Chapter Text
In Leracal, seasons are practically nonexistent.
Throughout the year, the entire territory is completely covered by a blanket of snow as far as the eye can see. Black trees with twisted branches make up most of the nation's sparse "forests," and the cold never leaves the air.
Even though for a few months the winds aren't as strong, the snowstorms less impetuous, and the sun shines for longer in a sky that is normally gray during the short period they call daylight, the native inhabitants don't dare call this brief period a "seasonal change."
Tei is well aware of this fact, but seeing the dark clouds in the sky letting small beams of golden light pass through them still brings to mind the thought that another season has passed.
The detachment of soldiers marched in a straight line, maintaining their battle formation beneath the bare branches of trees that rose like skeletal fingers pointing towards the heavy, endless leaden sky, while the biting wind snaked between the ancient trunks, carrying ice crystals and the distant sound of something forgotten by time in that white landscape.
The cavalry led the way with the firmness of those accustomed to such an assigned task. The animals exhaled dense clouds of vapor with each heavy breath, their hooves sinking deep into the snow before emerging again, leaving a regular trail that the foot soldiers used as a road.
Leading the cavalry, mounted on his faithful, utterly black steed, the Count of Ovium marches back inside the fortress gates after yet another monster-hunting expedition.
As every time in the last six years, the hunting campaign was completed just in time for the arrival of the White Night.
Tei glances at his soldiers for a moment. He feels grateful knowing there were no casualties and that everyone could return to their homes and families. Then, his red eyes drift to the gold necklace with a pendant encrusted with a jewel the same color as his eyes that hangs from his neck. He holds the pendant in the palm of his hand and brings it close to his lips.
— Blessed be in your protection.—Closing his eyes, Tei murmurs the same words that always flow from his lips after each victory on the battlefield.
The soldiers enter through the large stone gates and, after reporting to the commander and the army doctor, begin to disperse.
Tei leads his horse to the castle steps where a servant is already waiting to take the animal back to the stable.
In his chambers, a hot bath awaits the count.
The cold black armor protecting the man's body is removed piece by piece until only his natural body is visible.
After the bath, the hunting armor was replaced by garments worthy of the nobility the count carries in his veins.
Tei's hair was combed back, his body was perfumed, and his clothes were perfectly aligned on his body.
—The frost rabbits can multiply without limit, so tell Alec to keep an eye on that area.—Putting the cufflinks on his shirt sleeves, Tei continued giving instructions to the butler.
—Yes, my lord.
— Urze?—His voice, previously as empty as a bottomless pit, acquires a slight touch of warmth as he pronounces the name.
—The young master is in the stables, my lord.— The butler informs.
"He must have gone to see Arene."
Tei thinks, looking at the desolate scene outside the large windows.
There are very few creatures capable of approaching Tei's war mount.
And a radically smaller number of those that the black steed allows to ride him.
Tei being one of them.
Urze being the other.
— Prepare everything for our trip. — Tei remembers that perhaps it's a good time to present Urze with the foal born a few months ago, the offspring of Arene and a purebred mare. — We will remain in the capital's chapel during the White Night. Chase will assume my duties from now on.
— We will fetch you as soon as the White Night ends. — Already knowing what needs to be done, the butler extends Tei's overcoat, the last piece of clothing needed, to the count.
— Perfect.
Properly dressed, all that remains for Tei is to wait for the preparations for the trip to the capital to be completed.
— They say this time it will last less than usual. — He says more to himself than to the butler.
The elderly man bows in reverence.
— I will keep that in mind, my lord.
Suddenly, a loud bang echoes in the room.
The doors to the count's chambers were flung open without any warning.
—M-MY LORD!
The breathless cry only made Tei glance sideways at the newcomer.
—How dare you enter like this?! Do you have no manners?!
The butler showed his complete displeasure at the abrupt intrusion.
—I am deeply sorry, b-but...— The man was having difficulty breathing and standing upright.
He seemed genuinely desperate.
Tei took a step forward.
—What happened? Explain yourself.
The newcomer took several deep breaths before facing the count.
—My lord, it's an emergency! There's a caravan of carriages outside!
—A caravan?— Surprise and doubt could be heard in the butler's voice beside Tei.
—And they bear the Arnata coat of arms!— the man continued, his nervousness only growing on his face.
Each word spoken made Tei's eyes widen more and more.
—Judging by the color of the flag, they must be members of the imperial family.
Everything in the room fell into complete silence for what seemed like an eternity.
Tei didn't say a word, but his feet acted without him thinking.
Faster than etiquette allowed, Tei moved through the castle corridors.
He crossed the inner courtyard and reached the main staircase in record time.
All the while, his thoughts revolved around a single question.
"Could it be him?"
Tei felt a drop of cold sweat trickle down the side of his face along with the cloud of white smoke escaping from between his lips.
His feet carried him to the second flight of stairs in the blink of an eye, and there he froze.
There was a man there, among all those luxurious carriages.
A man who stood out from all the others because of the bright aura emanating from his presence.
Noticing the petrified person on the stairs, the man turned his face towards him.
A small smile pulled those thin lips upwards.
—I made you wait, didn't I?
Tei could only stare fixedly with wide eyes, unable to close his mouth.
The newcomer's smile only grew wider when he closed his eyes.
—I came to take you home...
It had been six years since they had seen each other.
Six years of deep anguish consuming Tei.
Six years of suffocating silence.
And now, face to face, Tei can only feel his heart tighten in his chest.
— ...beloved.
Six years.
Six years in which every White Night Tei begged a God he didn't believe existed that the man with the sweet smile and warm eyes would remain alive.
Six years in which he prayed for the health and well-being of the man before him.
Six years in which he also pleaded that their paths would never cross again.
Shuraka Loram.
The one for whom Tei was willing to give his life.
And the one he wished never to see again.