~𝒜𝓃 𝒜𝒹𝑒𝓅𝓉𝓊𝓈' 𝐿𝒶𝓈𝓉 𝒲𝒾𝓈𝒽~ (𝒵𝒽𝑜𝓃𝑔𝒸𝒽𝒾)

Chapter 14: Realizations, Transformations, the Meaning of Home Pt 3

Morax did not understand why there seemed to be a tight and bitter knot in his chest, alongside the bitter taste in his mouth. He did not understand the feeling in his chest, the tightness and discomfort that swelled up when he saw his precious treasure near his disciple. He still did not understand why he still felt this way.

He had talked to Guizhong about it, but even after minding her words and attempting to figure out the meaning behind her subtle message, he could not figure it out.

Ajax was just like any other disciple he had ever had, if not a little special.

But, even if he paid no attention to his appearance, he was just like any other disciple he had ever had before. He was supposed to be his shidi and nothing else, nothing more. He was supposed to be his youngest disciple and nothing else.

And yet, there was this ever-growing feeling sprouting inside of his chest like a sick thorny vine, it was slowly ripping his chest apart with doubt and longing. He had no name to the feeling he had felt ever since he laid his eyes on Ajax and slowly got to know him.

He could admit that at first, he felt a lingering curiosity at what Ajax was; curious about his life, his origin, and what made him function.

He was curious to see what made him tick, as the mortals once eloquently stated it.

However, as he got to know the mortal, his curiosity sprouted into a need to hold him close and tightly to his chest. The lying urge to stake a claim on the mortal man, the need to cherish and devour his very attention and touch. The need to place the gorgeous being into his cavern of treasures, for him and him only, for him to admire and hold close.

He tried to keep these garish desires; however, the longer Ajax stayed in the world he was not a part of, the urges tried their best to break out from the shackles Morax had placed on them.

Ajax was his precious treasure, his beloved disciple, his strong and valiant warrior who fought for his name on a daily basis and did so with pride.

But, he was not his.

He did not belong to anyone, he only belonged to himself. So, then, why did he feel the need to take him as his own, to hide him away selfishly for no one but himself.

And yet at the center of his core, was but a greedy and selfish dragon who tried to defy his small thread of humanity. Even if he tried his best to play the part of mortality, he could not go against his base instincts.

So, when gazing upon his precious treasure, his darling mortal leaning into someone else's touch so eagerly, he felt something scratch at his instincts.

His mortal was newly recovering from his prior state, and was still burning up. And yet, he was still so eager for Sky Bracer's touch. They had exchanged words, just like any other ones, ordinary words exchanged during polite conversation.

And yet...

Morax was not as dense as everyone seemed to think, even if he still did not fully comprehend mortal feelings, and had trouble naming his own. He knew what the shy looks they had given each other meant, he knew what it had meant because he had seen it before.

He had seen it in the way Cloud Retainer had gazed upon Mei Yingling, a physician of 24 years who had climbed up the mountain before to collect herbs and ingredients for her teas, all of those years ago.

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Cloud Retainer was patrolling the outer perimeter of her domain, as there was a recent outbreak of Rift-hounds near the outskirts.