"Oh my... It's beautiful!"

Ayren muttered something unintelligible as he strolled through the bustling streets, having left their horse by a tavern to book a room.

The swordsman cast a disinterested glance at the city, which prominently displayed the wealth of the ruling family. The streets buzzed with life, the buildings perfectly maintained, markets overflowing with fresh produce from various lands, and artists performing joyfully, creating a dynamic and cheerful atmosphere.

Beside him, Loon was wide-eyed with wonder, looking almost childlike as he took in the vibrant sights. He remained silent, his gaze darting around as his horns threatened to peek out from beneath his hood. Thankfully, no one seemed to mind; the city had become a sanctuary for those who were different or opposed to the Emperor, embracing all who sought refuge.

"Do not run like that!" The soldiers of Talon's unit tried to chase Loon as he was exploring the markets, excited to see what the other countries had to offer. For some reason Talon and his unit were still escorting them.

"He looks like he has never been to a city." Talon was walking next to Ayren, who looked fiercely towards the captain of the Guard "Tell me, Ayren, who is he, really?"

Ayren looked at him with an annoyed stare. "No one you should be worried about."

Talon crossed his arms, and Ayren halted, turning to face the man as the soldiers chased after Loon.

"Ayren, do you realize that everyone in the city is probably whispering about your return?"

"Why? Do they fear I want to slay someone in this untouchable ground?" Ayren smirked. "I wouldn't mind starting a bloodbath, beginning with you." His confession made Talon regard him with a serious expression.

"As Captain of the Guard, I have to ask," Talon stated firmly, "Do you plan to get married?"

Ayren nearly stumbled to the ground as Talon pointed at Loon, who was delighting in something the guards had bought him. Loon's eyes sparkled with joy, and someone couldn't help but notice the tip of his tail swaying happily, peeking out from beneath the long brown robe.

"What.... In the... Aaah." Ayren was feeling terribly in awe and mad towards Talon's spontaneous question.

"The guards and I figured that the only way someone could remain close to you without facing certain death would be to capture your solitary heart... So, have you chosen this city to tie the knot...?"

Ayren grasped the collar of his armor, yanking Talon closer as his red eyes blazed with fury. "It's infuriating how you seem to invite death, but we're in sacred ground. If we weren't, I'd have slaughtered you like a pig. You'd better keep your mouth shut," he hissed through clenched teeth.

"Got it, no marriage then." Talon said with a sigh, glancing at the guards who stood by, awaiting instructions. It was clear from their expressions that the signal they'd received was negative, and they let out a collective sad sigh.

"What a useless thought got in your perverted brain, I swear you definitely like to play with my patience." Ayren said as he felt flustered "Also, why are you still walking with us?"

"I will make sure you're here for what you said you're here for." he said and Ayren looked at him with a deadly stare "O-Of course for this reason, do not stare at me like that, you're dangerous, I am just making sure the city will stay peaceful."

"Whatever," Ayren grumbled, only to flinch when he spotted Loon in the distance, happily munching on something that sent a wave of dread through him.

"NO!" he shouted, catching the dragon's attention as Loon tilted his head in confusion. The guards, noticing Ayren's sudden alarm, turned to look at Loon, their expressions shifting to concern as they saw the merchant grinning beside him.

"Huh?" Loon asked, mouth full, as Ayren placed his hands firmly on the dragon's shoulders. The swordsman's eyes widened as he fixated on Loon's lips, as if they were smeared with poison.

"It's spicy food! You haven't eaten in centuries—can your stomach handle it?" Ayren sighed, rubbing his forehead in exasperation. "What am I going to do? I'm going to lose it..." He turned his gaze back to Loon. "You... you better spit it out, now!"

Loon stared at him, momentarily puzzled by Ayren's frantic demeanor. Was this human really underestimating him? A chuckle escaped Loon's lips, amusement dancing in his azure eyes.

"It does taste amazing!" Loon's blue eyes were cheerful and full of life while the soldiers and Ayren were just going through depression "I am not a baby, I know how to handle food even if it's been years." he said with an obvious tone to then block himself from speaking.

Ayren laid the hand on his head to then stroke his hair covered still by the hood "Just do not put in your mouth whatever food like you did back in the forest, for now you're still under my responsibility" he said to the sigh "Someone dying in the city would mean boredom to me, specially if it's a death from food."

Loon tilted his head and the swordsman looked at him with a calm gaze, as the soldiers and Talon were looking at the two being again closed in their bubbles like they were speaking more with their eyes than words.

Talon wanted to die once he saw Loon offering the stick with spicy dumplings in and Ayren laying to bite one just to see Loon happy.

Ayren literally would have killed anyone for that, but he couldn't let the half dragon down, not when his blue eyes were looking at him like that full of life, which lowkey he actually never liked, but couldn't resist.

Also, because in his head, that would have been probably their last day together, so he just wanted to make the best out of his day.

"Isn't it good? Do you call this spicy?" Loon asked and Ayren looked at him as he was slowly eating, like he was in a trance, but he was simply back to being calm, neutral towards anything. Loon's aura was simply something he couldn't explain and couldn't control.

"It's good, indeed." he said to then cross his arms "You're enjoying yourself, aren't you?" he asked and Loon smiled softly at that comment.

"I had a bad image in my mind, troubling my heart as I thought about the destruction the Emperor brought, but... All this, made my heart back to being at ease about... Every Era is like a storm... It comes, but never stays and once it's done... Everything slowly goes back... no... Rebirth... Yes, rebirth... There is always a new rainbow after every storm... New life after every Era of destruction." Loon looked around, his eyes filled with the beauty of a living city. "Humans are amazing at that."

"At destroying?" Ayren asked with a smirk, just to make Loon look at him with an annoyed stare.

"At... standing up again and live... building on what has been destroyed." he tried to explain himself and Ayren looked at the immortal, like he couldn't understand how Loon was still believing in the beauty of humans after all they have done to him.

"Unbelievable." he commented, and Loon tilted his head under Ayren's smirk. He was quite amused.

"The Mage guild is there." Talon coughed and Ayren and Loon looked at him, making the captain strike his hair embarrassed like he was feeling some silent stabs straight to his heart.

Ayren crossed his arms once Talon made them face the big gate of the palace of the guild. Loon looked at the captain of the guard opening the door, and talking to a man covered by a purple robe; a mage apprentice.

The two entered, with the soldiers and Talon escorting them. Loon looked around the palace full of libraries where mages were studying and walking. It looked like a big academy. The lamps were enhanced with immortal flames, similar to Loon's mana.

"So, you found this half dragon in a forest and now you're asking to see the great mage for...?" The sorcerer who was escorting them through the academy was trying to understand the situation as seeing Ayren with a half dragon alive was something new for everyone.

"To seek a refuge for him." Ayren explained to then stop in front of a big door as the sorcerer nodded.

"Great Mage Umi will surely help you, you may enter." he smiled to then leave them there. Talon crossed his arms and Ayren looked at Loon, who looked confused for a moment.

"Am I supposed to enter alone?" Loon asked and Talon nodded.

Loon looked at Ayren, who was keeping his stare on him. He was feeling annoyed, but he couldn't make a mess inside the city just for this. He sighed and left a glance to the door as a sign for the half dragon, who nodded.

"Thank you for everything, Ayren." Loon smiled and Ayren nodded calmly "Will I find you in the city or you're... you're really going?"

"I'm probably going to head to the tavern," Ayren said, but his feet remained planted as Loon's clear blue eyes held his gaze, silently expecting something more. "Do not..." Ayren felt a surge of nerves, as if he needed to distance himself from the dragon. "...do anything stupid," he warned, cutting himself off before turning away to make his exit.

For some reason, he felt his feet heavy like he was walking along a coast and his boots were full of sand, making it hard to move.

Talon walked with him and Loon stayed alone, looking at the swordsman who was going away. He didn't know what to feel, but he felt lonely, again.

He felt those chains again around his neck and body, his breath was getting heavy like he was feeling the darkness threatening his aura like he was back to that place of isolation.

He stepped into the room, unable to bear another moment in the corridor. His eyes widened as he spotted the Great Mage, half asleep in a large chair, surrounded by a cluttered desk overflowing with magical tomes and a flickering candle with a purple flame.

"I was wondering... " the mage had long blonde hair and purple eyes, wearing a purple robe with a pendant around his neck "This mana... If it isn't the Moon's Herald."

Loon stared at the mage, disbelief washing over him. "So, it's really you... even in this era," he murmured, both of them sizing each other up. "I can hardly believe I'm face-to-face with the mage of the Order who helped him imprison me."

"How brilliant." Umi smirked as he noticed Loon sitting and leaving his brown tunic, showing his horns and tail in all his beauty. "You knew it wasn't my plan. I was following you since I felt a little trace of your mana... I saw you with that swordsman, Ayren."

Loon flinched as he heard his name "So you were spying on me? And why?" he asked, crossing his arms.

"I dispatched my men as soon as I sensed your mana again," Umi said, rising to approach Loon, who blinked in surprise. "The Emperor intended to keep you imprisoned and forged a contract with us to erase our memories of your existence along with yours. But once you broke free from our mana hourglass, everything came flooding back to me, and I hurried to find you." He regarded the half-dragon with a knowing look. "You're finally back home, Loon."

"What a nonsense." Loon commented as he stood up "Whatever happened in the past..." he locked his blue eyes on Umi "I am not willing to waste more time on you, clearly it was a mistake."

"Don't you fear that someone else got his memories back?" Umi commented and Loon stopped his feet, to then turn towards the Great Mage, who smirked.

"You see... The useless Emperor we have now, surely doesn't care... But the other mages who were with me, surely got back to remember you and your..." Umi touched Loon's hair "Amazing, endless mana..."

Loon grasped Umi's hand, and a smirk spread across the mage's face as their eyes met—Umi's purple gaze locking onto Loon's glowing blue ones. Around the half-dragon, a cascading waterfall of mana began to form, a mesmerizing yet perilous spectacle that served as a warning. "Do. Not. Touch. Me." Loon spoke slowly, his voice steady as the shimmering currents of mana danced around him, brushing through his hair.

Umi smirked, "I can't imprison you again sadly." Loon gnashed his teeth "But it's also true I made my mistake in the past... The Emperor made us crazy over your mana... It was so beautiful and endless..." he sighed to then look at the half dragon "But... I was your friend."

"You were, indeed." Loon looked for a moment hurt and Umi took that moment to caress his cheeks "You did betray me."

"I'm sure all of your friends betrayed you," Umi's voice dripped with allure, his glowing eyes capturing Loon's attention like a moth to a flame. The half-dragon felt a pang of vulnerability at the words, a reminder of his past betrayals.

"But it's another Era now." Umi continued, his tone shifting to one of persuasion. "I can make it up to you if you forgive me, Loon." As his hand rested gently on Loon's chin, the blue-eyed dragon felt the warmth of his presence and the conflicting emotions swirling within him. "I will protect you from the other mages." Umi promised, his voice a soothing balm over Loon's unease. "I fear something else is going to hunt you, but you do not have to worry." Loon found himself lost in the depths of the mage's eyes, torn between trust and the haunting echoes of betrayal.

"I'd rather kill them alone than get help from you" Loon felt like he woke up from his thought, and grabbed again his hand to push him away "I made a mistake coming here. I didn't know you became a sage... I will take my leave."He walked to the door that was locked under Umi's magic and Loon turned towards the mage "Stop it."

Umi smirked "Oh? Why? You've always been like this, I am just protecting you" a talisman glowed on the door "Only my magic can open that door, unless you want to unleash your beautiful mana" he laughed hysterically "Yes, please! I yearn to see that beauty again."

Loon gnashed his teeth "If you do not open the door, I am going to..."

"To do what?" Umi crossed his arms as he walked towards him "We both know you would never hurt me, you never hurt anyone, you're a pure immortal, Loon... Out of the known immortals, from the heavens you got sent here... Do you think it's a punishment to make yourself weak to any human?"

"I am not weak." Loon looked away to then feel Umi's hands on his chin, to force him to look at him.

"Loon, you're too good to be free in this world... The Emperor did wrong, but I promise you I will really protect you... Humans are greedy, they will always want more from you and you're just too pure to go against anything... That's why you will stay here with me. Give me the chance to show you in this Era I will be someone different."

"You sent... those men in that village." Loon looked at him "An arrow was pointed at me. You're no different from what you were before."

Umi smiled "Oh? Damn." He laid a hand on his forehead "Of course, I should have expected you would have been mad to know I sent those men playing with fire in that awful village, but I was fearing you would stay there... That place doesn't fit an immortal like you."

"This doesn't mean you had to destroy it."

"It didn't happen anyway" Umi replied with an obvious tone, making Dan Heng look at him with an annoyed stare "What's with that look?"

"I despise you." Loon said to then move away to reach the exit. "Open the door."

"I am not going to." Umi smiled and Loon tilted his head "Stay in the Academy, the protective shield will make it hard for the other mage orders to locate you, but if you stay too much outside you will get visits or maybe not.. I can assure protection."

"I do not want your protection and being here will feel again like being imprisoned." Loon gnashed his teeth "I am not going to..."

"Then find a way to be back to the heavens... You made the mistake of showing yourself to humans."

Loon felt like he got hit straight to his heart. Was it really his fault?

Umi's grip on Loon's cheeks was gentle yet firm, pulling the half-dragon out of his reverie. "Poor dragon," he sighed, a hint of genuine sympathy in his voice. "You trusted the wrong man, didn't you? It led you to years of isolation and being used." The weight of those words hung heavily in the air, resonating with the pain Loon had buried deep within. "Let me help you," Umi urged, his purple eyes penetrating Loon's defenses. "I am not your enemy." He leaned in closer, the warmth of his presence almost enveloping Loon in a cocoon of comfort. "Who else do you have, anyway?" The question echoed in Loon's mind, stirring feelings of sadness and loneliness that he had tried so hard to suppress.

In that moment, Loon felt the walls he had built around his heart begin to crack, revealing the vulnerability that lay beneath. Umi's gaze was magnetic, offering a glimmer of hope in a world that had often felt dark and unforgiving. But the remnants of doubt lingered, whispering reminders of betrayal and the uncertain path ahead.

"You need me, Loon." Umi insisted with a whisper "If not me, someone else will always come at you, you can't hide from them."

Loon felt his own heart pound at those words. He couldn't understand, he really couldn't. Was he really meant to be pursued because he has been... kind to the wrong man?

Ah, what a fool choice has caused him.

"I... I am lost...?" Loon's eyes were lost, showing his fragility under Umi's deep gaze. The immortal looked at his own hand, a blue shimmering light forming a butterfly made of his mana "One choice led me to this... and I am meant to suffer the consequences even after so much darkness...? Why?" he asked, and the mage sighed a little.

"Loon, it's going to be alright now that you're with me." Umi smiled, caressing his cheeks under the immortal's restive gaze.

A thud made the two turn and open up their eyes as they noticed Ayren panting as his sword was shining and absorbing some of his blood from the cut he had in his hand.

"Ayren?" Loon whispered surprised. Ayren's red eyes gleamed with an unsettling excitement as he surveyed the scene.

"I can't believe the Great Mage is merely a dirty peasant trying to lay his hands on my guest." He gripped his sword tightly, his other hand pressed against one eye as if struggling to contain his rising madness. Loon remained caught in the mage's grasp, his face still held between Umi's hands.

"How did you manage it...?" Umi sighed, suddenly aware of the intensity in Ayren's gaze and the weapon he wielded. "Legendary swordsman... I sense forbidden mana within you." His eyes widened as he registered Ayren charging toward him, slashing at his hands.

Loon's eyes widened in shock as he felt the mage's hands dissipate into dust, scattering away like ash. Umi stumbled backward, regaining his composure.

"Do not touch him," Ayren warned fiercely, turning to Loon. "Why did you allow that man to lay a finger on you? I've told you to have some self-respect." Loon looked down, feeling a flush of embarrassment. Ayren sighed and pointed his sword at Umi, who laughed mockingly at the unfolding drama.

"Ayren..." Umi chuckled, a smirk dancing across his lips. "Are you truly trying to provoke the guild of mages?"

"Provoke?" Ayren's smile was wild. "I'm here to look after my guest. Your mages share the same insignia with the snake and the purple robes worn by the men who attacked him. It seems you're the one provoking me." He countered a fireball with a swift block of his sword.

"I was merely ensuring that the Moon's Herald arrived at the Academy as quickly as possible," Umi replied with a nonchalant air, settling back into his chair, boredom evident in his demeanor.

"Well, I think this was totally pointless" Ayren looked at Loon to then grab his hand "We're going."

Loon opened his eyes, feeling a gentle pull as Ayren guided him along. He couldn't quite grasp how the swordsman's spontaneous actions influenced him, but he couldn't deny that it felt good.

"If you're looking for a safe place for him, the academy is the only option—with me," Umi stated confidently.

Ayren rooted himself to the spot, turning to Loon, who gazed at the mage with a nostalgic and perhaps pained expression.

For reasons he couldn't quite understand, Ayren reached out as if to reclaim Loon's attention, but the half-dragon remained focused on Umi, who wore a smug smirk.

Letting his hand drop, Ayren faced Loon, crossing his arms with a hint of irritation. "Are you considering staying at the academy?"

Loon crossed his arms and sighed "What should I do..." he looked at Ayren to then tilt his head "And why... Did you come back?"

Ayren flinched as he caught sight of Talon and the soldiers panting in the doorway, a clear indication that the swordsman had dashed to the scene, likely fleeing from them. "I thought you were in danger," he remarked, his tone dripping with sarcasm.

Loon smiled, feeling his heart warm. Ayren raised his eyebrow as he couldn't understand how the dragon was smiling happily when some minutes ago he looked hurt, sad, and destroyed inside.

"You actually came back." he said and Ayren couldn't understand what he meant.

"I told you you're still under my responsibility. " the swordsman looked away, trying not to give Loon more replies with his stare.

He was worried, but he didn't want to accept it in his heart.

"I don't want to stay in the Academy." Loon's words made him turn to him again. Ayren smirked to then look at the mage with a winning stare, that made the mage feel in awe for a moment.

Umi rested the head on his palm and sighed heavily. "Well, I do not have the power to imprison you, we would need all the mage guilds together to do that and the Emperor artifact." he crossed his arms "Aaah, what a pity."

Ayren held Loon's hand again "Then he shall be under my responsibility, I took him here after all. We're leaving."

Loon smiled happily as he walked with Ayren, who mumbled a "Stop smiling." as he was taking him out the academy, and no mage or soldier did dare to say anything as they could see the sword Ayren was holding on his free hand glowing; a sign that the swordsman was still mad and ready to slain.

Ayren, in fact, wanted to make a mess. He wanted to slain all the mages in the academy. His madness was already high when he connected the dots and realized about those men they met at the village, but it got even more enhanced when he saw Umi's hands on Loon's face, like who the hell was that even to the immortal?

Once they were out, Loon looked at Ayren, who left his hand and put his sword back to its cover. The swordsman started walking and Loon followed him, with the stares of the people on them as he wasn't wearing the robe anymore.

Ayren looked around the tavern as they entered and noticed some people staring at them. The swordsman couldn't help it but he stayed close to the dragon till they reached the room.

"I am... disappointed." Ayren sat on the chair, as his hands were laying on his own cheeks. His eyes were staring at Loon who was sitting on the bed.

"Me too, how could Umi be a sage of the city... He betrayed me and then the Emperor... just for his own good..."

"I don't care about that, you let him touch you... Did he do anything else before I came? Aah." He let an annoyed noise out as his hand was rushing through the long dark hair.

"Do you... Seriously?" Loon crossed his arms, feeling embarrassed "I was.. confused by his words, he has... a golden tongue, he knows how to allure, and he spoke... truth about what happened to me... He did make me... confused."

"Why, why, why?" Ayren stood up and stepped in front of the bed where the dragon sat. Leaning in slightly, he met Loon's gaze, causing the dragon to tilt his head nervously as Ayren's hands settled on his cheeks.

"Hey, stop that!" Loon protested, attempting to move, but the grip on his cheeks was firm. Ayren sighed and continued to look into his eyes.

"Sometimes, people won't stop even if you ask them." He released his hold, only to notice the sadness in Loon's expression as his words sank in.

"Umi... spoke the truth. All the people I thought were my friends betrayed me. But I don't want to trust him either. The mages will come looking for me, but they know they can't imprison me anymore. So what's the point of searching for me?"

"Maybe they know you're too nice and you would help them in whatever way." Ayren stood up and Loon looked once again lost in his thoughts.

Loon opened his eyes when he noticed Ayren holding sticks of his favorite food. "Huh?"

"You said you liked them," Ayren replied, glancing away as he continued to offer them to Loon. "I passed by the merchant and took a moment to buy some more."

A sweet smile spread across Loon's face as he looked at Ayren, who still avoided eye contact.

"Want to eat them together?" Loon asked, taking one stick of food and leaving the other in Ayren's hand.

The swordsman didn't respond, but he took a bite, smirking for a moment as he watched the dragon's delighted expression.

While Loon happily munched away, occasionally making a bit of a mess, Ayren ate slowly, keeping his gaze on the dragon beside him.

Loon blinked when he noticed Ayren's thumb brushing against the corner of his lips, wiping away a bit of food.

"Messy," Ayren remarked, his eyes focused on his thumb as it hovered near the immortal's lips. Loon felt a flush of embarrassment under Ayren's intense red gaze. "If Umi did this, you would have killed him, got it?" the red ponds looked lost for a moment "Not all humans touch to be gentle even when they appear they want to be... Loon."

Loon met Ayren's eyes, finding him calm and matter-of-fact, as if he were explaining something simple. A smile broke on his face as he adjusted his position and rested his head against Ayren's shoulder, causing the swordsman to flinch for a moment. In that moment, Loon felt warm and happy, reassured by Ayren's presence.

Ayren continued to eat quietly, assuming Loon was simply resting his head because he was tired. He didn't think much of it or find it odd. Instead, his mind was primarily focused on their next moves and how to handle the people pursuing the immortal. He was deep in thought, strategizing, when Loon's voice broke through, causing his heart to melt slowly as he listened to the words.

"Thank you, Ayren."