Chapter 114

When Kinaine regained consciousness, he was momentarily gripped by the illusion that all his bones had been shattered. He couldn't muster any strength in his body at all.

"Lord Asad..."

A sound like scraping metal came from his throat. No answer came to his unconscious call.

The room was eerily quiet. Not only Asad, but even the bird's song couldn't be heard.

Having lost even the means to substitute for his eyes, Kinaine was now truly alone in darkness where he couldn't see an inch ahead.

The moment he realized this, his steady breathing became disturbed. He felt suffocated, as if trapped in a narrow space.

As he had always done when feeling this way, he unconsciously felt for his neck.

"Huh?"

But nothing could be felt.

What had always been there didn't meet his hand.

Kinaine's face turned pale. The ring... he frantically felt around. But nothing could be found.

His heart dropped. Kinaine hurriedly raised himself.

"Hah!"

A desperate gasp burst out. When getting off the bed, he misplaced one leg and fell.

Though fortunately the soft floor prevented serious injury, his ankle was red and swollen from the wrong impact. But Kinaine seemed not to feel the pain at all, focused only on searching for the ring while feeling around.

"Where, where is it..."

Though thin fluid flowed from between his buttocks with each movement, Kinaine was unaware of it. His unfocused black eyes wandered aimlessly through empty air.

Finding the ring in pitch darkness where nothing could be seen was like finding a needle in a desert. Sweat dripped down Kinaine's temple. As time passed, his anxiety increasingly became reality.

Looking back, he couldn't even remember since when the ring had been missing. Perhaps he had lost it before being imprisoned here.

"Ah..."

A faint moan escaped his lips. Kinaine's eyes grew red.

How could he lose that ring unless he had gone mad?

'Now I know. What eternity means.'

Those moments that now only he remembered.

That worn ring that had lost its luster was the only proof those moments had existed.

Now it was truly all he had left...

Thud! Kinaine slammed his forehead hard against the floor. Otherwise, it felt like everything suppressed deep in his heart would burst forth. Whether because the floor was soft or his senses had dulled, it didn't hurt much.

Just as Kinaine was about to slam his forehead against the floor again.

"Have you gone mad?"

Kinaine's body froze in place. Rough footsteps echoed through the quiet space. Soon a strong force gripped his chin and lifted it.

"You damn... look at your red forehead."

The low voice grinding out curses was fierce with barely contained anger.

"Are you protesting to me now? You're mistaken. Even if you do this, I..."

Kinaine desperately reached toward where Asad was. Gripping the caught clothing tightly, he stammered in a hoarse voice.

"Th-the ring..."

"What?"

"I lost the ring..."

Asad didn't answer. He didn't shake off Kinaine's hand, but neither did he readily offer to help find the ring.

"So what? What's so important about that thing."

The voice that broke the silence fully revealed his uncomfortable mood.

"You're making this fuss over finding that mere ring? Do you know how strange you look right now?"

"Please. My ring, please help me find my ring."

Wherever it was lost, if Asad helped, they could find it quickly. Kinaine held hope. But what came back wasn't a voice meeting his expectations, but sharp mockery.

"Why should I?"

"Please, it's precious to me."

"If it was so precious, you should have kept it safe."

At the cold words, the hand gripping the clothing trembled.

"Who would believe you saying it was precious after losing it?"

"I..."

"Enough, just think it was destined to be lost and forget about it."

"...Destined to be lost. Just forget about it."

The strength slowly left the hand gripping the clothing. Was this how it felt when glass shattered somewhere inside one's body? It felt like scattered glass shards were piercing his internal organs. His head grew faint from the pain.

"Hey!"

As Kinaine collapsed sideways like a straw doll, Asad caught him and flared up again.

"This is driving me crazy! Why do you keep pushing yourself? You can't see yourself, but you look terrible right now!"

Though Asad said something, to Kinaine's ears it sounded only like buzzing noise.

Soon his body was lifted and met with soft bedding against his back.

"Spread your legs."

"..."

"Ah, come on!"

When Kinaine remained still, Asad irritably grabbed his legs and spread them. Though his intimate parts were exposed, unlike usual, Kinaine felt no shame.

Long fingers entered his closed entrance. Soon another finger entered and spread the hole, and he felt thin fluid flowing down his legs.

"This must hurt. I'll take you to the medicinal bath later."

Asad's voice seemed even gentle, unlike moments before. Somehow he seemed to be in a better mood.

If he asked again now, would Asad listen? Kinaine's lips moved. But no words came out. As if Asad's earlier words had blocked his throat.

He knew. Asad had only been talking about the ring. To the current Asad, it was just a worn ring with no meaning.

"Why are you so quiet? You're not angry because I won't help find the ring?"

Long fingers brushed away the hair stuck to his forehead with sweat.

He felt neither anger nor resentment. Only heartache.

So Kinaine repeated what he always said in such moments.

"No, I'm fine."

Words had power, so saying that made it feel like he really would be fine.

When Kinaine became docile, Asad cleared his throat.

"Did you say you feel empty without it?... Then you do need something else."

Muttering, Asad set down a tray of food on the bedside table.

"Food..."

"I can't eat right now."

"Really? Then eat later."

Asad didn't press further. Instead, he naturally lowered his head.

Their lips met. As if Kinaine were sweet candy, Asad sucked his tongue, then nibbled his lower lip before releasing him with eyes overflowing with regret.

"I need to go out again. The third test is about to begin."

The third test. Kinaine's heart rattled at those words.

"Wait just a little longer. This business will end soon."

His attitude suggested he felt unburdened that a bothersome task was ending.

But how long would that last?

A mate was important to dragons. Important enough to give heart to an empty being. Though Asad's attitude might be indifferent now, once he met his true mate, he would change like others said.

He would blush at another person, whisper love, and kiss them.

Asad deserved to enjoy such happiness. Only, Kinaine didn't have the strength to watch him like that.

"Lord Asad. Before you go, may I make one request?"

"What. If it's about finding the ring again, I won't let it slide."

Asad threatened. His attitude of immediately preparing to get angry as if something had struck a nerve was suspicious, but exhausted Kinaine couldn't think that far.

"I want the bird that followed me."

"The bird? Why do you need that? If you want to hear singing, I'll bring you others."

"Didn't you say to tell you if I wanted something? That I could have anything while I'm here? If not the bird, then the ring..."

"Ah, fine. Wait."

Cutting off Kinaine's words, Asad disappeared and reappeared shortly after. Soon a light weight settled on his shoulder.

"Happy now?"

"Yes, thank you."

"Then stay put. Don't go wandering around looking for the ring again. ...If you behave, I'll give you a present."

Finally, Asad's voice disappeared.

"Hello."

Kinaine gently patted the bird's head on his shoulder.

Though he couldn't tell what it looked like, he could tell this bird had small, soft feathers.

"Sorry, I'll borrow your eyes briefly again. There's something I really want to find."

As if answering, the bird chirped.

***

Only when the start of the third test was near did Asad show himself at the main palace. He hadn't shown his face once during all the test preparations. Jet, who had been anxious wondering if he might not appear even on the day itself, breathed a sigh of relief.

Though Jet quickly began explaining about the third test, Asad was lost in thought while fiddling with something.

"Lord Asad, what is that?"

At Jet's question, Asad looked down at what he held in his hand.

It was a worn silver ring.

Asad furrowed his straight brows.

"Trash."