General Xinling twitched. “A fair word of warning. Do not refer to me as the Prince’s brother. Our succession has not been decided yet.” He paused and said almost to himself, “Even if the king favours Prince Yuanyin.”

The thought of it angered him more and General Xinling leaned back on the couch.

“Fuxiao is someone close to me. A subordinate, but also more than that. Someone whom I made a promise to…”

Lord Senjahari studied General Xinling as he listened to the familiar narrative. Two people who were more than companions, made a promise before going separate ways in the middle of war. He had heard variations of the story from so many of his own people, of people who were married or were in a romantic relationship. It was something Lord Senjahari couldn’t understand or fathom. What is romance? Was companionship not enough? If romance and marriage were the next step, was he never going to move forward?

No.

Romance wasn’t the answer to everything.

Lord Senjahari chose not to have a romantic relationship, because romance wasn’t part of his big dreams. Even a powerless prince had dreams. Dreams of standing with the crown atop his head. Romance had no place on the throne.

Ah, perhaps, when he became king, would he need a queen?

Lord Senjahari couldn’t imagine anyone sitting next to him aside from Setia and Captain Taring. All he needed was his people, nothing more, nothing less.

“General, this may be a bit of a personal question,” Lord Senjahari kept his eyes on the man opposite him, “What makes this person more important than anyone else?”

General Xinling narrowed his eyes in suspicion. “Are you simply curious or are you prying more information to use as a threat?”

In the sudden heavy atmosphere, an aristocrat would flash a polite smile to ease the tension but Lord Senjahari kept his stoic expression. The years of losing and sacrificing had hardened him. Ever since he gave up his succession, smiling was a luxury he no longer gave himself. He swore that he would walk the thorny route and dirty his hands until he achieved his dream.

The throne.

“If we’re going to be allies, I believe I should know what my partner holds dear. So that I can assure you that I will help you protect it too.”

General Xinling didn’t look convinced but he let it slide. He relaxed in his seat, his dark eyes softening as he said, “Fuxiao… our relationship is one where we court each other with the intention of building a future together.”

The corner of Lord Senjahari’s mouth dropped.

Ah, so the General was just like everyone else.

Driven by love, willing to throw away everything for one person, blinded by the heart throbbing emotion.

He thought the General would be special, would be different. He thought he had found someone who shared the same burning ambition as he did.

How disappointing.

-

He was a monster.

A monster wrapped in black waves of energy and bright glowing eyes. He prowled through the thick jungles, breathing heavy with blood lust. Screeches cut through the air. Scuttles across dried branches. Grunts and snorts. The shadow creatures looked back at him as they hurried along. Around him.

And they attacked.

They stabbed, bit, clawed at him.

He struggled but he was outnumbered.

The plague drowned him in the swarm. Eating him alive.

His voice was lost in the darkness.

And then the moon cracked opened its eyes.

The sky split apart and three pairs of eyes rolled down to look into him.

And as though the night pitied him, it cried. White streaks dripped from the dark eyes, flowing down and reaching him, cutting through the black mud. The white streams wrapped around his body and as they merged with the energy, their masquerades were lifted and Topan stared up at the beautiful figure before him.

-

Topan snapped his eyes open. Leaves rustled in the night breeze outside the window.

His sweating body found comfort in the slim arms wrapped around him.

Gleaming eyes fluttered open and a soft whisper asked, “Did you have a nightmare?”

Carefully, Topan shifted and turned his gaze to Fuxiao. “Never so glad to be alive.”

A comfortable silence settled in as their fingers intertwined with each other and they shared the quiet of the night.

“Would you rather go to the Shewei Kingdom?”

Fuxiao glanced over from the corner of his eyes. “What brought that up?”

“I have unfinished business in Lekasi and the army is chasing after me. It will be safer if you’re not with me, if you go to the East.”

“I’m also wanted by the army for helping you escape and there’s no guarantee that I will be safe in the East either. I don’t remember anything about that place, or if I’m actually from there.” Fuxiao met Topan’s dark eyes. “At the barracks, they promised me a place to stay to help me regain my memories but I never felt safe. I was surrounded by many watchful eyes. If I have to, I’d rather stay with you. Someone I know, someone my Bloodline resonates with, someone I trust.”

Topan didn’t have anything to say to that. They were both fugitives with nothing to gain or lose. All they had was each other.

Fuxiao closed his eyes and murmured, “What will you do once we reach Lekasi?”

“I want to believe that there are still survivors in Lekasi, even if it has been ten years. If we clear the hudoqs and rebuild the kingdom, I want to crush Cahayaranga. Show them what they did to us. But it’s gonna be hard. We’ve lost so much.” He let out a soft chuckle, “It’s an impossible dream. Maybe it’s just my conscience lying to me so that I have a goal to keep on living for.”

Fuxiao remained silent.

“I wish you could tell me about yourself.” Topan muttered, “I want to know more about you.”

“Well,” Fuxiao shifted and fixed his gaze on Topan. “I’m Fuxiao, a combat medic. I woke up in a bloodbath. Without memories, not understanding what was going on around me. All I knew was I had to run. My body and instincts were the only things I had. The hudoqs would have killed me, but…” his voice dropped to a whisper.

“A man saved me, took me by his side. He wasn’t bothered that I didn’t know my own identity. He wasn’t suspicious of me. He accepted me for who I am, held me, showed that even in the darkest hours, we could survive. There were hard times, battling against monsters and people, but no matter what happened, we were bound together.” Fuxiao squeezed their hands together. “If you promise to hold my hand, I will never let you go.”

Warmth settled into their bodies. Topan brought up their hands and placed a kiss on Fuxiao’s knuckles. “I promise. We’ll be together. Now and forever.”

“Whether it’s killing the hudoqs, rebuilding the kingdom, or avenging your comrades, I will always be by your side.”

-

The tavern was already filled when Fuxiao and Topan arrived. Today would be the day they leave this town and go back to the open lands, to Topan’s homeland. With their hoods up, they sat at the bar and ordered their last decent meal. Fuxiao cringed at the thought of eating hudoq meat again. But if that was the price to be far away from the Royal Army and the cold-blooded lord, he would eat as much hudoq meat as he could stomach.

Then, a blacksmith entered the tavern.

“Hey, Baja!” The men at a table greeted him. “Haven’t seen you around lately!”

“Was out, had a minor accident,” Baja grimaced. “There’s a lot going on at the barracks, you wouldn’t believe it.”

“Hell, man. That’s why we always tell you to just stay here. Why work with the Bloodliners? They’re dangerous.”

“It’s not that bad.” Baja settled at the table. “There’s bound to be work accidents, and besides… my fiancee works there too.”

“What’s this? Lover boy!! You’d go to hell and back for your girl?!”

Laughter erupted.

“But truly, you’re the best blacksmith in town. Ain’t surprised the lord wants to keep you.”

“I guess we can be proud that you’re working directly with the lord!”

Baja laughed along with the men. Pain gripped his sides. When he woke up in the morning, his wounds were sewed shut to the point where the nurses couldn’t find anything wrong with him. He tried to explain to them that the foreign medic treated him but everyone was too busy dealing with the hudoq attack’s aftermath to pay him much attention.

No matter how much he tried, he couldn’t find the whereabouts of the foreigner and Yuda. He hadn’t heard from Kirana either.

Lately, his luck had been down the drains.

Baja got up. “I’m gonna order food. Don’t finish up your drinks before me,” and he walked over to the bar.

Fuxiao kept his hood up, covering his face. But the heavy thuds of boots against the wooden floor left him feeling exposed. His Blood rose. Adrenaline rushed in. But in this town that was wary of Bloodliners, he couldn’t expose himself and put Topan in more danger. He couldn’t bring out his Bloodline, not here.

But.

Kill.

Erase this human.

His insides were screaming. Survival instincts. Calling.

He tightened his fists.

The bloodlust expanded, catching the attention of another customer in the corner. Dark eyes glanced up from under the brim of his hat. Burned marks covered half of his face.

At the other side of the town, Setia stopped on his track. It was faint, but he sensed it. The bloodlust in the air.