Page 70 of Consort of the Dragon King

“In the past, you lived as Vanra to hide Auslin.” Bancho’s pivot in the conversation confused Auslin further. “Kitaro unknowingly hid Kitsuki from you. Reskin has always hidden in plain sight, but your brother sees through him without understanding. The same is true for you as well, to some extent.”

There was a lot to unpack in Bancho’s comment. Auslin struggled to connect the relevant pieces. “You can’t possibly be saying Kisano is actually Reskin.”

“No?” Bancho asked with an amused chuckle. “Would it not make the most sense?”

“But that’s…” Words failed Auslin. Remembering how much he had gushed about Reskin to Kisano without realizing it was him mortified Auslin. The only person who would be even more embarrassed than him would be his brother. “Are you serious?”

Bancho radiated amusement. “We have long enjoyed a close relationship with the Ariake clan, which is why we are likely the only human temple with a complete collection of Kisano’s Reskin works.”

Auslin groaned. “Sephen will absolutely die of humiliation when he finds out.”

“I am quite confident he will overcome it,” Bancho predicted with a laugh.

While it was probably better to hear from Kisano himself, Auslin wanted to protect his younger brother by giving them the time to process the information before he had to see the shifter again. “I have to tell him.”

“As they say, love conquers all.” Bancho smiled as he leaned back against the bench. “I suspect knowing will only draw them closer together.”

“How do you know so much about them?” Auslin asked. He seemed to know as much as Kizoshi.

“I may be blind, but I see much,” Bancho commented with another chuckle. “It is yet another benefit to having been blessed with such a long life.”

Auslin smiled gratefully at the man who had been a father to him. “I’m glad you told me, even though I have to go break the news to Sephen now.”

“Best wishes.” Bancho remained where he was as he continued smiling at the statue of Imeyu with unseeing eyes.

With another appreciative word of thanks, Auslin left in search of Sephen to tell him about his idol and crush being the same person.

Chapter 32

Sephen

Sephen was reading one of Reskin’s books when someone knocked. He set his book down in his lap, then called out for them to enter.

Auslin entered, shutting the door behind him. “Hey, can we talk?”

“I don’t know.” Sephen tapped his chin as he pretended to think about it. “Is it more important than Reskin’s book?”

“It’s actually about Reskin,” Auslin answered as he came over to sit on his brother’s bed.

Sephen set aside his book, then sat up to face his brother. “Then I’m all ears.”

“I was just talking with Bancho out in the garden. He told me something you need to know.”

“Okay?” It confused Sephen why the elder mage wouldn’t tell him directly.

“Please understand this was news to me as well,” Auslin insisted. “I absolutely would have told you otherwise.”

His older brother’s troubled demeanor worried Sephen. “Now you’re making me nervous.”

“Bancho told me Reskin’s real name.”

Sephen was torn between pouting and being shocked. “He’s known who Reskin is this whole time and never told me?” Sephen made an outraged noise. “That’s so cruel!”

“The thing is, it wouldn’t have mattered to you until now,” Auslin said.

“How can you say that?” Sephen exclaimed. “What could matter to me more than finding out who my idol is?”

“I meant more like you wouldn’t have known who he was until now.”

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