The early morning light filtered through the silk curtains in the royal bedroom, casting faint streaks on the marble floor. Aerax opened his eyes, his body still heavy with sleep. The silk blanket slipped from his chest, revealing the long scar from his left shoulder to his hip, the mark of the divine spear that had once tested his life. His black mane was slightly disheveled, his breathing slow, but ripples of emotion still lingered within him.
Beside him, Leos remained asleep. His golden fur shimmered like sunlight around his muscular body, like a painting made of light. A small ram's horn touched Aerax's bicep, as if Leos still wanted to hold onto something familiar in his dream. His face held no princely arrogance now, only a gentle, approachable look, like a young man emerging from long, weary days. Aerax looked at Leos, his heart stirring—a strange feeling, neither longing nor pure friendship, but something deeper, something a former slave like himself had never dared to dream of.
He rose slowly, his tall frame moving gradually. His bare feet touched the cold stone floor, leaving faint, damp footprints. Aerax walked through the palace corridor, each step a thoughtful one. He stopped before the entrance to the hot spring bath, where steam rose, carrying a gentle herbal scent. The ebony doors, inlaid with copper, slid open, revealing a warm, misty space. Aerax removed the linen cloth wrapped around his waist, allowing his naked body to immerse itself in the hot water. The water seeped into his skin, soothing the lingering pains in his shoulders, chest, and scarred back. He closed his eyes, letting the steam wash away the remaining fragments of memory.
The sliding door creaked softly. Aerax's horse ears twitched slightly. Leos entered without knocking, as if the entire palace belonged to him. He wore a thin silk robe, revealing his strong physique, broad shoulders, and toned abs sculpted from white stone. Two bright red tattoos on his wrists gleamed in the dim light, as if in sync with his breath. Leos stepped into the pool, the water rising around his hips, then sat opposite Aerax, his gaze silent but profound.
"Aren't you going to say anything?" Aerax asked, his voice deep and warm like the wind rustling through a field. He leaned back, the water rippling around his abdominal muscles.
Leos smiled faintly, his gaze briefly shifting, as if trying to hold back unspoken words. "I… just wanted to see you. You look like you've just emerged from a long dream."
Aerax chuckled softly, the sound as gentle as lapping water. "I'm still here, Leos. Are you disappointed?"
Leos glared at him, but the corners of his mouth curved slightly, as if touched by an emotion he couldn't hide. "Don't joke. I'm just worried you haven't fully recovered."
Aerax raised an eyebrow, lifting his hand out of the water, letting droplets roll down his muscular bicep. "Are you worried about me, or about yourself? I know you often stand by the east window, where the light is just right, watching me train every morning."
Leos blushed, his cheeks puffing up slightly, like a child caught red-handed. "I… I just happened to be passing by."
"Passing by, yet your eyes are glued to me as if you want to engrave every detail?" Aerax teased, his voice soft but meaningful. "You look at me as if you're yearning for something, Leos."
Leos fell silent, his hand gripping the edge of the pool, water glistening around him. He took a breath, then suddenly leaned forward, his forehead lightly touching Aerax's. His warm breath brushed against Aerax's face. "I am not prey for you to hunt, Aerax."
Aerax looked into his eyes, his dark, volcanic eyes gleaming with a gentle light. "And I am not a hunter. You understand that, don't you?"
The space fell silent; only the sound of lapping water and rising steam like a thin mist could be heard. Aerax raised his hand, removed a small silver leaf clinging to Leos' horn, and slowly stroked it down his wet hair. The movement was gentle, as if he were touching something precious. Leos placed his hand on the scar on Aerax's hip, his fingers tracing the veins and flesh once scorched by divine energy. "Does it… still hurt?"
"No," Aerax replied, his voice as deep as the bottom of a lake. "The pain now is something else, not the scar."
Leos looked up, meeting his gaze. In those eyes, he saw a fragile fragment, as if Aerax were holding onto a secret he couldn't yet share. "You still don't believe you are one of the prophecy, do you?" Leos asked, his voice a whisper.
Aerax leaned his head against the edge of the pool, his eyes fixed on the misty blue stone ceiling. "I don't know who I am in that prophecy. I only know… You made it impossible for me to turn back. Not just because I saved you, but because of the way you looked at me, as if I deserved to live."
Leos didn't answer. He took Aerax's hand, large, rough, but warm. His fingers tightened slightly, as if conveying an unspoken promise. Then, as if pulled by an invisible force, Leos slid across the pool, sitting close beside Aerax. Their shoulders touched, warmth spreading through the hot water.
"When I was imprisoned in the sea monster's cave…" Leos began, his voice lowering as if recounting an old dream, "I thought I would never escape. But you came with Minoros. You not only pulled me out of the darkness, but you also made me…"
"A belief… I may be more than just a chained man."
Aerax turned, looking into Leos's golden eyes. Leos didn't avert his gaze this time. Aerax raised his hand, placing it on Leos's cheek, his thumb gently tracing the soft fur. "You are no longer a chained man. You are the master of those chains. And I… am merely a black horse fortunate enough to still be breathing."
Leos chuckled softly, a gentle smile like the morning sun. He leaned in, his lips lightly touching Aerax's—a slow, unhurried kiss, undriven by lust. It was like a whisper, a sharing between two souls who had once stood on the brink of death. Aerax responded, his hand sliding down to embrace Leos's waist, pulling him closer. The seawater rose, rippling around them, the mist obscuring the outside world. Leos wrapped his arms around Aerax's neck, his ram's horns gently brushing against his black mane, creating a small sound amidst the lapping water.
They kissed, not to possess, but to feel each other's presence. A connection forged through days of facing the divine and the darkness together. When they separated, both breathed softly, the mist clinging to their fur and skin, sparkling like tiny jewels. Leos rested his head on Aerax's shoulder, silently, as if wanting to preserve this moment forever.
"If one day you become a god," Leos murmured, His voice was so low it seemed afraid of shattering the silence, "Will you ever forget this moment?"
Aerax looked out the window, where sunlight began to stream in, illuminating the glistening droplets on his chest. "If I forget, you can drag me down into this water and remind me."
Leos chuckled, his clear laughter echoing in the stone room. He rose, water cascading down his body, leaving shimmering streaks of light. "Come on, warrior. You owe me breakfast. I'm starving."
Aerax smiled, rising with him. He draped his white linen cloth back over himself, while Leos wrapped a silk robe around himself. They left the bath, their shadows stretching long across the marble floor—a scarred black-horse warrior and a prince with golden chains, both bearing the marks of days spent braving storms. In the early morning light, they walked side by side, without promises, but knowing that each step was an affirmation: they had found each other, and the world outside was waiting.