A Gorgeous White

"Aughhh..." An agonized groan clawed its way out his throat. The man curls in the dark damp corner. like a child haunted by nightmares, longing for relief. His skin felt scalded. His blood boiled underneath his skin. It was excruciating. However, like any other day, he must endure. Tucking his neck into his shoulders, he pinched the solid thing embedded on his leg, catching it with the tip of his filthy fingernails. Blood streamed at the edges of the wound as the object was touched. 

Sweat drenched his tightened face as he breathe rapidly. It will be finished in an instant. The pain will disappear once its done, he convinced himself. Gritting his teeth, he mentally counted to three and forcibly yanked the scale out of his skin. His body jerked from the shock of pain. Teeth biting on lips to stifle a shout. 

Insufferable pain flared throughout his leg and blood pooled underneath him. He threw the scale to the far side of the cell and shook uncontrollably. Hesitantly, his trembling fingers hovered around the bleeding wound but he could do nothing but let the disgusting energy within his body heal it. 

Alsander clenched his fists and leaned his head on the stone wall with shut eyes. He doesn't even pay attention of the blood drenching his clothes. The darkness could not swallow his stubborn form. 

A deafening sound echoed within the basement. Alsander opened his eyes cautiously, narrowing his gaze towards the stone bars of his cell. The chains around his wrists noised as he drew himself away from the light of the torch.

"Little rat.... I have news..."

The rakish voice broke into Alsander's ears as footsteps drew closer to his dungeon. Finally, red robes entered his vision. The demon's sickening grin is like a fist wrapping around Alsander's throat. Fear and terror melded into his brain. It wasn't the thousand hours of torture that plagued Alsander's mind, but the harrowing control this monster could do to his soul. The feeling of having his whole being used made him want to hurl out his organs. 

The demon didn't seemed annoyed of his prisoner's silence. Instead, he quite enjoyed his quietness nowadays. Uldher drew closer to the cell, grinning wildly, as he dug into his robes. It took him a few seconds before he took out something, dangling it before his face. 

It was a tiny red vial attached to a thin rusted chain that wasn't longer than a man's index finger. It emitted an eerie red glow, flickering like a candlelight. 

Alsander finally took a peek at it and stopped. He was curioused. Inwardly, a foreboding feeling sank in his stomach. 

"Ah... you recognize it?" Drunk with thrill, Uldher's faced morphed into something that made Alsander disgusted to the bones. He continued, "Yes... you do. It was worth our dear general's sacrifice. But, he'll live. What could losing  a heart be so significant for a creature like him?"

Uldher tilted his head, eager to have a closer look at Alsander's appalled face, torn between anguish and anger. Such a sweet view. It would be a waste to miss it. The fire within those amber eyes, burning for vengeance. 

Uldher cackled. His sinister voice noised throughout the death-filled dungeons. "Your dear friend... has beautiful fingers... a fine slender arm... so pale, so flawless. It looked even more splendid when we cut it into pieces and sucked away its vitality. All that's left of it... is this tiny thing of pure untainted mana. Enough to feed the serpent for weeks!"

Alsander clenched his jaw and buried his face in his arms. 

The demon laughed. His body shook greatly. "Imagine what we could do when we obtain his whole body!... "

"You... " The lonely maeruthan spoke in a harsh voice, "... will not succeed."

"Keke, all the more exciting, my pet." The darkness that enshrouds his hooded face recedes. Three blood-red eyes glowed grimly.

.................

Three Towers, Helios. 

A bare hand knocked a few times on cold dark wood. The doors weren't grand but they were elegant enough for anyone to mind there behaviours when passing by. However, it wasn't just a random person who was standing before the doors, waiting patiently within the narrow hallways. The young man's silver-white hair glistened on his back, tied on a simple ponytail just above his nape. An aura of calm bathed his whole being.

Moulin furrowed his brows when no one answered the door. Although curioused, Moulin waited, allowing a few seconds to pass before knocking again. A few confused servants glanced at Moulin as they walked. 

BOOM!

The loud sound came from within the room, abruptly causing Moulin and a few people to a startled stop. What in the world?

Uneasy, Moulin opened the doors and boldly crossed the receiving room. Dark smoke had already covered the ceiling. Before he could enter the room where the smoke came rushing out, a slender figure rushed out from the dark cloud and faced him. 

"Moulin!" Phaelona panted, coughing a few times. 

Moulin worriedly glanced behind her, "Is everything alright?-"

"Everything is fine. Colahn, the clueless fool, was trying to clean up his workroom." She sighed, hurriedly opening the doors and windows before urging Moulin to the drawing room close to the balcony. "The idiot recited his spell wrong and burned most of his belongings. What a 'dignified' seer indeed. I wonder what his subordinates see in him?"

"I can hear you!" Colahn yelled from the other room.

"Ugh..." The female elf rolled her eyes, cursing under her breathe. "Come for fresh air, Moulin."

The drawing room was clear of smoke. Although, the smell lingered, it was faint and bearable. Sofas were arranged at the center and beautiful pots with tall wonderful flowers were placed on corners giving the room a fresh look. In an instant, Moulin knew, Phaelona had decorated it. Colahn didn't truly care of clutter wherever he was working. Phaelona knew a bit of style. 

'Ah, so they shared the place...' Moulin thought. Hadrian must had their working spaces expanded. 

When Moulin settled on his seat, Phaelona left for a bit and brought back tea to drink while they talk. 

"You must have come for the Orb. Soul Sealer." The she-elf began as she raised the cup to her mouth. When Moulin nodded, she continued, "Your brother Emlen came to visit us as well... along with your eldest brother, Lord Maxille Fraunces."

Silver eyes widened, "H-He... came? Did you... tell him?"

She shook her head, "Your brother already informed him. I merely clarified the details for him. Currently, your brothers are on their way to tell you."

"Tell me what?"

"They... are going to talk to you father." 

Moulin's forehead creased, "My father?" 

He knew they had to tell him soon but... 

"So... soon? But could he take it? Could he handle the news that his wife, my mother,  could disappear forever at the slightest mistake?"

"Young master..." Phaelona reassuringly called him. "The Patriarch should know. Your brothers left to find you to discuss about your father and the process. As a family... all of you must make the decision as one."

A chain so thick, restrained Moulin's heart. It tightened around it, squeezing painfully. He didn't know how his father would react but... he needed to know. However, Father's heart was weak... weaker than before. Was he ready to face it?

"Your father is stronger." Phaelona spoke with soft eyes, "He's getting better. The news might seem abrupt but for all the hopeless years that have passed, this time... there is a chance. Colahn and I will continue to decipher the artifact. We've gathered a bit of help as well. Take all the time you and your family needs to decide. And..."

She patted the youth's shoulder in comfort. Moulin hesitantly looked at her. 

  "When you've finally decided... tell us."

"..." Moulin silently gazed at her. His thoughts were confusing. 

Finally, he sighed, slowly nodding his head, "Alright..."

The smokes cleared and a cool breeze filled the room.

.......

True to Phaelona's words, Moulin's brothers came to his quarters. The hesitance were evident in their eyes. Moulin couldn't bear their stalling words and directly bombed them with his agreement. Both elder brother paused in surprise. Indeed, they were still unsettled with the fact that they should disclose the situation with their father but it was the right thing to do. They could not keep their father in the dark about the matter of the Soul Sealer. Fear gripped their heart. The future was unpredictable and it was what terrified them the most. 

"Father will be alright..." Moulin whispered. "We must tell him and give him time to think..."

Maxille nodded, sighing deeply. He didn't expect to be presented with the news. The process, once finished, could douse them in misery or... joy. It was... unpredictable. 

The three sibling talked until the skies darkened. Time passed quick and soon Maxille and Emlen left his room. Not long after, Pola sent Snow back to his room and the little snow-white fox delightfully jumped into his arms. Moulin finished his dinner and headed straight to the bath afterwards. 

"Bark!" 

Snow ran around the bedroom until he tired himself out. Exhausted, the little fox decided to wait for his master to come out of the bath. He panted while dragging a soft cushion on the floor and sat on it while staring at the door, tail wagging slowly. 'Master,  always takes so long to bath, ah...'

After a while, Moulin emerged, sighing contently. His hair was damp and his cheeks were flushed. The warmth of the water lingered on his skin. Tiny droplets fell from his delicate jaw. He dressed himself in loose clothes and went to the balcony to let the wind dry his hair. 

Hadrian might be late or might not come tonight at all. Moulin was worried the man had buried himself in work and wouldn't even get a wink of sleep. Nowadays, he'd become too busy to even have a single meal with him. Moulin would understand. However, he wished he wasn't always portrayed 'sick' and 'in need of rest'. He wanted to share the burden Hadrian carried on his shoulders every single day. 

Indeed, he got himself a very capable man. Moulin softly chuckled.

Moulin sat on the chair beside the balcony, lost in his thoughts. A long time passed and Snow had already slept in his arms. It wasn't long before Moulin followed, closing his eyes to sleep for a little while. 

The cold wind accompanied the pair, whispering a silent lullaby as hours went by. 

The doors creaked open and the two were unaffected, sleeping soundly. Heavy footsteps drew close to them, stopping beside the chair. 

Hadrian smiled lightly gazing at the slumbering countenance of his lover. He glanced at the dark horizon, enshrouded with death and carefully took his lover and pet into the bedroom.