|| Chapter 25 || Revealing Strengths

"Ao!"

Moulin's brows creased in confusion. Why was Snow here? Wasn't he back in the inn with Pola? Where was Pola?

"Snow, why are you here?... How did you get here?" Moulin lowered his blade and kneeled down on one knee. His empty hand warmly caressed the fox's snow-white hair slowly. There were many questions currently running in Moulin's head but he chucked it all away. There were bigger things to worry about.

"Listen carefully, Don't go running around the area. The current situation is really dangerous. I don't want you to get hurt, do you understand?" Moulin warned as he flicked off the blood dripping on the dagger within his hand.

The little white fox lowered his head in disappointment, whimpering. Why? Why? He just wanted to be with his master, was that wrong? ("T □ T)

Snow lifted his head, flashing his undeniably beady eyes, moist and watery. Moulin slacked his shoulders as he glared at the brat. Here it is again… and the funny thing was it was working.

Moulin sighed "If I see even a speck of blood on your fur, I will completely disown you, you brat".

Yipping happily, Snow hastily climbed up on Moulin's clothes and settled comfortably on his master's shoulder. He licked on Moulin's rosy cheek and nuzzled his nose. Moulin rolled his eyes. Fortunately, Snow was light.

Suddenly an ear-piercing scream sounded into the night interrupting his thoughts. With a blank look, Moulin moved to look beyond the archway. His brows creased.

Moulin could no longer be not attentive to the change of the Veialean assassins as they fought. It was clearly evident now. There is something controlling their run of madness. What is it? And where is it?

Moulin was lost in deep thinking when a red light flashed at the corner of his eye. He noticed it immediately and set his eyes on the one thing that had him suspicious since the raid started. The red glowing flowers swayed gently under his eye…

Veialean mouths screeched, an inhuman voice escaping their throats as if they were parched. Eyes dimming into dark red and their movements became fiercer and fiercer as if their lives depended on it.

Emlen had also noticed it. Wiping a streak of blood off his face, he coughed as he felt a strange parchness in his throat. The air.

What was happening?… his arms had become sluggish?…

Hadrian paused his movements as he noticed the abnormality of the air as well. His eyes narrowed. There was something disrupting his senses. He looked around casually dodging the incoming claws from his right. The origin of the abnormality was apparently the cause of both the frenzy of the Veialeans and the disruption of the maeruthan's senses. However, he didn't have the time to look when another assassin pounced crazily at him with a gaping mouth.

"The flowers!" A loud voice caught most of the attention within the courtyard.

Hadrian had just killed the assassin when he heard the chime-like voice. His golden eyes spotted a slender figure with snow-white hair, exposed from his hiding place.

The resolute silver eyes glistened a hint of hostility as Moulin's hands crushed a wilted red flower into dust. The black mist faded away with the breeze.

Hadrian nodded at Moulin, his sun-like eyes imprinting the boy in his mind. The youth's silver hair broke free from the braids flowing like an endless sea of pure silver-white. Like an ethereal deity ready to judge wrongdoers.

With an unreadable countenance, Hadrian activated the gem on his wrist. Glowing a soft blue light.

"Varick"

|| Yes, my lord ||

"Burn the garden…"

|| Pardon? ||

"…" Golden eyes gleamed a ruthless glint as a sharp blade drove through between the ribcage of an incoming assassin. The sound of cracking bones and tearing flesh was clearly heard from the other side of the communicator.

Varick shuddered, certainly understanding the implication of Hadrian's silence and actions. He repeatedly muttered his obedience before his master cut of the link.

A while later, thick pillars of smoke rose into the air. Blue blazing flames slowly devoured the garden fraction by fraction, the heat extending further. Moulin retreated out of the grass and joined the fight within the courtyard ignoring the anxious yells of his second brother.

What happened next muted Emlen. The words in his throat refused to come out as he was appalled.

He watched the little brother who had always been weak and feeble move as swift as the wind. Moulin had this determined look, not the bit hesitant and fearful as blood splattered on his clothes. It was as if Emlen was not looking at his little brother but a fierce warrior capable of eradicating a kingdom. His eyes widened and his lips pressed together as he clenches his hands around his sword.

"Is that the third young master of the Fraunces family?"

The voice was loud despite the countless noises around, numerous gazes turned and caught sight of the thousands of white strands dancing with its owner's movements. Disbelief colored their faces as they recognized the slender body moving as quickly as the wind, a dagger held in his hand. The ruthless vigor in his eyes as he executed every fatal blow and blood spewed out from where the blade made its mark. Every stab, every slash was accurate and deadly. There was not a wee bit of fear and hesitation in his eyes.

Anyone who had ridiculed the youth for being weak and reliant reddened in shame as they looked upon their own cowering selves.

Out of the blue, A series of loud explosions akin to the sound of a giant fallen monument resounded all throughout within the barrier. Up in the sky, a slight flicker could be seen on the black translucent barrier. A thought emerged in Moulin's mind, Maxille must have brought down the pillars.

And as the clouds of smoke climbed higher and higher, Moulin could certainly see the fading madness of the assassins around them as though their reasoning had gradually returned. He released a look of relief when he realized the plan was working.

"Moulin, look out!"

Moulin turned to dodged an assassin pouncing at him from behind, however, he wasn't fast enough and three sharp claws scraped the side of his waist. He gritted his teeth and lost his footing. He landed on his side, the pain concentrated on his shoulder and his waist. Three deep lines spewed out blood dyeing the young master's clothes red.

Snow fell off Moulin's shoulder and whimpered as he neared his master who carefully pressed his hand against his wound suppressing the pain, blood seeped through his fingers like a waterfall. A sharp glint flashed crossed Snow's eyes as he faced his master's attacker approaching them with an insane grin plastered on his face. A couple of assassins hurried to surround Moulin in an instant.

"Moulin!" Emlen rushed towards his brother, fear-stricken, only to be blocked by multiple Veialeans. Hadrian paused as well, his gaze turning sharply towards Moulin's location.

Moulin stood upright clenching the hilt of the dagger within his grasp. His body was too weak and sensitive to pain. It felt like his skin was mauled by a group of wolves.

It really hurts!

Damn this body. Were his training and endurance all for nothing?!

"Ao!"

Moulin paused as he stared at the ball of white fur before him "Snow, what are you doing?"

Snow placed himself in front of Moulin as if guarding Moulin against the circle of Veialean assassins. His silver eyes glared murderously like a beast eyeing his prey. He was going to protect his master no matter what!

Suddenly, a growl vibrated the ground. Causing a slight shake beneath every person's feet. Moulin bent his knees to balance himself as he confusingly stared at the little brat fox.

The sound of shifting bones was heard beneath Snow's skin and every strand of fur glowed a pure bright light, glowing brighter and brighter until Snow's little body couldn't be seen any longer. The light was blinding and Moulin had to shield his face with his arm to cover his eyes. What the hell was happening right now?

Even the people within the pavilion was distracted by the strange light that was as bright as the sun.

Moulin could see nothing as he shielded his eyes but he could not forget to remain vigilant of the enemies surrounding them. Finally, the light gradually dimmed and Moulin blinked his eyes as his vision cleared.

He frozed in place.

"This…"

His throat tightened as he swallowed, staring at the most exotic creature now standing before him.

A Mystic beast: The Opallian Snow Fox.

Big blade-like claws embedded the solid ground as four powerful paws pressed heavily on the stoned pavement of the courtyard. The animal's height as tall as a full-grown horse and growing even further. Beautiful white fur graced its impenetrable skin and a shining silver gleamed every time the creature moves. What was evidently striking was the six huge whitetails marked with beautiful golden markings matching the golden swirls on the creature's forehead and the exquisite silver eyes flashed like a blade ready to cut down flesh.

It was incredibly silent but from its formidable silver pupils, it unleashed a dangerous aura screaming with the thirst for flesh to compensate its master's pain. A growl sounded from its furry throat and its pupils narrowed into slits.

"Snow?…" Moulin nearly choked his words as the fox turned its head to glance at him.

"Ao…"

Yes, it's certainly him. Letting go of the shock inside him, Moulin stepped closer until he was within Snow's shadow. He was bathed in relief as he big brat circled around him protectively.

"That's impossible…" Emlen gaped as he stared at the huge fox circling around his brother. Although he was ultimately relieved that the fox was at his brother's side to protect him, he was astounded about the extremely rare Mystical beast wholly defending his brother. Mystic beasts especially Opallian foxes we're as prideful as an arrogant king, never to surrender and submit itself to any person especially humans. Furthermore, Opallian foxes were known to be extinct ever since the Red War ended. Seeing one in front of his eyes even submissive to no one other than his brother nearly made him drop his weapon.

Finally, one of the extremely hesitant assassins charged realizing the fox was distracted as soon as its head turned towards his master. A manic need to subdue the animal rose inside him as he aimed his claws towards the beast's body. However, Silver pupils shifted…

Crack!

In less than a split second, one of the beast's massive tails smashed the body to the ground, shattering every bone into pieces. Blood oozed out of the assassin's seven orfices, eyes dilated as if shocked to death.

The sound was so loud it caught the attention of every assassin.

A couple of gasps could be heard as people witness the strength of one tail from the beast

"Impressive…" Hadrian raises his eyebrows in interest. However, his eyes weren't fixed on the fox but on the boy bearing the identical eyes of the beast. Just how many secrets were inside that small tender body of his. If he could, it would be delightful to latch unto that white supple skin and gouge out every secret within whilst enjoying the flushed redness climbing on Moulin's body.

"I'm fine…" Caressing Snow's fur, Moulin smiled at him dotingly. "Although you are now extraordinarily useful, I still prefer your small adorable palm-sized self. It's much better to punish you that way".

Snow: ( / O□O)/ ʷʰʸʸʸ

"Now…" Moulin stepped back. "… go earn your food".

Snow need not be told twice. He pounced with his teeth bared dangerously towards his prey. His jaws clamped unto an assassin's skin completely tearing the insides as though he was tearing paper. Red splattered in the air, however, it simply dispersed before it could even taint the Opallian beast's snow-white fur as if an invisible force coated his body.

The fox was fast as he clawed countless bodies in less than twot minutes.

Moulin pressed the wound on his waist, the blood was still flooding down. It hurts. It damn hurts. It was the very first time his skin was torn deeply and the pain was certainly teaching his reckless brain a lesson. But he couldn't stop here, not with the current situation happening. He'd be dragging the others down.

"Just because you seem skillful doesn't mean your invincible…" A deep voice suddenly spoke from behind him.

Jerking his body back, Moulin turned, his gaze met those golden irises full of deep ruthlessness as well as a reprimanding look. "H-how did you-" He shifted his gaze back to Hadrian's previous location which was definitely farther from him. How did he get behind me so fast?

Without another word, the Archnoble lifted Moulin behind his knees and supported Moulin's back with his other arm. Moulin yelped, his hands were forced to wrap around the man's neck, unsure and utterly surprised. In an instant, Moulin could feel gravity evacuating his body as Hadrian landed on the roof of the big pavilion.

"Your wounded, don't move too much"

Moulin was brought down, carefully seated on the slightly sloped-roof. His eyes never left Hadrian's face, stuck in a momentary daze. After a short while, his face openly reddened in embarrassment after realizing the shameful way the man had carried him. His mouth opened and closed alternately, a barrage of insults waiting to be released only to be swallowed back.

Hadrian could easily guess the boy's thoughts through his expression. He only lifted an eyebrow amusingly. "Your eldest brother will probably resent me for not keeping my word. Although he doesn't threaten me one bit, I'd like to keep a good connection with your family".

"What word?! You shut your mouth or I'll freeze your legs and cripple you for life! Don't do things no one tells you to do!…" Moulin seethed. Finally, his mouth shamelessly cursed at Hadrian throwing away any restraint left behind. He flinched as he clutched his wound, adding more strings of curses as he glanced at Hadrian.

"I said stop moving" Hadrian narrowed his eyes when Moulin once again flinched at the pain.

This time, Moulin didn't dare move for he realized he would only bring more agony if he kept lashing out like a child. He pursed his lips as he watched the battle below him, feeling useless. Perhaps it was better to plan ahead next time instead of charging thoughtlessly into battle.

Right now, he only wondered how his eldest brother, Maxille, was doing…