Chapter 78: Never Letting Go Of The Other


    Perception began to fill Moulin. He felt his skin warming against the warm air. He didn''t even realize the shift of temperature around him as he stared at the historian. For the first time, he felt special and unique. But there was no joy.


    "What does this have to do with me? And what does it mean?" He asks. His question wasn''t directed to Estuvian or anyone. Neither himself. He only let these questions float in the air as if to ask the wind.


    "Does it trouble you greatly?" Estuvian asked momentster, the mirth faded from his face.


    "Trouble? No." Moulin shakes his head. He continued, "Although, it persistently eats away my will to disregard itpletely... it does not stop lingering in my mind and in... my heart."


    Eyes growing confused and desperate, his troubled expression faced Estuvian, "Should I be doing something? What should I do? I seek for you to be given even a vague clue..."


    Estuvian glimpsed Hadrian before speaking softy to Moulin, "I have no knowledge about the future and what you must do... but in time... perhaps it wille to you..."


    "From my grandfather''s teachings. I have learned the deity''s stories and lives. Perhaps, I believe not all of them but it is enough. Marhos is an unknown child. He lived no life. Wrench away from his god life. Unfortunate and pitiful. Only his death is mention and nothing more. If he speaks to you then he must want something from you..." Estuvian stroked his chin. He lifted his gaze thoughtfully.


    ''He wants me... to find him...'' Moulin lowered his brows.


    "Where... can I find his tomb?" Moulin asks. He can only do that. He will find him.


    Estuvian widened his eyes. "You... are going to find him?"


    Moulin nodded silently. He already has great doubts about his decision.


    "I am not sure where but..." Estuvian snapped his fingers and a book appeared in his hand. It was the myths and legends of Doransic in Rafelon country. It was the original book the historian had written. He opened the book and skimmed through the pages, "... His body was sealed in a white coffin within a high temple. Under the stars and the bright sun. An Ind of istion. The written walls in Rafelon had only mentioned these words and nothing else... There is not so much information about the Godchild Marhos..."


    "Perhaps an unknown ind in Rafelon Country... " This time Hadrian spoke up.


    Moulin''s eyes brightened slightly. "It could be... "


    "I''m afraid that us all that I can give you..." Estuvian closed the book and once again snapped his fingers. The book them vanished into thin air. He lowered his head with a serious look devoid of mirth and jest. "Listen carefully. You must not share this with anyone even if it''s your family or your closest friends. If so, difficulties mighte in your way. Most people in the temple working in the path of the gods tend to be targets for people with dark intentions. Their lives would be increasingly difficult that is why they work secretly..." His reminder was mostly directed to Hadrian who nodded. Estuvian knew the lord would do anything to protect his lover from harm.


    Moulin understood and he bowed respectfully to the beastman before him. "Thank you..."


    The man''s eyes widened briefly before he smiled. Truly, what a kind child. If he wasn''t a god''s messenger, then he would''ve hugged him tight. Hadrian had chosen a wonderful partner. The young man was polite, beautiful, and unafraid. His eyes nced at the intertwined fingers in front of him with soft eyes. In all of his years, he had never imagined Hadrian would be able to be so intimate with another person. An aphrodite with abilities at that.


    He smiled as he nodded at Moulin. "It is my pleasure... Pleasee and visit if you can. I will try my hardest to help you. I will be happy to share my findings with you."


    Moulin beamed with delight and awe, "T-thank you..."


    "We have to go..." Hadrian reminded as he pulled Moulin closer. His golden eyes stared at his elder, "Thank you, Estan..."


    "Anything for you..." The elder grinned. He secretly shed Hadrian a teasing look. "Take care of your little lover. He''s especially one of a kind..."


    "You don''t need to tell me..." Hadrian shook his head but he took the words deep into his heart. Like how there was a call in his heart pulling him towards Moulin, there was a call pulling Moulin towards someone. Someone who would even pester Moulin''s mind until Moulin would be so desperate and hopeless. Hadrian hated it. But he would help Moulin. He felt that it would cause a stretching rift between the youth he held in his hands. If it was not resolved quickly... then... would Moulin leave?


    Hadrianughed internally. Who was he to speak about it? He doesn''t even know what he was to the youth. Of course, that will change soon. Not even the conflict between the imperial courts would stop him.


    "Let''s go..." Hadrian tugged Moulin with their interlocked hands. He nodded at Estuvian before he turned to walk away with Moulin.


    Moulin turned his head to nce at Estuvian who warmly waved his hand in farewell as the pair head towards the door.


    Between Hadrian and Estuvian, there seems to be some kind of familial rtionship, Moulin presumed. And the hand tightly holding his was as warm as ever. Moulin''s eyes narrowed.


    "Now... you know..." He said softly to Hadrian as they reached the door.


    Hadrian stopped. "I know now... " His hand touched the ss handles of the doors. "I thought you needed support so I offered you to hold my hand."


    Moulin smirked with a bit of annoyance, "... Or so that you could see through what I hide in my thoughts?"


    Hadrian smiled at him, "That too..."


    Moulin sighed. "You are too clever..." Damn this man. Always a step ahead. So unpredictable...


    Hadrian chuckled as he leads Moulin through the opened doors. The whole scene was carefully witnessed by the elder behind them. The warmth of their bond, although the pair was unaware of it. The silent beating of their hearts. Estuvian smiled faintly. If only the young lord''s mother would have lived to see this scene...


    The doors closed...


    In the deafening noise of sweet nature from beyond the outdoor hallways, the drying leaves of the trees rustled, and countless robed people walked, both hurried and unhurried. It was an interesting sight to see.


    Moulin watched them as they go on their day. Unlike the bustling rooms in the Leonile manorial, the High Temple of Thaeria -Moulin realized- was quiet and soothing. Truly, it was a sacred ce.


    Moulin and Hadrian were walking, leisurely. Strangely, both had the same thought of having a quiet and calm walk. Whether it was to clear the mind or to process the information in their minds, they needed a walk. Side by side, they were silent. Ears open to their surroundings and mostly... to each other.


    "The Historian... " Moulin starts momentster. His eyes nced at their perfectly held hands. As though they fit each other -cough!


    Moulin took a glimpse of Hadrian''s side profile. He continued, "...is he your guardian."


    Hadrian slightly tilted his head to the youth walking beside him, "...you already guessed?"


    "It was obvious you two aren''t rted by blood. However, you have the air of a son in front of him... "


    Something flickered in Hadrian''s eyes. His expression turned warm, "Clever of you..." He paused, "He... is my guardian. Of rare beast-druid blood. Raised me when my worthless father couldn''t. A good friend and teacher."


    Moulin faintly saw the reminiscing look in the Lord''s eyes. The taller man''s expression was something Moulin had not seen the lord wear before. Strangely, he looked serene and happy. Moulin could not help the admiration in his face. A person like the man beside Moulin had gone through difficult experiences as a child. Moulin felt a sense of self-deprecation. In his previous life, he was never a fighter like how Hadrian is now.


    "You are admirable... " Moulin said his thoughts out loud. He flinched when he realized what he had done.


    Hadrian looked at Moulin solemnly. "Do you think so?..."


    Seeing that there was no turning back anymore, Moulin could only answer, "I do...". He lifted his head to meet Hadrian''s eyes.


    "Why..." Hadrian furrowed his eyebrows. He had stopped his steps making Moulin stop as well. His voice was interrogating. Deep pools of gold, in a hypnotizing swirl, staring into Moulin''s eyes. "Why..."


    "Because..." Moulin suppressed the ache in his heart. "... If I were in your shoes I would have left everything in a heartbeat. As cowardly as it sounds, I would do it without hesitation. Choosing to leave it all... Forgetting everything. Leaving everything behind. It doesn''t matter if I had good memories of it. I''d leave without turning back... Nothing would be the same if I had changed it anyway." There was a hopeless sigh. "I''m not strong enough to withstand the ache of it all..."


    Moulin lowered his head. Feeling the tightness in his chest. He was a coward. He lived this life to change himself. To renew. A rebirth. But he was afraid that if the timees, he would still run away and choose to forget everything again. Just like how he did in his previous life.


    Moulin felt a finger pushing his chin up to meet Hadrian''s eyes. Moulin waited to be mocked and berated. However, what he saw was the familiar pain in the Lord''s eyes. Moulin did not utter a word as he stared.


    "Why do you have... that look on your face?..." Hadrian caressed the lower lid on one of Moulin''s moistening eyes. "You have to tell me if you''re hurting..."


    "I''m... not hurting..." Moulin exhaled, denying Hadrian''s words.


    "Moulin, don''t lie to me..." Hadrian softened his voice.


    Moulin shakes his head. He turned his gaze away from Hadrian, "It doesn''t matter... " He began to walk, hand tightening on Hadrian''s, pulling the lord with him.


    "Let''s go..."


    Hadrian watched the back of the youth as they walked. His thoughts were suddenly erratic. Moulin''s earlier expression... Hadrian couldn''t be less familiar with it. The wailing depths of the soul underneath those painful eyes. The unbearable pain forced to tolerate. The unending misery that made one wish nothing more than to be freed from it.


    For a person who has lived afortable life within the warm embrace of his family, Moulin had shown such a miserable expression. Someone like that should have not experienced something dreadful. It was unbelievable... but...


    Perhaps, Hadrian didn''t know... all of it...


    The gold in his eyes deepened in color as he watched the fragile back of the youth. Silver hair swaying and dancing with the visiting breeze. Hadrian wanted to know every little thing about Moulin. Every little secret. Until he finds the ones hurting the youth the most...


    "Shall we have our dinner today?"


    It was Moulin who spoke first. Breaking the silence he had started. His voice was as sweet as the sound of wind chimes, dangling near Hadrian''s ear.


    Hadrian could not contain the amusement in his heart once the words entered his ears. His hand around Moulin subconsciously tightens, feeling the softness of the young man''s skin. Hadrian tugged Moulin to walk beside him. "Why the sudden rush? It is the first time you have resigned yourself to me."


    Moulin raised an eyebrow at him, "You haven''t shown your arrogant face to me for days. Aren''t you a man of your word?"


    "Can''t say I am..." Hadrian smirked. His tone joking and warm.


    They continued to banter and exchange words as they walked. Hand interlocked tightly. Either one did not think of letting the other go. Forgetting the passing sun in the sky and the warming breeze around them. Their figures were captivating and eye-catching but not one soul dare to disturb them. People watched from afar. At the pair that looked as though from a painting.


    Serene and soothing was the atmosphere. As if nothing would disrupt the solemnity of the temple...until-


    "Aaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhh!"


    A piercing scream noised in the air. Shattering the once calm ambiance of the temple grounds.


    Moulin and Hadrian heard it. As well as the Historian who was busy diving through notes to search for anything helpful in Moulin''s case.


    Moulin and Hadrian instantly rushed towards the direction of the sound. They passed through stunned people as they made their way towards the woman who had fallen on the ground. Shivering and trembling at the sight before her. She hastily scrambled backwards. Her white robes were stained with the dirt of the stoned ground.


    People gradually surrounded the area. Murmurs and whispers noises. Their expression a blend of emotions. Fear, shock, worry, disbelief filling their faces.


    "What happened?" Moulin asked as soon as he arrived. His sight dropped on the body before the woman and he stiffened.


    The fallen woman trembled in fear and shock as she spoke, "W-we were just talking w-when she suddenly fell and started shaking!"


    Hadrian walked beside him. His presence directlypelling the people around to step back.


    The body on the ground was of a woman. ck veins have spread from her neck and jaw which were the only parts exposed on her robed body. It looked exceedingly frightening. However, ck blood hasn''t dripped from her nose and mouth. She was twitching. Limbs were trembling.


    "This..." Moulin''s eyes widened. His gaze turned unfocused. A hand stopped Moulin from taking a step closer.


    "The Kron," Hadrian spoke. Either in a warning or a reminder. "It''s in the first stage of upying the host''s body. You should not get closer to it."


    "But..." Moulin rasped as he looked at the calm Lord. "How is this possible? Anything malevolent and impure could not cross the sacred boundary of every temple."


    Before a temple was built a sacred barrier needed to be established to protect the temple from any evil and corruption. To ensure the temple''s purity and holiness. To think that even a person poisoned by the Kron would be able to pass through the powerful barrier surrounding the temple. If this was the case, does the divine power of preachers and prophesiers not affect the Kron?


    "Moulin..." Hadrian called. He pulled the youth closer and whispered to him in a soft voice to bringfort to Moulin. "I need to resolve the unrest here but first I will have to bring you back to the manorial. Tell Varick and Fhorg that I need them here, alright?"


    "Y-yes..." Moulin replied. He let himself be embraced by Hadrian as the Lord teleported them in the next second.


    Moulin''s gaze never left the body as he disappeared. He suddenly felt vignt of the future. He was not afraid. He was not panicked. He was calm but attentive.


    Something big woulde to him.