24 The night of decisions part 1

"Do you really need to baby him like this? I'm sure he could look after himself just fine" those were the words Noah opened the door to. The owner was sitting right in front of him, pouring tea into two teacups with an elegant and delicate pouring technique.

"I'm not babying him, just making sure he stays alive through all this. Don't forget I did this for everyone who undertook this trial" without the mask, the mature look of that face looked far off on that young face.

Perhaps that was what caused the other to chuckle and gain a fond look on his face.

"Noah, come here" the elder opened his arms, holding it toward Noah. The gesture was clearly an invitation for the other, but the aura and smell that penetrated the space made it clear that it was anything but an invitation.

It was an order, one Noah was reluctant to follow but finally, he gave in with an almost tired huff. There was no denying the other when he was in such a mood.

Noah's body was far too small to fit perfectly into those adult arms but the other seemed to almost be used to it, his body finding the perfect spot to fit in those arms.

"You are not planning anything too dangerous, are you Ryu? I know this is a trial but do go easy" Noah muttered, the childish body all but melting into the arms of the temple master.

"Asking me to go easy? Now that's expecting too much from me. It'll be as tough as it needs to be, it's a trial after all" the elder's voice held amusement and a certain hint of darkness to it. It wasn't a pleasant tone but the voice more than made up for it.

The silence that followed was not heavy but it did hold a promise. What did that promise represent, neither was sure?

"Please do be careful this time around. The connection you both share with each other is different from others who took the trial before after all" Noah finally pulled away, his body leaving the secure and warm arms that held him.

Ryu had a certain expression of longing and loss as the child straightened himself but it was soon covered by a small and sad smile that looked not too far off on his face. The face which looked not too far off from a certain king.

"I'm aware and that's also why I must go now. Whether Keito would listen to me this time around is still a mystery to be seen but so far he has shown that he's willing to change. Perhaps, in time he would come to inherit the fate that is written for him. I just hope it happens before your time runs out" the ending note to that voice was accompanied by a sorrowful tone.

One which Noah had come to become far too familiar with, both in the past and the present life. Every happy moment was one they had fought for, a longing they had begged to be allowed to have and happiness they had cherished.

And in the end, all they begged was to have the least regrets they could.

"Take care then. I'll handle things here" that was all Noah could say and all Ryu could do in return was nod his agreement before it all faded away.

The realm was currently connected to Keito, his very presence and proximity the reason this place existed in such a shape and form. And then the temple was no more for the time being, distorted till Keito would visit him once again.

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The palace was bound by a tense silence. Everyone knew that the young prince was in a foul temper and thus, not to be angered any further.

This was a seldom occurrence for the kingdom, their prince being a well-mannered youth known to all and yet at this very moment, the tempest that brewed all around the castle could be caused by no one else but him.

"Your highness, should we get Lady Jess?" a servant asked, binding her courage to offer the solution. Yet all she got in return was a glare and a scent sour enough to cause a flinch.

And that was it, no one else approached the king after that, assuming that something went wrong with Lady Jess. The rumour held merit too since Lady Jess had not been seen for a whole day now.

Prince Keito had been out for the whole day too, dodging his guards so it was an easy assumption to make.

But if even Lady Jess was out of the question, then who could help them now? This could not continue to happen or the next security meeting would not be able to be held.

Already, the cold embrace of war was looking to be nearer and nearer.

Keito knew all this. He did try to care, to bring his mood up and appear to put a more optimistic front for his people and servants.

Yet every time he tried, he came up short.

And it seemed as if his wolf had abandoned him too at such a crucial point too. He was sure that the other would return to him as soon as he left the temple but it had yet to happen.

He could not remember how long it usually took for the other to appear since he had never cared for such things in his previous life but this separation was beginning to worry him.

And fed into his anger which just blazed the whole cycle once again.

"Leave me alone for tonight. Tell the council that the meeting had been postponed till tomorrow" Keito did not like the sigh of relief everyone took as he dismissed them but he understood the reason.

'Someone is grumpy. Did you not find our omega?' The voice was a welcoming distraction to Keito, which also made him almost jump.

"Where were you?" Keito grumbled but his mood did pick up. He did not know why, but he just felt calmer with that presence.

Maybe it was because they shared a secret which no one else seemed to know about. It did not matter what the reason was, just that he finally had the wolf back with him.

'Keito is avoiding questions,' the wolf teased but his voice still held the previous question relevantly. Keito just prepared himself to answer because he knew that the wolf would not take it well.

'I tried to get answers but all I got was a gibberish answer. Those monks always trouble me with their scentlessness and airy presence. The oracle sprouted some lines but I think I know what is required of me now' the wolf seemed to be laughing at him, Keito could almost see it.

That wolfish features twisted into an amused smirk before it all faded into a serious look.

'Omega sent us here with a purpose. Would not fail him' Keito agreed with his wolf, his eyes going a little hazy before they glowed with a determined light. He knew that there were things that were expected of him now, it was not a carefree life at all.

Every second here was precious and it would not wait for him to fail. There would be no second chances that they would get, none at all.

"Let's go, we have things to do now" Keito finally snapped out of his mood, his determination clear to those who could see him. The wolf also let off a victorious howl, one only Keito could hear before he was a shadow in the night.

The plan was simple, to foil the assassination attempt on the royal couple which marked as the first blow to their line of defence. This one single thing could change the course of everything that was to happen.

Keito knew the castle like the back of his hand and this knowledge helped him in navigating it throughout the night. The patrol was packed tight and yet it held enough flaws to allow him an easy passage.

Since he was not sure when the attempt would be held, all he could do was to try and map out areas. In the darkness of the night, Keiot felt even more connected with his senses than before, everything is enchanted.

His wolf helped a tone in this, the senses becoming sharper the closer they got. Something, even their desires brushed and it was a terrifying feeling - to feel the everlasting hunger of the wolf.

It made him miss Noah for some reason, the feeling of his wolf bleeding over highlighting it a tone and all he could do was move and hope that it would be over soon.

His sharp senses picked up the small moment from the corner of his eyes. It happened down in the garden, the rustling of the bushes and Keito was sure he would make it.

And he leapt out of the second-floor window from a dead corner where no eyes reached, directly near where the shadow had moved about.

He had the intruder now.