Ti passed before his mind awoke. A prickling sensation caressed his skin. Sotis painfully poking him, and other tis stroking him with considerable gentleness. For a mont, it seed the constant prodding would never end. Stuck inside his mind, he blankly floated. Where am I?
Drip!
Sothing cold and wet splattered on his cheek. In the next second, he found himself facing the sharp stone columns pointing at his face. His chest heaved, pupils quivering as the mories rushed like a perilous tidal wave. Long silvery lashes trembled as his skin paled ghost-white.
"Don't force it."
A voice he cherished deeply cut through his ears. Moulin's thoughts imdiately ceased. Mind, now clear and anticipating. 'Hadrian?'
When his mind ca about, he realized that the warmth emanating around his arms and back belonged to none other than Hadrian. Settled in the arms of the man he loved, a whirlwind of emotions filled his head. He tried to move, but then those strong arms stopped him and held him tight. Warm breath tickled his nape as Moulin paused.
What happened?
And… where are they?
This ti, the youth took his ti and assessed his surroundings. Thick, rock-like structures filled his view as the darkness crept in the distance, into the deeper parts of the area. A wet sheen on the rocks closest to them reflected the fiery glow of the little fire crackling desperately, only a few feet from the two people. Moulin did not lower his guard.
His shoulders relaxed when he realized that aside from them and the little fox sleeping quietly on top of a flat rock, there was no other sign of life.
"You were asleep for four hours." In the next minute, Hadrian explained that he brought Moulin and Snow into a cave, barely escaping from the horde of sea monsters crawling onto the shore towards their unconscious bodies. When the light faded, the monsters grew more vigorous and… hungrier.
Moulin felt a headache coming on. He was unconscious for too long. With a sigh, the young man listlessly surrendered to Hadrian's arms. Gloom imdiately filled his expression.
"We can't stay here…"
With a sound of affirmation, Hadrian turned to face the small fire feeding from the poor pile of humid wood while lifting a piece of flatbread towards the youth's mouth. "Eat. You need to recover. Tomorrow, let's search the island. Salahn and his demons should already know we are here; we can't hide for long."
Moulin took a big bite, desperately trying to sate his starving stomach. His eyes darkened significantly. Salahn… The demonic summoner, King of the horde… and his mother's killer…
After what he did to Hadrian when they ca ashore, Moulin knew he had already compromised their location. It was a miracle that Hadrian brought him and Snow into the cave unscathed…
He abruptly stopped…
The young man turned his head, cupping Hadrian's cheek. The man impassively t his gaze. Traces of mud and dirt stained his handso face, but that wasn't all… Moulin could see faint scratches and bruises on Hadrian's skin, healing unbelievably slowly. Moulin's chest throbbed. He knew the reason behind the terribly slow recovery too well…
As long as the suppression spell remained, all of Hadrian's abilities were restricted. That includes healing even the smallest of wounds.
Sensing the Moulin's turbulent emotions, Hadrian calmly held his hand. His pupils were already a few shades darker than the original vibrant golden hue, symbolizing that he had barely escaped the corrupted path. "Because of you, I am saved. Don't worry too much… I will do what it takes to resist it."
Hadrian's gaze tremblingly flitted towards the fading marks on Moulin's pale neck. It was fading, but it was still there, burning Hadrian's eyes and choking him with venomous guilt and bitter self-loathing. The striking contrast of dark purple bruises against the young man's smooth neck stung his gaze. He lowered his head, pressing his face against the Moulin's skin, drowning in regrets. The veins on his neck bulged with unknown pressure.
"The spell won't last long…" Moulin began, bringing a hand to Hadrian's hair, noticing the man's distress. Hadrian gave a soft mumble. "Before it wears off, we should get off this island. I don't know how long the spell lasts, but at least we'll know when you start showing signs. Let's start investigating at first light… "
"Mn…" Hadrian does not lift his head. "I am sorry…"
Moulin stopped. His silver eyes trembled briefly before a helpless smile graced his fair face. He rested deeper in Hadrian's embrace and softly spoke, "It's not your fault. You have been doing much better before we ca to the island. You didn't know… and I'm fine."
That didn't seem to abate the regret in the man's heart, but he listened quietly. Moulin's voice sounded like a gentle spring stream overpowering the ringing in his ears. Whatever it takes… Moulin must escape. Those creatures must not co close to him…
Darkness shrouded his eyes, brimming with unconcealed determination.
"And… apology accepted." Moulin could not help but blurt out, restraining a wide smile. "I feel honored to hear such rare words from the fad Lord Hercullio himself. Should I mark this day on the calendar?"
Hadrian sighed helplessly while Moulin continued, "The world might end tomorrow, but at least what a miracle I've witnessed-MHP!"
A fat chunk of bread found its way into Moulin's mouth, silencing him completely. As Hadrian hugged the youth tighter, a muffled chuckle echoed within the cave.
…..
The cries of creatures big and small combined into the nightly wind. No stars could be seen on Gohtel's pitch-black skies. Dark as the hair of the humanoid figure standing before the fortress's protruding stone ledge, like a bird perched in silence. Tall and bone-thin, he looked frail yet carried an aura of strength and misfortune. Long black hair tangled with the freezing wind, but the man stood like a predator stalking his prey.
'I can sll him…' His voice was hoarse and incoherent, sounding as though a million souls spoke with him. 'He is near…'
Behind him, a familiar tall and broad stature listened silently. Alha's gaze never left his master. "What will you have do?…"
'Find him... Use every soul if needed… ' The creature breathed the air, sensing the most precious soul hiding under his nose.
"Salahn…" The grey demon spoke lowly. "The dragon's kin follows him-"
'He will die as well… but he may still be of use…'
"…"
'Go.' The demon summoner spoke. His pitch-black eyes glowed an eerie red. 'Ti is upon us…'
…..
The following day, right at dawn, Moulin and Hadrian's luck seed to have run out. A group of demon bats awoke from the depths of the cave where they had slept. Their shrill screams could attract every creature from a distance. To conserve most of their strength, they fled the area and traveled towards the shoreline.
Fortunately, they quickly found a hiding spot near the wall of a cliff beside the shore. They divided the food and water before Moulin watched as Hadrian observed the ocean for a few minutes. anwhile, Moulin scoured the area and spied on the movents of creatures from afar.
Silver eyes narrowed at the distance where a group of giant beetle-like malibreeds was wrestling to the death. For a mont, Moulin recalled a scene of children pitting bugs against each other, driven with hunger and forced to devour their kind. The earth shook with their attacks, and, hiding beneath a crevice, another waited for an opportunity. He shifted his eyes away and gazed towards the foggy shoreline filled with large boulders and a few wooden structures.
His heartbeat sped up.
It could be man-made.
After a few minutes, he slid down the boulder and faced the dark, vast ocean. Silvery white hair danced before his vision. They were thousands of miles away from the base, stuck in enemy territory, and forced into hiding. Perhaps the others have already noticed their disappearance with the hidden realm destroyed. A weary sigh escaped his lips as he placed a hand on his chest.
But if he and Hadrian couldn't make it out soon... At the very least, the shard inside him should have already inford the stronghold of their location.
Moulin comforted himself, then spent a few minutes lingering around the area before hurriedly returning to Hadrian and Snow.
"You've been staring at the ocean for an awfully long ti..." Moulin whispered as he approached behind Hadrian's lone figure.
Hadrian calmly glanced at him and gestured to the waves. "Do you see that?"
The waves? Moulin followed the man's gaze, "What about them?"
"The currents... they aren't breaking naturally."
Observing the waves, Moulin quietly analyzed Hadrian's words. Not a minute longer, he spoke, "The current... circles westward?"
With a smile, Hadrian nodded. "Strong and consistent. The island isn't as isolated as we expected."
Moulin watched as Hadrian crouched on the dark sand. His boots slightly sank from his weight while he traced a finger on the damp surface of the grains. He began to draw."
"We ca ashore on the eastern coast, the mountain sits here, and the cliffs are here."
Moulin blinked. "So the current moves west, what-"
"Debris and driftwood are being carried in the sa way."
The youth's brows furrowed as his expression grew serious. "Did you see so?"
"The night when I fled with you in my arms," Hadrian replied. He returned his gaze to the ocean.
There is land nearby…
Moulin deduced in relief. Now that Corahn's map was always shifting and morphing, it was difficult to find the island of Gohtel. With the news, he sighed and felt a bit reassured.
"The current leads sowhere. More importantly, with Salahn and his horde of malibreeds and demons, supplies must co and go."
Moulin nodded. "You think there's a route? A hidden dock sowhere?"
"Most likely." Hadrian stood up, flicking the sand off his hands. Golden eyes settled calmly towards the young man beside. him. "We find a vessel."
"Haa… and I thought of building a raft. What a terrible plan."
With a chuckle, Hadrian drew him close. "Not terrible… You tried. However, it wouldn't be ideal.… a storm arrives in two days at most…"
He can tell? Moulin's brows lifted.
"The wind changed this morning, and the pressure has dropped."
A storm… Moulin's silver eyes grew deep. "When the storm cos, the search would beco weaker, visibility decreases… and mana-tracking would be unreliable. Under the cover of the storm… we could escape."
"That is right…" Hadrian's thumb drew circles on Moulin's back.
It was a decent plan, Moulin thought. At least they knew where they should begin, and they must begin quickly. Both of them knew it was only a matter of ti before Hadrian's suppression wore off.
"Then let's continue searching…" There's bound to be so clues around. Moulin felt determined.
From a distance, the two figures fell into a discussion. Both unshakable and committed, unaware of a pair of small eyes gazing at them from atop a cliff.
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