Chapter 24

  Drakkel and Knowl had returned to the palace in only a day, not even bothering to stop for breaks. Rilian Adore’s condition was too dire and by the time they reached the place, he had already developed a fever.

  On the way there, Drakkel had removed his cloak and placed it on Rilian Adore to keep him warm, but this seemed to do nothing to help.

  Because they were demons, there was no need for them to take any sort of medication with them as they were rarely hurt. Any minor injuries they sustained would be quick to recover as well.

  So, as they quickly made their way back, they could only hope that Rilian Adore did not succumb to his injuries.

  Once they arrived, Drakkel immediately called for Lif to take care of Rilian Adore’s wounds However, Lif told him that even for him, this would be difficult to manage.

  Because Rillian Adore’s robes were clean, Drakkel didn’t notice at first. But when they were undone, the true horrors could be seen.

  Layers upon layers of lash marks lined his back, many still caked with blood. It was as if he endured some cruel punishment or torture. The culprit of this was quite obvious, for whom else had kept him trapped for a year prior?

  Once Rilian Adore was taken away, Drakkel rushed to his room, ordering them to take Rilian Adore there once he was stable.

  While waiting, he took out his sword which still laid in its sheath and stared at it for a while. His anger for the clan whose list of atrocities just kept growing longer and longer, leaked out with his demonic energy.

  He almost felt himself yielding to its malicious intent.

  He attempted to calm himself by practicing some sword moves, butt his sword wouldn't move from its sheath.

  If he tried to push it, a jolt of pain traveled up his arm from the hilt. With his power, he could ignore it and forcefully use the sword, but if it was already disagreeing with him, even in his hands it would be basically useless.

  With the thought of everything that occurred, a strong rage rose from his chest as adrenaline rushed through his body. Planning to throw the sword across the room, he lifted his hand. But at the last moment, he stopped himself.

  He sighed and set the sword on a sword stand at the corner of the room.

  Returning to his bed, he thought back to what his master said when he asked where his sword had gone. It disappeared shortly after your fight. I heard it would strike out at anyone who dared touch it and that carrying it would cause one to feel immense pain on contact.

  Because it was with him when he met him, Drakkel could only assume that Rilian Adore had kept the sword at his swords clan, placing it in a sheath to seal it once he got there.

  But the site of their fight was several miles away. In constant intense pain, could he really have carried it that far? And if so, why?

  Around a day later, Lif said that Rilian Adore’s condition had stabilized and his body was brought to Drakkel’s room.

  Drakkel looked upon the body which he thought was strong and sturdy before with a frown. With the cuts and bruises that surrounded it and its paler complexion, it now looked frail and weak.

  After a few minutes, Rilian Adore’s eyes began to twitch. Then he began to call out, “Drakkel… Drakkel…”

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  Drakkel instinctively grabbed onto his hand, hoping to soothe him. And this seemed to work as his troubling movements eventually calmed and quelled. From what he had heard, he had suffered because of him. Yet, even now, it was still him he thought about.

  While Drakkel was deep in thought, Rilian Adore’s hand clenched his. Then he sat up.

  Looking around in confusion, he asked, “Where am I?”

  Drakkel discreetly removed his hand, answering Rilian Adore while his attention was still taken up gazing around the room. “In the demon palace.”

  “... My palace.”

  Rilian Adore’s eyes widened and his head immediately turned in Drakkel’s direction. “Drakkel? Is it really you?”

  Drakkel slowly nodded.

  Rilian Adore grabbed his shoulders. “I’m glad to see you! I…!”

  His mood dropped in an instant.

  Drakkel used this instant to break out of his hold and move a little ways away.

  With eyelids lowered, Rilian Adore looked Drakkel up and down and then his voice quieted a bit as he continued, “Your hands…Your appearance…”

  He hesitated before continuing. “I’ve heard so much about you.”

  His head tilted down. “I was prohibited from listening to news about the outside, but some of my clan members would still come and tell me stories… They say that you're willing to do anything to get what you want, even bed with… unsavory people…”

  Looking up at Drakkel, a deep desperation in his eyes, he continued, “You know you don’t have to do that! You don’t have to ruin your reputation!”

  Rilian Adore’s words seemed difficult to get out.

  Hearing them cut deep into Drakkel's heart, making him feel like he was slapped in the face.

  Suddenly, some of his pent up anger was released and like a surging river freed from a dam, the outpouring of his next words couldn't be stopped.

  His expression soured as he answered, “Yes I'm willing to do anything! What good was ‘reputation’ when my clan was wrongfully slaughtered and my master was killed? What good was it when I lost to you and suffered for years afterwards? Rillian Adore, how nice is it that you can still say these words! How nice is it that you can still talk when you don't know anything?”

  Rilian Adore’s eyes widened at Drakkel’s words.

  He had to realize he was right. Being on the receiving end of wrongful allegations was something he should have felt in the past year. How could he utter such empty words after experiencing this plight himself?

  Thinking of this, he quickly shut up.

  Seeing his sorry state awakened something in Drakkel. Why hadn’t he mentioned it? Why could he still treat him the same after finding out what he was?

  He looked at him and said, “For what reason have you followed me so vehemently? You could have joined all the others in chastising me and washed your hands of any punishment that you might have received. When the world is rebuking me, why do you alone still stand by my side?!”

  With Rilian Adore’s head still down, it was clear Drakkel wasn’t going to get an answer. But a simple thought floated into his mind. He didn’t think it to be true, but he still thought it would be entertaining to test it out.

  He smiled.

  “Rilian Adore, don't tell me you actually like me?” He said with a little laugh.

  Rilian Adore’s head was facing his hands as he refused to answer. But his body seemed to slightly stiffen.

  Drakkel laughed again. He walked up and forcefully grabbed Rilian Adore’s chin, pushing it upwards so that they were looking into each other’s eyes.

  “You truly are handsome,” he said in a purposefully seductive tone.

  A slight blush formed on Rilian Adore’s face as he quietly said, “Drakkel, this isn’t the real you. You’re… different.”

  At that moment, Drakkel realized something. Things like this truly didn't bother him anymore. But how could they? When one’s reputation fell to the dirt and they were forced to eat rocks just to survive, could they still retain such an air of ignorance? With that thought, Drakkel began to feel a bit angry.

  “This is the real me.”

  An image of Kio waving a book in the air as Drakkel chased him, the page stopped on a provocative image, flashed through his mind and his smile widened. He grabbed Rilian Adore’s wrists and shoved him into the bed, placing a leg between his thighs.

  Leaning so close that their lips nearly brushed and the heat of their breaths could be felt on each other’s faces, Drakkel whispered, “Don’t you like it?”

  Rilian Adore shifted his face to the side, but Drakkel could see his expression. A little bit of pain and perhaps some embarrassment. He didn’t even try to fight back. Upon a glance, his annoyance was reaching its peak. He released him and got up. “If you don’t, it would be better...”

  He turned towards the door, his head slightly angling backwards as he looked towards Rilian Adore and finished the thought in his mind, Better than taking the road to hell with only one person by your side.

  Drakkel could no longer stand to be in the room. He finally left, ordering some servants to prepare a nearby guest room for his stay.