Waves of silvery strands frad the youth's beauteous face. His countenance, however, remained blank and calm. The snow-white fox nestled in the young man's arms who mostly mirrored his master's emotions was in the sa state.
"Welco, my Lord, my Lady." The children's caretaker wore a bright smile as she led the two guests towards the inner rooms.
The children's temporary quarters resided within an unoccupied area within the healers' quarters. It took the sentinels a while to persuade the chief of the healers to temporarily look after the orphaned children while a new residence was being built. However, the man's heart softened after a while, and utilized the deserted rooms for the children's living quarters.
The floorboards creaked as Moulin walked inside the small dining and kitchen area. There were a few pieces of furniture around and they looked old and broken. However, they were still usable. Moulin caressed the wooden counter and scraped a faint layer of dust off the surface.
"Ah, we haven't finished clearing up the dust and cobwebs yet. But we are working on clearing it up since the children have finally settled in." Explained the caretaker while she carried a wooden bucket filled with wooden utensils to the counter. Moulin thought she looked quite happy with the job she was given.
"But we could still use a little help." A familiar voice interrupted.
Moulin paused at the sound of the familiar voice. He turned his head and before he could react, Ghana's loud voice bood.
"Pola, my dear!"
Doe-like green eyes widened when a pair of strong intimidating arms reached for her. Pola could not escape the sentinel's crushing embrace. Trapped, a helpless squeak left her mouth.
Moulin chuckled. His silver eyes squinted in mirth, reflecting the adorable scene before him.
"You're crushing her, my friend."
Ghana ignored Moulin's comnt with and carefully released Pola from her tight embrace. However, Moulin did not miss the way her hand lingered a few seconds longer on his innocent attendant's back. From the slight flush on Pola's cheeks, she seed all too aware of Ghana's intentions.
"How interesting..." He thought.
The children's caretaker cheerfully greets Pola with a giant smile and leads them to the playroom. The area wasn't too small for the little beings crowding the center of the room. Small giggles and shouts bounced into the youth's ears warming his chest with the touching atmosphere.
Rows of cups and buckets were lined up on the floor, gaps in between, The arrangent looked as if it was a bustling little town. It didn't take long for Moulin to realize that they were playing monsters and warriors.
The caretaker laughed when the chasing began, "They've only started making noise right after breaking their fast. I thought of putting them to sleep an hour ago but decided to let them play for a while."
Moulin nodded to her, responding with a grateful smile. He ignored the annoyed groan coming from the female sentinel beside him.
"It would've been better to put them to sleep earlier. Erasing their mories was a stressful process. The magic is still burrowing into their feeble brains. They should sleep it off," Ghana whispered as she bent her head to Pola.
"Shh, why do you have to destroy the mood?"
"Ah? I'm-"
Moulin internally muted them and proceeded to follow the caretaker inside. With a single call, the children whipped their heads towards them and ca running with curious eyes. They could not miss, although so were shy, to et good-looking guests.
Snow growled when they tried to pull his perfectly grood tail.
.....
Crystal tears, like heavy dew drops of dampened morning leaves soaked into Moulin's silken shirt. Blinking in confusion and shock, the youth looked up, from the boy embracing his middle tightly to the also confused faces of Ghana and Pola.
When he heard Erthyl was too tired to wake up from bed this morning, Moulin decided to sneak a peak. Unexpectedly, the mont he looked past the door. The boy was awake, sitting up with a bandage-covered eye, pale face, and a drowsy countenance. Erthyl's eyes t Moulin's for the briefest mont and the dam broke. Tears ran loose down his plump cheeks.
Half confused and panicked, Moulin approached to console him, and in a blink of an eye, he found himself trapped in the child's trembling arms. Erthyl refused to let go. His feeble shoulders trembled pitifully. His sobs grew more tragic when a slender hand began to stroke his head.
Moulin's slender brows furrowed, "You... rember?"
A few seconds after he said these words, the boy gave a slight nod while hiding his face on Moulin's stomach. The little snow-white sitting in Moulin's embrace now moved to curl itself around Moulin's neck like a slithery snake. Mirroring the eyes of his master, Snow blinked in confusion, pawing the whorls on Erthyl's scalp.
"The mages didn't erase his mories?" Ghana turned to the caretaker who was just as confused as her.
"I-I... I'm certain none of the children were exempted, My Lady. They remained unconscious when we transferred them here. I was there when each one of them was examined and cast. I swear." Her expression grew lost and dazed as she tried to explain.
"Calm down. There must be sothing else that caused this." Pola comforted.
Listening to their conversation, Erthyl's abruptly widened in fear. He hastily raised his watery eye to et Moulin's gaze. Both master and fox blinked in surprise.
"..."
The youth slowly revealed a warm smile. His thumb gently caressed the boy's wet cheeks. "Don't worry. They won't do anything you won't like. I promise you."
'They?' Ghana and Pola exchanged gazes.
"Do you an -"
Pola elbowed the woman beside him, shushing her with scolding eyes.
Nodding, Erthyl rubbed his face on Moulin's shirt, feeling safe and warm at last.
There would be so adjustnts to be made when the sentinels and healers co again to check if the children's mories of the tragic events were intact or erased. There would be so tests. Erthyl would only have to pretend to forget. Or perhaps, Ghana could do sothing for the child to avoid the test.
"I'll co back. Don't worry..." Assured Moulin once it was ti to leave. Erthtyl could only nod pitifully, holding onto the youth's promise.
"Good boy..." Praised Moulin. Silver eyes curved into stunning crescents. They were beautiful and full of genuine pride. A look that made Erthyl's face blush.
Pola stayed to look after the children for a while. She knew Jagra was in good hands and thus, decided to visit him later. The look she gave to Ghana was serious and intimidating.
"Why was she giving that look? It isn't like I'll do sothing stupid to you," Grumbled Ghana once they left. "She truly doesn't have an ounce of fate in ."
"Perhaps, you could be a bit more restrained and she'll grace you so attention." Moulin lazily spoke while stroking Snow's furry head. Snow made a sound as though in agreent.
"Hmp, I can be 'more restrained' if I feel like it."
Two pairs of silver eyes gave her a distrustful look. Both master and fox decided to avoid giving further advice.
.....
The renowned aphrodite and the female sentinel stepped into the Healer's bay. The hallways were spotless and physicians and their assistants went to and fro from room to room. A very strong dicinal scent entered their noses and the soothing warm mana lingered in the air.
The presence of two infamous sentinels silenced the hallway. Curious eyes trailed their movents and whispers, although soft, failed to escape the two warriors' hearing.
One nurse hurriedly exited the room to their right, accidentally colliding into Moulin. The man bowed his head, apologizing hastily, only to swallow his words in awe when he recognized the person who helped him to his feet. His shocked expression mirrored those around the youth; stricken by beauty.
"T-Thank you..." The nurse blurted out. He remained rooted to the floor even when the silver-eyed youth left before giving him a nod.
Moulin remained uninterested in their expressions. However, the adorable little fox in his arms enjoyed the attention.
Ghana revealed a helpless smile to her expressionless friend. Her eyes curved into amused crescents while she teased, "Young master, your beauty is unparalleled and your power, is phenonal. Oh, with your gentle touch, grant your divine blessing."
Moulin rolled his eyes with a chuckle. His steps quickened, leaving Ghana in a laughing fit.
A healer was quick on his feet to welco them into Jagra's room. The nurses left in silence. casting curious gazes toward the two. When they left, the quietness of the ward seeps into them comfortably.
"When will he wake?" Moulin asked the healer.
His silver eyes drifted towards the slumbering man on the bed. He looked much better than the state Moulin found him in. The sickening paleness of his skin was now replaced with a healthy glow. The only problem that remained was that his dear friend hadn't regained consciousness. Moulin felt uneasy.
"We've extracted the last of the dark energy in his body. He is well and should wake up soon enough." The healer fixed his glasses. Discomfort and hesitation were evident on his face.
Moulin furrowed his brows. It seems that wasn't all that was found.
The hopeful expression on Ghana's face fell. She took a step forward with an urging voice. "What else did you find? Speak."
The healer fidgeted and finally spoke. "This sir... While examining this young man's internal spirit, I discovered a malignant curse tethered to his inner core. My lord, My lady... Have... Have this young man encountered a demon before?
Or... Or perhaps, those vile dark followers of the Death God?"
"What?" Shock spread across Ghana's features.
Moulin knew what the doctor ant and his eyes turned solemn. "What did you find? Will it endanger his life?"
A sweaty sheen covered the doctor's forehead. Although he looked nervous, there was no reason for him to hide anything from the two people before him.
"I am not an experienced mage in the arts of mana, my lord, my lady. However, if my findings are correct, the mind of the person lying on this bed hides the key of a passage. I do not know what kind but the protection and energy trying to shield this spell from is far from gentle." He explained. "It is using his mana to remain alive. I strongly suggest to move him under the mages' and seers' care."
"Is it the reason why he wouldn't wake up sooner?" Ghana asked. Voice, strained and suspicious.
Apologetically, the healer nodded.
He said a few words to the two and quickly left the room. Even his breathing slowed to not provoke the tense atmosphere within. Ghana watched him go while a mountain of questions rained inside her mind. Thoughts caged her tightly but she could not find herself speaking. Perhaps, she was directing her suspicions to the wrong person.
An instinct inside her made her turn to the white-haired young man sitting quietly by Jagra's bedside.
"Did you know about this?" The words escaped her mouth before she could even think.
Moulin calmly turned his head and t her gaze. Expressionless, yet his eyes showed his hesitance.
"Yes..."
"When?"
Moulin ignored the sharpness of her voice. "It's... He told about his nightmares in Artheia. And I wasn't certain what was the cause. He allowed a glimpse of it for a brief mont. I don't know how long this...
spell was cast."
"You two didn't bother to tell ?"
"... I'm sorry." Moulin lowered his head, relenting.
Ghana stared holes into his. Her gaze was sharp and severe but she knew nothing could be done by releasing her anger onto these two silent, sneaky, traitorous little-
She gritted her teeth and exhaled deeply, trying to relax the nerves of her face and the stiffness of her jaw.
"We'll move him to your family's seer's care." She declared finally.
When two pairs of despondent bright silver eyes t her gaze, she faltered briefly and cleared her throat. Her eyes are a deep blue, serious. "Do not hide from next ti. Do you not consider your friend? At the very least, you could have told about the nightmares."
"I'm sorry..." Moulin whispered. Snow's ears drooped, blinking pitifully.
Ghana frowned but her edges began to soften.
Suddenly, three knocks sounded interrupting them.
The abrupt noise deepened the frown on Ghana's face. "Speak!"
Behind the door, a weary voice spoke between pants. "C-Captain, the n have captured a suspicious person."
Silently, Moulin watched as his friend turned and opened the door in annoyance.
"Why should you co to ? Do you not know how to deal with these cases yourselves?"
Hesitating, the sentinel replied, "He ca to us willingly..."
"...?"
Suddenly, suspicion creeps into Moulin. He slowly stood beside Ghana with Snow in his arms, "You said willingly?"
Too surprised and exhausted to greet the young man, the sentinel stuttered, "M-My Lord, H-He... demanded to see Sir Jagra."
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