Turning Chapter 1047

The stove, having expended all the mana from the magic stone into flame, would require several more hours to cool down completely. Faint ticking sounds occasionally escaped it, accompanied by minute, multicolored sparks that danced within like grains of sand, but that was the extent of its activity. The stove was steadily cooling, now offering only a tepid warmth from its darkened interior.

Kishiar rested on his side upon the narrow bed, one arm supporting him as he held Yuder close against his chest. The bed was insufficient to comfortably house his form; even with his knees bent and body curled, his ankles protruded beyond the edge. He paid it no mind, resembling a powerful beast coiled in a confined lair, fiercely protecting something cherished.

Yuder's head was nestled against Kishiar's chest, his breathing slow and steady, eyes closed. His complexion remained as pale as ever, yet Kishiar could discern the lingering flush around his eyes.

Yuder had drifted off mid-conversation, shortly after they concluded their activities. He had been holding Kishiar and speaking softly before succumbing to sleep. This was highly unusual, as Yuder rarely fell asleep in such a manner. It clearly indicated an exceptionally taxing day.

‘Understandable,’ Kishiar mused.

Upon their return from the South and completion of unpacking, Yuder had immediately met with the Emperor, followed by an impromptu dinner. Subsequently, they dealt with the unwelcome arrival of Kachian, provided assistance to the pharmacist, and finally, shared the bed with Kishiar. Both his mind and body must have been utterly depleted. Furthermore, the intimacy they shared tonight, though brief in duration, had been more intense and demanding than usual. Yuder had deliberately muffled his voice throughout, concerned about soundproofing, which further drained his remaining strength.

He need not have gone to such lengths—but if Yuder deemed it necessary, he always endured without hesitation. He never considered it a hardship; he simply, instinctively, bore it. That was simply his nature.

‘I upgraded the bathroom facilities and reinforced the defensive spell formations while I was at it. He didn’t need to be so exceedingly cautious.’

Yuder was aware of this. Yet, the fact that he still exercised such restraint likely stemmed from a deep-rooted subconscious anxiety. Such hesitancy had never been present in the command center before, so this lingering apprehension probably originated from past experiences in the previous life—the ‘game.’

“......”

With his extraordinary intellect and keen instincts, Kishiar could infer a great deal from even the slightest shifts. He gently stroked Yuder's back beneath the sheet, his mind lost in contemplation.

Following intimacy, when enveloped in a profound state of languor and contentment, Yuder possessed a tendency to become remarkably candid. Not that he wasn't genuinely sincere in general—but this facet of his personality was distinct.

In those moments, the pervasive emptiness often discernible in his gaze when discussing the prior game was largely absent. He also lacked the ingrained tension of meticulously vetting each word, apprehensive of conveying inaccurate information.

It was as if the act of shedding all defenses, lying exposed and warm with Kishiar, provided the sole opportunity for genuine respite. In that hazy, relaxed state, he answered Kishiar’s inquiries.

‘Was this the first time you learned your birthday?’

‘It wasn’t that I was entirely unaware. It’s simply that… nothing like today ever occurred.’

‘I see. It must have been quite surprising.’

‘May I ask something in return?’

‘Of course. Anything.’

‘Then, after venturing to Peleta… on days like these… did you always spend them alone?’

Within Yuder’s gaze—those dark eyes still radiating residual warmth, those clear irises fixed softly—Kishiar instinctively comprehended.

This inquiry was connected to the preceding game.

He gently caressed Yuder’s warm cheek and replied with unvarnished honesty.

‘Sometimes I did. Sometimes I did not.’

A solitary factor dictated the outcome—whether or not he was under the influence of the cycle.

The cycle represented the period when his damaged vessel would descend into a state of perilous instability, causing Qi to surge and accumulate chaotically to an unmanageable degree. Despite his utmost efforts to postpone it, the agonizing pain was inevitably unavoidable.

His physical condition would degrade to such an extent that concealment from those around him became impossible, leaving no room to observe something as insignificant as a birthday. His only recourse was to isolate himself, enduring the torment with medicinal aid dispatched from the Imperial Mage Corps.

The cycle manifested at irregular intervals, yet frequently coincided with his birthday. This meant Kishiar himself could never be certain of his physical state around that time. If providence favored him, he might recover from the cycle just in time to resume his normal functions. If not, he would remain perpetually on edge, acutely aware of the impending onset of the next wave.

Even after attaining the status of an Awakener and mending his vessel, the cycle persisted. He hadn’t grasped the reason then—but now, a suspicion had formed.

‘It’s because I neglected to repair the vessel from its very foundation. I am merely sustaining it with the power I’ve acquired, preventing its further disintegration.’

The timing and severity of these cycles seemed to align with the quantity and kind of spiritual energy contained within him, and his capacity to sustain equilibrium. He possessed the ability to safeguard the physical form, but was incapable of resolving the chaotic energy internally. Had he been born with a lesser power, unlike Emperor Keillusa, the outcome might have differed. However, Kishiar's body harbored an excessive amount.

Perhaps this was the reason. Even following his Awakening, he experienced the cycle on two additional occasions. While he did not anticipate succumbing to death, the ordeal was far from pleasant.

Had Yuder not appeared—an individual capable of perceiving the internal state of his body—he likely would not have been freed from that torment or the subsequent void it left behind.

Yuder had located the tight knots of energy within and worked to unravel them. The mere touch from him was sufficient to alleviate the impending pain.

Since that time, no indicators of an impending cycle had resurfaced.

‘But… unlike the present, in the prior iteration of the game, he would not have benefited from such fortune.’

Upon receiving Kishiar’s response, Yuder posed one further inquiry:

‘Then, last year… how did you occupy your time on that particular day?’

During the preceding year, around this period, Kishiar had been under the influence of the cycle. It had struck during a critical phase of preparations for the establishment of the Cavalry, necessitating a cessation of his duties. As he was still newly Awakened, he concluded it was best to maintain isolation and monitor his condition. Even Nathan was unaware of his situation. He had endured it entirely alone.

Yuder remained silent for an extended duration. Kishiar attempted to steer the conversation toward a lighter topic, hoping to elicit a smile from him. Yuder, displaying a subtle grin, gently stroked Kishiar's hair and face for a while longer before suddenly murmuring:

‘I never had the chance to witness your 30th birthday celebration. And your 31st… I’m uncertain of what to express. However, I believe I would like to witness your 31st, and your 32nd, and the years that follow. It might be too much to ask for…’

‘Why would that be an unreasonable expectation? My intention is to be present even when you reach your centennial birthday.’

‘Isn’t that a rather ambitious aspiration?’

‘One should always harbor grand ambitions.’

Now, in a reversal of that night’s dynamic, Kishiar softly caressed Yuder’s hair, reflecting upon the past in quiet contemplation.

Yuder's statement about not witnessing Kishiar la Orr's 30th birthday in his former existence implied a lack of close association at that time.

Perhaps he had departed the capital. Possibly, similar to his 29th birthday, Kishiar had been incapacitated by the cycle. Or perhaps he had been enduring in a vastly different physical state, struggling with self-treatment.

But his 31st…

‘……’

Yuder had once mentioned dispatching the Duke of Peleta shortly after Kishiar assumed command of the Cavalry. The visages he recalled from that period had undergone minimal alteration since.

No royal whose physical form was compromised had ever surpassed their 30th birthday. Exceptions now existed—Keillusa and himself. But what of that past era? Did he even harbor the belief that he would reach 31?

‘If I had lost all else, and possessed only a limited timeframe to maneuver the remaining pieces…’

Yuder was exceptionally gifted. His formidable strength and decisive actions invariably drew significant attention. Even presently, correspondence expressing desire or envy from various nobles inundated the Cavalry headquarters.

At this juncture, they possessed the capacity to deflect all such advances. Yuder himself was adept at navigating such intrigues. The Emperor and Empress maintained robust health. And Kishiar—he was doing well. But should that situation change—should everything disintegrate?

Kishiar had a clear understanding of the decision he might have consequently made. A recollection surfaced from one of his dreams—pertaining to an appointment ceremony.

A desolate hall of prominence. The identical location where the Cavalry had stood that day—now occupied by a pallid man with dark hair, standing in solitude.

Behind him, beaming with a foolish grin, stood the figure of the “Duke of Peleta.”

‘Crown Prince Kachian harbors a profound animosity towards me. And the most effective stratagem for ensnaring someone who despises you…’

Was invariably to expose a weakness.

And a birthday celebration would have provided an ideal pretext. A rare occasion to legitimize certain actions without necessitating laborious explanations. With merely a modicum of fabricated intelligence and a brief period of time, it could have constituted a highly effective trap.

Kishiar felt as though he now comprehended the activities he had engaged in on his 30th birthday during the previous game.

He had been making preparations for the 31st.

Awaiting in quiet solitude—alone.

The heating element had completely cooled. The ambient temperature within the chamber began to diminish. Kishiar directed his gaze towards the faint illumination emanating through the window and closed his eyes.

The scheduled departure time was drawing near. He would permit himself a brief period of rest.