The rhythmic footsteps of the two youths were heard on the forest ground covered with dry leaves. They walked in silence, moving away from the massacre location and slowly approaching the borders of the City of Sellon.
During the journey back to the city, Wolvin walked slightly behind Calian. The Night Wolf youth still felt very shocked by his husband's drastic change in attitude in the forest earlier. He could only gaze at the broad back and the side profile of the handsome face of the person he loved in silence.
However, as time passed, his worry did not subside. His instincts as a beastfolk sensed that something was wrong, a darkness that should not exist within his husband.
That restless feeling continued to swell in his chest until Wolvin could no longer hold himself back.
"Darling..." called Wolvin, his voice breaking the suffocating silence between them.
Calian's steps slowed down slightly. "What is it, Wolvin?"
"Why did you act like that earlier?" asked Wolvin, his tone of voice sounding anxious. "Only this time have I seen a side of you that is so... cold and cruel. It felt like it was not the usual you."
Calian stopped his steps completely, but he did not turn around immediately. He looked straight ahead.
"Forgive me, Wolvin." answered Calian in a low voice. "I just... I just cannot hold back my emotions when it comes to you."
"Comes to me?" repeated the Night Wolf youth in confusion, catching up to his husband's steps until they stood side by side. He tilted his head. "What does that slave hunter group have to do with me? I don't know them at all."
Calian turned his head, looking into his spouse's golden eyes with a gaze full of protection.
"Because of the actions of groups like them, you feel restless and unsafe even though we already live in this empire's territory." answered Calian honestly, expressing his heart. "Even though at that time, my mother already told you that you would live here comfortably, safely, and peacefully without discrimination. I just wanted to make sure they paid dearly for ruining that sense of security."
Hearing that very sincere explanation, Wolvin's heart was touched. He completely understood the reason behind his husband's unexpected brutality, which turned out to be purely driven by a strong desire to protect him.
"You really are the best husband, Darling!" praised Wolvin sincerely and honestly, a small smile etched on his lips. "But..."
Wolvin's smile faded, replaced by a very serious facial expression. "...I still do not like your attitude and actions like that earlier!"
Instantly, Calian flinched. He turned his body completely and stared intently at his spouse's face. He could clearly see that Wolvin truly did not like what he had just done to those criminals.
However, his ego and desire to protect his beloved spouse had blinded the youth, making him demand a logical reason behind that rejection.
"Why?" asked Calian, his tone of voice sounding in disbelief that his spouse would actually blame his actions against those vile criminals. "They intended to sell your race like animals! Why would you say such a thing to me instead?"
Wolvin did not answer immediately. The Night Wolf youth let out a long sigh, then turned his face away and walked slowly toward a tree with spreading roots nearby.
"Let's sit under that tree and talk about it there!" invited Wolvin without looking back. However, to Calian's ears, his spouse's voice sounded very flat, not as soft and spoiled as usual.
Having no other choice and not wanting to prolong the argument, Calian yielded and followed his spouse's footsteps toward that large, shady tree.
Upon arriving beneath the lush foliage, the two of them sat on the large tree roots, facing each other. The atmosphere between them felt a bit awkward.
"I will just get straight to the point!" said Wolvin opening the conversation, looking right into Calian's eyes. "I highly appreciate your intention to protect me. But, I truly do not like your torture methods!"
"Why, Wolvin? Why is that a big issue for you?" demanded Calian. "They deserved it."
"If you really want to kill, then just kill him directly! There is no need to torture him sadistically like that!" reprimanded Wolvin firmly. His pair of golden eyes glared sharply at his husband. "As an assassin from the shadows, we only need to execute our targets. Eradicate them without a trace, not torture them pointlessly!"
Calian fell silent. He let those words sink in, but did not reply to his spouse's statement.
"Try to remember our main goal of leaving the palace." continued Wolvin, his voice still sounding firm. "Right now we are secretly assigned to eliminate Marquis Khail Burtois and all the corrupt nobles involved in that dirty business according to our mother's orders. We should only focus on carrying out that task, getting information, and ending their lives quickly and efficiently."
Wolvin leaned his body forward, giving emphasis to every sentence.
"A professional assassin moves in silence and kills in silence without anyone realizing our presence or our methods." said Wolvin, explaining the basic principles of an assassin's work. "If you torture him dragged out like earlier, his screams will echo everywhere. You will only risk attracting enemy attention instead. Unnecessary brutality is an assassin's weakness."
Seeing Calian still frozen in silence with a slightly tense facial expression, Wolvin sighed softly, then reached out his hands and gently held both of his husband's cheeks with both of his hands.
"Darling... I completely understand that you did all these horrible things purely for my sake, and I am very grateful to you for caring so much about me." said Wolvin. This time, his tone of voice changed, returning to being soft, affectionate, and spoiled as usual. "But I beg you, for my sake too, please do not act cruelly like that again."
Calian looked into his spouse's eyes. "But... are you sure that I should just kill them quickly without torturing them first?"
"Yes, Darling! I am very sure!" answered Wolvin firmly without the slightest hesitation. "Besides, if you keep having a cold and merciless expression like earlier... your handsome face and warm aura that I have liked so much all this time seem to disappear without a trace. You look like a monster, not my husband."
The Night Wolf youth stroked his husband's face even more gently, trying to channel warmth from his touch.
"Please, be yourself like the one I have known all this time, Darling. The rational, calm, and loving Calian." pleaded Wolvin with a begging look. "I do not want your anger towards the enemy to make you lose your true self instead."
Like being struck by lightning in broad daylight, that barrage of Wolvin's words hit Calian's heart and mind very hard, making him realize it instantly.
My spouse's words just now triggered what my mother once said in the past about my three biological siblings who had lost their conscience and feelings. If I continue to let anger control me and enjoy the suffering of others, what is the difference between me and them?
Calian closed his eyes, exhaled a long breath, then grasped both of Wolvin's hands that were on his cheeks.
"I... I truly apologize to you, Wolvin." said Calian sincerely regretting his actions. "You're right. I have let my emotions take over my logic. I promise you, I will never carry out sadistic torture pointlessly like that again. From now on, I will just directly kill our targets quickly as you wish."
"I hold you to that promise, Darling!" replied the Night Wolf youth, a happy smile finally blooming on his face. However, he immediately added one small warning. "But as an exception, I only allow you to physically torture an enemy only when we are in the stage of interrogating them to get crucial information. And after getting the answers we need, kill them right then and there. Do you understand?"
Calian looked at his spouse who was so understanding yet firm, then nodded slowly. "I understand, Wolvin."
Hearing that promise, a relieved smile finally adorned Wolvin's cute face again. The burden weighing on his heart was completely lifted, and he immediately hugged his husband's neck tightly.
Wolvin was very grateful that Calian did not let darkness ruin his conscience.