The Garden of Eden and the Serpent Tempter

The magnificent thoroughbred animals radiated strength and nobility. Impatiently, because of the power restraining them, they stomped in place, eager to break free and rush forward. There was no one in the carriage, not even the coachman, which perplexed the apprentice.

Having seen many expensive things in his life, Cal looked around at the horses with a connoisseur's look, assessed their quality harness, and came to the conclusion that the carriage could easily be worth a couple of million.

Made of incredibly beautiful ivory wood, it was all adorned with gold leaf and jewels. But on this planet, where Cal could see two suns in the sky, there are hardly any gold coins or other currency.

He ran his hand lovingly over the gleaming doorknob and then felt the pleasant velvet of the cushions. Perhaps if anyone had been here, the apprentice wouldn't have dared, but since they were alone, Cal jumped up and climbed into the carriage.

Inside, it was just as chic: there was carpet underfoot, and red cushions on two soft couches that you could drown in if you wanted to.

Liam stood beside the carriage with a strange expression on his face, as if he were ashamed.

"Why don't you have a seat beside me?" Sticking his head out, Cal invited him in. Liam sighed and reluctantly took the seat across from him.

As soon as he sat down, the horses roared and galloped forward. Cal first caught Liam as he nearly flew out of the carriage, then shouted indignantly at the horses.

The unmanageable horses galloped down the brown road, taking a stunned Cal and a grumpy the Head with them. Suddenly the horses were pushed off the ground and soared into the air.

Cal felt that he was about to meet his breakfast again, and he glanced anxiously at Liam. Turning in the air, the horses returned to the road and galloped exactly in the direction the men had been headed from the start.

Despite the strangeness of the situation, Liam looked more bored and disgruntled than frightened and surprised. It was a good thing Legion was already flying well and could keep up with the crew.

Cal leaned over to Liam and asked:

"Do you have any idea what's going on at all?"

"Unfortunately, yes. We're on our way to Marshal Pittsu's domain, and this is his greeting."

Liam looked meaningfully at the carriage and then at Cal.

Memories of meeting General Tishow were still fresh in his mind, and Cal asked:

"Marshal, what kind of a man is he?"

Liam lowered his eyes.

"It's hard to describe."

Meanwhile, the carriage pulled onto the bridge and turned toward the swanky palace. Everything about this place was a crown of creative thought and talent: beautiful gardens and groves, meadows, lakes, parks-whoever lived here appreciated beauty and luxury.

Cal's head swiveled in all directions, gradually imbued with admiration and delight, unlike Liam, who sat frowning beside him. Turning smoothly, the horses stopped in front of a wide staircase of gray stone.

On the threshold stood two rows of servants facing each other. Cal went down after the Head. They climbed the steps and passed the servants and entered the great hall.

Inside the palace, Cal felt like he was in Aladdin's cave, with treasures all around him. Huge paintings adorned the walls, precious trophies of the marshal hid in recesses of the walls, a huge chandelier, consisting of three tiers of crystal crystals, and thousands of lights hung from the ceiling. Everywhere you looked everything screamed of this man's wealth and fame.

Cal thought that even he, with millions on the Earth, could not afford such a pretentious display of wealth. Liam, on the other hand, was staring intensely straight ahead of him, not yielding to the allure of the surroundings, and when footsteps were heard, he looked wary. A tall, slender man was walking toward them, surrounded by his entourage.

He could very conventionally be described as male. His face was delicate, like that of a teenager unacquainted with hormonal changes, and his fluttering hair, the color of wheat, harmonized with the sharp and amber eyes.

The thin waist, accentuated by a wide belt, was more suitable for a girl. As he moved, the man wiggled his hips at the edge of reason, driving Cal into a blush: "What is that anyway? Why are his pants so small that they are completely tight in the back and front?"

The apprentice wanted to block the Head's view so he wouldn't have to look at such shamelessness. However, the rest of the people in the room looked quite decent and even casual, which confirmed Cal's suspicions: this man consciously looked bold and sensual. All of his gestures and looks were slinky and made him shiver inwardly.

It was the way a snake crept into a house at night, crept softly down the corridors, and left no one alive until morning. Cal shuddered.

Unlike the general, this man did not make him want to fall to his knees or follow him to the ends of the earth. Instead, Cal wanted to grab Liam and run, but it was too late, the group of men approached and stopped.

"Liam!"

The man ran up to the Head and, picking him up in his arms, began circling the room. Liam only rested his hands on his nearly bare chest as the Marshal wore his shirt unbuttoned. Staring nonchalantly at their leader, the men took a step back to keep the marshal from crashing into them with his burden.

Cal's eyes widened with indignation and he froze, clenching his fists. While Liam fought back, but rather sluggishly, in Cal's opinion, the marshal put him in place and unceremoniously kissed Liam's wrist, leaving him completely confused.

The men left the room one by one with an important look, and only one very angry student, an irritated Head, and a self-satisfied Marshal Pittsu were left standing in the room.

"Did you like my horses and carriage?" The man leaned on Liam's shoulder and wound a strand of his hair around his finger.

"You didn't have to try so hard," Liam still couldn't hide his annoyance.

"Ahh, Liam, you're so hard to please, that marshal tried so hard. When I was informed that the consummate Head had set foot on my lands, I immediately sent my crew to meet you! I just didn't want you to get tired on the way here."

He gracefully crossed to the other side and put his arm around Liam's shoulder as he led the way. Cal followed on wooden legs.

The marshal seemed oblivious to the other guest, concentrating his attention on the Head. He led them to a beautiful greenhouse, and the place reminded Cal of a promiscuous earl from his and Liam's past.

Fortunately, all their host wanted to do was offer them a late breakfast. The meal was already awaiting the guests on the elegant white table in the center of the man-made garden. Seated around the treats, the men cast glances at each other.

Cal felt uncomfortable, and at the same time, he wanted to slap the marshal in the face with at least one soulful slap. He was grimacing over his plate, picking at what had once been a beautiful pastry. After Cal's efforts, it had become mush, and now he needed a spoon, not a fork, to eat it.

Liam felt no shortage of care: the marshal poured him tea, offered him the best desserts, entertained him with the conversation, and gently touched him wherever he could and could not. All this was going on unnoticed by Cal sitting across from him, though he thought the atmosphere was getting stranger.

"I can't believe you've come to see me, Liam," Marshal Pittsu said in a sweet voice, propping up his chin with his hand and admiring the Head.

"Allow me to introduce my Apprentice: he is the protector and new master of Dai-Kun.

Unlike the General, the Marshal was unimpressed by the Head's words and barely nodded his head to show that he had noticed another guest.

"I hope you'll stay with me tonight, I've missed you so much..." the marshal looked a confused Liam in the eyes questioningly and brought his hand to his lips.

"Ahem," Cal coughed, averting his gaze from the couple.

"Marshall Pittsu," Liam addressed Liam indignantly, and the man suddenly sat up straight like a frightened schoolboy, "we're here with my favorite...student to ask for your help."

The marshal looked at Cal carefully for the first time, then tilted his head as if to pierce him with his gaze.

"The Head got a "favorite"... an apprentice?" The marshal deliberately paused to elaborate.

The head nodded silently, confirming his worst fears. He changed his face and grimaced.

"Well, if so..." The marshal rose from the table, indicating that the meal was over.

Liam and Cal rose from their seats, too.

"Follow me," the man said in a sudden cold voice.

In the marshal's office, Cal took a seat against the wall, while Liam sat across from the man at his desk.

"What brings you to my humble home?" The completely sobered-up marshal asked. Even the buttons on his shirt were buttoned up tight.

"First, I want to know if the rumors about the Overlord's library are true, and second, let's talk about the "first" first."

The marshal's mood changed completely. His face had acquired an impenetrable expression, and his voice had become rigid.

Now he looked like a man with whom General Tishaw competed in everything. A man of strong character and influence, to whom the Head of the Academy comes for advice.

The man rose from his seat and made his way to a tall shelving unit. He retrieved several scrolls and returned to the table with a thoughtful look. Handing the scrolls to Liam, he said:

"All we knew so far consisted of legends."

Liam nodded in agreement, unwrapping the first scroll. He looked thoughtfully at the scroll and remained silent.

"Yes, you got that right. The last scrolls we read mention that the Overlord had been collecting artifacts of power and the special secrets of the worlds he created in his library for centuries."

"Why is there so much reference to..." Liam stopped.

"About the True Source?" The marshal confirmed his hunch.

Liam nodded in confusion. It's not every day you find yourself mentioned in ancient scrolls.

Cal grew tense when he heard the reference to the Head's specialness. He had long wondered what his purpose was, and what Liam did besides run the Academy.

"It says here that no one can read the scrolls," said Liam uncertainly.

"Don't have to be so modest," the Marshal chided him, "I can't read them, and he can, but you can."

Liam pressed his lips.

"What could there be in the records, made thousands of years ago?" Liam shrugged, ignoring the marshal's comment.

"Well, like how to defeat an Ancient Spirit," the marshal began ironically, "are you interested?"

"You're too fond of gossip," Liam, who had lost his temper, switched to "you".

"And you, on the other hand, are afraid of gossip, so you lead such a righteous life that my teeth even hurt!" Marshal Pittsu countered.

"Not everyone is allowed to live like a marshal," Liam said, glancing down at the scroll.

Suddenly the atmosphere between them changed again, like a spark.

"Liam..." the marshal stood up and walked toward him, "Liam..." he put his hand on his shoulder, "how many times I have offered you my heart... how many times have I been ready to warm your... bed, do you know what my cock..." the Head's palm rested over his shameless lips.

Liam jumped up and looked reproachfully at this shameless dog. This scene shook the man, who was modestly propped up against the wall. He took a few steps forward and stopped next to Marshal and Liam.

The Head pulled his hand away in annoyance and stared in amazement at his fingers glistening with moisture: the marshal took advantage of the situation and licked Liam's hand, with which he covered his mouth.