One maeruthan would only wield one ability.

Moulin had always wondered how Hadrian's negative emotions were able to shift the weather. How the man was able to teleport even though he wasn't a teleporter. How his physical strength and ability were completely different than that of other maeruthans. Even with the loss of the flow of his mana, he was still able to perform flawlessly. As if the loss of his powers didn't hinder him.

He was a strange being.

However, to witness the freezing ice coffin that enveloped the corpse of the adult Devil Worm, Moulin felt completely shocked. His silver eyes were constricted, disbelief shaped his expression.

The fact that ice was invoked right after the electric shock, made him confused and surprised. Ice? Why was there ice? Was it the spear?

He was certain of the mana infused in the ice crystal. It felt surprisingly familiar and intimate. As though, a strong captivating force was luring him to the frigid surface of the crystal coffin. Pain suddenly pierced his head. Moulin panted as he shut his eyes tight. His head throbbed endlessly. "Ugh..."

Suddenly, excruciating pain exploded in his left arm where the reddish marks had decorated his skin. The feeling as if being burned alive had returned! Gasping, Moulin's knees crashed to the ground as he clenched his jaw. His right hand clutched his arm as the pain from both his head and his arm began to occur simultaneously.

"Agh!"

He couldn't bear it...

"Moulin?" Seryu's confused voice entered his ear but Moulin could no longer distinguish the young naga's features as black dots began to appear in his vision.

The last thing the youth felt was falling back unto the hands that supported his back.

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

Days after the ambush at the teleportation ring where two esteemed Lord of Azuran and an aphrodite maeruthan Sentinel was taken along with the collapsing of the teleportation device, the Imperial city of Thundralln had never experienced such dreadful and suffocating silence.

Under the bright sky, shielded by the guardian barrier of Thundralln, servant elves whisper to themselves as they passed by the sentinel courtyard provided by the Crown Prince himself. The sounds of fighting and endless controversies between the two guilds, Leonil and Azuran. The fighting had always started with words and then the fists. Not much longer, they started charging at each other with weapons and their abilities. Rowan and Relena had to frequently intervene within the fights.

Presently, the courtyard was once again filled with grumbling voices and raging shouting.

"ENOUGH!"

Rowan's voice roared throughout the area. The blaming and shouting instantly silenced. Not even the sound of a pin dropping could be heard. Eyes instantly turned to the uniformed man who was standing before the two opposing groups. The Dragor Sentinels were sweating heavily. There was unrestrained anger in their eyes. As though they could not accept the interference of the Leonile's captain. On the other hand, the Leonile sentinels have had their heads lowered as shame washed over them when their captain had once again raised his voice to interfere with their arguments.

"You scums..." Relena glared at her men. "We are in a foreign country and you dare to act like spoiled children before his highness's country? Within this place that the crown prince had given to us out of kindness? Do you have no shame?" She hissed as he plunged her sword on the hard stoned ground beside her boots. The sound was sharp.

"Instead of quarreling like little whores, why don't you shovel up horse crap from the stables and make yourself useful before I shovel up your bones after I get rid of you little idiots."

Her eyes blazed with murderous intent and the female captain watched as the sentinels all shudder in fear before they scurried away with their tails between their legs. Relena turned his gaze back to Rowan whose gaze was lowered. With a sigh, she patted Rowan's shoulder.

"You worry too much..."

"What is there not to worry?" Rowan retorted with clenched hands.

She and Rowan began to walk side by side as they spoke. The female Sentinel lifted her chin and she folded her arms at the back of her head in a relaxed manner. "Your Lord and mine are very powerful people. No matter what, they will be able to get through anything that obstructs them."

"However, the blades of the veialeans that ambushed them were laced with poison. Even Valcan, our human researcher, could not distinguish it." Rowan's cerulean eyes darkened. His clenched fists tightened.

"Well, Valcan did manage to create a cure. We will be able to cure our powerless sentinels as well." There was a hopeful smile on Relena's face. "Have faith in our Guild Lords. They are not what we think they are. Capable people like them will be able to even reach the high realms."

...

"Yes..."

Rowan acknowledged. He should have faith. To hope for the safety of the lord. Lord Hadrian is more than capable.

"Come to think of it..." Relena began as she furrowed her brows when a thought emerged from her mind. "Do you also not worry about that strange aphrodite who bravely confronted the veialeans and was trapped together with the Guild Lords?"

Rowan's expression slightly changed. He was silent for a few seconds before answering, "Wherever the Moulin is, My lord will protect him with all his being. Moulin... will likely do the same for Lord Hercullio..."

"Hm..." Relena glanced at him, trying to read his expression. "Does that mean you acknowledged their relationship?"

A sigh was released from the captain's lips. His lids slightly lowered as he gazes at the ground. "When that aphrodite charged into the sea of assassins with no hesitation so he could reach Lord Hadrian, I thought he was foolish to do so. However, I would've done the same. Although he's a novice recruit, a pampered child from the Fraunces family of the Left Imperial court, with that delicate body of his, he managed to fight his way through the assassins and successfully enter the collapsing portal faster than I could."

"He is full of surprises..." Relena nodded. "... and beautiful." Relena's eyes narrowed.

Rowan shot her an annoyed gaze and the female captain raised her hands jokingly. Rowan turned away from her and set his eyes on the Guardian barrier of Thundralln, curving and coiling thousands of feet above their heads.

"How did he know the candles could stop the curse from the puppet poison?" She asked, gazing up as if wondering.

"Something happened within the dark chambers that only Lord Hercullio, Moulin, and only the princess know. The one who told him was the elven father of the child Moulin takes care of. He was quite sharp to directly shove the wax in my mouth." Rowan furrowed his brows as he recalled the event in the underground safe room.

"I owe Moulin my life..." He muttered.

Relena heard his words and she kept silent. Moments later, she chuckled. "He is a brave warrior. His heart and his strength are extraordinary. He's the first aphrodite maeruthan to impress me. It's probably it's our guild's loss to not impress the youth enough. Although I am not quite confident with our sentinels in Azuran" She grimaced at her last sentence. "I would want to welcome Moulin to our guild."

Rowan once again narrowed his eyes at her in a glare. "How pitiful of you..."

Selena laughed loudly. She smacked the back of the refined man walking alongside her. Indeed, it has been a long time since she and Rowan had talked. She had missed spending time with this idiot like how they did when they were kids.

The calm breeze sweep around the departing figures of the two people.

...........

"Are you sure, your highness?" A meek voice spoke. Her pointy ears protruded from the sides of her platinum hair. She wore the robes of a palace servant. Hands carried a tray of sweet biscuits and warm milk.

"Yes, stop asking. I'm serious..." Eilhara muttered as she took the tray from her personal attendant. "I heard that she's the daughter of the elf..." She stopped and shook her head. "I didn't want to lie to her yesterday. She had to know about the death of her father and Moulin's disappearance. Even though I said that her father had only left to a place far away, she knew right away that her father died. She was too calm about it that I couldn't sleep at night thinking about what's going on in her head"

The female elf in front of her softened her eyes. The princess is really kind and compassionate. "Then alright, princess."

Eilahara flashed a hearty smile. Facing the door of Phuna's room she breathes deeply. She would admit that she was nervous. Never had she ever comfort a child before. Shaking her head, determination filled her eyes and she nodded to her guards to open the doors for her.

"Phuna?" She nervously peeked inside. "I brought you some sweets."

There was no response. When she stepped inside the room, there was not a sight of the little girl. Only the makeshift top made with tied blankets and an open window was revealed to her eyes.

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