Na'El shouldn't be unused to the scene before him. After several days graced with Lord Hercullio's presence and suffering blindness from their lovely and shaless flirting, the elven oracle thought he had gradually gained so immunity.
"Hmm..." Na'El's gaze upon the lovely couple softened. The two continued to exchange words with soft voices as though they were the only living people left in the world.
Unfortunately, it seems he still has a long way to go. These two lovebirds could drive a person mad.
"I'm sorry, my attention had... shifted." Moulin helplessly spoke, trying to tear his gaze from the golden-eyed man standing beside him.
Na'El showed a smile. One that did not quite reach his eyes. "I can see that... But, well, as I said again. You are well, and there don't seem to be any complications with your inner soul. With your not-too-happy encounter with the Unfortunate One, your patron, I expected sothing worse... It seems he did not truly an to hurt you in any way..."
"...Oh," Moulin lowered his gaze to his hands on his knees.
He wasn't really hurt. Morhas made sure of it. However, Moulin felt his anger, and it was terrifying enough for one to cower and hide. Morhas warned him about the visions he's been having. That it was a trap laid for him if ever he'd reach out to the god.
Silver eyes grew deep, and his expression fell. Perhaps that was why he kept failing. Morhas kept him away on purpose, drawing away from Moulin's reach no matter how persistent he was because those voices were illusions, conjured to confuse him and enter his mind.
"..."
'But I had successfully summoned Morhas...' Moulin swallowed in realization. 'Did I give away my location?... or have I given our enemies a way to break through without knowing?'
"The shard tells us everything is intact and protected."
Na'El's voice pierced through the youth's mind, making him look up. The elf's gaze is comforting, as though he knows of the thoughts swirling in Moulin's chaotic head.
The shard. Moulin blinked in realization and touched his chest. "Oh... this. I see..."
The elven oracle smiled, "Don't underestimate its use too much. I believe the demons had exhausted their resources to find you and resorted to scouring your previous visions. Unfortunately for them, we had already thought ahead and embedded a ntal shield spell into the shard. Thus, they can't do anything rash unless you tear down the shield yourself, which..."
His eyes narrowed. "... you should never do."
"I understand..." Moulin tilted his head as though saying, 'Why in the world would I do that?'
The youth continued. "Then my spiritual training with Lady Celeste?"
"Her Holiness has discussed it with us, and we agreed to remove all ntal stimulating classes. We have yet to finalize the plan. Furthermore, she left for a short visit to her temple. Strangely, it seems she wasn't acting like herself..." Na'El said. "So until then, you will have to wait..."
'Perhaps confronting a god had shaken her...' Moulin's slender brows are drawn together. And it ans he would have longer sessions with both Lady Calanthe and Lord Na'El.
It was good since he still had to finish constructing the Arcan chamber and train his ntal fortitude with the mind forge. However... his aim to strengthen his bond with Morhas was currently good as trash.
'Honestly...' Moulin sighed. He needed to find another way.
Na'El gave a few words to the couple before he left Moulin's quarters. The warm light illuminating the two gave a sense of comfort and a relaxing ambiance.
"You had almost stepped into a trap."
Moulin heard Hadrian speak deeply. He watched as the man placed a hand over his face, keeping it there for a few seconds as though trying to hide his turbulent emotions. However, Moulin could explicitly feel it through the bond they shared.
"It was reckless of ..." Moulin admitted as he stood up to face Hadrian. Placing a hand on the man's chest to feel his heartbeat against his palm. His desire to achieve an intimate connection with Morhas nearly cost him his safety.
Lord Hercullio sighed, finally lowering his hand to clasp Moulin's in a tight grasp. Deep golden eyes looked like molten gold. A pair of bright and magnetic pools. "It is harder to keep myself in check with you going about on whatever seed useful. I know what an inquisitive little creature you are... but this... must not happen again. Although you are safe right now... Who knows what could happen next?"
"I wouldn't dare test your ire, My Lord," Moulin smirked. However, Hadrian didn't seem amused by his words. Nervously, Moulin cleared his throat. "You're right. I apologize... This... will not happen again..."
The youth went to wrap his arms around the man, leaning his head against his chest. "... I will be more careful. Don't worry..."
A few seconds later, Moulin felt strong arms embrace him in a gentle hug. Lord Hercullio's soft words fell into his ears. "Your experints are already worriso enough... Don't make more trouble..."
Trouble always cos to find him, though. Moulin helplessly thought while he nodded, chuckling softly.
"Na'El..." Hadrian began after a minute of silence. "He's beginning to show so suspicion of you and Lady Calanthe. I suggest you tread carefully around him."
Moulin paused. "I will..."
Na'El has been suspicious of him for too long. Moulin was afraid that suspicion could spark so obsession, coupled with the elf's sensitivity to dark magic.
Moulin and Hadrian retired for the day. As the High Lord went to the youth's bedroom change, Moulin went to tidy his work desk. His fingers paused when he found the book of Orchaedia on top of a stack of papers. Recalling the Arcan shrines section of the ancient book, Moulin silently fell into deep thought.
'There must be another way...'
Hearing the noises from his bedroom, Moulin flinched before hastily putting the book away. Lying next to Hadrian, the youth silently watched the man's calm, slumbering face. Being curious was just what Moulin was. He couldn't help it, much like how he wonders too much about Hadrian's affairs and his well-being.
He wonders if his curse had acted up when he knew Moulin had been attacked. Silver eyes closed tightly as he shifted nearer to Hadrian's body.
'I'll find a way... I swear it.' He whispered.
.....
The following day, Moulin woke up at dawn, not surprised to find Hadrian missing. Ordan was quick to tell him that the High Lord went to attend his work, but Moulin didn't need to be said of what he already knew. Determined, he hurried to practice with the mind forge.
"Early as usual..." Na'El spoke, suddenly appearing behind Moulin and the platform. He donned his usual robe and kept his hair braided and neat. Ordan greeted him politely as they stood side by side to observe Moulin's progress. "Please, continue."
The growing snowflake formation barely quivered as Moulin glanced at him. The spreading form grew an inch every thirty minutes and expanded slower the longer Moulin held it. Before it dissipated, it barely ford half of the formation.
Before Na'El could speak a word of encouragent, Moulin already raised his hand, closed his eyes, and tried again.
"..." With a sigh, the elven oracle only kept a calm expression. His persistence, his determination, and his stubborness... This young man will be the death of him. Na'El's eyes secretly darkened.
At the fifth failure, the elf finally dismissed their session with a smile. Mouin wasn't too disappointed. He will try again tomorrow.
"Lady Calanthe waits for you in the library, young master," Ordan spoke as he walked Moulin through the hallways.
Moulin was about to nod when he sensed a third pair of footsteps. He glanced behind his shoulder and was welcod by Na'El's smiling countenance.
'...' Moulin gave a little nod back while Ordan greeted the oracle once more.
...
A few minutes later, Moulin arrived before the doors of the library. His hand that was about to push the door open paused. Again, he glanced at Na'El.
"Oh, don't mind ," Na'El spoke. His faultless eyes appeared innocent and amused. "I only had sothing to check among the books."
"I see..." Keeping a calm countenance, Moulin proceeded to ignore him and enter the library. Ordan gave a slight bow before he stood guard behind the doors.
His ruby eyes lowered. Normally, Lord Na'El would leave the realm after Moulin's mind forge training...
The mixture of old and familiar scents greeted Moulin's senses. Lady Calanthe was busy assessing one of the arcan relics while books and parchnts floated around her, coated with her magic. From her expression, it seed like she had found so obvious flaw... again.
Sensing Moulin's presence, she smiled before lifting her gaze. "I see you have brought a guest to our session."
Moulin stopped, glancing at Na'El. "Um... he ca by himself."
"I'm sure My Lady doesn't mind my intrusion?" Na'El's voice softened in helplessness. "I rely want to indulge myself in the ancient tos."
"Who am I to derive one of their desire for knowledge? Please, help yourself..." Lady Calanthe responded before gesturing Moulin to approach.
The silver-eyed youth quietly walked to Lady Calanthe's side. The sorceress flawlessly continued to comnt and criticize the judgnts and notes Moulin wrote as though they were the only ones in the library. Completely forgetting the intruder casually observing them and occasionally skimming so books from the shelves.
Clenching the pen in his hand, Moulin stole glimpses of the elf moving around them.
When their eyes t, Na'El would show a harmless smile, confusing Moulin.
Just... what is he doing?
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