The atmosphere inside the bathroom felt very peaceful, filled only by the sound of splashing water and the scent of soap. The room provided enough privacy for all of them to wash away the remaining tension from today's tournament.
In a slightly separated corner, Arvin was patiently bathing Allen's body on top of an ice block he had created using his magic. The ice surface was made very smooth and curved ergonomically to resemble a comfortable resting place for the body of his spouse who was still unconscious.
Using a soapy soft cloth, he lathered every part of his first spouse's body with full affection. His hands moved carefully, cleaning every speck of dust and dried blood stains stuck on Allen's skin.
However, behind the calmness of his face, Arvin's mind was still thinking about the condition of his spouse who was still unconscious.
The worry that had seized his mind in those critical seconds turned out to far exceed what he had expected.
His anxiety defeated all forms of logic, driven by his immense feelings of love and affection for Allen.
Amidst the silence of his activity, the defensive walls of Arvin's emotions stretched slightly. An impulsive action done unconsciously occurred.
Mwah!
Arvin kissed his first spouse's lips gently while closing his eyes, simply enjoying the one-sided intimate kiss that channeled his overflowing worry.
And what happened next was truly beyond expectation.
Amidst the kiss that was supposed to be unrequited, a pair of hands slowly lifted from the side of the ice block. The wet and soapy hands immediately moved up, pulling the nape of Arvin's neck and holding him so he wouldn't pull away.
The one-sided kiss he gave to Allen now received a real and slightly demanding response.
Instantly, Arvin opened his eyes in surprise.
Through such a close distance, he saw Allen, who had apparently regained consciousness, staring at him and returning his kiss. However, the thing that stunned him the most was not the fact that Allen suddenly woke up, but rather what he saw on the youth's face.
His first spouse was crying in silence.
"Why are you crying, Allen?" asked Arvin gently after releasing the lock of their lips. His hand reflexively raised to wipe the trail of tears flowing from the corner of his first spouse's eyes.
Allen took a slow breath that sounded slightly trembling, returning the gaze directly into his husband's pair of blue eyes.
"I just found out that you insulted and humiliated me in public like that only to awaken my power." answered Allen sobbing softly. The realization of his husband's sacrifice in the past hit his core strongly. "I finally understand why at the past, in the inn's bathroom, you really wanted to make me hate you."
The sound of Allen's sobs breaking the silence of the room immediately attracted the attention of Arvin's other spouses.
Realizing that the first spouse had finally regained consciousness and started speaking, Alrian, Dylan, Davin, and Arion hurried to stop their bathing routines, then stepped approaching the area where the ice block was to check on Allen's condition.
Arvin ignored the sound of approaching footsteps and kept his gaze focused on his first spouse.
"Has your power awakened?" asked Arvin, wanting to confirm his condition.
Allen nodded firmly. "I can feel a massive amount of power inside my body right now. But, what happened to me? Why am I here?" he asked with a confused look, realizing that he was now on top of an ice block in a bathroom, not in the arena.
Hearing the barrage of questions, Arvin began to recount what actually happened in the arena in detail when Allen suddenly lost consciousness over himself, went berserk until he almost killed Raven, and also when he was nearly killed by Alrain.
While apologizing, Arvin explained that he had slammed Allen's body into the arena to stop the uncontrollable rampage.
The pink-haired youth's face looked quite shocked hearing the entire series of unreasonable events he had caused in the arena without him realizing it.
"At that time, I remembered the hurtful words you once said in our previous life." confessed Allen honestly, recounting the main trigger before he lost consciousness. "And somehow when I ran into the forest, my vision went dark and I didn't remember anything else."
Allen stared intently at his husband's face again, trying to piece together his subconscious memories.
"And then, I suddenly saw a very bright light. I walked towards that light." he continued explaining. "What happened next, I woke up and saw you kissing me."
Allen's hand slowly raised, caressing his husband's face gently. "It seems your kiss has brought me back to my senses. Thank you very much, My Husband."
Arvin smiled in relief hearing his explanation.
"I also feel relieved seeing you awake, Allen." replied Arvin with a sincere tone. He immediately activated the healing magic to cure the remaining bruises, scrapes, and muscle fatigue that had not been fully healed since his first spouse passed out unconscious.
Feeling the pain all over his body disappear and his body become light again, Allen quickly got up from his lying position on the ice block and immediately hugged his husband's body tightly, not caring at all that his body was still naked and wet, slippery with soap suds.
"You are truly the best husband!" praised Allen sincerely from the deepest bottom of his heart, resting his chin on Arvin's shoulder. "Thanks to you in our previous life, I can awaken this power without you having to make me hate you in the present time."
On the other side of the bathroom, Arion became confused by the topic of conversation between Arvin and Allen.
He confused with furrowed brows, completely not understanding the 'previous life' that Allen mentioned to their husband.
Aware of the confusion clearly imprinted on his face, Davin, who was standing not far from there, looked at his husband's face, who was still in Allen's embrace.
"Allen has already said everything, may I explain it to him, My King?" he asked, confirming and asking for permission first before revealing their family's biggest secret.
"Yeah, go ahead, Davin." answered Arvin gently, giving his eighth spouse full permission to speak.
Getting absolute permission from his husband, the brownish-white-haired youth immediately turned his body. He looked at Arion's face alternately with a gaze that began to turn serious.
"Actually, this is the second life of our husband, Allen, Alrain, Ordion, and me in this world." Davin said, beginning to reveal the true facts with a calm yet firm voice. "In our previous life, Allen, Ordion, and I were the enemies of our husband and also Alrain."