When he woke up the following morning, he saw the man who was supposed to be sleeping next to him gone.
Hael's side was empty, and from the looks of things, he had been gone for some time.
Ceremus got up, stretching his limbs before stepping out of the cave. Even at dawn, the forest looked beautiful. The man could picture himself waking up to this sight every day.
His eyes scanned the area, trying to locate the white-haired man, but to no avail.
He walked further away, leaving the cave behind until he saw a secluded area in the forest. He was going to turn around and leave when he heard a familiar voice stopping him in his tracks.
"So, is that man the person you were looking for?" He heard the gorilla called Maximus ask.
"I'm not sure if he is. But I know he was someone I was meant to meet. I felt a pull in my chest when I first looked at him. I don't know why I feel so drawn to him. But whatever the reason is, I intend to stay by his side." He said.
"I see. So that man is special to you…Listen. No one ever told you this since you were still young, and the goddess forbade us from revealing anything to you until the time came. I don't know if the time has finally come to reveal everything to you, and I certainly do not want to risk incurring her wrath in case it isn't." He started to say.
Hael looked at the gorilla with a puzzled expression on his face. Maximus sighed before continuing. "All I can tell you is this. That special connection you feel for that man? Treasure it. Make sure to protect it at all costs. If you truly care for that man, stay by his side until the very end." He said.
Hael paused. The man didn't say a word for a long time, and Ceremus, who overheard their conversation, felt his breath hitch as he waited for Hael's response.
Hael finally spoke after the most prolonged and arduous one minute of his life. "I plan to give that man my life. I will never leave his side, even if he throws me away," Hael declared with a resolute tone, his determination echoing in the crook of the forest.
Ceremus returned to the cave in a daze. The entire walk back, Hael's words resounded inside him, never leaving his mind for a moment.
"I plan to give that man my life." The weight of those words hung in the air, a solemn vow that couldn't easily be uttered, yet Hael said them with complete sincerity, his commitment palpable.
Ceremus didn't even have to look at his face to know how serious he was. "But why me? What about me would possibly make him say such things? I'm not worthy of those words at all." He sighed.
He couldn't help wondering how Hael was able to express himself so honestly, to let himself be so…open and vulnerable. The thought of being so exposed, so raw, terrified him. He wanted nothing more than to run away, yet paradoxically, he felt ecstatic to hear them, torn between two sides. His cold heart, which had remained frozen for such a long time, was starting to thaw earlier than expected.
Ceremus realized at that moment that meeting Hael was a gift. Having the honor to meet and be appreciated by him was the best thing that had ever happened to him. His feelings were pure, untainted, and unaltered despite its arbitrariness. Something he hadn't felt since his father. But he couldn't accept Hael entirely, not yet. The idea that one day they would come to fall out of love, or worse, be separated by death or circumstances beyond their control, was something he couldn't tolerate at the moment.
Not with how already fragile he was. "I'm a coward. Hiding behind my shame because I refuse to be brave."
Just then, Hael entered the cave and was surprised to see Ceremus awake. "It's still early, Ceremus; you can sleep a little longer." He said.
Like I could ever fall back asleep after what I just heard, he thought to himself.
"It's fine. I noticed since being with you that I tend to wake up earlier now." He said. "It made Anemone quite happy."
"I'm sure. Well, since you're awake, we can take a bath. We've gotten pretty filthy after fighting yesterday." Hael suggested.
The idea of bathing brought a smile to Ceremus' face.
~*~
Hael led them to a beautiful lake with a waterfall. Without any warning, the man undressed himself and entered the water. Ceremus felt his face heat up and didn't know where to look. It was his first time bathing with another person; he didn't even let his servants aid him back in the palace. Hael noticed his discomfort and tried to ease the tension, but Ceremus was too overwhelmed by his vulnerability to respond.
"Do you need help bathing?" He innocently asked.
Ceremus' eyes flared with anger. "Of course, I don't need to help bathing you, imbecile! I'm not so incompetent that I need help with bathing myself." He exclaimed.
Hael looked up at him in surprise, his eyes blinking before letting out a laugh. "Why, of course, Your Majesty. How dare I make such implications." He said.
Ceremus rolled his eyes. He quickly got undressed and entered the water, ignoring the white-haired man who looked at him with amusement.
The water was cool and refreshing, and Ceremus felt himself relax as soon as it touched his skin.
He ducked his head in the water, letting the divine liquid wash off the dirt and sand accumulated in his luscious strands.
His waves were looser now that they were wet, but they still held that same shine as when his hair was dry. Hael watched in a daze as he ran his fingers through his hair, removing any grime residue from his strands.
His hands then moved to his firm chest, the water droplets now beading on his skin, creating an enticing image that made Hael unable to look away. He hadn't paid much attention to the king's physical appearance before, but now that he was right before him, it was difficult not to notice how well-endowed the man was. The title of the warrior wasn't handed to him for nothing, after all.
Every muscle on his body was sculpted to perfection. From his trapezius and pectoralis major to his tibia, even the untrained eye could tell he worked hard to achieve his current shape. The way his biceps contracted with each movement he made, it was hard to imagine the king people spoke of—who partook in a hedonistic lifestyle as the same king standing before him.
Hael had to force himself to look away as he felt his body growing warm. He focused on cleaning himself and leaving the river as soon as possible.
Once they were both done, they made sure to dry themselves off and clean, to the best of their abilities, their clothes as well. Luckily for them, Anemone made sure to let the maids pack an extra pair of clothes that they made sure to put on. This entire experience was a first for the pampered king, but he didn't mind it as they conversed with each other throughout the process, slowly realizing the shared experience was bringing them closer.
Once dressed, they returned to the cave where the animals were waiting for them.
Brontus was the first to approach. "I noticed that Loki wasn't back with you. I'm guessing he's at the palace?" He asked.
Hael nodded. Loki has been receiving special treatment from the moment he arrived. When he offered the bird to accompany him, he promptly refused.
"We need to make our way back to the city now. We've been gone all day, and I'm sure the knights will start wondering where we went." Ceremus said, the weight of their return to reality hanging in the air.
Hael nodded in agreement. Although they knew they were going to have to leave eventually, they didn't think it would be so soon.
"I guess this is farewell again, then," Maximus said.
Hael gave him a sad smile. "I came back once, didn't I? I intend to keep my promise once more."
"You better," Brontus said. "Now go; we no longer want to see that grim expression on your face."
With that, the two men made their departure.