On the other side, at Valerius Castle, the heavy doors of the main hall opened.
Torin came out first. His eyes were still red from crying, and he kept his head down as he walked, like he was trying to make himself smaller.
Aleric came out right after him.
Torin couldn't forgive himself. In his mind, it was because of him that the Archduke had dismissed Aleric from the heir position and only given him a subordinate territory. Aleric could still keep his margrave title, but that title was the only thing he would get from the family now. He was already cast out of the Valerius main line.
Aleric suddenly put a hand on Torin's shoulder.
"Torin. It's not your fault. It's my own decision to save everyone from Tiger Village."
Torin's eyes teared up again. "I know, the Archduke did this because he wanted to save you. But... but if I hadn't brought the villagers with me, maybe you'd at least still have the position of heir. Now you are cast out of the family because of me..."
Aleric sighed. Then without any hesitation, he pulled Torin into both arms and hugged him tight.
Torin froze.
Not just him. The soldiers standing guard outside the castle froze. Even Zephiron, watching from the shadows of the colonnade, froze.
Aleric was their young lord. How could he hug a beastman commoner in front of everyone like this? But they all knew Aleric's temper. If he wanted to do something, he would do it for sure.
Torin tried to push out of the hug, his ears burning red.
Aleric just chuckled. "Why? Now I'm not a noble of the ancient main family anymore. Now I'm just a simple subordinate noble of the Valerius family. I can hug my friend anytime I want."
Torin stopped struggling. He hid his face in Aleric's chest, his heart beating really, really fast. His tears soaked straight into Aleric's formal coat.
Aleric loosened the hug, then grabbed Torin's face with both of his hands and made him look up.
"Torin. I already told you. It is not your fault. It is my decision. You and the villagers from Tiger Village saved me. And it is also my family rule that gave me the reason to save my saviors from their enemy."
"So what if the Imperium wants me back? Do you think my father, Archduke Valerius, will let the Imperium do what they want? They are fools if they really think we are easy to bully. He did it to save me, and to save everyone from the village."
"So stop blaming yourself."
Torin tried to pull away from Aleric's hands again, and Aleric just slipped both hands to Torin's waist and locked him in place again. The soldiers shuddered where they stood. What the hell, Margrave, just get a room. No one will believe he's just your friend now, they thought to themselves.
Aleric chuckled at him. "You little... you tried to free yourself just now, didn't you? Just promise me you'll not blame yourself anymore. Only then will I release you."
Torin avoided Aleric's gaze. In his heart he felt the biggest turmoil he had ever faced. His heart was beating so loudly he was sure Aleric could hear it. For the first time, he felt it clearly. He was in love. In love with Margrave Aleric. But he didn't want to say it out loud. It was a crime for a commoner, and as a beastman, to love a noble, and a human at that.
He kept his eyes down and said slowly, "Hmm... I'll not blame myself anymore."
Aleric finally let him go, a satisfied grin on his face. Torin quickly straightened his tunic and started walking fast toward the villagers waiting in the courtyard, trying to act normal. Aleric chuckled at his back and followed right behind him.
The soldiers all sighed in relief. At least the margrave hadn't done anything more in front of them.
When Aleric reached the villagers, Torin had already told them everything. The old men and women from Tiger Village came up one by one and bowed low, apologizing to him with shaking voices.
Aleric just waved his hand and dismissed them. "Don't."
The villagers loved him for it. The children broke through the crowd and tugged at his coat, calling him the same thing they always had.
"Strong brother! Strong brother! Did you know we saw many candy shops in the market. Can you bring us some candies ? "
Aleric laughed, and for a moment, the cold weight of being cast out of the main family didn't seem to touch him at all. He nodded to them in response...
Argent Spire, inside the apartment room, it was already night.
Silas had bought food from the canteen for Draven earlier. After having lunch with his friends, he had already told them Draven was okay right now, just sleeping. He came back to the room and sat in the chair by the side table, tapping his fingers on the wood, thinking about something.
Draven woke up normally. He looked around, saw Silas sitting there, got up from the bed, walked over, and hugged him from behind. Only then did Silas notice he was awake.
Silas turned his head sideways to look at him. "Are you okay now, Draven?"
Draven leaned down and kissed him, gently locking his lips with Silas's. "Yes, babe. I'm okay right now. You were right. That nightmare didn't come back at all."
Silas smiled at him and returned the kiss, more passionately this time, sighing in relief.
Draven pulled back just enough to study his face. "What were you thinking about, Silas?"
Silas looked into Draven's deep eyes, then shook his head. "Nothing. I was just worried about something."
Draven frowned after hearing that. He took Silas's hand into his own. "Worried? What are you worried about?"
Silas chuckled, looking at his face. "Not that serious. I think I need to go home for a few days, after a week."
Draven looked at him, confused. "Why are you going home right now? Your classes haven't even started properly yet. If you go back home right now, maybe the academy won't let you go."
Silas shook his head. "I met the vice dean this afternoon. He told me it is okay. And I really need to go, Draven. Don't worry. It won't be long until I come back again."
Draven didn't answer. He just hugged Silas tight from behind. The chair creaked between them from the pressure. He rested his chin on Silas's shoulder and pouted.
Silas stood up from the chair, and Draven let him, only to immediately wrap his arms around him again from the front this time, putting his head on Silas's shoulder. He was still growling softly, with a pouting face.
Silas chuckled and asked, "Do you want to come with me?"
Draven's face lit up instantly. "Can I?"
Silas shook his head. "No. Not this time. This time I'm going home for an important mission. I'll take you there later."
Draven pouted again and hid his face in Silas's shoulder. Silas let him do it, laughing quietly, his hand rubbing slow circles on Draven's back.
Then he felt it. Draven was pressing himself flush against him, holding on tighter than before, his breath turning warm against Silas's neck. Silas can easily felt the hard member of Draven against his navel, growing little by little.
Silas froze immediately. "Draven!"
Draven didn't move. He stayed locked around Silas in his embrace, his arms like iron, refusing to let go, his whole body betraying exactly how much he had missed him during the nightmare.
Draven groaned against his neck, his voice low and muffled.
"Let me stay like this, babe..."
His hips shifted just enough that Silas felt it. Draven's member twitched once, and the heat of him pressed hard against Silas's stomach. Silas got embarrassed instantly. His ears went red, while Draven didn't look embarrassed at all.
Draven was still hiding his face in Silas's shoulder, pouting like he was heartbroken. But he wasn't really pouting. He was grinning silently, taking full advantage of the position while Silas, being a good person, honestly thought his boyfriend was just sad.
Draven was sad about Silas leaving, but for now he was definitely enjoying this.
Silas lifted a hand to coax him, to rub his back and say something reassuring, when a sudden notification rang straight in his mind.
[Ding!]
[Congratulations, Host. The affection between you and Draven has grown more intense. Love Points are now at 200%]
[Congratulations, Host, for triggering a Task!]
[Task: Reach Level 21 and awaken the First Class Change Skill.
Time Limit: 1 Week.
This skill is the first skill of your unique hidden class change. The rank of this skill is Forbidden. Be careful, Host. The future is not easy ahead.]
Silas froze mid-motion, his hand still on Draven's back.
He got completely dumbfounded. He knew about the job change thing. Every twenty levels, everyone's class evolved,except the first 10 level is for apprentice level. It was the same rule for everyone in this world, and for him the rule was the same. But when he reached level 11 nothing changed for him , now it is his turn ?
Right now Draven was on the verge of breaking through from Knight to his next stage, Warlord. And Silas himself was still below Level 20.
If he could reach Level 21 within this week, he would get his first class change skill. His class would change too.
Silas's heart started beating fast, not because of Draven pressing against him anymore, but because of excitement.
He was an Author. A unique hidden class that no one else had. What kind of first skill would an Author get? And what rank? Forbidden.
He looked down at Draven, who was still clinging to him like a koala, completely unaware that Silas's mind had just been turned upside down by the system.
"Draven," Silas said quietly.
"Hmm?" Draven mumbled into his shoulder, still pretending to pout.
"I think... I really do have to go to my dorm now."
Draven looked at Silas's face and frowned. He was still pouting.
"Why?" he asked.
Silas chuckled and tried to wiggle a little in his arms. "It's already night. If I don't go to my dorm, where will I stay today?"
Draven didn't answer with words. He just tightened his hug, pulling Silas against him until Silas could feel everything, warm and hard member of draven pressed right into his stomach.
Silas's eyes went wide. His ears turned red, then his whole face.
"Draven!"
Draven grinned down at him, completely shameless. "Why, you don't like your husband?"
Silas's eyebrow twitched. "What! What husband? We are only boyfriends! Boyfriends!"
Draven leaned in to kiss him quiet, but Silas got his hand up just in time and blocked his mouth. Silas was laughing in Draven's arms now.
"Do you think you're too smart? Hahaha!"