Chains of Vengeance

Chapter 151: Ascension Part 6

Daylight caressed the hills of the cult, announcing a serene morning with the crowing of the rooster. The first rays of the sun entered through the window, softly illuminating the room where Narinder and Goliath rested. Narinder was still curled up on the goat's chest, his calm breathing marking a peaceful rhythm.

Goliath woke up first, observing the feline with calm eyes. A slow, genuine smile curved his lips as he noticed how relaxed Narinder was, something he did not see often. Determined to prolong this moment, he surrounded the god with his strong arms, trapping him in a firm, protective embrace that left Narinder motionless.

"Are you trying to stop me, stubborn goat?" Narinder whispered, opening his eyes slowly and smiling in amusement.

"Of course." Goliath smiled back, tilting his face until their noses touched.

Narinder didn't protest further. Instead, he leaned down and kissed him, their lips meeting in a gesture filled with love and restrained passion. It was a slow, lingering kiss, as if neither of them ever wanted to part. When they finally pulled away, they remained staring at each other, their eyes reflecting the deep connection they shared.

"So," Goliath murmured, rubbing his nose against Narinder's with a touch of affection and roughness, "I was the first to arrive, wasn't I?"

Narinder smiled, his tail wagging slightly in satisfaction.

"That's right. The lamb is still in Anura judging Baal." His voice was filled with calm and sweetness, as if the entire world had disappeared outside that room.

The goat responded with another kiss, this time more passionate, while his hands ran tenderly down Narinder's back. When they separated, Goliath spoke with a mix of mischief and tenderness in his tone:

—Well, then I'll be greedy and use this time to give you all the caresses I want.

Without waiting for a response, he began to stroke Narinder's fur with slow, deliberate movements, stopping occasionally to trace small circles with his fingers. Each caress was like a reminder of his affection, a way of expressing what he didn't always say with words. Narinder closed his eyes, purring softly as he enjoyed Goliath's attentions.

They both gave themselves over to that quiet intimacy, letting the outside world fall away for a while longer.

---

Meanwhile, in Anura...

The landscape was completely different. Baal lay in a puddle of mud, his white and red clothes covered in dirt and water stains. He was bruised, but not defeated; his body still showed signs of struggle, although exhaustion kept him down.

A few steps away, Lambert sat on a rock, absentmindedly playing with his sword. His eyes reflected more than just physical exhaustion; there was an emotional weight in them.

"I suppose you're going to hate me after all this," Lambert murmured, avoiding looking directly at Baal. "I... I just want to keep you out of trouble. And if the day comes when you regret being a god... well... this is the way I try to help you."

Baal, without moving from his position, spoke in a low but clear voice:

"Did you... perhaps regret wearing the red crown?"

Lambert remained silent, contemplating the question as his gaze wandered into the distance. Finally, he answered:

"No... the truth is I don't regret it one bit, but my circumstances were different from yours."

He stood up from the rock and began to walk slowly, as if his thoughts needed movement to be put in order.

"I had a lot of power... maybe even... I could have had enough power to defeat Narinder if I had faced him." Lambert paused, his tone shifting to a more introspective one. "But still... it wasn't fair to him or to me. Even though I was only Narinder's vessel, I felt what it was like to be a god. To be worshipped, to be feared, to be loved, to be hated... it's something that can make you lose the value of many things."