419: || Chapter 408 || Breached

|| Chapter 408 || Breached

Clack...

Clack...

Clack...

Within the silent hallways, where the daylight touched the polished floor reflecting every figure who'd walk upon it, a man with long silvery hair, swaying on his back in every step, walked as expressionless calm filled his beauteous face. With a closer look, one would be so curious of what thoughts crowded his mind. The young man's silver eyes dimmed. 

In truth, many things crammed his head that he couldn't think of anything at all. All that echoed were recollections of the serious discussion his eldest brother had with the sentinels. And he, the one who broke through one of the prisoners minds, uncovering their secret, stood at the center of all their interrogating questions and demanding voices. A weary sigh escaped the youth's mouth. 

" Ten children will be sacrificed to activate a portal between Helios and an unknown location. Those innocent lives... You and I, and everyone in this room, knows that if we don't stop them now, something terrible is going to happen. We will not only lose those children, but more lives will be lost if we fail this mission. It will be too late for regrets."

" The location of the ritual. Do you know where it is? What did they say?"

" Do you know who is going to lead it? The leader, did you see them?"

" Speak boy... Right now, you're the only one who can help us"

" Moulin... tell us" 

Remembering Maxille's serious expression and his determined voice that masked his concern and desperation, Moulin could not act so weak-willed and helpless. Lives were at stake, and he knew how crucial the situation had become. With a deep breath, his expression cooled.

" The ritual will commence tomorrow night."

"... an underground chamber with a simple altar."

" ...it is a frail man, tall and severely malnourished but he had the energy of a youth. He has scars all over his body Especially, on his neck. Knife wounds."

Moulin subconsciously mumbled his answers until he arrived before an elegant double door. He lifted his head in a daze and finally realized that he had arrived. With a sigh, Moulin shook his head and slowly opened the doors. 

Fresh air greeted his face, and his complexion became a bit livelier. The scent of lavender. It was Hadrian's private quarters, but it smelled like him.

A familiar beastly growl suddenly entered Moullin's ears. The youth shifted his gaze to notice a large black wolf unhurriedly making it's way towards him. Kier's shiny fur gleamed underneath the natural light. He looked intimidating and majestic. With a smile, Moulin reached out to comb his fingers through the beast's smooth coat. 

"Good boy, Kier."

Kier nuzzled his massive nose on Moulin's chest and made low internal growl in satisfaction. Then the beast stepped away and let Moulin walk passed him. The wolf made a soft whine as he watched Moulin leave.

Moulin softly chuckled as he proceeded towards the drawing room. He opened the door with a big smile. Silver eyes curved in delicate crescents. However, the moment his eyes fell on the scene in front of him, he stopped.

Two people gazed at each other. The seer had a look of utter disbelief, even ignoring the stool that fell from his sudden reaction. On the other hand, the man sitting on the chair beside the glass windows remained expressionless, observing the seer standing beside him. 

"Colahn?" Moulin called in confusion. 

Colahn flinched, finally noticing the third presence in the room. He turned and looked at Moulin, unblinkingly. "Y-Young master..."

His tone immediately caught Moulin's attention. He definitely found something, and Moulin needed to know it.

With unhurried steps, the youth calmly crossed the room and approached Hadrian's seat. He placed his pearly white hand on top of the back of the High Lord's chair and spoke to the seer, his friend, in a low tone.

" What did you find?"

Hesitation flashed within the seer's eyes. He was still processing the information in his head before a cold voice spoke. 

" Tell him." Lord Hercullio commanded without even looking at him. 

Colahn shut his eyes briefly before lifting his head. " It is nothing like I have ever seen... What you have in your spiritual soul, is a strange demonic curse. I... cannot recognize it at all. It hides itself so well that I couldn't discover at first. Something must have triggered it; emotions, memory."

Hadrian's brows are drawn together when he heard this.

Colahn continues, clumsily dragging his stool back underneath him. " It grows stronger each time you trigger it, feeding from you. It is difficult to further examine it since it is so violent, it attacks and defends itself... like an organism. And what is 'so' interesting..."

Moulin: ... interesting?

"... Is that it actually caught me. Its awareness is so advance that it can detect intruders so easily. If you could allow me to observe it for a while, I might be able to confirm what empowers it. It could be your mana, your memories, your morality, your emotions. Perhaps, I can discern what it could do to you aside from its malevolent influence of you."

Moulin interrupted with worried eyes," Can the curse be lifted?"

Colahn abruptly stopped. Hesitance replaced his determined look. Then he answered as honestly as he could.  " It is difficult to know. I have not encountered such a unique and powerful curse like this before. It will take time, but we will try no matter how long it takes."

Moulin clenched his fist as he processed his words. Colahn's words were slightly reassuring but Moulin couldn't get rid of the fear and worry plaguing his heart. The knowledge that something unknown, had crawled inside Hadrian's body, gripped his heart. What could he do in this situation? What must he do?

Moulin paled as various thought swirled in his mind. His heartbeat gradually quickened as the hand resting on the top of the chair curled, tightening. 

Suddenly, a warm hand blanketed Moulin's tense fingers. The silver-eyed youth turned lowered his head and met Hadrian's reassuring eyes. For a moment, Moulin noticed the dark blots of color receding in the High Lord's pupils, recovering its bright golden color, beautiful like rings of fiery molten gold. With a face brimming with worry, Moulin pressed his lips together. 

When he calmed himself, the youth returned his attention to the seer silently observing them. " We trust you, Colahn. Please do what is must..."

Colahn nodded. The young master, once again, revealed a hopeless look and Colahn could only try his best for him once more. He knew how much the High Lord meant to young master Moulin. These two possessed an inseparable bond like no other couple had. 

The seer hid his sympathy, it wouldn't do anything to lift the pair's spirits if revealed. He could only excuse himself and leave the two to talk in private. 

The moment Colahn shut the doors behind him, Moulin turned to face the windows. His worried gaze seemed to turn more despondent with each passing second. "I knew something would go wrong..."

He ignored the sound of heavy weight lifting off the chair and the sound of footsteps pausing behind him. A much taller frame stood and enveloped Moulin's body in warmth. Moulin's chest ached when he felt a reassuring arm curl around his waist and a warm body pressed against his back. 

A warm breath caressed the delicate shell of the youth's ear when the High Lord spoke. "I'm sorry. You were right."

His voice was deep and sincere. It made Moulin's eyes soften. "Now that you know that, you should spend more time taking care of yourself. You must follow what the seers and healers suggest without resisting. Don't keep everything to yourself. You have so many capable people around you. It's time to take a break."

Moulin slightly turned over his shoulder and met Hadrian's heart-melting gaze. "Can you do that?"

The corner of the man's lips rose no matter how much he tried to resist. "Yes, young master."

"Good." A smile finally decorated the youth's serene face. His captivating silver eyes took in the sight of Hadrian's doting and comforting look, imprinting it endlessly inside his brain. 

Then, to satisfy the wisp of anger left in his heart, Moulin reached out a hand and tapped his fingers on Hadrian's cheek. His voice sounded angry. "Stop making me worry. I'm a busy man now."

Amused by his actions, the High Lord raised a brow as he rested his chin on the young man's shoulder. "But it feels nice to have you worry about me."

Moulin narrowed his eyes and turned away. "..."

...

Faced with his silence, Hadrian could only feel helpless. But before he could speak, Moulin finally spoke. 

"I don't want anything bad to happen to you. Right now, I feel hopeless about what I should do to help you." Moulin confessed with a downcast gaze. 

Perhaps, the thing that terrified Moulin the most was that he couldn't do anything to help alleviate the situation and could only watch helplessly, awaiting results. Just like the situation with his parents. Their comatose state lasted longer than expected and Moulin and his brothers are helpless to do anything. As the days passed by, they felt as though they were walking down a tightrope. And right now, Moulin could not be more terrified and anxious when he learned of Hadrian's situation. 

'Feels like a punishment, doesn't it?'

Moulin's expression turned graver. 

Hadrian furrowed his brows and pulled Moulin closer, interrupting the youth's thoughts. He softens his tone and reassured the despondent man in his arms. "I will cooperate with the seers and healers and listen to their advice and information. Don't worry. I am not in harm's way.  And as you said, I have many capable people by my side. I will be fine..."

Moulin felt a bit relieved by his words but he still couldn't shake the anxiety in his heart. He nodded in understanding.

"Now, I shouldn't keep you from doing your duties, Sir Fraunces." Hadrian raised his head and met Moulin's gaze from the reflection of the window. He continued, "You are a busy man after all."

Hadrian's words earned him an annoyed glare from the youth. The man only laughed and kept the youth in his embrace for a while longer.  2

......

"It's very intriguing..." Jagra commented with curious eyes as he used long-handled pincers to carefully transfer the released dagger to the stone plate on his desk. The miasmic energy it emits could latch unto the organisms that touch it. 

The blade that once looked sharp and daunting had long become rusty and old in such a short time. This was very peculiar. Jagra slipped the gloves that Pola offered and carefully activates the runes on the plate. With a soothing blue glow, the dagger levitated, covering carefully in the air. 

"Ao!"

Footsteps approached the desk but Jagra was too immersed in his research to pay attention to his friend. Moulin puts down Snow from his arms and took a closer look at the dagger. With the aid of the blue light, exposing the waves of malevolent energy emanating from the object, one could clearly see how much energy was injected into the dagger. It now looked as though a big ball of black smoke was floating on Jagra's desk.

"I don't think a mere human is capable of injecting such a huge amount of energy in an object even with the help of mana crystals or tools." Jagra leaned back and glanced at Moulin. "It must be someone else."

"Mn, the cultists we captured were all human. None of them possessed an internal core. Neither did they possess any tool." Moulin said with a confused expression. 

Jagra nodded, a flicker of fascination filled his eyes while he continues to examine the mana from the dagger. He was lost in concentration as his nimble hands waved to rotate the dagger multiple times. 

While waiting Pola happily offered Moulin some tea which the youth gladly accepted. 

"Young master..." Pola whispered shifting closer to Moulin. "I have something to ask you..."

"What is it?"

"Do you feel like you've been watched?" 

The teacup that was about to touch Moulin's lips stopped. Moulin blinked. He recalled being followed by Erik before he ultimately caught him. He wasn't sure why Pola was asking him this. Was she being watched? Followed? 

"Why? Is there someone following you?"

"No, it's just that..." Pola secretly glanced at Jagra before continuing, "Sir Jagra's been acting strange lately. Before, he'd keep the windows open especially if he was working. However, now, he'd keep the curtains and windows closed tight. He doesn't feel comfortable going outside now either. One night, during my stay here, I saw him standing before an open window with his weapons raised. It looked as though he was confronting someone."

Moulin's eyes narrowed when he heard this. 

The two were abruptly interrupted because of Jagra's sudden movements.

Filled with wonder and curiosity, Jagra reached for a document tightly pressed underneath the stack of books on his desk. The things on his desk trembled from his actions. He skimmed the information until surprise filled his eyes.

"Interesting..."

'Interesting?' Moulin furrowed his brows. 

"I've received the information from the seers sent to examine that odd prisoner in the interrogation room." Jagra continued. "And, it turns out... they have the same demonic energy injected in this weapon."

Jagra handed the information to Moulin before returning to his research. 

"It came from one source..." Moulin muttered. "There's a culprit..."

A foreboding feeling rose in Moulin's chest. 

Someone sinister has entered Helios' walls.

The youth slowly lifted his eyes and met Pola's worried gaze.

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