Part One - Third Year - Chapter [027]

The room was ice cold - the silence spoke a thousand words, Arslan and I were standing in front of the captain of the Red Lions. If there ever were words to describe what a 'rugged' man would like.

They would be perfect to describe the captain. 

His face had several scars probably from fierce battles he fought, and he wore the lion's Maine around his neck with a quiet decency that was almost palpable in the air.

The same lions maine that I had seen several times already across many of the warriors in the guild. Seemed to be some part of the uniform, even though Arslan had yet to wear one. 

The uniform had variations, but it was mostly the same - a shirt so tight, that seemed to accentuate their strength. The lion's mane around their neck, and skinny tight leather jeans, alongside black boots.

When I first met Arslan he wore something that would be more appropriate for a knight. I guessed at that moment Warrior and Knight were different classes within the guild.

The 'uniform' did manage to cover their skin, but it seemed it was fitted like this on purpose. I had to wonder as to why that might be. 

Yet still - with a couple of layers on top like the captain wore it - it almost seemed like just regular clothing. 

Maybe even resembling something tribal.

There was no time to ask for the details. The captain looked furious, his face was perfectly chiseled jaw, unfortunately, he had a buzz cut - he looked very manly. Commanded respect by just glaring at us. 

He was slouching forward in his chair, his elbows on the table, his hands clasped against his mouth. 

His eyes pierced mine - like daggers stabbing my chest. 

Arslan seemed unfazed - I on the other hand felt a commanding aura that was intimidating just to stand with him in the same room. 

Finally, Arslan broke the silence. 

"Captain - Eve - please, I can explain, if you'd just let me," Arslan was quickly dissed with a single finger. I've never seen him show fear and un-moving respect like this to another man. 

Not in the small window where I've met him at least. 

"We know about the inamorato-" spoke the captain with such coldness it almost felt like the room dropped a couple of degrees. His index finger flung at me.

Arslan gulped loudly. 

I felt like crying for some reason - the pressure I felt against my chest was real. 

Had the captain aura's something to do with it? 

"I - I -" Arslan stuttered. He was different from the captain - like he was the only man that could make him feel small. Like Arslan knew better than to have a bolstering ego - like he usually does. 

One of the reasons I find him attractive. 

"I can explain!" Arslan managed to blather out. 

"There's no need - " full stop. I didn't know what to say or what to do, I felt like I couldn't even move. 

The captain continued. 

"You know quite well how the inamorato ceremony should be processed - you of all people. Yet here you are - with another minder star struck out of their mind," the captain glared at me and gave me a disgusting look. 

What the hell was that supposed to mean?

Now I was getting angry - that look made my blood boil. 

I didn't care if he was the captain of some fancy guild or whatever. That look was stained with jealousy! 

The captain just glared at me like a straight guy who uses the church to hide his homosexuality.

I've seen it a thousand times. 

Just by going out on dates you expose yourself to that kind of things. 

I was not going to stand for it. 

"How many times has it been?" the captain continued, there was a pause, and Arslan stammered a bit. 

"I don't know - I've lost count... "said Arslan as he lowered his head to the ground. 

"Well - I do!" The captain proclaimed. 

There was a beat. Like he still wanted Arslan to answer that question. 

Was he referring to Arslan past's inamoratos?

The captain took a sigh.

"27 times boy - 27 inamoratos you've carried on you're back," 

I could see the shame wash over him - and his eyes saddened. I looked at him - and I could swear he had a tear in his eyes. 

He looked like a little kid who was being given a stern warning by his parents. 

Arslan looked at me with puppy dog eyes, begging for help.

"And you - " the captain addressed me now. 

"Have you no shame as a minder? As a man of science?" 

"What did he do, did he offer you money? Maybe even a place to stay? Some clothes for you're back or even a new pair of shoes?! Pray tell Aiden minder of elves." The captain looked spooky and felt manly - but had mannerisms of a sassy twink you meet at a club - and calls himself a top just because he goes to the gym regularly. 

"Nothing, - sir," a brief pause between those two words.

The room felt silent again. 

"I entered the inamorato pack of my volition," I spoke with heart and soul. 

The captain raised an eyebrow. I stood firm in words. I felt how Arslan suddenly regained his normal composure.

Suddenly the room burst out laughing. 

The guards behind us ridiculed us. 

The captain tried to hold it in - but inevitably he gave in. 

The next thing that happened was so fast I could barely see it - before I knew it Arslan had moved the desk aside and pinned the captain to his chair. 

A knife to his throat. 

The captain looked worried, almost afraid. Arslan had the intent to kill.

Arslan had one leg on his chair, the mud from his shoes staining the red leather throne. 

"What's so funny?" Arslan said in a low roar. 

The guards took a moment to react - but they finally circled Arslan pointing his spears. 

"Are you mad?" Asked the captain. 

"You pretend to kill me - over - over a lover - just another inamorato - just because we couldn't hold our tongues at such a principled comment from your heart?!" 

Arslan considered it for a moment and pushed his dagger a little bit close to the skin of the captain. 

"Don't be ridiculous - you'd lose your number one status, is that what you want, think carefully about your next action."

I interrupted them. 

"Arslan please - there's no need for this," I pleaded. 

"Listen to your heart, now boy." The captain smirked. Arslan hand trembled after a moment, he finally let the captain free," 

"Good boy -" said the captain in a weird evil way. 

It made me uncomfortable - but I just sighed heavily.

The guards finally put their spears down. 

A guard approached the captain but he dismissed him. 

"It's okay - we have our quarrels," 

I wasn't sure I got all of what had happened - but I'm glad everyone was safe. The captain stood and shook off the dirt. He looked back at his chair and saw the place where Arslan had stepped on it. 

Tsk

"I'm charging you for that -" he said to Arslan as he regained his stance. 

"Whatever -" said Arslan. 

I but my hand on his back - he dismissed my eyes - turning away.

"You okay?" I asked, he just nodded but still his gaze was titled. I grabbed his chin and raised his head. 

"You're a warrior from the red lions - right?" He finally met my eyes. 

"Hold your head high - and be proud then," I said reciting their crest motto back to him. 

He smiled, and we held hands and stood against the captain - together. 

The captain dropped his weight on one knee and threw out his hand like only another gay guy would. 

"Disgusting," he said at our show of affection. Arslan clenched my hand. I soothed him with my thumb. 

"A heart and a crown - liking each other? And forming an inamorato pact by their own volition - well-colored me stocked. This is as rare as a blue moon," said the captain. Snickers from the guards. 

"So I'm guessing you both already have the pact sealed?" The captain asked. He was referring to the mark. Arslan showed him as it had appeared on his shoulder, mine was in my chest. 

"Ah - good," said the captain.

"Now about the formalities I was speaking of - that Arslan seems oh so fond of ignoring. EVERY TIME…" 

"After you get the mark you both need to be evaluated for your individual CP, that's Combat Power, by the way." He continued. 

"As well as your combined CP. First, we'll see how strong you are together, and depending on that- the quests you can undertake as a duo will become available - then we'll see your individual CP and that would determine up to what rank you'll be able to undertake quests. The higher the quest - the faster you'll grow within the ranks of the guild."

The captain looked at me. 

"Aiden - since you've just joined, regardless of your CP - you'll be only but a more D rank squaller. That's the lowest tier, by the way. But take high-ranking quests B A or S tiers and you'll be on your way to the top." 

"Besides - doing a duo quest will grant you double the EXP - and it won't be long before you reach the golden tiers, since Arslan already B rank, and only because he has been slacking off - you got all that?" He looked at me with that sassy manly attitude. I just nodded. 

"All right then -" the captain moved towards the edge of the room as he went towards the desk that Arslan had pushed aside with the brute force of a thousand men. The captain tried to push it but seemed to be having some trouble. It was made of wood and looked heavy. I have no idea how Arslan managed to push it like it was nothing. 

"Did you get demoted?" I said to Arslan in a whisper. 

"I'll explain later - just do whatever he says for now, please?" He said back to me in a whisper. 

The captain grabbed the paperwork and started heading for the exit. 

"Come on you two lover boys, follow me," said the captain. We did as we were told, but before we left the room Arslan moved the desk to its original position like it was nothing. 

One of the guards jumped at the sound. Arslan couldn't help but give him a devilish grin. 

"Sucker -" he said as he left the room. I gave him a small pat on the back. 

"You're such a troublemaker!" I said pushing him with both hands towards the exit, as we giggled and frolicked. 

"What I do now?!" He said but had a big smile like he enjoyed my teasing. 

"I returned the mess - didn't I?!" 

"Yeah - I appreciate it -" I said grabbing his waist as we walked and disappeared into the hallway. 

Our conversation trailed off as we headed into the long hallway at the back of the captain's office.