The weather outside the cabin was brilliantly clear. The carriage continued to move at a constant speed, resuming its long journey toward the Flamort Kingdom's territory.
Inside the cool and quiet cabin, upon one of the plush beds, a slow movement began to show. Arvin's eyelids, which had been tightly shut all this time, slowly began to flutter and open. He blinked his eyes several times to adjust to the light filtering in through the gaps in the window curtains.
Realizing that his husband's breathing had evened out and his eyes had opened, Kylen immediately hugged him very tightly.
"Thank goodness... thank goodness you are awake." Kylen exclaimed, his voice trembling with immense relief. He hid his face in the crook of Arvin's neck. "You truly made me so worried, Darling. I thought you wouldn't wake up for a long time."
"Kylen..." Arvin called out hoarsely.
Arvin's hand slowly rose, returning the embrace with a gentle pat on his spouse's back.
Hearing Kylen's exclamation just now, Vian, Tania, Ziona, and Anna, who were sitting and relaxing on the sofas, immediately stopped their conversation. They hurriedly walked over to approach the bed.
Feelings of happiness and relief clearly radiated from the faces of the four of them upon seeing the blue-haired youth had finally regained consciousness.
"Are you alright, Arvin?" Ziona asked, breaking the silence, her tone unable to hide her worry. "If you still feel weak or dizzy, lie back down. Don't push yourself too hard to sit up right away."
"Thank you for your concern, but I am already fine." Arvin answered with a faint smile, trying to reassure them.
He gently released Kylen's embrace, then slowly began to lower his legs and stood up from the bed.
"Has this carriage been moving for long?" Arvin asked while slightly stretching his stiff shoulder muscles.
Ziona nodded slowly. "We departed since this morning, leaving last night's resting place."
Hearing the woman, Arvin walked slowly toward one of the cabin windows and drew back the curtain. As soon as he stood near the window, he frowned slightly. He truly did not expect that it was already well into the day and the sun's position was right overhead.
For some reason, I feel that the more souls are bound to my soul, the greater the burden of exhaustion and the energy drained during the ritual becomes. Arvin thought while staring blankly out the window. His thoughts drifted to the ancient magic system he used. If binding just three souls already has an effect like this, I cannot fathom the kind of exhaustion that king felt in the past when he bound millions of people's lives into his soul.
Amidst his deep thoughts regarding the effects and burdens of the 'Soul Seal' ritual, Arvin's focus then shifted. He remembered the figure of the gray-haired youth who was currently still in the Victoriaz Kingdom's territory.
Tonight, I will use a gate to go and pick up Kaydan secretly and bring him straight to the mansion. he decided in his heart with full conviction. I have promised, and I do not want to make him wait any longer inside that sickening palace.
While Arvin was lost in his own thoughts, everyone inside the carriage room could only exchange glances. They felt puzzled seeing the youth suddenly fall silent, standing frozen near the window, and staring outside with a gaze that was difficult to decipher.
Not wanting to let his husband daydream alone, Kylen stepped forward to approach him.
Once the distance between them was very close, the youth immediately slipped both his arms from behind and hugged his husband's waist tightly.
Arvin, who felt the sudden warmth of the embrace, jolted slightly from his reverie. Spontaneously, he raised his hand and held the back of his spouse's hands that were wrapped around his stomach, then rubbed them very gently.
"Darling, are you truly alright?" Kylen asked, looking up, a trace of worry still lingering in his tone.
"You don't need to worry excessively like that, Kylen." Arvin answered softly, turning his body slightly to look into his spouse's blue eyes. "I'm perfectly fine now. Forgive me for making you so worried."
"Thank goodness..." replied the bluish-white-haired youth. He closed his eyes, savoring the warmth of Arvin's hand, filled with an overwhelming sense of relief. "In that case... Darling, let's take a bath together!"
....
....
A few moments later, Arvin and Kylen, who had finished bathing together, finally stepped out of the bathroom.
Arvin walked toward one of the empty sofas and sat there. Kylen, who was already accustomed to clinging to him, naturally followed right away. However, as he was about to lower his body to sit and be pampered on his husband's lap, the person he loved the most forbade him instead.
"Sit beside me first, Kylen." Arvin said briefly but firmly.
Kylen was stunned. He sat next to Arvin with a slightly altered expression. His heart felt a bit disappointed and his brain began to wonder about the reason behind the refusal.
However, before Kylen's thoughts could wander in the wrong direction, Arvin extended his right hand over the table in front of their sofa. He took out a solid gold bar and five magic crystals from his dimensional storage space.
The objects were simply placed on the table, creating a soft knocking sound.
It was not only Kylen who was left confused. Vian, Tania, Ziona, and Anna, who had been engrossed in their respective activities, also instantly stopped what they were doing. They felt bewildered and intrigued by what Arvin actually wanted to do.
"Why are you all staring at me like that?" Arvin asked, bewildered at seeing them watching him so intently without blinking.
"We just want to see what extraordinary thing you are going to make with all those objects on the table." Ziona answered casually while crossing her arms over her chest. Even though her tone sounded calm, the woman absolutely could not hide the gleam of curiosity in her eyes.
Arvin merely shook his head slowly, not replying to the woman's words again. He returned his focus entirely to the gold bar and the five magic crystals lying on the table.
The cabin atmosphere suddenly felt silent as Arvin began to direct both his palms forward. He focused his mana flow to an extreme level of precision. His intention was singular: to transform all the raw materials into ten gold rings with transparent blue gemstones, with the exact same design as the ring he was currently wearing on his left ring finger.
Under the control of high-level alchemy magic, all the objects on the table slowly lifted and hovered in the air.
The gold bar began to melt slowly, dissolving before everyone who had been watching him continuously.
The floating liquid of pure gold moved like dancing water, separating itself into ten equally large portions. Slowly but surely, the melted portions of the gold bar elongated and curled, forming the solid foundation of perfectly flawless ring circles.
Then, the five magic crystals began to vibrate violently.
Crack! Crack!
The five crystals systematically shattered until their outer shells were destroyed, leaving only their cores. Pure gemstones of a smaller size yet radiating an incredibly clear brilliance.
The remaining shards of the destroyed magic crystals did not go to waste. They all merged and melted into the pores of the ten newly formed gold rings.
Arvin moved his fingers and split the five transparent gemstone cores into ten precise pieces, then fused each gemstone onto the mounts of every gold circle, resulting in ten gold rings studded with transparent blue gemstones that were incredibly beautiful, elegant, luxurious, and breathtaking.
Now, there were ten rings with the exact same shape, size, and brilliance, which he placed neatly lined up on the table.
Kylen, Vian, Tania, Ziona, and Anna widened their eyes simultaneously upon seeing Arvin's alchemy magic, which had so easily crafted and designed ten gold rings in such a short amount of time.
Seeing the number of rings his husband made instantly caused Kylen's heart to pound fiercely.
"D-Darling... are those rings... did you make them for me and also for all your spouses when you propose to us later?" Kylen asked to confirm. His voice trembled with emotion, while his blue eyes sparkled brightly, radiating unstoppable happiness. He could not wait to wear the ring on his finger immediately.
Hearing the hopeful question, Arvin looked at the rings on the table, then shifted his gaze to Kylen's face. He answered in a very calm tone.
"Of course, one of these ten rings will not be worn by you, Kylen."
The wide smile on Kylen's face instantly faded upon hearing his husband's plain answer that one of the ten beautiful rings on the table was not for him to wear.
The expectations of the bluish-white-haired youth were shattered, and his heart was instantly struck by a profound sense of disappointment.