When I Reach My Hand

'I messed up!' Luis lamented silently as he hovered in the air, following Xagrien's back. He didn't bother to hide his powers since he revealed everything.

Truthfully speaking, his heart is booming against his chest, he somehow felt restless as he eyed the strong back of the male moon elf and he sighed.

This guy suddenly changed. 'He turned colder?' Luis shook his head, no that is not accurate. Xagrien is less casual and there seems to be an invisible wall between them.

They are now treading the way out of the middle circle. Their direction is heading towards the Yultin Clan. The clan that is next to Adriha Clan. The location where Xagrien and his friends are currently residing.

And yes, Luis can now go with Xagrien and meet the group. 

However, there is a poking feeling of loss in his heart and Luis cannot help but remember what happened after his confession.

Xagrien's face is written with the word 'shock' all over after hearing Luis. It was like that for almost a minute before he looked down and said.

"I understand now why you didn't say your name when you introduced yourself." Luis could only barely hear the first statement.

"Hey, what did you say?"

He looked up and see that Xagrien's gaze was sans any fluctuations as if stating an obvious fact. "I apologize for my rudeness from the moment that we met until now. I hope to receive your punishment for my impertinence."

Bombarded with this abrupt change, Luis is speechless. He tried to say something only to realize that his mind had gone blank. "I-" 

Luis took a deep breath and then said, "There was no offence taken. So please do not ask for punishment."

Xagrien nodded, "Thank you so much, Moon Elf Lord," the respectful address was said so unnaturally to Luis that he cannot help but scrutinize the other's expression. 

There is nothing. Luis subconsciously pouted. "Seriously though, can you continue treating me casually? It's not like I am a god or something."

Xagrien paused for a moment, contemplating, then continued without giving much expression, "I understand, moon elf lord." 'There goes the awkward address,' Luis deadpanned in the back of his mind.

"Then I want to ask your permission to be rude for the last time. Can you make an Oath of the Soul and promise not to harm my clansmen in every way? I will also promise that I will serve and protect you until the day I die to make up for all the grievances that I may have caused you."

Luis looked at the handsome male with an 'I knew it' look.

Needless to say, Luis accepted the first condition and refused the other. He reasoned out that there was no grievance at all and stated that if Xagrien wants to serve on him then he is welcome to stay by his side… As a bodyguard.

After that, the wind sang and the trees danced as a bright green light covered a portion of the forest. The moon elf lord made a soul-binding pact that could potentially make a huge change in the entire moon elf race and their future established country, Lunaris.

But Luis is not aware of any of this as he is wallowing in Xagrien's 'sudden cold shoulder'.

He is not sure if he should be happy that he finally gets what he initially wants or be depressed about the other's treatment of him as a boss. The Moon Elf Lord sighed.

Though such a reaction is indeed reasonable, Luis finds himself down for some reason.

Luis finally got the crown only to lose the entire kingdom. He is now a losing winner.

The Moon Elf Lord once again made a breath-cutting sigh. 

Whatever, he will give him space and let Xagrien digest it all first.

Luis was pulled out of his recollections when his little nose hit something hard.

It was Xagrien's back. Luis did not notice that the male made an abrupt stop so he hit the other's back muscles.

"What's the matter?" Luis asked trying to stop himself from burying his face directly to the deep valley in Xagrien's back. He stretched his neck to look in the direction where Xagrien was looking.

There, he saw a huge portion of the trees and other vegetation burnt. Animal carcasses are all charred making it difficult to recognize what it was. This is carnage if Luis were to describe this sight.

Judging from the reaction of Xagrien, it must be related to his secret. 

This must be his work when he was still out of it and rampaging.

Even though the moon elf lord is curious, he didn't bother to ask. Instead, Luis stood there with Xagrien, faintly feeling the gloom that the other was feeling.

"I apologize. Let's continue our journey, Moon Elf Lord." Xagrien said looking at the bearer who was rubbing his blushing nose. Without realizing it, he raised his hand but then he stopped midway.

"What?" Luis innocently looked at the other's suspended hand. Due to the male's olive-brown skin, the Moon Elf Lord did not make out the slight blush on the other's cheek and ears.

Xagrien cleared his throat. "Let's hurry and once we are in the outer circle, we will move through the tunnels that we have made to reach our place. So I ask you to wal-" The male paused after realizing that Luis is hovering in the air. "Fly a bit faster."

With that, Xagrien sprinted leaving the moon elf lord that he is 'respecting' behind.

Luis this time is left with his mouth agape. 'What the f-?!'

~

Afternoon, the outer circle of Shane Greenwoods.

"I swear! If you ever pull that stunt again. I will eat you whole!" Luis roared while crouching and panting. Truth be told, he didn't mean anything other than that. 

For he is hungry, tired and annoyed, for real!

Right after the male left him behind, he tried his best to catch up. He spent a huge amount of mental strength and energy to shoot his body through the forest.

Luis practically became a shooting star on land just to reach the outer circle!

Now his head ringing and his stomach growling. Including Luis, all three of them will never let this slide without due compensation.

"What the hell is wrong with you?" He asked passionately pissed. This is what a grievance is! Luis dares Xagrien to ask him that now, and he will answer him with a hard and crispy slap on the male's chest!

Luis is not aware of what made this male moon elf to be that agitated and act as if he is injected with chicken blood!

"I apologize, Moon Elf Lord. I-I am just worried about my friends so I left hastily."  Luis didn't notice the slight buckle in Xagrien's speaking. 

He reached out his hand, "I am hungry."

Xagrien looked at the hand, "Do you want me to hand you some food?"

Luis blinked a few more times. His patience is being tested right now. "Do you want me to eat you or what?! I am warning you. Once I eat you, I will make sure you won't even have the strength to stand up! I swear!" 

This guy is his biggest frustration!

Then the Moon Elf Lord snatched the other's hand and pulled himself to stand straight. "I am starving and I don't have any energy left. If you dare to proceed then don't blame me for being rude!"

"Then this servant will prepare you some food." 

"Don't call yourself a servant when your service skills are not even one-fourth of Olyn's," Luis uttered while sporting a little pout.

Unbeknownst to them, the awkwardness that was once in between them is now gone.

Xagrien left to hunt for prey. Since the outer circle has bountiful prey and fruit trees, it didn't take long for him to come back with ten bodies of gem-horned rabbits and a few blue-ish fruit that basically tastes like apples.

Luis watched Xagrien as he skillfully make a tinder spark with flame using a single puny strand of lightning.

He can't help but lament inwardly, 'Why is it always the hunk and handsome who are powerful? This is unfair!'

Xagrien who is oblivious to the Moon Elf Lord's thoughts carried on and skillfully grilled the prey. 

They rest under the shade of the nearby tree and occasionally talked.

Well, it is Luis who initiated all the talk. He only inquired about the most basic things about the rogues.

"So you mean your clansmen are all sorts of Moon elves?" The Moon Elf Lord asked while munching a fruit.

Xagrien stopped for a while. Hearing someone refer to his friends as clansmen for the first time is rather flattering. It also came from the Moon Elf Lord himself…

"Yes…" Xagrien trailed off, not knowing if he should give out the specifics or not. "There is someone from water, fire, earth, and wind clans…"

Xagrien only managed to say that. He is thinking about how the Moon Elf Lord will react once he finds out that they are not just that.

Unknowingly, Xagrien's stare trailed to the bulging cheeks of the bearer he determined to distance himself.

Xagrien has a feeling that this Moon Elf Lord will accept them nonetheless. He breathed a sigh of relief.

"Then, let's go now," Luis said and he jumped up and stood while offering his hands to Xagrien.

"But didn't you say that you are tired?" Xagrien asked with his brow furrowed. He lifts his head and meat the other's dark-green eyes.

"Mentally tired. We will walk our way in the tunnel so I don't mind if we go now." Luis shook his hand in front of Xagrien's face.

"If I ever offer you my hand it either means that I need your help or I will help you. It's not I am asking you to give me some food." Luis explained while his nose scrunched up.

"So, let's go?" Xagrien absentmindedly reached out his hand, letting himself be taken by the bearer that he met who turns out to be the Moon Elf Lord.