The sight was intriguing. Pouring curiosity into the youth's inquisitive mind. Before he had wondered what it was that made the aged female smile at him and now it made him wonder about what made that smile leave her wrinkled face.

With a turn of his head, he chose to ignore her for the last time...

When the children gave them their gifts to Moulin, the youth smiled which made the little ones' heart1 thump and a faint blush painting their chubby cheeks. A beaded necklace, a flower weaved crown, the creative braids in his hair, and a little conch shell. Moulin felt surprised about the way the little girls braided his hair. For a moment, he thought they would messily tie up his hair. However, he was amazed at the skill of the young creatures as they gently combed and decorated his hair with beads and flowers. His hair was now slightly shorter after they left the island fortress but it was still long and it draped down his back like silver waves.

Little and large plaits decorated the sides of his head. They curled like gorgeous white roses, glistening under the warm light of the festivity. Although they had no clear mirror, Moulin could determine the beauty brought out those little fingers.

"Thank you..." Moulin stroked their heads which then became the cause of the rising competition among the siblings.

Before Moulin could even stop the children, a hand pulled him away from the ruckus. Shifting his attention, Moulin turned to the man sitting beside him. Hadrian tipped a cup to his mouth as Moulin watched their hands linked together. He was now sitting closer to the man, sharing a seat with him. Seryu who had noticed Hadrian's actions immediately silenced the children and brought them away from the couple. With reluctant eyes, the children glanced at Moulin before following Seryu towards their mother.

There were female nagas who presented themselves before the chief and the guests. Their torsos were bare to the eye. Their full breasts, seductive and plump. Accessories decorated their necks and their hair. They looked sultry and elegant at ghe same time. Moulin looked at them expectantly unaware of a certain man's gaze on him.

The females began swaying with the beat of the drums. Their bellies rolling and their tails slithering skillfully and seductively. Moulin's brows rose in interest. It seems that the 'entertainment' of these creatures was more open and exposed. Using the desires of the body to entertain and fascinate. Moulin had heard such things within the noble circle. However, those events were obscene and indecent than fascinating if he should describe them from the original soul's memories. They aimed to allure and drag oneself to ghe path of vulgarity. These dances performed by the female nagas were quite intriguing in Moulin's eyes. There was not an ounce of indecency. Their bodies moved as if they were made of water.

Moulin wondered if he could move like that with his body.

His thoughts were interrupted when he felt a squeeze around his hand. Silver eyes lifted and met the deep eyes of the man beside him.

"Are you fascinated by them?" Hadrian's tone was deep as he spoke.

Moulin tilted his head and glanced at the dance. "Well, they are mesmerizing..."

"Really?"

Moulin nodded. He chuckled as he glanced at the lord. "I am not attracted to any of them if that is what you mean. Why should I when I am already committed to you?"

Hadrian raised cocked an eyebrow, "So, you do have a way with words..."

"Jest. Stop talking..." Moulin rolls his eyes. His reaction made a smile appear on Hadrian's calm countenance. The man did as he was told and continued to watch the performance while holding Moulin's hand.

The feast was filled with merriment. The children happily listened to the stories told by one of the men who had witnessed how Hadrian destroyed the giant beast with one powerful move and how a beautiful youth that could tame even the fiercest of beasts had saved the life of the chief's son and slaughtered hundreds of devil worms with ease. Ordan almost laughed when he was named as the man who almost died to help vanquish the beast. He sighs as he glanced at his leg with a frown. He could have done better...

With the variety of food on the table, the whole tribe was fed until they could feel their stomachs ache. With a chant, they ended the feast while they prayed to the moon. A peculiar thing for Moulin made him curious about the season behind the prayer.

The moon was full and bright as the feast finally ended and everyone returned to their homes with a smile on their faces.

"Where are you going?" Hadrian asked as he saw Moulin move to leave with Snow and Keir in his arms. The youth turned his head. His wavy hair, kissed by the light of the moon, had swished to the side. Moulin blinked, "Going to the place Seryu had prepared for me..."

Hadrian's brows were drawn together as he stared at Moulin. "Are you really going to leave me to sleep by myself again?"

Eyes turning to crescents, a playful smile graced the youth's expression. "I thought you would never ask."

Snow and Keir whined in Moulin's arms when they heard Moulin's response. Snow kept silent as he lowered his head. Were they going to stay with the horrible man again?! The little fox was reluctant but he never wants to sleep a night without his master again. Thus, he could only respect his master's wishes.

There were patrols taking turns to watch in the night. The forest was unpredictable and who knows what would come and attack in the middle of the night. The wooden pole torches illuminated the boundary around the village. The reason for this was because the light could scare away small yet destructive creatures that would dare enter the naga village.

Moulin's steps were unhurried as he quietly discussed with Hadrian how they would only sleep for the night and not do anything salacious and lewd. He covered the little brats' ears as he spoke. The man walking beside who was holding his hand nodded as if he understood, his thoughts were trying to look for a way to drive the brats out and coax Moulin to submit to him.

'Is he even listening?' Moulin glared at Hadrian who was nonchalantly walking beside him.

Seeing that there was no use in talking to the man, he could only sigh and make sure to reject any attempts this esteemed lord would make towards him.

The nightly wind seemed to dance around them. Gentle moonlight bathes their figures, casting shadows on the dry ground where their steps were slow. Slowly, they walked. Savoring the solemnity around them and the heat between their hands. Petals fall slowly from the flowers on Moulin's hair. They twirled and swayed with the cold breeze.

The feeling came. The feeling of being watched.

Subconsciously turning his head, silver eyes narrowed as he looked to his left side. Far away, under the light of the moon. Where the warm light of the fire could not reach, the solemn gaze of an aged creature was fixed on Moulin. Her figure silently sitting on a wide tree stump.

...

Moulin could not bear it any longer. Blind or not, he knew the female naga was staring at him for a reason.

"Does she bother you?" Hadrian's words abruptly entered Moulin's ears.

At the man's words, a crease appeared between Moulin's brows. "No, but... " His head turned to look at Hadrian, "Do you know her?"

"She's the mother of the chief. Seryu's grandmother. One of the elders in this tribe..."

"An elder..." The youth returned his gaze to the elder naga. Something tells him that he would not sleep a wink if he doesn't speak to her. He was admittedly anticipating of what he would find out when he does...

Moulin glanced at Hadrian.

"Go..." The man spoke as if to help the youth decide. "I will be with you..."

Heat engulfed the youth's heart and he made a sound of acknowledgment as he squeezed Hadrian's hand. Taking one step and another, with of them approached the elder naga. They were silent as though not to disturb her.

Her eyes were indeed white. Her pupils were like two pure-white moons. There was a small crystal at the center of her head. It was a vibrant green.

"Hello, child..." Her voice was kind. It would make anyone deem her a gentle person.

"I bow to you elder..." Moulin bowed with Hadrian. His eyes, scrutinizing the woman's pupils if they were moving and following his movements so that he could confirm her blindness.

The female's eyes crinkled as a smile graced her dry lips.

"You are so polite and good. It must have been hard for you to live, unknowledgeable of the world that you were put in." She lifted a hand. "You have suffered, been betrayed, hurt and pained. Pitiful child from the unknown... "

She faced him with a smile. The emerald on her forehead gleamed brightly under the moonlight. Moulin silently listened to her. Unable to process all be words that she said in his mind.

She smiled at his confusion.

"Do you wish to be free from it?"