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Oddly enough, Cale noticed how bright the moon shone one night. It was beautifully sparkling in the sky, illuminating the otherwise shadow-like atmosphere.
A deserved day of rest, followed by a few other such days recharged Cale’s social battery.
They just came back a week ago from the Central Plains. Cale could still feel the power of water mimicking his limbs and drawing his breath from him. The power of purification also pulsated through his body like electric shocks, always keeping his nerves alert.
A break was needed to collect their thoughts. The next world was dangerous. It was filled with homicidal dragons and crazy lunatics. Cale needed to gather his people first.
Luckily, the God of Death will do most of the organization. Cale just had to wait patiently. He could do that.
Resting his weary head on his folded arms, Cale gazed sideways into the sky. The moon was soothing and calm. Tranquility filled him as sleepiness set in. Cale felt his consciousness leave him. A heavy curtain of sleep clouded his senses and the world became dark.
Ron, who was passing by, noticed how oddly bright the moon was. Frowning softly, he gathered the young master and transferred his slumbering self to the bed.
Contrary to his expectations, Cale didn’t wake up to a new day. Nor did he recognize his surroundings. Looking around curiously, he took in the breathtaking scenery.
A garden unlike any other he saw. Thousands of flowers surrounded the pavilion he found himself in. Their colors came in dozens of variations of blue, white, and grey. Cale stood out like a sore thumb with his crimson hair.
Fortunately, he wasn’t the only one who didn’t fit in the scenery. Sitting next to him was the Heavenly Demon in all of his handsome glory. Hair like the darkest abyss hung languidly over his broad shoulders and down his back.
Cale took a moment to appreciate the view before speaking.
“Not your doing either, I assume?” He asked.
Blinking softly in Cale’s direction, Cale shivered when the Heavenly Demon’s gaze wandered over his form. Belayed, Cale recalled that he never saw him in his original form as Cale, only knowing the younger version of Kim Rok So, or Kim Hae-Il as he knew him by.
Finding amusement in Cale’s scrunched-up face, the Heavenly Demon eased his worries with his next words.
“Red is a beautiful color on you.”
The compliment took Cale by surprise. The whispered ‘thank you’ was only heard by the wind and his seat neighbor.
“Where are we?”
The place was magical. No hills or landmarks could be seen in the distance. It was almost like they were in a pocket dimension. Just the two of them. Time was frozen beneath the full moon and the garden.
Were they dreaming? Had they been kidnapped? Was this an assassination attempt by the Hunters?
It didn’t feel like danger. Cale basked in the tranquility and calm. It resonated through his soul, making him sleepy but not tired. He was content. The soft breathing next to him made everything even more relaxing.
The wind played with his hair; tousling and tossing strands of brilliant crimson around. The black and red of their respective hair colors were really eye-opening and flashy. Cale marveled at the elegant way the Heavenly Demon rested next to him.
With half-lidded eyes and a peaceful smile on his face, the Heavenly Demon was as calm as Cale. Their company reassured the other that if things went south, they at least had a back that would cover theirs.
They should explore and find a way to break out.
Cale didn’t move a muscle.
After a while, he got tired and laid his head on the taller man’s shoulder. A perfect fit. The Heavenly Demon even moved his hair away so that Cale wouldn’t be tickled by the strands. The wuxia robes were perfect to rest upon, unlike the uncomfortable Western clothes Cale was wearing.
To wear they were fine, but to use as a pillow? Horrendous.
Long fingers gently scratched Cale’s scalp. He knew what power lay beneath the callused fingertips yet the control the owner had over them was astonishing. With care and something neither Cale nor the Heavenly Demon could identify, the latter would massage the knots of stress.
Cale shivered, not out of fear.
Before anything further was said, both fell asleep.
Cale woke up in his bed.
This wasn’t a problem since he welcomed the familiar scenery. His bedsheets were messily thrown all over the place as three small bodies clung to various body parts. Raon guarded his torso tightly, making Cale sigh at the labor he had to go through to get him off without waking Raon up. On and Hong were relatively easy. His little girl enjoyed a free space near his left leg, laying curled up and sleeping peacefully. Hong had all four of his limbs in the sky and resembled a pretzel in the way he lay tangled with himself and the blanket.
Cale was amused since they slept in the exact same way they did the previous day. It was funny how habits were created.
Either Ron or Hans were outside his door. The soft clinking of cutlery and the sound of clothes rustling were rather loud in the absolute silence of the morning. The Super Rock Villa was below the earth, making it impossible for birds and other animals to be heard.
A polite knock was followed by the door being pushed open.
Hans greeted Cale in a flustered manner. Cale’s eyebrow rose. Ron was absent two days in a row. How weird. The elder butler would fight tooth and nail to get to Cale as the first person in the morning, delivering the abhorred lemon beverage of the day with a benign smile.
“Where is Ron?” Cale asked as Hans carefully set the table.
Hans stopped in his tracks. With his hand still busy on the table, he turned his head sideways, staring at Cale in a confused manner.
“Butler Ron is visiting the Eastern Continent. You allowed his absence.”
There was no question in his sentences yet Cale could feel the confusion and hesitance oozing out of Hans. Waving off the other’s concern, Cale sat down at the table.
This was weird. Cale knew Ron returned late in the evening from his travels. Why did he leave again without informing Cale?
“Ah, if he needs time he could just say so,” Cale said. His hands were moving toward the daily newspaper Hans handed him. “I was just wondering since it is the second day.”
Hans hesitated in his actions. The newspaper was halted in mid-air as the younger butler paled slightly. Worry became evident on his face as he puckered his lips anxiously.
“Young Master?” He inquired, confused.
Cale then saw the newspaper. This couldn’t be right. He grabbed the offending paper and looked closer. Normally, he would ask Hans if he brought the wrong paper, confusing the one from yesterday with the new one, yet the younger butler’s previous reactions alongside the stacked-up evidence created an annoying picture.
Closing his eyes for a second, Cale schooled his expression into something resembling his normal, bored face.
“I forgot that Ron just left yesterday. Don’t mind my words.”
Cale spoke while shuffling through the paper. Hans sighed, confirming Cale’s guess that it was the day before and not Hans confusing dates and instances.
The kids got up as well, following Hans into the kitchen where Beacrox would wait for them. They loved spending breakfast either with Cale or Beacrox and the other kids in the kitchen.
Cale welcomed the time alone.
With practiced ease, he grabbed the nearby reports on the table. All the dates matched till yesterday and the new ones Cale did were missing.
The day reset but why and how?
Naturally, the dream he shared with the Heavenly Demon, something Cale so far associated with a vibrant dream and not an action that somehow resulted in the day restarting. Not being able to make heads or tails, Cale dropped the newspaper and other documents on the table, deciding not to do any of them today.
With breakfast out of the way, Cale started walking toward the deeper parts of the manor. Elegant wallpapers and wooden panels were replaced by cold stone.
Rosalyn and Eruhaben had their respective laboratories down there.
Unlike Cale, who preferred cozy warmth, they needed the cold for a lot of experiments. One of the reasons why Cale didn’t go down there often. That and the cellar Jack, Cage, and Taylor took as their own to brew alcohol. Some things are better off unknown.
Rosalyn’s door was open. Her light red hair, unlike the deep crimson of Cale’s, was held back in a low braid. Judging by her tired yet spirited state, Cale assumed she didn’t sleep the night.
“Miss Rosalyn,” he greeted politely, knocking on the door frame to make his presence known.
“Young Master!”
Rosalyn gasped before greeting him back. She motioned to a nearby corner where a clean table and some chairs were placed. Getting the pleasantries out of the way, Cale went directly for the throat.
“I am reliving the same day. It’s the second time now.”
Rosalyn took his words with grace as she was far too used to Cale dropping random info bombs onto them without a change in expression.
“Have you been injured? Do you know what caused the reset in time? Are there any side effects?” She fired off one question after another, giving Cale almost no time to reply.
Shaking his head negatively, Cale didn’t think anything bad was happening. He didn’t mention the dream yet because a part of him was against it. The frail moments between the Heavenly Demon and him were special. Even more so if they actually met and Cale didn’t just dream this up alone.
So far, Cale just wanted to see if anybody else was experiencing the same phenomenon or if it was just him.
“I’ll keep my eyes open,” he promised when Rosalyn eyed him worriedly.
Cale took a walk in their garden to get rid of some stray thoughts. Flowers in various colors swung merrily in the warm breeze. Taking a closer look, Cale couldn’t find any of the exotic flowers he saw in his dream on the field.
Somehow the beautiful white flowers in his garden lacked the brilliant glow of those in the dream. Blue, white, and grey were present yet they couldn’t measure up to the otherworldliness of the ones in his dream.
Picking up a bouquet either way, Cale later left the flowers in his room after he got dressed for sleep. The day passed quickly and easily.
Almost excitedly, Cale got under his covers and closed his eyes for the night.
The scene that greeted him both confirmed his guess and made his heart beat faster. He was back in the garden. More importantly, the Heavenly Demon was sitting opposite of him, elegantly sipping his tea.
They were in a different pavilion. This one didn’t have benches, instead a small table for two alongside some cushions and a pot of tea waited for them.
Unlike his previous relaxed self, the Heavenly Demon had a crease in his forehead, signaling worry to Cale who was rather used and experienced in reading stoic people.
“We meet again,” The Heavenly Demon greeted him.
Both remembered. That was both good and bad. Just when Cale wanted to open his mouth and inquire about the situation, the other man curled a brow – suddenly looking far more amused while still being unfairly handsome – and asked in a low, teasing voice.
“Did you bring me flowers?”
Cale blinked at him perplexed until he noticed he was clutching something in his hand. With wide eyes, he stared at the bouquet he casually assembled during the day and definitely did not take to bed with him. It was in a pristine condition as if he just picked the flowers.
He could have sworn he dropped the bouquet in Ron’s waiting arms when the butler returned from his trip and came running with a fresh cup of lemon tea. They switched objects, which left Cale with tea and Ron walking off with the flowers. A bad deal but Cale wouldn’t dare to complain to Ron.
How did the flowers end up in the dream?
Shrugging off the needless thoughts, Cale handed the flowers over to the Heavenly Demon, who did not expect to receive any. He was only teasing Cale. Taking the flowers with a floored expression on his face, his lips twitched upwards into an honest smile.
The Heavenly Demon traced the red flowers with care, feeling their soft texture and comparing them to Cale’s hair. Somehow, no matter how brilliant the blooming flowers were, he couldn’t help but think Cale’s red hair was prettier.
“How was your day?” Cale asked.
He lay his head on his folded arms, staring at the Heavenly Demon with half-lidded eyes.
They started talking and enjoying each other's company. Whereas the Heavenly Demon chuckled at some scathing remarks Cale made, Cale smiled genuinely upon hearing about the other’s mundane day.
The Sage Demon did his best to help the Heavenly Demon once the leader of the sect found himself repeating the day. The elder tried asking around, even meeting the Sword Saint, who just laughed, thinking it was a joke.
Time went by with the Heavenly Demon complaining about some sect members trying to set him up with a concubine or two, making him rather angry at their audacity. He made his opinion known and gave the culprits some light punishments to warn them of their place.
It reminded Cale of the time he spent in the capital, being practically besieged by nobles and their daughters and sons of marriage age. Alberu just shrugged and left him to suffer, no doubt knowing all about the experience and how unavoidable it was.
In return, Cale opened up about some past experiences, bringing the other to tears with the wild Roan stories Cale told him.
The tea and snacks never ran out nor did the time-of-day change while they were there. They should have explored. Maybe find a way to break the spell or whatever domain they found themselves in yet time passed and they never once left the table.
As sleep overcame them and before falling unconscious, Cale saw how the Heavenly Demon gently grabbed the flowers, tugging them into his wide robe.
Cale woke up.
Once again the day restarted. Hans barreled in, dropping off the same food he had prepared the instances before. Knowing he had to do something, Cale had Hans call in both Rosalyn and Eruhaben.
The two arrived while he was having his breakfast. He left the newspaper lying around since reading the same words a third time was useless and a waste of time.
“You asked for us?” Rosalyn inquired with wrinkled brows and a deep look in her eyes. Eruhaben folded his arms and just stared at Cale, waiting for his answer.
And answer he did. Cale motioned for them to sit down, signaling a longer conversation.
Yawning one last time, Cale accepted his fate of a dry throat and endless hours of talking. Systematically retelling his encounters, Cale left out the emotional parts – only talking about feeling a connection – and inquired about possible solutions.
The moon was a major point.
Naturally, Cale didn’t miss that whenever they would appear in the space a brilliant full moon would reside over them, illuminating the whole place in a silver glow. One day was possible but the second dream also had a full moon.
While Rosalyn was deep in her thoughts, trying to think up various theories as to why time had stopped, Eruhaben noticed something else. Cale’s eyes were sparkling even brighter than when the ex-commander thought about loot. They shone so bright and honest that Eruhaben wanted to look away, feeling as if he was interrupting a private moment.
The slight tilt of his lips and the gentle tone of voice were even more telling to the ancient dragon, who witnessed quite a few such situations, except for the time loop. Eruhaben meant romance and infatuation.
“I will head to the royal library in the Breck Kingdom to see if I find anything,” Rosalyn suggested.
Cale nodded in agreement and she went off in a hurry. Her coat and hair were fluttering behind her until the door slammed shut, leaving Cale and Eruhaben alone.
With a quirked brow and a short prayer for patience, Eruhaben tackled another problem.
“You like him,” he said with the subtlety of a sledgehammer.
Cale almost choked on air. He coughed and squirmed in his seat with a flaming face. No words were needed as an answer, Eruhaben realized with a sigh that spelled future trouble for him.
Putting Cale and himself out of their misery, Eruhaben said, “I will visit the Underground City with its extensive library. Maybe the elves know something.”
It was a solid idea. Cale agreed without hesitation. Another destination came to his mind and since Cale so far had nothing to do, he shared his thoughts with the dragon.
“With Miss Rosalyn and you checking specific libraries, I will head to the Whipper Kingdom and visit the Royal Magic Library. Maybe this is a spell or ritual.”
Soon both headed their respective ways. Cale had to shake off the kids since they wanted to accompany him. Raon grudgingly allowed him to leave under the condition that he was allowed to teleport Cale.
Cale didn’t reject the idea since he was planning on asking Raon anyway.
As much as Cale loved reading, the person welcoming him on the stairs of the library – it survived Toonka’s rampage thanks to the location and nothing else – was anything but a reader-friendly companion.
Toonka waved his large hands, cheerfully shouting his greeting with a broad grin on his face. He looked as menacing as ever. With no Harol to keep him in line, Toonka stood merrily in the way of a dozen visitors, literally gatekeeping the knowledge.
The pouting citizens could only keep their distance and wait till Toonka moved. Cale facepalmed, staring heavenward and questioning his decision to contact Toonka before arriving. Not contacting wasn’t an option because the tyrant-turned-just-barbarian had a sixth sense when it came to Cale. He knew. Always. Escaping him was like trying to keep Ron away from bitter teas.
“You’re early,” Cale said in lieu of an actual greeting.
Toonka beamed, his lips rising upwards and eyes crinkled at the corners, Cale would have been frightened if he wasn’t used to the expression the other liked to make. Interestingly enough, Toonka wore robes that resembled the clothes he wore in the Central Planes. While parts were messy and Cale wasn’t sure why Toonka placed the belt there of all places, yet the light green color-scheme and the black robe beneath made it obvious what it was trying to resemble.
This wasn’t actually a bad idea, Cale realized.
While the Central Plains wore what he knew as Chinese styled clothes, what spoke against Cale ordering Korean styled ones?
He could order some clothes that mimic Hanfu. He missed wearing them. Well, he never wore them in his old world with the apocalypse running wild and nobody having time nor desire to wear traditional clothes. It was more about the thoughts and memories of Korea.
Cale should order a few sets and have some made for Choi Han as well.
Passing Toonka with a pat on the shoulder, Cale recalled the elegant appearance of the Heavenly Demon, who wore the Chinese robes to perfection. They fell around his lean frame like dark waterfalls, highlighting his exceptional height and the powerful muscles hidden beneath the fabric. Some occasional color was like a star in the night sky; enchantingly captivating.
Cale blushed.
Shaking his head, he headed directly into the heart of the library. On his way, he smiled and waved at some people as they whispered excitedly, obviously recognizing him. He found the isles he was searching for.
Toonka tagged along like a planless puppy who just wanted to be near its owner and had no other thought in his head. Cute but also not needed since Cale directly plucked out a few books from the shelves.
A large collection of fairy tales and ancient myths was quickly assembled on the nearby table. While Cale had wanted to scour the magic side of the library, a thought hit him while walking there. If it was a spell that was recorded, why did nobody else use it?
The Whipper Kingdom didn’t have a long history. It was filled with war and conflicts, changing name and owner a dozen times, yet the library in the capital was older than all the kingdoms that came before Whipper.
What if Cale focused on old legends? Maybe some truth could be found beneath old tales, like how the White Star wanted to emulate the Ancient White Star. It was far fetched, but since Cale had time, why not try his luck?
The first few legends were excessive retellings of warriors and noble ladies finding love and joy in rather toxic circumstances. Cale blanched at some of the words, finding them utterly disturbing. Hours passed with Cale getting nowhere. A headache formed and he spent some time tiredly cradling his head.
Vitality was trying to get rid of it. The needle-like pain soon mellowed out into slight uncomfortableness. Cale found nothing. The sky was slowly turning orange and he still had to clean up the space he occupied for the last few hours.
Placing the books back, one by one, the sound of a book falling alarmed Cale. He was the only one left. Even Toonka sought refuge from the silence and the smell of old papers three hours ago, leaving Cale alone amid the thousands of books.
Turning around, Cale saw a book lying innocently on the floor. The brilliant white-blue cover caught his attention. Almost hypnotized, Cale walked toward the book and slowly lifted it.
In cursive letters stood the title “Bride of the Moon God” .
Cale turned the book. No words were written on the back cover. His finger traced the words, feeling an unnatural coldness exude from the blue-plaque letters. His interest was caught. Cale left the not-yet-sorted books on the shelves and sat down on the nearby chair.
Only when he had both of his hands in vision did he notice how they were shaking. His heart was beating faster as if his body was telling him something.
The tale was as old as time.
With bated breath, Cale absorbed every word.
The Moon God, a presence that made sure the night became a safe haven for travelers and animals alike, was lonely. His heart was filled with love for his people yet they only worshipped him as a god and not as a person.
Time did not quench that thirst for love, so he started visiting the dreams of people. He searched and searched, spending decades hopping from one dream to another until he found a person who saw him as well. All the other dreams had people in them who he couldn’t interact with, yet not even a blink of an eye upon descending and the charming person in front of him turned around.
The god was invited to drink with the other person. Smiling brilliantly, the place surrounding them changed into the sacred garden the god lived in. A part of himself that took on the form of the moon, kept them company.
Their love bloomed like flowers and they sealed their union a day later with all the other gods as witnesses.
Cale grimaced. As he read the words the image of the garden with its lustrous shining moon came to mind. The dreams he shared with the Heavenly Demon fit perfectly in the scenario the legend painted.
This was too much of a coincidence. Yet, it didn’t explain the time loop they found themselves in.
The sky outside was dark. Cale hurriedly placed the book on the shelf before leaving. A grumpy Raon met him halfway. On his way out, he never looked back otherwise he would have seen how the book shone brightly before vanishing in white particles.
Rosalyn and Eruhaben came back with empty hands and disappointed expressions on their faces. Telling them about the book he found was unneeded since they wouldn’t remember anyway.
Cale went to bed almost giddily.
This time Cale woke up laying in the field of flowers. The Heavenly Demon was still asleep, resting next to Cale. Their shoulders touched and the gentle breeze welcomed them with a motherly air; warm and soothing.
Cale’s hand twitched. His fingers curled anxiously until he mustered up enough courage to grasp the other’s hand in his own. Closing his eyes, Cale acted as if he was asleep. The Heavenly Demon opened one eye amusedly and intertwined his fingers with Cale before closing both eyes again.
Hours could have passed in the utter coziness Cale was feeling.
Almost unwillingly, he opened his eyes and sat up with a huff. The Heavenly Demon followed suit and with their shoulders still touching, they started at the river that stretched across the field of view. The water looked clear and inviting with a few fish swimming around.
Cale’s hand dipped into the water, scaring off a few curious fish that came close. Smiling languidly, Cale turned around to face the Heavenly Demon. A look that Cale didn’t want to name was painted on the other’s face.
The Heavenly Demon plucked a brilliant red flower, looking weirdly out of place amid the sea of white and blue, and held it in front of Cale’s face.
“For you,” he said with a warm voice.
Cale took the flowers, clutching the thornless rose with care. His chest was feeling heavy as the skin across his heart tingled pleasantly. Cale didn’t pay it any mind, choosing instead to ask the Heavenly Demon whether he found anything.
Shaking his head before tilting it in clear hesitation, the otherwise gruff man didn’t shy away from speaking what he thought. Cale enjoyed that characteristic since he had enough of flowery words and dishonest compliments.
“I found nothing at first. I had the feeling I would leave with empty hands when something shone brightly in the distance. Naturally, I held my sword when I sought out the light yet the arrival of the Sage Demon directly made the glow disappear. I think a clue wanted to be found but only when we are alone.”
He sounded puzzled yet entertained by the happenings. Cale found it endearing.
“I got the clue or what could be the clue.”
With Cale sharing the tale, he didn’t notice how they naturally moved closer to each other. Their faces were just centimeters apart with Cale’s breath no doubt touching the Heavenly Demon’s face. His dark eyes focused all of their attention on Cale, making him feel like the most loved and cared-for person.
Cale wanted to get even closer, suddenly feeling like the distance between them was too great. Frowning softly, he leaned even closer. Tilting his head upwards, their lips were just a finger width away from touching.
For the first time, Cale noticed how long and thick lashes the other man had. They fluttered gently across his cheek like butterfly wings. A part of Cale wondered if they were as soft as they looked.
Unwilling to break the moment but wanting an answer, The Heavenly Demon asked, “Do you think we are experiencing the story?”
Cale shrugged.
“It would seem so. Too many details match the story, only I am confused with the time loop. Wouldn’t it make more sense if time moved on as normal?”
“No, it was mentioned in the story,” the Heavenly Demon corrected, “Didn’t the story mention them falling in love one day and marrying the next? What if their ‘one day’ was in fact a loop as well? They could have had dozens of days if not months’ time to get to know each other, yet to the outsiders, only a day would pass.”
Cale made a sound of realization. His eyelashes fluttered prettily as he blinked furiously, finally connecting all the pieces.
Their consciousness started to fade, signaling the end of the dream. The Heavenly Demon gently touched Cale’s cheek, whispering softly, “See you soon.”
Cale woke up to Hans entering his room.
Since they found their answers already, Cale didn’t do much during the day. He played with the kids, watched Choi Han beat up Hannah and Clopeh in the name of training, and welcomed Ron with an almost honest smile when the other arrived with Cale’s daily dose of lemon tea.
He went to bed early, hoping to see the Heavenly Demon as fast as possible.
This time, they found themselves on the other side of the riverbed. The river had a large circular indent with some air bubbles popping up. Hot steam rose from the place. Cale eyed the unscientific hot spring with prejudice.
The Heavenly Demon wasn’t as shy and directly tore off his robe. Cale had just enough time to turn his head before he heard the splashing of water. Looking toward the source, Cale marveled at the handsome image the other created.
His long black hair fell in straight lines artfully across his shoulders and down his back, laying beautifully across the water surface. Wet eyes the color of obsidian invited Cale to join him. Cale threw off his shoes and dipped his feet into the water. It was pleasantly warm, making the rest of his body heat up.
They stayed comfortably in the water with Cale just dipping his feet in and the Heavenly Demon even swimming a few laps before returning to Cale.
Something caught his attention nearby. Cale spotted a dark flower looking like a black sheep amid the white horde. He plucked the flower, noticing how no thorns cut him even though he could see them clearly.
The Heavenly Demon arrived at Cale's side. He remained in the water, instead resting his arms on the piece of land next to Cale’s thighs. The flower in Cale’s hand bloomed even further, startling the ex-commander into almost dropping it.
Callused hands stabilized his own, caging his frail ones. Cale opened his palm and offered the flower to the Heavenly Demon, who accepted the offering with a soft smile.
“Place it on me,” he said.
Cale’s hands carefully combed through the Heavenly Demon’s hair before depositing the flower behind his ear. The thorns cut neither and the view became too much for Cale. He looked away first, not seeing the amused chuckle the other made but hearing it. With a huff, Cale pushed the Heavenly Demon back into the water.
The other man allowed the mistreatment and was quickly submerged in the calm water. Surfacing again, the flower remained tucked behind his ear, yet Cale had no eyes for it. Water dripped down the other man’s chest, perfectly highlighting those impressive muscles.
The sight was as sinful as it was divine.
Cale wanted to touch. Quite badly.
Unfortunately, the dream chose that moment to end.
Cale woke up. His chest was still weirdly warm yet he paid it no mind, instead focusing on Hans stumbling in with the newspapers and his breakfast.
Upon seating himself, his chest tingled even more. The feeling got unbearable. Cale wanted to scratch the itchy spot. Not only did the heat get worse, with a thin layer of sweat gathering at his brow, but his chest started feeling stuffy.
Cale ignored the still-present Hans, who did a double take once Cale started unbuttoning his shirt.
“Y-Young Master?!”
His flustered state quickly transformed into shock when a brilliantly detailed rose was seen in the shield tattoo. Its red glow accompanied the pale shield like a coat of arms. Cale traced the rose and the more he touched the less intense the itchy feeling got. Once the rose was finished blooming fully with a crimson red Cale so far had only seen in his hair, the itch vanished.
Cale ordered Hans to leave, who no doubt would dive for the next manned communication orb to contact Ron. The elder butler would come back running with a stern frown on his face and murder in his eyes, Cale was sure of that.
Touching his chest and marveling at the detailed flower, Cale couldn’t help but notice how much warmer he felt. He didn’t have an analogy at hand, the closest coming would be that a missing half finally returned to him.
Cale felt complete and cared for. It was a weird feeling, yet Cale got used to it and would fight anyone who tried to take it from him.
The day passed predictable with Ron arriving back early, lemonade and a benign smile in hand, with a clear intention to interrogate Cale. He spent the rest of his day being questioned by Ron, only being let go when the sky darkened and the sun vanished completely.
Waking up in the garden, Cale breathed in the sweet air.
The pavilion with the benches was to his right while the river stretched across the landscape on his left. Lying next to him was the most brilliant and handsome man Cale had ever seen.
A black curtain covered the various flowers surrounding them, while his lean frame laid picturesque in the sea of flowers, somehow not squashing a single one of them. Letting his instincts and desires guide him, Cale reached down and caught a strand of hair.
It glid through his open hand like water, only softer and much more valuable.
His fascination and wonder kept him from noticing that the Heavenly Demon woke up amid his ministrations. He let Cale play with his hair with an air of indulgence.
Once Cale withdrew his hand, the Heavenly Demon coughed softly, announcing his awakened state. Cale looked down at him, greeting the Heavenly Demon with soft words.
The moment between them lasted for a while, with neither wanting to look away or widen the distance. It was the opposite, their faces were just a hand-width apart yet it felt like cities separated them.
Cale’s hair escaped the low ponytail he kept it in, falling around his face and onto the Heavenly Demon like a sea of fire. The burning passion it ignited in the Heavenly Demon’s chest was as fierce as real flames.
His hand went upward, cradling Cale’s cheeks before he tugged a stubborn strand of hair back behind Cale’s ear.
As calm as he looked, his composure collapsed for a second upon hearing Cale’s next words. The only sign he was startled was the way his fingers twitched, missing the next strand he had his attention locked on. Grasping arm the Heavenly Demon turned his playful gaze onto Cale, confirming that the words weren’t his imagination.
“Can you strip?”
Cale didn’t look him in the eyes, instead his gaze was fixated at the clothed chest of the Heavenly Demon. Balancing his weight on his left hand, Cale used his right to trace the fabric, stopping right over the Heavenly Demon’s heart where he felt a warm tingle in his fingertips.
The sudden warmth wasn’t missed by the Heavenly Demon, who unwillingly dislocated his hand from Cale’s cheek and opened his robe at the front. Above clear lines of muscles, a black rose appeared across his heart.
They watched in awe as the flower got larger, blooming in a brilliant midnight black. Cale traced the lines, not knowing what kind of reaction it ignited inside the Heavenly Demon. The sudden pleasure overwhelmed the man. He wrinkled his toes as he stretched.
Not wanting to bear the sudden feeling alone, he used their positions and dragged Cale down into a kiss. Cale landed on his chest with a huff, having no time to complain as his lips were captured aggressively.
The need for air was overtaken by the desire for more. Their bodies were pasted together with not even a single speck of air between them yet it wasn’t enough.
The Heavenly Demon grabbed Cale’s waist, dragging him in even further, while Cale’s arms laid on tops of his chest and his hands held each of the Heavenly Demon’s cheeks in a tight yet painless grip.
They separated when the tingling left both of their bodies. The flower on the Heavenly Demon’s chest bloomed fully. It was an exact mirror image of the one Cale had on his chest, with the sole difference being the color.
The dream passed as they spent their time stacked on top of each other and taking liberties. An insatiable desire connected them and who were they to object?
Cale woke up.
His chest heaved as if he had worked out and his body felt both tired and energized at the same time.
Hans chose that moment to open the door, gazing at a flustered-looking Cale with wonder before remembering his education. He schooled his face into something resembling professionalism before arranging the breakfast on the table.
Cale remained seated.
He covered his face with a hand and chuckled. Starting slow but getting louder and more unhinged, Cale just laughed. Cale knew, without doubt, that he fell deep. Maybe his infatuation started when they met on the Central Plains or maybe he started falling in love once they visited each other in their dreams, he wasn’t sure, yet it didn’t change the crux of the matter.
Cale fell in love with the Heavenly Demon.
He loved how direct the other man was. There was no hidden play with his words and no dictionary was needed to encode the meaning of his sentences. If he liked something, he said it, and if he disliked something, he would make it known.
The care the Heavenly Demon showed his sect members, planning to die so that they wouldn’t be dragged into an pre-planned and unfair war by the Blood Cult, Cale could relate. The Heavenly Demon would rather have his sect up in arms because of his death, allowing them the freedom to plan and attack by their own choice.
They both would rather raze the world to the ground than let their precious ones get hurt.
How could Cale not fall in love when the Heavenly Demon was so honest with his interests?
The glimmer in his eyes when he found something fun, the way the corners of his mouth would lift upwards before saying something sarcastic, and the twitching of his fingers when he itched for a fight.
Cale was overwhelmed with the care and desire he found in the Heavenly Demon’s expression once they kissed. He couldn’t recall a time when someone looked at him like that. It felt nice. Really nice.
In fact, it was so nice that Cale didn’t want the dreams to end.
A couple of hours later, Cale was lounging in a garden chair, watching Choi Han decimate Hannah and Clopeh in the nearby training field. Idly rotating a spoon in the cup of milk tea Hans brought him, Cale couldn’t enjoy the rare lemon-free beverage since his mind was a mess.
As much as he enjoyed spending time with the Heavenly Demon, the time loop was annoying.
Cale was honestly and truly sick of this day. Nothing he did mattered since the day would just restart again, voiding all of his previous achievements of the day.
There was technically a solution to the problem or, at least, Cale assumed it was the solution. The tale mentioned the Moon God and his partner spending one day together before getting married. The one day was obviously a lie since the time loop went on for a while now.
The solution implied by the story was that Cale and the Heavenly Demon have to get married to break the loop.
Cale closed his eyes tiredly.
Marriage was never something he thought about. Neither as Kim Rok Soo nor as Cale. The first life didn’t allow this kind of luxury while the second life carried other priorities. He had been content with the kids and family members he collected along the way.
Only…he now wanted more.
Traitorous thoughts reminded Cale of how excellent the Heavenly Demon was and additionally, the culture of the Central Plains not only allowed but encouraged leaders to have multiple partners to carry on the line.
The Heavenly Demon mentioned his dislike of that topic, which Cale believed wholeheartedly, but what if his thoughts change in the future? Not now but what about ten years? Twenty? Cultivators lived longer, what happens once Cale gets old and ugly while the Heavenly Demon still looks young and handsome? Would he still stay with him?
Even so, Cale wanted to be selfish.
As the night arrived, Cale – for the first time – was scared of the dream. He didn’t want to face reality just yet. His anxious state of mind kept him up for a few additional hours until he finally fell asleep.
The Heavenly Demon was awake when Cale opened his eyes. They were in the pavilion with a steaming pot of tea on the table. Whereas Cale took a moment to sit up, the Heavenly Demon poured him a cup of tea.
The fragrance of sweet fruit tea was like balm to his worried soul. Cale took a greedy gulp, not minding his image.
A few minutes passed in silence. Neither spoke and just savored the tea.
Cale broke first, asking hesitantly, “What do you think about marriage?”
The Heavenly Demon wasn’t stupid. He immediately recalled the tale Cale told him and made the correct assumption. Instead of answering, his eyes watched Cale’s face, taking in the various expressions he made.
“With the right partner, yes.”
His words were spoken without additional flowery sentences and hidden meanings, something Cale still found so endearing, he couldn’t help but smile softly.
“Am I the right partner?” Cale shily asked after he collected his courage.
“You are the only partner,” the Heavenly Demon replied softly.
Somehow Cale could hear a deep-rooted promise in those five words. You are the only one ; past, present, and future. Only you and never anybody else.
Wetting his suddenly dry lips, Cale rasped out, “I am glad.”
“Is it the same for you?” The Heavenly Demon inquired without any judgment in his voice.
Resolutely nodding, Cale additionally confirmed his opinion with hurried words, “Of course. Only you.”
The table was quickly abandoned as they embraced each other. Words couldn’t explain how happy they were, finding the other’s presence as their personal salvation. They clung to each other, afraid of letting go.
Hours passed in the timeless space. Maybe it just felt that long, not like it mattered to them. They talked and basked in the warmth the other provided.
Unknown to them, the roses on their chest started filling out. Cale’s red outlines were joined by a black filling, making the rose a startling black with some crimson hues. The Heavenly Demon’s rose filled up quickly with a deep crimson, accompanied by black lines.
Not only did their hearts join each other, but the roses finished growing as well.
As sleepiness caught up with them, a feeling reached their chest that the next time they would wake up, a new day would arrive. The day of their marriage.
True to their words, upon opening his eyes, Ron's scary face greeted Cale.
“Good morning, Young Master,” Ron greeted him before handing over the newspaper. Cale didn’t recognize the topics the paper talked about.
“What shall we do today?” Ron politely inquired.
Cale smiled.
“I am getting married today.”