Thomas next to him. Knowing Thomas and the others would protect him, it helped him settle and relax. He could almost forget they were in danger and at war. He could almost forget the beautiful crystal city held some of the greatest evils on the planet.

"I don't know how to look after myself," Yuma whispered finally. "I don't know how to use my powers. I've got basic training but I've never had to fight. I've never had to fight or defend myself. I don't know how. And when I ran from my home, I was faced by Lord Vector and I- I have no idea how to protect myself."

"Vector is tough," Thomas murmured. "There are fully trained battle hardened Sorcerers who crack and cry like babies after five minutes in his presence."

"I don't want to be like that," he said, shaking his head a little. "I want to be able protect myself. You have the same powers as me. Can you teach me?"

Thomas tilted his head slightly. "Who told you I was the same as you?"

"Michael… he said you were like me… Aren't you?"

"I suppose," Thomas muttered. "I might have actually been like you once." He sighed and tiled his head, holding out his hands. Purple fire sparked into life and Yuma smiled absently, touching the tips of the flickering flames. "You're lucky. Our powers are naturally offensive. Fire is deadly and all consuming. Fire is death itself."

"You're wrong," Yuma murmured. He reached over and laid his hands over the fire, turning it a warm golden yellow. "It's warm and nurturing. Fire brings life."

Thomas turned to him and Yuma smiled. There was a soft chuckle behind them and they turned to find Kaito leaning on the side of the car, watching them with a smile. Yuma beamed. Despite the situation, it felt right. He knew he shouldn't smile. He shouldn't be happy while his kingdom was on the brink of war, but it felt right.

"You two should rest," Kaito said softly. "We'll be leaving tomorrow, Thomas. We need to be ready."

"You're not coming all the way?" Yuma said as Thomas helped him off the roof and back into the car. "But you've not been with us long."

"We were only escorting you three through the Barian infested areas," he replied. Thomas nodded slightly. "We're going to go and make a nice distraction for you tomorrow to make sure you get through unchallenged."

"Well… it was nice knowing you guys anyway. I hope I get to meet all of again sometime."

As promised, Kaito and Thomas left half way through the afternoon with little more warning than the revving of the engine and the bike tearing passed the car, Thomas offering a brief wave before they veered off on a side road towards Heartland City itself.

After that it was nothing but open road. They got into the main roads and there was nothing stopping them tearing towards the Poseidon Docklands. Yuma leant against the window, reaching for his pendant and running his fingers over it absently. When they reached the Docklands, he would leave his kingdom and who knew when he'd return. He was leaving everything behind. But they were right, weren't they? With the Barians having Akari, he was the only heir left. If they had him as well, there would be no hope.

It was a few moments of fumbling with his key before he noticed the metal was cool. Yuma paused and frowned, taking it from under his cloak once more and finding the gem was green again. What was wrong with it?

They arrived at the docks not long after nightfall. Michael and Takashi took him down the jetty where a large boat was waiting. Takashi brought him a bag from the car and handed it over.

"Good luck, Yuma," he said softly. Yuma nodded slightly, throwing the bag over his shoulder. Michael handed him a wallet of papers and Yuma stuffed them into his pocket. "Be careful."

"There's a room reserved for you," Michael told him. "It's all on those papers. Keep your hood up, your head down and mind your own business. When you get to the other side, our friends Gauche and Droite will be waiting for you. They'll look after you."

Takashi took out a broach and Yuma tilted his head. It was a strange enamel and gold sun. He fastened it onto Yuma's cloak as a clasp and smiled. "To summarise, they'll recognise you by that. Droite always wears a butterfly broach."

"One more thing." Michael took out a small slightly curved knife, slipping it into Yuma's belt and pulling his cloak around him. "No one else knows we're moving you. It's need to know only. So anyone claiming to be sent from us is lying, understand? It's only the six of us and the highest commanders who know you're leaving. Stay in your room, have room service, there's plenty of money in that wallet, stay hidden and keep the doors and windows locked. Understand? Anyone who gets anywhere near you or thinks they know who you are, don't be afraid to use that."

"You want me to kill?" Yuma hissed.

"We're sorry," Takashi said, nodding slightly. "But do as we say and you shouldn't be in danger. Now go, quickly. Before it's too late."

"Thank you. Both of you. And thank Kaito and Thomas for me too."

They nodded and waved him off and Yuma hurried up the boarding ramp. He waved briefly from the railing and they both waved back. He pulled out his papers and searched out his room down below. He did as they'd told him, his stomach churning nervously, and sat in his room. The first thing he did once he'd taken care of the security as Michael and Takashi had told him was take a shower and change from his filthy clothes. He got something to eat and flicked through the papers they'd given him. He couldn't sleep. It was growing late but he couldn't sleep. He was alone and heading away from everything he knew. How could he sleep?

And it was when he was lying there in silence that it all hit him. He didn't even know what had happened to his grandma. He didn't know what would happen to his family. The Lords had sent Barians to destroy his home and capture him, if not kill him. They'd killed everyone around him. What could have happened to his grandma? His parents were in the capital. What happened to them?

Tears dripped down his cheeks into the pillows and he curled up tighter, sobbing softly. He was alone. He was all alone. His family could be dead or dying or captured and he was escaping to safety. How could he be running away from all this? He was a coward, wasn't he? He was running away while people fought for their lives. His land was at war and his life had been torn apart and he was running away.

He grasped his pendant tighter, stifling more pathetic sobs. He wanted his family. He wanted his father tucking him in and patting his head, telling him everything would be fine if he just pushed through and kept moving. He wanted his mother resting his head in her lap, playing with his hair and singing him soft lullabies to chase away the monsters. He wanted his grandma solving every single problem with her chicken noodle soup.

In that moment Yuma would have even taken Akari nagging at him to stop being so childish and get a grip.

He should have insisted the Astrals let him go with them. At least with the Astral Sorcerers he could have been of some use to someone rather than dead weight running for his life. At least he would have known what was happening to his family and his home. He closed his eyes tighter, holding his pendant and crying himself into an uneasy, tormented sleep.