You can't refuse

After dividing the broth, they used the bread they had left over from lunch and had a good snack. Then Liam arranged for Cal to take a bath in the big tub with a hair wash.

He always wanted to touch them. So after the bath, devoted a lot of time to drying and brushing that snow avalanche of silk.

Cal blissfully closed his eyes as Liam gently touched his head. He was almost drooling with pleasure and inexorably sleepy. So when he was done with his hair, Liam helped Cal lie down comfortably and he fell asleep.

Liam emptied the tub, emptied the water, and filled it up with new water, soaking in the caressing warmth of the water. In the morning Cal woke up in his arms and took a long look at his long eyelashes, his beautiful flat nose, his glossy pink lips...and went for a kiss.

Liam stretched lazily, not pulling away from Cal and stroking his chest. Cal covered his favorite face with kisses and went down to his neck, not forgetting his sensitive earlobes. Liam purred with pleasure and didn't want to leave the bed at all.

So they lay there until lunchtime when their stomachs rumbled indignantly. As the only healthy person in the house, Liam got up to prepare a meal.

After much physical exertion the previous night, his appetite was beastly, so after quickly roasting meat and chopping vegetables, he went back to bed with Cal.

They ate in bed and diligently idled away afterwards. Liam still wore only one shirt, and Cal covered himself with a blanket. After lunch, Cal wanted to go outside and take a walk.

There was no nature as such, only a stone road leading to a dried-up riverbed. There was a small oasis somewhere to the east, but it took too many resources to maintain.

The thriving farm was sponsored by an army that needed something to eat. It was the farmers who helped take Cal out, disguising their trip as delivery of provisions to the camp.

After walking a little way along the rocky trail, Cal crouched on a large stump and took a break. The sun was high at the zenith and reflected off the shiny rocks, heating the air like an oven.

Liam bent down and soaked a small piece of cloth with the water he had brought, then placed it around Cal's neck and gave him something to drink. Standing behind him, he shielded Cal from the sun and looked around anxiously.

"You know that old man wanted to give me his powers and whatnot," Cal said.

"You probably don't know what that means," Liam put his palms on his shoulders.

"What do you mean? Is it dangerous?" Cal looked around.

"If he says so, you can't back out, but it's desperate of him," Liam said evasively, patting him on the back.

"I don't get it," Cal said and looked again at the deep, long ditch left by the river.

"Let's turn back, the sun's getting hot," Liam pulled him and they spent the rest of the road in silence.

Cal was still tiring quickly and often fell asleep, so Liam spent his time cleaning the house or cooking. Alarming news was brought to him all the time, but Liam decided to ignore anything not related to Cal right now. So he missed the frightening news: the library had been found and ruined.

It was the day the captain was brought to their house. The elderly man had also "died" the day before in the hospital and was now free as a bird. Placed in another corner of the house, Liam now cared for two, and a somber shadow lingered at the corner of his lips.

The captain spent much of his time talking to Cal. At first, he liked to repeat the story of how he and Cal's father had grown up and troublemaking, then he moved on to his war exploits. Cal listened with rapt attention to stories about other worlds and the monsters that hunted the planet's core.

He would ask many questions, sitting over a chilled meal until midnight, and then after a hasty snack, he would drag Liam behind the screen with which the room was partitioned and quietly love him. The old man pretended to be deaf and blind so as not to embarrass the youth.

Meanwhile, Liam hissed at Cal and slapped the slutty hands that brashly reached under his clothes and unceremoniously pranced over his body. This further inflamed the man beside him, and he explored every nook and cranny with redoubled zeal.

Eventually, Liam gave in and, with bulging eyes, lay motionless like a doll, biting his lip while Cal satisfied his curiosity and lust. At times Liam covered his mouth with his hands to keep from screaming or moaning.

So they mastered the position on his side and the one in which Liam lay on top of Cal face up, resting his arms and legs, swinging like a giant spider. His physical form had improved considerably over the days, and one special place had become much friendlier to Cal's intrusion.

After another lovemaking session, which went no louder than usual with the earthworms, Liam went to wash up red with embarrassment. Hearing his footsteps, the old man rose on the bed and asked if he knew the technique of hiding sounds.

"Come to me later, I'll teach you," said the captain.

Liam dove headfirst under the water and didn't surface until he was panting. He was terribly embarrassed, but either he couldn't refuse Cal, or he didn't want to. Liam got out of the tub, put his robe on, and walked unenthusiastically toward the old man.

He took him by the hand and closed his eyes and instantly transmitted to him the images he had stored in his memory. With a simple manipulation, it was possible to de-sound an area about three meters in diameter.

Liam was embarrassed but didn't show it, just thanked the old man, but he wouldn't let him go and pulled on his arm, causing Liam to bend lower.

"Celestina knows who Cal's grandfather is. She asked me not to tell him yet, but you know what's about to happen. If she continues to hide... I'd like to tell you... lean down... even lower..."

The old man whispered the name in Liam's ear and his heart skipped a beat. The blood rushed to his head and rumbled in his ears.

"Is it true?" Liam asked, realizing that the old man had no reason to lie about such an important matter.

"..."

"It's awful," he muttered, and putting out the candle beside the captain, he bid him good night.

On cotton legs, he reached the hearth and drank water directly from the cold kettle. Wiping his mouth with his palm, he leaned against the heavy table and closed his eyes. Still shaken by the news, he could hardly contain himself. His fears were now even greater and he no longer felt that they were safe.

As he stepped outside, he saw nothing but semi-darkness, and billions of stars shone indistinctly high above his head. When he whispered a few phrases, he opened his palm and small lights flickered on it.

Liam blew on the palm while twisting on its axis, and the fireflies flew off in different directions. "I hope I don't see you again," Liam whispered.

Then he tried the technique of hiding sounds and creating a vacuum around himself, touched the crystal, and listened to a report on the latest events. In front of witnesses, the minions of the Ancient Spirit had taken something out of the library and brought a rock down on it, so there was no way to explore the library completely.

The witnesses could not tell exactly what the Ancient Spirit had taken possession of, but Liam had a bad feeling about it. He inquired if the enemy had done anything after that, but the answer was no.

"Strange," thought Liam.

After that, he contacted the Third and listened to several more important reports. One of them mentioned that several students had used their dragons to put up a money fight. Liam covered his face with his hand.

After promising to sort it all out, he contacted the last contact. On the other end, Marshal Pittsu answered.

"Liam, how unexpected, to what do I owe the pleasure?"

"I apologize for being so late, but I need help."

The marshal on the other end got to his feet and clutched at the crystal and asked:

"Is it to do with Cal?"

"I'm afraid so. Should I tell you everything from the beginning?"

"No, I know everything. How can I help you?" The marshal was willing to do anything.

He had grown fond of the blond Apollo, as he called Cal, while still admiring and secretly wishing he could eat a lamb named Liam.

"There is one person who wants to use the transfer technique to share his experience and knowledge with Cal. Do you understand what this means?"

"The outburst is inevitable, I hear you. I'll wait for your signal, but take all the measures you can. It'll take me at least half an hour to arrive to help."

"All right, thank you, Pittsu," Liam muttered, "but you might have a conflict with the General."

"I don't give a damn about that peacock," the marshal chopped, then added more calmly, "hey, Liam, why didn't you tell Cal about the tag?"

"Are you really asking me that at a time like this? I don't know," said the Head, confused.

"Liam, you know it'll protect you both... why are you dragging this out?" The marshal pressed him, and Liam shook his head.

"I've already made up my mind, there's nothing to discuss."

"Good boy," the marshal joked, "I hope to pull you two into my hospitable bed one day. You know I'm a generalist..."

"I know nothing! And I don't need to know that, you're still a philanderer!"

"How would you know?" The marshal did not relent, teasing Liam, and it reminded him of a man asleep in the house.

"See you later, Pittsu," Liam said and removed his hand from the crystal.

He looked at the starry sky once more and listened and went back into the house.

"Where have you been," Cal asked sleepily, pulling him into his arms and nuzzling the back of his head with his nose.

His warm breath made Liam shiver at first, but then he warmed up and fell asleep, feeling the gentle charm of the moment with every fiber of his being. He had a lot to do in the morning: he ran out of broth and vegetables. He moved to the farm, disguising his appearance.

For a few bars, he traded a mountain of produce, which included milk, eggs, lamb, fresh vegetables, and fruit, as well as flavored bread, some honey, and a bottle of wine. He could barely lift his grocery basket and returned home to begin cooking.

Cal was feeling much better and kept asking for food or desperately stealing from the table, causing Liam to sit him down to peel vegetables. The captain enjoyed watching Liam's troubles and often commented on his actions, giving unsolicited but generally helpful advice.

By dinner time Celestina had arrived. She brought some pies, which filled the house with appetizing aromas. Liam's lunch also arrived and everyone, including the captain, sat around the table. Time flew by with cheerful conversation and a delicious meal.

The people at the table felt as if they were family, so close to each other were the events of the past few months. Liam lit little lanterns and Celestina pulled a violin out of her space.

Cal listened in amazement to her skillful playing and his heart fluttered at the beauty of the moment. After a few tunes, the captain tapped his palm on the table and interrupted the obsession.

"I am ready!" he said. Tears glistened in his eyes. "This is the right day and it will not get any better," he pressed his hand to his chest, "my dear friend, I will do everything I can for your son's sake. May his happy fate be the best consolation in your sorrows..."

Liam and Celestina sat with stony faces, and only Cal empathized with the old man, looking thoughtfully at his struggles. The Spellcaster was the first to awaken:

"Liam put up a shield and hold it for as long as you can, I'll summon Fabula."

Together they rose from the table and went their separate ways. The old man beckoned Cal to him, and he sat down across from him.

"The Transfer Technique involves a great deal of inconvenience, I'm afraid you'll have to sleep for a few days after it's over. But remember, I don't regret anything," the old man said.

"That's all right," Cal nodded, excited by what was happening.