Chapter 31

The day of the second trial arrived with brimming enthusiasm across the city.

Unlike the first trial which was held closed doors, the second trial would be showcased in the arena where people, local citizens and foreign visitors were free to come and watch. Thousands flooded the venue even before the gate was opened, wanting to claim the best seat possible, while booths and vendors took the opportunity to sell refreshments and open bets on who would emerge as the winner.

Before the time for their departure, Shen Yuan left Vesper's room on the fourth floor and headed down to the third floor until he reached the familiar door. He gave it two small knocks.

"Your Highness, it's me."

Footsteps hurried towards the door, and it didn't take 3 seconds for Zain to open it. He let Shen Yuan in and locked the door behind them before pulling him into his embrace and relieving his longing.

He let go after a minute and inspected him up and down. "Are you alright? Did Vesper hold up his promise?"

"I'm fine. Prince Vesper hasn't touched me since thanks to Your Highness," Shen Yuan reassured. "Forgive me, but I don't have much time. I have to go back before he becomes suspicious. I'm here to tell Your Highness something."

Receiving the urgency, Zain nodded. "Tell me."

"Prince Vesper is…" Shen Yuan glanced at the door and stepped closer to whisper, "He's a demon."

Zain's expression changed.

"He slipped up one night and transformed in his sleep. I've been looking for a chance to tell Your Highness, but Your Highness trained outside the palace and I couldn't reach you." Shen Yuan took out a dagger from the back of his waistband, hidden behind his vest, and handed it to Zain. "This is the dagger I used during my trip to Everlight. It's blessed. It can be used against demons and will force them back to their true form. I'm not sure whether it's powerful enough against Prince Vesper, but I'm afraid, it's the only thing I have."

"No, keep it. Have it with you at all times." Zain pushed the dagger back to Shen Yuan. "I have my magic and with Vesper being a demon, the northern star wouldn't be on his side. I will work it out."

"It's not the time to worry about me." Shen Yuan forced the dagger into Zain's hands and stepped back towards the door. "Please win, Your Highness. I…I will follow you to death if you don't. It's the only redemption left for me in a world without you."

"Sean!"

Shen Yuan didn't give the chance for Zain to stop him and rushed out of the room. He slowed down when he reached the stairway and made his way back to Vesper's room.

The stage was set. All that was left was for the actors to play things out.

They departed for the arena with each prince riding in separate carriages. While Zain rode his carriage by himself, Shen Yuan accompanied Vesper in his, along with Juliard. Still, the journey was equally silent.

Once they arrived at the venue, Juliard stepped out first and closed the door behind him, confusing the escorts all prepared outside.

"Is there no chance for me to win?" Vesper calmly asked.

"No," Shen Yuan bluntly said. There was no use sugar-coating it.

"Even if I wish to the blue moon?"

"The blue moon, the northern star, and even fate itself exist for Zain in this world if he wills for it."

Vesper burned the image of the person before him to his mind and reached out his hand. "What about you?"

"I am my own existence." Shen Yuan took Vesper's hand and stood up. He hovered over his lap and pressed a comforting kiss to his lips. "When you wake up, I will be there."

"That's all I need."

They breathed each other's heat and savored each other's lips. Shen Yuan accepted the powerful energy streaming into his psyche and indulged Vesper until he was satisfied.

If only he was stronger, he could accept all of him. But if even an S-grade power user like Zain collapsed under his pressure, a mere A-grade power user like him would probably explode. His head was already dizzy from this small transfer.

And Vesper was only a part of the whole thing though perhaps a larger portion compared to Mu Chen. He hoped, by the end of this, he could take away at least half of it.

Despite becoming breathless, this time, he didn't stop Vesper from having more. Vesper paused when he tasted the sweetness of iron seeping into his tongue and backed away to see blood dripping from Shen Yuan's nose.

His heart fell to his stomach. He quickly took out his handkerchief to block the flowing blood and wiped the excess with his sleeve. "I'll send you back to the palace."

"Huh…?"

Shen Yuan was still in a bit of a daze and couldn't tell what was happening. Only when he tasted the blood himself and saw the bits smeared on Vesper's face did he realize his nose was bleeding.

Before Vesper could notify Juliard, he stopped him and reassured him as he pressed the handkerchief to his nose himself. "I'm fine. Don't worry."

"There's nothing fine about having a nosebleed." Vesper placed his palm on Shen Yuan's forehead. "You're also having a fever."

"It'll go down." Shen Yuan didn't need to guess what caused it. He clasped Vesper's hand. "I won't watch as you asked, but at least, let me be here with you."

Vesper knew from Shen Yuan's look that he wouldn't back down no matter what. His brows furrowed in his struggle for a few seconds before conceding, and he seated Shen Yuan back on the couch.

"Alright. I'll leave Juliard here with you. If he deems your condition is getting worse, he'll take you back to the palace. Understand?"

"I understand."

"Good."

Vesper gave Shen Yuan one last kiss on his forehead and etched the warmth of his cheeks one last time before stepping out of the carriage.

Shen Yuan reclined on his seat and closed his eyes, sensing the familiar pulse getting further and further away. He didn't think the device that was only meant as a locator became something he used for comfort.

This world existed in some type of way before both his and the vulture's intrusion. By logic, it should continue to exist after their leave. He didn't know how Zain's experience in it would affect his memory or consciousness, but it was better to play safe.

He must had his trust until the very end. It would be troublesome if he realized his plan and exposed him in his wake.

The only way forward for the vulture was death.

Shen Yuan took out the other dagger hidden under his vest, identical to the one he gave to Zain, with a sleek white handle and an amber gemstone on its bottom tip.

A kiss only transferred the vulture's essence to him and yet, his body already burned up from it. With this dagger, he would be able to retrieve the portion of the vulture's life force in Vesper.

It would be much stronger, comparable to a tap and a river. He had to integrate Vesper's earlier essence and acclimatize himself with it before Zain delivered the finishing blow so he could accept as much of him as possible.

Though Vesper would bait him, Zain wouldn't use the dagger in a magic duel so easily. He should have enough time.

The carriage door opened, and Juliard entered with a glass of cool water for him. He emptied the glass and soon felt his mind refreshed and his strength replenished. He guessed it was mixed with a recovery potion.

"Do you not hate me, Juliard?"

Juliard shook his head, not a hint of resentment on his face. Seeing him raise his finger, Shen Yuan offered his hand and the other wrote on his palm in fluid motions.

'You are his northern star. I leave him in your care.'

Shen Yuan raised his eyes to see a splinter of smile chipped under his frozen face. He couldn't help but reached out and petted his spiky short hair. "I'll take good care of him."

Juliard replied with a small nod.

Cheers exploded from within the arena, and Shen Yuan guessed the duel was about to begin. He closed his eyes and fully focused himself to acclimatize his body with the abundance of power within him.

In the arena, Vesper stepped onto the platform and gazed towards where the carriage was waiting beyond the wall, his ears deaf to the cheers of his name around him. Until now, Shen Yuan kept his promise to never lie to him, so he should keep his side of the deal to trust him as well. Still, a part of him couldn't help but worry.

Would this be counted as distrust or was it simply humane? For once, he would rather it was the latter.

Zain stepped up on the other end, his determination to kill only grew with each step. Facing his conviction, Vesper didn't feel anything in particular as if his hatred leading up to this moment was all a strange dream.

"What are you laughing at?" Zain glowered.

Vesper realized he was laughing out loud. He let his smile remain on his face and rested his hands behind his back. "It's nothing, brother. I'm simply moved by your burning resolve. I'm honored you're taking me so seriously."

"Yes, I am. I'm not ashamed to admit you are stronger than me," Zain closely observed Vesper's expression. "Almost demonically so."

"Seems like the little bird couldn't help but chirp. I'm going to have to clip his wings and punish him in a nice little cage."

"Not if you rot in hell."

"Let's see which one of us will."