Even a centenarian can... screw up

The Head answered instead of the apprentice.

"An urgent matter came up, we needed to have a word."

The Mentor's confident tone did not arouse the least bit of suspicion in those present. Everyone was sure that no one present would receive a kiss and the request to close their eyes was a ruse.

Especially their Mentor could not have been involved. The older disciples knew something of the Head's sad love and regarded him almost as a holy martyr.

Only Seventh was prudent enough to hide the smile that was breaking out. The evening was drawing to a close, and Nood and Rashid were going to their rooms, for they did not feel like sleeping on the floor twice in a row. Seventh finished her tea and took her to leave as well.

Unner barely got the frightened Yolk out from under the bed and wished his Mentor good night. Suddenly the cramped room was very large and quiet.

Cal released Legion to explore the area and began to remove the curtains destroyed by the fire. The teacher was picking up trash around the room.

They pretended very diligently that nothing had happened. No one broke the silence, it seemed like nothing was more important this evening than going to bed in a perfectly clean room.

Liam didn't want to keep playing this stupid game. He stopped Cal, took the broom from his hands, and set it to the side. The hand he held was trembling slightly, and his ragged breathing lightly ruffled the hair on Liam's head.

The apprentice stood, lowering his gaze, afraid of himself.

Liam squeezed his hand harder:

"Can I see...you?"

Cal blinked and took a step back. No one could see them now. He was already exposed. There was no point in hiding his face.

Snow-white hair fell in a wave over his shoulders, and his thin eyebrows frowned slightly until his dark eyes reflected Liam's pale robes and confused face.

"I knew..." he whispered, touching Cal's face with his fingertips, "you came for me after all."

Cal was even more embarrassed.

"That's all...I've been looking for you for years, but your uncle prevented me, if it hadn't been for your powerful friends, I would have died of old age and we wouldn't have met..."

"I think I should step down as the Head of the Academy," Liam said suddenly.

"But why? If you leave, that position will almost certainly be taken by your uncle," Cal objected.

"And fine. Do you think I wanted the job? Not at all. You know me, I don't like the hype around me, and I'd rather just do some work with my own hands. But it happened... because of my gift. The elders felt that such a special person should lead the Academy."

"I didn't understand how you had the misfortune to become Head, but now... What about Uncle?"

"He's actually suited for the job, despite his shortcomings. I want to support him and maybe then, he'll let me go live my life."

"It's unlikely, but it's worth a try."

His heart was still beating as if after a run. Cal couldn't believe his happiness. They sat down at the table across from each other.

Cal tried to control himself, afraid that if he came any closer he might not be able to hold himself back and do something wrong.

And he certainly wanted to arrange things the best way so that there would be no bad memories between them.

"You're looking at me like that... what are you thinking about?" smiled Liam.

"Just admiring, I've lived my whole life, after all, trying not to forget your face."

Liam shrank back. He was afraid to ask about how his friend had lived all these years. But the awkwardness of the silence was even more unbearable.

If he didn't ask, wouldn't Cal think Liam didn't care? And since he didn't, he'd figure out how to ask. Gaining courage, he said:

"I bet you've fulfilled your dream of becoming fabulously rich," Liam smiled timidly.

"Unfortunately, yes," Cal replied, "and it turns out that all the money in the world can't buy even a minute of meeting you..."

Liam opened his eyes in surprise, and a searing blush flooded his cheeks. Clenching his fists, he tried to control himself. There was such pain and longing in Cal's words that his heart burst with sorrow...

He wouldn't be able to understand him, no matter how much he wanted to. It had only been three years for Liam, and though they had been full of longing and sadness, it would not compare to the way lonely Cal had aged and faded away.

Liam stood up and hugged his friend from behind. He pressed his cheek against his cheek and tried to soothe his pain, heal his wounds, to comfort him with his warmth and attention. Cal intercepted and seated Teachers in his lap.

This made Liam a little uncomfortable, but he had long since shed his preconceptions, at least he wanted to believe it. He put his hands on Cal's shoulders and nuzzled against his forehead.

When two people miss each other for so long, all they need is the smallest thing to make their soul's blossom and experience bliss.

Liam closed his eyes and concentrated on the sensations. He loved everything: the smell of Cal's body, his breath, the warmth of his skin... It all moved Liam so much that he didn't notice the tears flowing down his face.

Cal drained those cold streams with light kisses, and when he touched Liam's lips, he tasted salty.

"Now I feel like I haven't lived at all," Cal admitted.

Liam looked at him with understanding.

"When I couldn't suffer for you anymore and sit in your room without a break, it was like my heart burned out and shriveled up and became like an old pine cone. I seemed to be living, but I couldn't taste life. I never felt bad or good. I wasn't into anything, and I didn't hate it. You could say I died a long time ago. The only thing that had color and taste was our past. I just remembered you and that's how my years passed faster."

Cal's thoughts made him gloomy, but then he came to his senses.

"I wish I could forget those useless years. Don't you have such a potion or spell to erase them?"

Liam was silent. There was a way, but he knew that the past is what makes us; it is our best teacher, though not always a good one. Instead of answering, he simply stroked Cal's hair, and rubbed his forehead against his nose, hugging him tighter.

He must do a million such simple nice things to rid Cal of the bitter taste in his soul.

Now Liam acted impulsively, boldly, and without a thought for the consequences. Cal's proximity made him reckless and blissful. He shed the weight of responsibility and simply drifted along, carried away by his feelings for this special man.

Having had his fill of caresses and gentle whispers, Liam got up and said he was going to the bathroom.

Cal didn't know if that meant anything more or not, so he just waited. His thoughts were interrupted by a glowing crystal. He was contacted by the Twelfth. The Elder spoke of a meeting at the Academy and decided to clarify the situation beforehand. Cal told him of the Head's decision and asked him to support Liam.

The Elder already knew that Cal had revealed himself, but he did not stress it. Finally, he warned Cal that the Fourth had an inexplicable grudge against him, and would try to shove the apprentice into some backwater, away from his nephew, so they should be careful.

"It's best if you never catch the Fourth's eye," even after the conversation was over, these words continued to echo in Cal's mind. Suddenly he flinched because something touched his leg under the table. But he immediately relaxed, remembering that he now owned a dragon.

He bent down and peered under the table: Legion was curled up, trying to put his head in his lap. Cal stroked the baby behind the ears, and then suddenly thought of a way to avoid the Fourth.

When Liam showed up at the door in a cloud of steam, Cal was packing his things into his traveling bag.

Mentor's eyes rounded.

"Don't worry, it's for later, I've figured out a way to avoid seeing your uncle without arousing suspicion.

Liam crouched on the edge of the bed and listened interestedly.

"You have to send me and the other two students on a mission, no matter where. And then show up to check on our progress when your uncle is distracted by Academy business. Or in fact, we can go to the far reaches on a business trip. He'll be pleased, won't he? You'd be out of the way, and he'd credit your services to his fine leadership, wouldn't he?"

Cal's plan seemed to have plenty of upsides.

"Can I think it over again?" asked Liam cautiously, not wanting to hurt his friend with a rejection.

Cal stopped folding his things and agreed. Thinking back, he paid tribute to Liam's wisdom. Perhaps he'd come up with an even better plan, who knew?

"Are you going for a swim?" asked Liam casually, towel-drying his hair.

"I guess so," Cal replied, and he felt like he'd been kicked out of the room.

Taking his clean clothes, he hid behind the door and only then saw the surprise: the bathroom was filled with warm, bubbling water. So that's where those puffs of steam were coming from. Cal smiled and climbed into the warm water.

Tiredness vanished as if by magic. Relaxing enough, he left the blissful warmth of the bath and quietly crept into the room. It was dark, and it looked like Liam was already asleep.

Not without regret, Cal made his way to his bed and, climbing into it, suddenly jumped up. There was someone in there! Could it be a dragon? A warm hand squeezed his wrist and pulled him down.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to frighten you," he heard, and the fright was gone.

"What..." Cal realized that it was stupid to ask that question.

He crouched modestly on the edge so as not to crowd Liam, mindful of his injury, but when he was unceremoniously pulled closer, he realized he was acting like a shy young lady.

"Let's sleep together, I don't see the point in distancing ourselves when we finally meet," Liam whispered.

Cal stared into the darkness, and the blood pounded in his temples. He turned to Liam and met his hot breath. The bed was rather narrow, so lying close together was the only option.

Liam touched his face...yes he was playing with fire! The apprentice ran his hand under the covers and stopped at his Mentor's waist.

As he held the soft, warm body against him, he felt the heat instantly in every cell of his body. Their flaming breaths mingled. Liam moved closer and kissed him.

It was enough to make the tenuous bonds of prudence with which the man had bound himself as he emerged from the bathtub wither away, releasing his hidden desire.

But he had one shameful secret that made all his bravado nothing more than a peacock's tail.

The fact was that all of the nearly century-old Cal's love experience had been with Liam in the past.

Cal's entire love experience was with Liam.

Although in the past he had given the impression of being a lovelorn womanizer, it was a sham...

If he continued to kiss Liam now, he would inevitably face the consequences... and what to do next?

That "then" terrified him greatly.

He had caressed and passionately kissed Liam many times in his dreams, but he had never gone any further.

Liam sensed that Cal was tense and thoughtful. Courage gave way to painful doubt.

He'd gathered all his courage not to embarrass himself in front of Cal, so why was Cal so restrained and as if he were pushing him away?

What was going on?

Liam sat up on the bed and Cal realized that he had completely failed. The moment had been lost.

If he didn't say or do something now, there would be a huge misunderstanding. But unfortunately, there wasn't a single good idea for a quick fix.

He stood up and lit a candle. In its dim light, he examined the unnatural posture in which Liam sat.

He did not move at all. Suddenly a tear glistened in the light. Cal rushed over to Liam and gave him a quick hug.

He was on his knees, hiding his face in the folds of his Mentor's clothes, and he was terribly ashamed.

"Forgive me, forgive me, I beg you, forgive me, I... I'm such a fool!" he mumbled, clutching Liam's hands with force. The man on the bed finally came out of his stupor and took his hand from Cal's.

He stared at the distraught man at his feet for a long time and did not dare to speak.

He was bitter. Cal's indecision wounded him deep in his heart. He was beginning to think that he'd made a mistake, that maybe Cal had fallen out of love with him, that he'd misunderstood.

He... he couldn't think that Cal was just scared of intimacy with him, how could he know? So as usual he took it all on himself, blaming himself.