A faint yet evident commotion reached his ears. Moulin moaned uncomfortably.
A pair of long furry ears rose from the head of the little white fox who had curled itself asleep on the youth's stomach. One ear twitched.
Silvery lashes trembled. Roused from his nap, Moulin drowsily lifted his head from the cushion pillow of the couch. He lowered his feet, which were resting on the armrest, and he stared at the door where the noise was coming from.
It sounded like Ordan was yelling. At who?
He doesn't seem to be the type to yell. Moulin narrowed his eyes and spread his awareness.
"Oh? You're awake!" Tessley eyes brightened when she entered the room where Moulin had fallen asleep. She was just finishing up packing Moulin's stuff for the significant departure when she sensed the youth had woken up from his nap.
Moulin did not respond. His whole attention was towards the doors. It was then that Tessley minded the faint noise coming from outside the room.
Suspicious, Tessley also spread her awareness, but before she could find who was causing the noise, the silent youth loudly announced solemnly.
"Let him enter, Ordan..."
The noise stopped, and after a few seconds of silence, the doors opened. It revealed Ordan's strict appearance, a few angry people, and one familiar-looking child with a teary gaze.
Snow jumped down from his master's body when the youth attempted to stand up. Silver eyes widened at the sight of the child's face. His hands reached out.
"Hurry. Co inside, Erthyl"
The boy looked as though he was about to burst out crying. Sweat shined on his forehead. Has he been running? Why?
Erthyl wiped his brow with his sleeve and, after a sniffle, entered the room. Moulin signaled for Ordan to join them and discreetly shut the door. The boy eagerly sought solace in Moulin's arms, embracing him tightly.
anwhile, before closing the door, Sir Ordan cast a chilling glance at the onlookers, a silent warning for them to keep their mouth shut about the incident.
Once secluded, Moulin furrowed his brow and looked downward, tenderly stroking Erthyl's head in comfort.
Lord Ordan cleared his throat and explained, "I didn't know you were acquainted with him. This child suddenly wanted to go inside, and when I inquired about his identity, he remained silent and began to cry."
Tessley raised a brow, "Let guess. What happened next was a group of passersby presud you were bullying him. They began scolding you, and you retaliated?"
"..."
In the interim,
"..."
Sir Ordan maintained a neutral expression, devoid of emotion, but his silence conveyed volus. Tessley laughed.
"How did you find yourself here?" Moulin slightly pulled away to et Erthyl's gaze.
The boy pursed his lips and hesitantly glanced at Ordan and Tessley. Moulin could sense that he was feeling uncomfortable being around strangers. The boy had a shy personality and wasn't very good at expressing himself in front of people he didn't know.
Despite Ordan and Tessley's objections, Moulin brought Erthyl into his chambers with a nonchalant shrug, fully aware that the two would likely eavesdrop on their conversation.
He put the boy to sit beside him on the bed and fetched a towel to wipe away the sweat on the child's face as well as the tears dripping from his eyes. His eyepatch was wet with tears, and Mouin could only remove it if he were going to clean it and wash it dry.
When the boy flinched the mont, Moulin tried to untie the eyepatch. He paused and comforted the boy, "It's alright. We need to wash it and dry it, and when it's clean, you may use it again. We don't want anything to happen to your eyes, so trust , okay?"
Erthyl blinked at him and nodded shyly. Moulin smiled at him, and he continued to untie the eyepatch. A bright, pale pupil was revealed to Moulin. It looked a bit mysterious.
Moulin reassured the boy briefly before he went to the washroom to wash and dry the eyepatch. When he returned, he held a comb in his hand.
"Do you mind showing why you are here?" Moulin asked as he began straightening the tangles on the boy's hair.
Moulin chuckled when the boy tilted his head in confusion. How was Erthyl going to show Moulin?
"It's okay. You see, I can do a bit of magic. All I need to do is touch you and nothing else. I promise it doesn't hurt at all. Is that okay?"
Although he could still not understand, the boy only nodded and trusted Moulin's words.
With a smile, Moulin closed his eyes and controlled his mana to sneak into Erthyl's consciousness. He looked serene, with his lashes casting shadows on his pale cheeks and his long, wavy hair cascading over his shoulders. Erthyl observed Moulin in a trance. He couldn't help but reach out to play with a few strands of the youth's silvery hair.
After a minute, Moulin opened his eyes and saw the little boy in front of him delicately holding a strand of silvery-white hair with a look of awe, as though he were grasping stars.
"Erthyl..." Moulin smiled softly. "You ran away from Colahn to look for ?"
Moulin watched as Erthyl froze. The boy lowered his hands, guiltily refusing to et his.
Moulin shook his head, emitting a sigh of helplessness. "I'm not angry with you. However, I'm concerned about why you ventured out alone. Colahn and Jagra will be quite anxious; they might be searching for you. You wouldn't want them to worry, would you?"
Erthyl furrowed his brows and nodded slowly. He played with his fingers as he listened intently while a gloomy expression filled his face. Moulin could almost hear the thoughts inside his little head.
Moulin smiled and caressed the boy's head. "Don't worry. I won't let you go back so fast. I'll let Colahn know you are here with first, so he won't have to keep looking for you."
When Erthyl heard the last of his words, he abruptly raised his head. His eyes brightened in glee. Moulin could feel his happiness soaking the air around them.
After summoning Tessley to relay the ssage to Colahn, Moulin turned to the obedient boy on the bed.
"Would you like to hear a tale?"
...
As hours passed and the sky transford into a deep blue, the bedside lamp cast a warm, golden glow, illuminating the dim room. The light caressed two figures resting on the bed. One was deep asleep while the other was wide awake.
Moulin propped his head on his head while he lay down next to a sleeping Erthyl. His eyes were soft, and his fingers were gentle when he stroked the boy's head. The child shifts a bit, leaning towards the youth's touch.
Moulin shared fairytales, like Snow White and the Seven Dwarves and the Ugly Duckling. By the third story, the boy began drifting into sleep, and Moulin allowed him rest after dinner.
Moulin turned to the door when he heard faint footsteps.
"Moulin, Head Seer Colahn is here," Tessley spoke behind the door.
The youth closed his eyes and replied, "Let him inside."
"..."
"Erthyl is asleep, and I trust Sir Colahn. It will be fine."
There was a deep sigh. Then, the door opened after a few seconds. Colahn walked into the bedroom with a calm expression. Colahn entered with a calm deanor, his gaze shifting from the sleeping child to Moulin.
"A pleasant evening, Young master," Colahn greeted softly.
"Hello, Colahn." Moulin rose from the bed and gestured to the sleeping boy beside him. "I'm sorry for troubling you."
"No, it was my negligence." Colahn shook his head. "May I?"
Moulin nodded.
Colahn gently took the child in his arms, careful not to disturb his slumber. Moulin quietly walked Colahn out of the bedroom and towards the door. Colahn said his goodbyes, but before he could leave, Moulin spoke.
"How... is my father?"
Furrowing his brows, Colahn turned to face the youth. His expression spoke, 'How did you know?
Realizing that Moulin was looking at him expectantly, Colahn replied.
"He's... not well."
...
What?
His answer made Moulin's heart sink. The youth's pupils trembled. He had many things to say, but the shock stuck them in his throat.
What happened? What did you find? What is causing his inability to wake up?
However, the only thing that managed to escape his mouth was a single question.
"W-Will he wake up?"
Colahn looked at him sympathetically. For years, he has worked with the Fraunces Family, and he was weak to their despair.
"I don't know, young master. But we are still trying. We won't give up until the Master will awaken..."
Moulin's chest tightened. There seed to be a dark, bottomless hole being drilled into his heart.
"I give you my trust, Sir Colahn..."
"Thank you, young master."
After Colahn's departure, the room settled into an even deeper silence.
...
Moulin could barely sleep that night. His thoughts always floated towards his father's wellness. He thought of his mother as well—his family.
He wanted to see them. But as the day of his departure approached, he was kept strictly in his quarters. Perhaps they feared he was going to escape. Moulin didn't care. He was left to ponder that he might not see his father wake in a long ti...
He will be leaving soon.
"Young master, Lady Klaria is here for the examination," Tessley announced with bright eyes.
The youth who stood before the balcony turned his head towards her. The breeze swept his long white hair beautifully.
Confusion filled his expression. Klaria hasn't visited him for a while now. And he was going to be transferred the day after tomorrow.
Was this going to be his last examination?
Lady Klaria entered the room with elegance, donned in a radiant baby pink gown accented by a white silk sash draped over her shoulders, and her luscious long hair cascaded down her chest.
Moulin sat with her as usual and offered his wrist. Lady Klaria was suspiciously quiet for so reason. Despite her usual enchanting smile, an unspoken unease lingered, catching Moulin's unwavering gaze. Moulin only kept staring at her.
It wasn't until the examination concluded that Klaria, clearing her throat, changed her deanor. Having long sensed Moulin's penetrating gaze, she could no longer dismiss it.
"I heard you are curious about what will happen to you once you arrive at the Royal Stronghold."
Moulin raised a brow, "Haven't I been expressing my curiosity?"
"You have, but anyway, since you really want to know, then I shall tell you..."
"...?" A crease appeared between the youth's brows. She caved in so quickly?
Klaria resisted the urge to complain. If it weren't for a particular stingy person, I wouldn't be doing this. Love, she mused, is as troubleso as horseshit for those unattached.
The mory of those daunting golden eyes almost compelled her to either tear the world apart... or retreat to a corner to cry.
Sighing helplessly, Lady Klaria stealthily erected a sound-proofing barrier around them.
Afterward, she turned to Moulin with a solemn expression. She began to explain. "Dear, you must understand. Our intention is for the cause of the people as well as for your protection. If you are taken, then there is less to no hope for our survival against the Demonic God's forces. Your potent and pure mana makes you susceptible to tracking by malibreeds and demons, especially the Demon Alha. "
Moulin listened attentively, a sense of foreboding creeping in. Klaria squeezed his hand reassuringly.
"I have been monitoring your mana and inner core for the past few days, and I have finalized and delivered my findings to the finest mages and seers in the alliance. We have begun a project to contain your presence. To hide your being. The Demon Alha has already taken a small portion of your essence. He will use it to find you.
Thus, we have constructed a hidden domain using the strongest mana stone in Corhan. "
"A domain?"
"Yes, a concealed realm where you will be housed. The last details are yet to be settled, but within a few days, everything will be in order. Once it is complete, you will be escorted there, and you will stay there to train, to hide." Lady Klaria gazed at Moulin tenderly.
However, her sincerity could not reach the silent youth sitting beside her, staring at her with a blank expression.
User Comments
0 comments from readers