An eerie quiet gripped the valley, where the broken carcass of the mother ship lay smoking inside a colossal crater.
'What a sight.
Vadrian stared at the mother ship, which was now a crumpled heap of metal. It wasn't impossible to repair it; however, it would take moons to fix the ship.
They were in the middle of nowhere, and everywhere was covered in green plants. It was a sight to behold. Animals that they only saw in pictures were right in front of them, going about their business.
Bram was amazed at the sight in front of him. He couldn't help but absentmindedly stare at the waterfalls, the beautiful green forest, and the mammals with their long noses drinking from the river afar.
"How long will it take to fix the ship?'
Nuit, who had woken from the rouge tumbling of the mother ship, now stood under a tree shade covering his body against the hot sun that had made it its mission to burn him alive.
Carl had gone down to the river nearby to admire the mammals along the grove.
"Five moons, I think?'
Kion smiled sheepishly.
Nuit hissed in irritation.
"Come on, look at the condition of the ship. It can't be helped.
Bram smirked cheekily. Nuit could see the glint in his eyes; Bram wasn't planning on leaving this planet anytime soon.
'Who else should I blame if not myself. I followed this lunatic; nobody forced me.
Nuit was shading invisible tears at his misfortune. Meanwhile, his newborn was with the butler, wailing non-stop, yet everyone acted as if they couldn't hear the infant crying.
The butler sweated, trying his best to coax the screaming infant.
It wasn't like they knew what to do about it. Nevertheless, Bram was on high alert; he didn't have any information on the planet, and the infant was acting as an invading alarm for whatever inhabitants this planet holds.
Vadrian turned his gaze to Bram, who looked at the wailing child in frustration. He smiled faintly before his gaze turned indifferent to Nuit, who stood clearly away from the wailing infant.
"He's hungry.
Vadrian sneered at Nuit, who flinched yet feigned ignorance.
"That baby is probably waking up whatever lives on this planet. At this rate, the sun wouldn't be your only problem to deal with.
Nuit was livid to the point that he just wanted Vadrian and the baby to die. Touching that child will traumatize him even more. If nobody wants the baby, why should it be his duty to care for a thing that will hate him in the time to come? He might as well kill it for all he cares.
Tan couldn't help but feel a sense of dread wash over him. Young master Nuit had reached a boiling point.
"You want that thing to shut up; here, let me help.
Bram watched in amusement as Nuit walked up to the butler and snatched the baby. Nuit looked at the baby and grimaced in annoyance.
"Maybe I should feed him to these creatures wandering around.
That made everyone frown at him.
'What is wrong with these Ashfords?'
"It hasn't come to a point where you have to kill the baby.
Bram pinched his nose, an incoming headache approaching.
"At least, let's wait for the child to show some potential. He was born with the tattoo weapon on his back. It is a Mist splitter blade. Imagine a child wielding such a weapon. It will be astronomical.
Nuit stared at Bram and felt a wave of gloom consume him.
This wasn't what he wanted. If only it were a girl, powers or not, he would have poured all his love on her.
Bram's interests are in children whose potential is at its peak. He, on the other hand, wants his child back.
His Nikisha. His baby girl.
'Fuck this shit.
"Then you can have him, only if you could split time and bring back Nikisha for me.
Bram frowned. Even Vadrian glared at him.
Nuit has lost his mind. Nothing has meaning without his baby girl.
The more he thinks about it, the more he wants to fling the bundle of bitterness over the hill on which they stood.
"Splitting time will cause the sun celestials to find you faster. You know that.
Nuit knew that very well. What's a few hundred lives for his precious Nikisha? Bram had done it before, and he believed he would do it again. They all deserved to die; none of them were righteous anyway.
"You have to try; I want Nikisha alive and well. You did it before, and I believe you can do it again.
Vadrian now looked on with an unreadable expression.
Bram sweated, hoping Nuit wouldn't reveal their plans out of desperation.
"Fine, but I won't take your current child from you. Deal with it as I'm dealing with Misha.
Nuit breathed a sigh of relief at the promise. His Nikisha will be coming soon.
Even if it takes years, he will wait to the very end.
He looked down at the infant in his arms. He was now looking back at him, his silver eyes.
The signature eye color of every Bratva heir in the Bratva clan.
'You disgust me.
Meanwhile, Bram looked to the side at Mish, who was still unconscious, lying peacefully under the shade of the tree.
A suffocating feeling filled Bram's chest as a look of worry crossed his face before it disappeared as if it had never happened.
"Should we abandon him here if he doesn't wake up by the time the ship is repaired?'
Asier, who sat beside Misha, suddenly said. Bram tilted his head, clueless.
"I… don't know.
"We're not leaving your brother here, Asier.
Asier raised an eyebrow at him before coldly looking away.
Vadrian walked up to Bram. He noticed a few buttons missing from his tattered pink pajama top, showcasing his light, honey-smooth chest.
On the other hand, Bram had blushed when Vadrian had walked up to him. His heart kept pounding heavily.
'What in the galaxy is wrong with me?'
"Are you alright?'
Vadrian smirked as Bram refused to meet his eyes, blushing strongly.
'Adorable, if only I could drag him back to the clan and lock him up.
Bram suddenly quivered. He wondered why he was feeling cold under the hot sun.
"Let's build a shelter first. Kion and Tan will go find food.
Vadrian suggested as he tucked Brams's loose hair around his ear. Bram wasn't aware, or he was but didn't think much of it.
Nuit was screaming internally.
'This lunatic has thrown his guard to the celestial dogs. He can't even tell who the man beside him is. He can't see through his disguise for how many stars they have been together.
Vadrian smiled warmly at Bram, who in turn looked away in embarrassment.
Nuit was tired of the dog food that was on display.
'It's been confirmed; Bram Ashford has lost some brain cells.
Bram tried to create some distance between himself and this shameless commander who muddles his head anytime they are close.
"I'll follow Tan and Kion into these oddly green trees to find food.
"It's dangerous at the moment; you stay; I'll go.
Vadrian ordered, leaving no room for Bram to argue.
"Fine. One hour and that's it.
Vadrian gave a loop-sized grin. The sun glistened on his god-like face, creating a perfect image of a celestial descending from above.
"One hour.
With that, they disappeared into the vast green forest, leaving Bram and Nuit to look after the rest.