"...?"
The golden lord looked at them in confusion. The pair of master and beast looked comical with the way they acted in sync. Hadrian revealed an amused smile as he approached the two. However, his actions only blinded the pair even more.
"You're here..." Moulin stood up, patting away the dust and fur off his pants.
"Were you waiting for ?"
Moulin raised a brow, "Who else would I be waiting for?"
A deep chuckle filled Moulin's ears, making the youth blush. After a quick banter, the pair of lovers went to prepare for bed.
'How do I bring it up?' Moulin thought as he flattened the sheets. He stood up, lost in deep thought, unaware of Hadrian's gaze. anwhile, Snow ignored his masters and made himself comfortable on a fluffy pillow. His ears twitched in delight as exhaustion overtook him. He was asleep in the next second.
After a minute of thinking, a strong arm abruptly snaked around Moulin's waist, pulling the youth towards a familiar chest. Moulin gasped, eyes wide in surprise as he felt the heat on his back. He failed to utter a word when Hadrian spoke into his ear. "What are you thinking so deeply about?..."
Trapped in his embrace, Moulin turned his head slightly to glance at him. Those golden eyes seed to pierce right through him. The youth spoke, "I was thinking... what if we combined our purification sessions with awakening the Golden Blessing?"
Hadrian paused. He thought over Moulin's words carefully for a few seconds before speaking. "Is that possible?"
"It is worth a try..." Moulin responded.
Hadrian remained skeptical, "I am already unsure if I could truly control it alone. If you are anywhere near , I'm afraid I may harm you..."
Moulin's eyes widened at the confession. Hadrian was still very concerned about his safety. Though he could not bla Hadrian for it, Moulin's situation required strong protection. But the youth could think of no other person who was the best at keeping him from harm.
With a helpless smile, Moulin turned around and tenderly caressed Hadrian's face. He watched as the man savored his touch. "You won't hurt ... you are the last person who would do it... and if you are still uncertain, know that I can also protect myself... I want to help you ease your burden. Keeping the corruption at bay while you release the golden blessing will be safer for you and would have more good results... won't you allow ?"
Hadrian stared at him deeply. The light sculpted his handso features and made his eyes look softer and mysterious. Sothing conceded, withdrawing helplessly. One look and Moulin already knew the answer.
Whoosh!
Moulin gasped as the ground beneath his feet disappeared briefly. The warm air vanished, replaced by a cool breeze surrounding his body. In an instant, his surroundings had changed.
Silver eyes widened.
Before him was the fascinating view of the stronghold. Tiny dots of warm lights filled the city-like area. The large waterfall at the edge of the stronghold appeared gigantic and beautiful, releasing mists into the air. The horizon was a looming mass of darkness. But it did not scare him. It only looked more mysterious. The skies remain dark, obscuring the moon as always. But Moulin could see the faint light behind the thick shroud.
When the Kron is finally purged, the bright, starry skies will reveal themselves once more. For Moulin, the thought was enough.
He was unaware of the big smile forming on his face as he watched the view. It had been a long ti since he had seen the stronghold in its entirety.
Hadrian held him in his arms with a smile. The chilly nightly breeze brushed against Moulin's cheek, adding a flush to his pale cheeks.
Curious about the place they were currently located, Moulin looked around a bit. They were standing on the balcony of a dark bedroom. And from the looks of the neat arrangent of elegant furniture and the large bed, it was evidently inhabited. The banner of a familiar golden insignia embellishing the walls... Moulin instantly knew to whom it belonged to.
The youth resisted a laugh. It seems he was kidnapped and dragged into the beast's lair.
If anyone knew soone had taken away the precious Lynari from his safe abode, they would riot. And if they knew that 'soone' had been the renowned Golden High Lord of Helios, the sword of the Silver Scepter... well, they would probably just submit a complaint and rebel a bit. Moulin didn't care. He was already enjoying the little date.
Unfortunately, there were more important things to address.
Reluctantly, the youth turned his head slightly, reaching for the rough hands on his body. Hadrian silently complied, calmly watching as Moulin wove their fingers together while they faced the grand scenery.
"Are we starting already?" Hadrian's breath tickled Moulin's ears as he spoke.
The youth nodded, "Yes... try to dig deep and unveil the suppression while I keep your curse at bay."
He sounded so determined that it almost made Hadrian feel guilty. He was already expecting so bad results. The man slightly closed his eyes, keeping a cautious gaze on Moulin's expression as he did as he was told.
Moulin felt it as he spread his mana, teasing into the formidable barrier of Hadrian's internal spirit. Without a hint of hesitation, the barrier gave way at his touch, smoothening the process for him, like breaking through the thin layer of an egg yolk.
Warily, Moulin observed the waves of Hadrian's mana. He waited as minutes passed. Until finally, he felt a shift.
Whoosh!
Fiery energy ignited within, powerful and uncontrollable like wildfire, devouring everything in its path. It was arrogant, full of ambition, greedy, the lord's formidable vessel. Moulin snapped his eyes open, startled by the sudden attack. However, he quickly spreads his mana like a net, catching any stray energy, stabilizing the barbaric essence it with his soothing mana.
His fingers clenched around Hadrian as sweat ford on his forehead. Fortunately, Moulin was quick. If he was a second too late, the curse could have taken advantage of the violent energy, feeding from it.
Worried, he could feel Hadrian's breath hitch. Golden eyes burned brightly, looking almost like a feral animal's. His veins bulged as his limbs tensed. Moulin knew he was holding back, resisting the prideful temptations.
Moulin could do nothing to ease the burden. Instead, he focused on guiding Hadrian's energy until it sohow slowed. Fortunately, Hadrian did a great job dominating through the rough experience.
"That's it..." Moulin whispered in an encouraging tone. Hadrian's eyes deepened, engulfing the swirling dark energy in his pupils with searing gold.
Like magic, the raging essence abated. It seed to finally recognize Moulin's presence, trying to attack it. However, Mouin made no move of offensively responding to it. Thus, realizing it's attempt to rouse it were futile, it gave up, proceeding to circle the foreign soothing energy as though in curiosity.
The youth had to admit... It was like trying to ta an animal. For a brief mont, Moulin wanted to pet it...
Hadrian frowned.
Out of the blue, the wild golden essence receded, forcibly compressed into a certain point within the soul core. Moulin blinked as it all happened in a split second. And for a mont, he thought he heard it let out a victimized cry...
Huh?
The Hercullian lord interrupted his confused thoughts by lifting their intertwined fingers, imdiately catching Moulin's attention.
Shaah!
A layer of golden energy blanketed their skin, fading out into the air with an ethereal glow. Golden light reflected the youth's bright silver eyes shone enchantingly.
It felt unlike any type of energy Moulin had co across throughout his life.
Its energy behaved uniquely, shining through light, a flowing river gifting both protection and power along with its destructive abilities. Possessing everlasting strength to vanquish evil, the dragon's power exuded energy that shone brighter than Corhan's sun.
It felt alive, surrounding all things within its sacred protection, presenting a powerful, unchanging divinity. Just like the man who wields it, fierce while displaying beauty and nobility through his commanding presence.
"You did it..." Moulin muttered in a trance, bewitched by the golden essence.
All on the first try...
He thought the process would take days- no weeks... but no...
Bloody marvelous...
Hadrian's eyes softened. Although the intense spiritual battle strained him, he was able to maintain the connection without fully succumbing to it. Furthermore, with Moulin's guidance, he was safe from the malevolent attempts of the curse.
"It answered..." Hadrian spoke. "... This ti in its entirety."
In the next second, a rush of excitent filled the youth. His eyes shined as brightly as ever. "Then... with a bit more ti, you can finally use it on command. This is... great..."
Before Hadrian could speak, Moulin tightened his fingers around his hand.
His voice turned determined yet could not mask the joy in his tone. "Rember, you mustn't be hasty; coax it. The dragon's energy is fiercer than I thought... Unless it crosses the line, then you must force it. And the curse... yes, the curse... without my aid... then you must utilize the arcan relic! You must!... Don't ever try to be reckless, alright?... or I swear I'll-"
Suddenly, sothing sealed his lips, abruptly interrupting his words. Moulin's eyes widen as soft lips press against his. The kiss was gentle and endearing, filled with boundless passion.
When Hadrian pulled away, Moulin's expression remained surprised. It brought a smile to the lord's face.
"Worry not," Hadrian whispered. "All your wishes shall be honored."
His words faded with the cool breeze, but they pierced through Moulin's heart.
Monts later, Moulin internally sighed. This man... Once more, he lost.
.....
The following day, the Silver Scepter Training Yard was brimming with life, showing practical thods coupled with strict followership—every piece had its essential purpose, and all distractions were nonexistent. Long-term drilling and sparring had transford the mixture of packed stones and sand into a dense surface coating the yard. Each blade and spear, along with training relics, rested in steel racks that encircled the periter area.
The clash of steel could be heard even from the distance as lines of warriors were imrsed in weaponry drills. Forms gracefully exposed before the eyes of seasoned captains; swords piercing and slicing, shields locked with precision.
"Again!" Barked one commanding knight.
On the rune-laden platforms, soldiers from the elite units stood motionless while holding lighted Arcan relics under mage observation. Mages of the Arcan Sector watched recruits work to rge their mana with the artifacts exhibited different pulses, depending on their level of control.
anwhile, there were others temporarily spared by the intense training, walking with determined steps.
Thud!
A pair of soldiers glanced at the raised platform, presenting a half-constructed blackstone with silver gleaming. A couple of workers were working on it.
The Shrine of Morhas. The stone structure carried sacred oaths even though its shape was barely polished. Despite this, it still appeared religious. The passersby only glanced briefly at the shrine instead of showering it with temple-like appreciation because they viewed it akin to their comradeship. It is comfort and a symbol of their goal.
Strength beca a reward, and faith was refined through actual fighting within these premises. This shrine found its rightful place among the combatants who fought and strengthened themselves each morning.
Especially since the selection of warriors for the Silver Scepter's first official deploynts was just right around the corner...
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