Even now, awake from the dream, all that remained was a faint sensation of seeing Kishiar that day and the dreadful feeling of wandering through the passage. There was no sense of gaining new information or feeling like any gaps had been filled.
"Anyway, I never expected to see the secret passages of Peletta Castle like that. So, it must have been that time in this dream."
Kishiar did not elaborate on when 'that time' was. The mere mention was enough. Yuder, too, had no desire to elaborate on witnessing in a dream the moment Kishiar La Orr, from his previous life, was killed by his successor, Yudrain Aile. He merely nodded in agreement.
"Are you feeling alright? Not feeling unwell like before?"
"I am fine."
Indeed, there was no physical pain. Unlike the times he dreamt of the white gloves, there was no strange reaction or loss of appetite.
Yet, even when he should have risen, Yuder remained still, gazing down at the blanket half-slipped off him.
There was no issue. He was simply reminiscing the last moments of the dream, where a man had tightly held his hand and led the way.
Kishiar's last words, vowing never to let go first, resonated with him. Even now, Kishiar held Yuder's hand in the same manner, blurring the lines between dream and reality, stirring an indescribably difficult emotion within him.
He had saved Yuder from the nightmare, without a moment's hesitation, fully aware of what the dream entailed.
"Yuder?"
Concerned by Yuder's unusual behavior, Kishiar called out to him. Yuder, avoiding a direct response, cast his eyes down and spoke.
"If you permit... may I stay like this for a bit longer?"
Kishiar's eyes widened slightly, but he soon smiled.
"Of course, as long as you like."
He did not question the reason behind Yuder's sudden request. He simply adjusted the blanket slipping off Yuder's shoulders, holding him closer to provide more comfort.
For a long time, the two sat closely, looking at the fireplace, enveloped in a tranquil stillness. Yuder suddenly became aware of the familiar scent enveloping him. It was different from the faint body odor he usually sensed up close. This was the scent of a second gender manifestor, intermingling with his will.
The scent, usually well-contained within the owner's body, now gently caressed Yuder's entire being. Yuder, responding to it, did not restrain his own scent from mingling similarly.
As their scents flowed and slowly intertwined, Yuder felt an additional sense beyond the usual five, distinctly aware of their movements. The unseen scents carrying intentions, how they enveloped and caressed each other's bodies – all these sensations were palpable, gradually raising a warmth in his body.
To a non-Awakener onlooker, they might seem motionless and silent, but it was far from it. Their interaction resembled animals comforting each other by grooming, akin to an inaudible conversation.
Despite having spent a busy, energetic day, Yuder felt something dormant within him come alive, breathing life anew.
"Haah..."
It felt like he was finally coming to life. Odd as it sounded, it was true.
Reacting to his breath, Kishiar pulled Yuder closer into his embrace. Yuder turned to meet his gaze.
A pale, expressionless face reflected in the deep, sunken red eyes.
After a moment, Yuder first lifted his head and, as if entranced, pressed his lips against the other's. As their lips slowly met, his tongue slipped between them and gently teased Kishiar's, which had been still. Kishiar, momentarily startled, soon looked down with tenderly curved eyes and wrapped his hands around Yuder's neck, as if to support it. The direction of their inclined heads shifted, deepening their kiss abruptly.
As their tongues intertwined, the sensation of a hand gently caressing through the hair sent a tingling pleasure throughout the body, causing it to shiver. Yet, more delightful was the sensation of being even closer to Kishiar.
Their lips briefly parted, and breath flowed from both without precedence. Their gazes met intensely, yet again no words were exchanged. Then, once more, this time Kishiar initiated, pulling Yuder close and caressing under his lips before continuing into a second kiss.
The deep, lingering kiss, no different from their earlier mingling scents, continued unceasingly. Occasionally, when Yuder gasped for breath, they would briefly part, yet even then, their clasped hands and bodies did not stray from each other.
As the kiss deepened, their bodies gradually tilted until they almost lay across the sofa's armrest, yet neither expressed nor even thought of any discomfort.
In the heat that rose thanks to their mingled scents, Yuder desired nothing but Kishiar La Orr in front of him. And Kishiar felt the same.
"Ah..."
In the midst of the unending kiss, clothes fell away, and bare skin met. The heat below was already more intense than above. Yuder knew his body had softened enough without need for further preparation.
The shame of his body, relaxed and wet with the viscous fluid, did not come to mind. Rather, it was almost pleasing.
"Even if you have to think about tomorrow, you wouldn't want that, would you?"
A low question came unexpectedly. It wasn't intended to sober the mood with reason, as before, but seemed more like a confirmation from someone who clearly understood Yuder's intentions.
Instead of answering, Yuder drew in Kishiar's lower lip again, biting it gently.
That alone was enough to convey his desire to have the person before him.
He wanted to embrace and engulf him more tightly than ever before.
Only that mattered, nothing else was needed.
Not the coming tomorrow, nor the days after, nor anything else.
Responding to that intense yearning, Kishiar's eyes clouded over, sweetly and painfully. To him, nothing seemed more tender and lovely in this world than Yuder.
And Yuder now clearly understood that his own reflection in Kishiar's eyes was not much different.
"Ah..."
Soon, their two bodies completely overlapped. Without a gap, an invisible scent around their nakedness mixed and filled the space, vibrating as one.
Yuder embraced the man with his whole body, as if he would never let go no matter how the world shook, burying his head. The throbbing of their two hearts, palpable through their touching skin, felt so clear. Even as his head spun with overwhelming emotions and his stomach swelled from taking in the other, he writhed not in pain but in deeper longing. Never before had he felt so alive as he did in this moment.
Knowing there was no deeper way they could connect, yet the thought of wanting it if possible crossed their minds.
Every time Yuder could not contain his emotions and embraced Kishiar tightly, the man responded by pressing his lips to his. So closely entwined that it was difficult to move, yet they continued without stopping.
Unspoken emotions, unable to form into words amidst the uncooled heat, flowed and overflowed for a long time.
"Haah..."
After a long kiss, Yuder parted his swollen, reddened lips to breathe out. The dying light of the fireplace flickered over the half-collapsed sofa.
The man lying in his arms responded by gently brushing his lips below Yuder's ear. The only things hiding their still-entwined naked bodies were the darkness filling the room and the blanket that initially wrapped around Yuder.
Even after their intimacy subsided, the heat did not fade. And thanks to that warmth, Yuder finally managed to smoothly articulate the thoughts that had been brewing inside him.