"Your mana is stable and fiercer than I anticipated."
Moulin hears Lady Celeste say while she observes his actions from afar. With deep eyes, she gazed at Moulin, skillfully concealing her emotions.
Moulin nodded and she continued.
"This ti, I request the lord to express your emotions through your mana. I would like to observe the movent of your internal energy as your emotions shift." The High priestess requested while modifying the spell within the chamber.
Moulin's brows furrowed while he asked. "My emotions? What... Kind of emotions do you want to express?"
Sensing the confusion in the young man's voice, Lady Celeste assured, "Don't worry. I will not force you to relieve painful mories. The chambers have been modified to activate your emotions. However, that is if you consent to the chambers to control your emotions briefly. I assure you, it will be painless and brief."
"..?"
From what she's saying, it seems like this strange place is capable of forcibly inducing emotions against their will. Moulin did not know how to react to that. However, it sounds a bit... uncomfortable.
"Do you consent?"
Silver eyes are raised to et the woman's unrelenting deep blue ones. Lady Celeste calmly waited for his response.
It's not like he would be overexterting. Moulin carefully considered for a bit before finally replying.
"I consent."
With a nod, Lady Celeste activated the alterations of the chanisms within the magical chambers.
"Then, shall we start easy?..."
In an instant, Moulin suddenly felt foreign energy entering him through his skin. He stiffened as a bubbling emotion filled his chest—warm and full of life. Moulin was reminded of the tranquility he spent within his secret little garden in the family estate. Where he was the happiest, all within his own little world.
Lifting his gaze, he turned to look at Hadrian who was already staring at him. Moulin had the urge to share this happiness with him.
Silver eyes curved happily.
What a wondrous feeling. Once again, he was enlightened by Corhan's magical magnificence.
"How intriguing..." He muttered
"Oh!" One of the priestesses gasped when delicate snowflakes began to fall within the chambers. They twinkled like tiny stars, lting away upon contact. So fragile...
In the next instance, Moulin's serene expression broke. He abruptly placed a hand on his chest.
A thousand needles pierced his heart allowing a gut-wrenching pain to engulf his body. It almost made him buckle and fall to his knees. His delicate face twisted and misery filled his eyes.
Sensing the changes in his beloved's expression, Hadrian's eyes darkened imdiately. His deep voice startled Lady Celeste who was quietly observing Moulin.
"Will this harm him?"
She quickly answered him. "No, Your Excellency."
Although Hadrian already knew this, he could not help but beco anxious. He watched as sadness filled his lover's clear bright pupils. Silver eyes brimming with imnse sorrow.
Moulin clutched his chest but he remained upright. When he looked down, he saw his fingers shake. Although nothing had caused this lancholic feeling inside him, he felt that his mories had dragged him back to his saddest monts.
His hands shook just like they did when he had clutched upon his mother's bloodied dress as she lay dying in his arms. The corner of his eyes turned red as tears threatened to fall.
The temperature plumted greatly causing the priestesses to shiver pitifully within their flowing robes. Hadrian could only reach out and hold Moulin who leaned unto his chest with shaky breaths. It is only when Moulin felt Hadrian's warmth did he felt a little at ease while the hurt dug into his chest.
"It will be alright." Moulin felt the comfort in Hadrian's deep voice. But he struggled to respond.
Lady Celeste observed them with a heavy heart, but years of training forbade her from showing unpleasant emotions.
The test had just begun.
In the next minute, Moulin abruptly pushed Hadrian away with wide eyes. The High Lord stared in confusion as Moulin backed away a few steps with turmoil in his gaze.
The once desolate chamber, drowning in eerie stillness, was suddenly attacked by a powerful sharp blizzard. The wind was so strong that it felt like one would be torn apart within the core of the snowstorm. Lady Celeste and the priestesses were shocked and struggled to see through the violent storm. The chambers humd with strength, using all their might to contain the raging energy within.
Hadrian narrowed his eyes. Golden pupils reflected the slender young man resisting the dreadful wrath boiling deep in his heart.
Silver eyes shone like a violent blade. He was a terrible snowstorm that would wreak havoc in its wake, leaving behind a vast plain of white lingering with death. It was beautiful yet terrifying.
Moulin stood at the eye of the storm. The ferocious wind freed his hair from his braid, allowing it to dance with the snow. His eyes are laced with red hue. Hands clenched into fists as fury burned underneath his skin.
He was angry.
A million things arose from the depths of his mind, probing the thin wall of his patience. Urging him to release his hatred and frustrations.
Moulin raised his gaze. Silver eyes were as cold as the air around him.
"Moulin..."
Hadrian's voice cut through the storm.
Moulin flinched. His heart thundered when he saw Hadrian's tall figure approaching him through the storm. The snow sharpened and fought against his body as hard as it could but Hadrian was determined.
Silver pupils trembled. A sudden change inside Moulin once again transford the raging snowstorm.
There was a sudden silence.
The storm vanished in a blink of an eye. Silence filled the entire chamber. Deafening after the icy cruelty. The lighted walls turned significantly dim until it was only the frozen floor that lit the room with an eerie blue glow. The temperature fell impossibly lower, and one could see their breaths in the frigid air.
The priestesses stared at each other before warily observing Moulin. Who stood still, clutching his left hand, marble white glistening with gold. The won shivered uncontrollably, glancing at their esteed High priestess for released from their freezing tornt. It was too silent.
Golden eyes narrowed at the young Aphrodite standing incredibly still with shuddering breaths. Hadrian did not take another step closer. Moulin's power was devouring him through his emotions.
Constant fear and anger were terrible things for Maeruthans to experience. It gave fruit to perilous situations and brought many tornted victims.
Moulin felt that he could not breathe as though sothing was squeezing his throat. The intense fear he had felt when nearly captured by the demon Alha ca rushing back, shaking him to his core. He quivered with fear and struggled to take shallow, rapid breaths. This fear... it was insufferable.
It made him think there was nothing he could do. Another thing crawled into the dark crevices of his mind. It turned him vulnerable, welcoming dangerous thoughts. His hands shook.
Moulin wanted to destroy himself.
"Don't be afraid, beloved."
Hadrian calmly spoke the words that only the two of them could hear. He stretched out a hand to him.
A numbing pain bit his heart. Moulin felt his words echo into his heart, thawing sothing so frozen and firm.
Moulin slowly tried to reach out. Hadrian's hand appeared like a warm fla. Warm and gentle
"M-My Lady!" One of the priestesses cried out while rubbing her arms when she noticed ice growing around her legs. The frost excruciatingly biting into her skin.
Lady Celeste snapped out from her trance and hurriedly looked at the floor. Ice had crept unto her shoes, trapping her firmly.
With wide eyes, She hurriedly spoke a brief incantation.
Moulin paused. Foreign mana abruptly rushed inside him, seizing his limbs and his spiritual soul. In the next second, silver eyes closed and the slender body fell limply. Before his body hit the frozen floor, strong arms caught him.
Hadrian bent while he held the unconcious Moulin into his arms. His knees almost t the icy floor.
The youth's long lashes trembled delicately and his breathing gradually slowed as he succumbed into deep sleep. anwhile, the chambers slowly reverted into its original appearance. Ice dissipated into the air in wisps of white, disappearing like redeed spirits.
Hadrian held Moulin into his arms, observing the young man's serene expression.
"Forgive , your excellency." Lady Celeste bowed ith a pale face. Her heart thundered violently as she spoke. "I had to quickly cut off his emotions without affecting him. Turning him unconcious was the best option."
Hadrian did not respond but reached out to tuck a few strands of hair behind the youth's ear. Moulin shifted, pushing himself further into the man's embrace.
Hadrian stood up, startling the other people within the room.
"He did not exceed the rules of this test did he?"
Lady Celeste stiffly nodded. She realized how the High Lord was very careful when holding the young man close. And how his gaze softened when he looked at Moulin's sleeping visage.
"Then I presud that you have gathered the information that you need."
Celeste paused, glanced at the won from behind who quickly nodded. The High priestess reluctantly responded. "Yes, Your excellency."
Hadrian coldly glanced at her before striding past her. He failed to witness the brief crack in the lady's expression. It looked as though a flash of pain filled her face before disappearing.
.....
Within the opulent bedroom, Lord Ordan stood stoically, observing as his master gently placed the unconscious Moulin onto the four-poster bed.
"How did this happen?" He could not help but ask. Moulin was fine before he left the room.
The fleeting suspicion that the High Priestess might harbor ill intentions towards Moulin crossed his mind, but he quickly dismissed it.
Hadrian recounted the events briefly then instructed, "Ensure he eats well when he wakes. I will return in the evening. Do not let him leave his quarters."
Order nodded. But before the High Lord could leave the room, he spoke. "My lord, Lord Emlen Fraunces wishes to et Lord Moulin."
Hadrian stopped. "He ca?"
"No... Tessley t him on her way to the military lodging of our soldiers."
Hadrian nodded, "I will et with him myself."
Ordan bowed as he watched thr High Lord leave the bedroom. Monts later, Tessley entered, her expression marked by frustration.
"It will be difficult for Moulin's brother to et with Moulin in the future. Can't we give him this chance? Lord Fraunces appeared quite desperate when he spoke to ." She could not erase the pitiful image of the esteed man from her mind.
Ordan shook his head, shifting his gaze towards the slumbering white-haired maeruthan on the wide bed.
.....
It was night when Moulin finally woke up. His drowsy face was instantly replaced with shock and confusion as he recovered his mories. A furry ball of white pounced on his chest, startling him. Round eyes blinking while his small head tilted.
Equally perplexed, Moulin blinked in response before absentmindedly stroking the snow fox's head. How had he returned to his room?
"You are awake."
Moulin turned his head and t Ordan's gaze. The man stood up from the chair and approached the bedside to brighten the lamplight. His red hair looked stunningly vibrant under the warm light, like strings of gold against sunlight. How long has he been watching him sleep?
"You have been a sleep for a while. You must eat."
Ordan left without another word, leaving Moulin to freshen himself.
"..." Moulin and Snow glanced at each other.
.....
After satisfying his hunger, Moulin reclined on the sofa in the lounge, Snow nestled comfortably in his lap.
A crease appeared between his slender brows. He mumbled.
"Where is Hadrian?"
"His Excellency inford us that he would return tonight," Tessley spoke with a yawn. Ignoring Ordan's impassive gaze, she gave a short wave while turning back to retire to her room.
Ordan shook his head and faced the youth. "I will leave the light on while you wait."
Moulin stared at the man's departing back briefly before diverting his attention back to Snow. "Thank you..."
He did not see the man pause briefly. Slightly turning his head before dismissing his thoughts and leaving silently.
Once he was alone, Moulin opened his palm, concentrating a small amount of his mana at the center of his hand. He paused when bright ice materialized in the air. He was physically well. But ntally, he was threatened by the experience within the White Chamber.
It was... unpleasant.
Moulin sighed and raised his gaze, staring vacantly at the luxurious ceiling.
"..."
Tonight was the welcoming feast. He hoped his brother Emlen used the ti to ease off so stress.
What of Jagra and Ghana? Kier? Moulin frowned. He glanced at Snow who abruptly raised his beady eyes and et his gaze.
"You're worried too. Hm?" Moulin gently stroked Snow's head, eliciting a soft whine from the snow fox, who closed his eyes in response to his master's touch.
A tingle inside him made Moulin stop.
"I'm glad. You're finally awake." A familiar deep voice spoke.
Hadrian had returned.
Relief flooded Moulin's chest as he lifted his gaze, only to halt abruptly when he noticed another figure accompanying Hadrian.
Hadrian appeared from thin air and brought a familiar visitor with him.
Lord Hyantor's grin stretched wide across his face, his appearance virtually unchanged from when Moulin last saw him during the eting.
Moulin furrowed his brows.
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