A Gorgeous White

Chapter 346: We Are So Similar

The elf gazed at him. Her beautiful platinum hair was braided against her scalp, and the rest of it fell behind her back like a gentle waterfall. She wore plainly, keeping a simple look, for she wasn't one to adore gold and gems on cloth. However, the silvery markings on her neck were exposed, evidently revealing her blood as a moon elf descendant. The long silks that parted to reveal her arms fluttered around her, and it almost looked as if she had grown wings. Lady Phaelona in Moulin's memories had always worn a smile, sometimes a smirk when she was thinking of something to annoy him and Colahn. Everything seemed bright and mysterious around her.

When Moulin looked at her now, he could see confusion writhing in her eyes. Disbelief clouded her expression, looking as if she doubted the presence of the two people before her, specifically, Moulin. Her pupils quivered as she gazed at him. Eyes trailing from his feet up to the waves of silver-white hair on his head. When their eyes met, she felt as if a fist was squeezing her heart.

Impossible... Impossible...

But how can it be impossible when he was standing right before her eyes? Alive and well. No matter how many excuses and possible explanations she'd invent, it didn't seem to convince her.

Moulin furrowed his eyes. He could see right through her. Skepticism and doubtfulness were evident, and she had trouble concealing it.

Suddenly, the elven mage strode towards him. Expressionlessly, Moulin watched her. Then she grabbed his hands and began pouring in her mana, channeling it into the depths of his spiritual nerves. It was cold and abrupt. Moulin's surprise came too late to show in his face.

Finally, Phaelona pulled away. Shock filled her face as she confirmed her suspicion. Her fingers trembled, and her eyes dazedly stared at him as if Moulin's very presence would answer all her questions. She reached out her hand to touch him again, but Moulin dodged her and gave her a helpless look.

"There's no need for you to confirm it again, My Lady. I am alive..." Moulin said, instantly crushing her doubts. He turned his wrists while the corner of his lips lifted.

"We haven't seen each other for so long. I didn't expect our reunion to be like this."

"Ah..." Phaelona finally found her voice. That vibrant and atrociously beautiful child in the Fraunces Estate eight years ago suddenly melded itself from the image of the young man now standing in front of him. That wild tongue and his fierce charms became evident in her eyes. Her heart pounded erratically in her chest.

"T-Third young master..." She choked out. "Y-You've grown up..."

"Mn, yes. Even I am shocked." Moulin chuckled.

"Then your family..."

Silver eyes softened, "They already know..."

And for the first time, a soft smile formed on the elf's elegant countenance. Her eyes looked at him fondly, fishing out every bit of memory of him from within the depths of her mind. She had remembered the agony and despair of the Lords from the Fraunces Family. It is etched in her mind, permanently. "I see... That is good."

There was a knock, and once again, Moulin's gaze shifted. A tall elf wearing an amused smile removed himself from the doorway. Oracle Na'El ambled towards them and finally set his eyes on the couple. "Do you believe it now?"

His question was directed to his sister, who didn't even spare him a glance. Phaelona muttered a 'yes' restraining herself from punching this fool in the chin. Why did he have to twist his words when he told her about Moulin?! What was so wrong with being direct?!

'It wouldn't be fun if I did.' Would have been Na'El's answer if he had heard his sister's thoughts. And Phaelona would have fulfilled her urge of pummeling her fists on his oh so serene face.

The Elven Oracle faced the two maeruthans, and his eyes accidentally clashed with Lord Hercullio's deep alluring eyes of gold. They had first met during the council meeting, and as the Lord's name spread throughout the islands, Na'El was no longer unfamiliar with him. Something strange was behind that cold gaze, like a prowling beast that had killed thousands, savage, ruthless, and thoughts unknown. He was mystery itself.

Turbulent mana surged within this man's body, Na'El sensed during the first time he'd seen him. Ruthlessly powerful and rampant. Anyone would have gone mad and died if they were in Lord Hercullio's place. However, this man seemed to already accept the abnormality of his internal foundation as a part of him. But Na'El knew he couldn't have treated it alone.

Who?

"He needs to rest." Hadrian suddenly spoke, startling the elves and Moulin. His hand firmly grasped Moulin's shoulder, making the youth look at him in confusion.

'I'm clearly not tired, ah.' Moulin silently complained with a tilted head.

Phaelona and Na'El couldn't derive Moulin from his rest. The maeruthan had just come back from the battle with the swarm. He must be exhausted. Thus, the two didn't tarry longer within Moulin's quarters.

Phaelona had a lot to inquire with the youth, but with Lord Hercullio's decisive response, she could only tell Moulin to have a good rest. There wasn't a need to rush. They have plenty of time.

Na'El stopped before the open door and glanced behind him. Moulin was questioning Lord Hercullio with a raised brow. A frown adorned his beauteous face as he faced the towering form of the man before him. However, his silver eyes were soft and passionate when he gazed at the man. There was so much love within them. Lord Hadrian leaned down and whispered something in the young man's ear that made his cheeks redden.

Golden eyes softened, and his thumbs stroked circles on the aphrodite's shoulder. Despite the fear this man had spread throughout the continent, he was so much gentler before Moulin Fraunces.

'Ah, I see...' Na'El realized.

Moulin Fraunces was the person who quelled that fire.

Na'El left the room with an intriguing smile. How interesting...

..........

"The swarm comes once every month. Malibreeds of their type are intelligent and will pursue objects or living beings possessing the most mana of all. And Only the ones with the most mana. That is why the Swarm would only attack the Island Tree despite the other islands surrounding it. The purer the energy, the better for them to consume."

Moulin listened attentively while his eyes curiously darted from one place to another. He trailed behind Oracle Elf, Na'El, while he listened to his lecture about the swarm that had attacked the Great Tree yesterday. They walked through a vast hallway, passing by respectful elves who bowed when encountering them. They held great respect to their one and only Imperial Oracle. However, their gazes lingered on the silver-haired maeruthan with him even longer. Word about him during the Swarm's attack reached their ears, and they were doubtful yet curious about him. However, his stunning looks really were no lie. He looked impeccably gorgeous.

Yesterday, the swarm left with the dark clouds six hours after the barrier fully enclosed the island. It took longer to vanquish the barrier so that the Tree of Gala'En could avoid expending too much mana.

"The Tree's deteriorating health has affected the growth and strength of the barrier, and soon, if it was not treated, we won't be able to defend ourselves from a great disaster."

Na'El's words entered Moulin's ears, and he could not truly determine if it meant six massive islands falling from the sky or being finished by the Swarm's endless attacks. Nevertheless, none of them was a good ending. Moulin and his group were running out of time themselves. The month's end was near. Thus, he had to finish his job quickly.

As time passed, Moulin noticed the gradual decrease of the people around them the longer they walked. Until not even a servant was in sight. They have crossed the boundary where not even a knight was allowed to take a single step. Curious, Moulin zeroed his gaze on Na'El's back. Although the elf had long noticed his deep stare, Na'El continued to walk obliviously.

Beneath their feet, the stone floor was gradually replaced with wooden ground. Moulin felt like he was walking on tiny tree roots, weaved together to form the ground he treads. Silver eyes stared below in awe. Even the walls looked as if stone and wood were combined. The branches accumulated to shape the planes of the walls and the windows even shaped, openings in the planes. Glass was stitched within them.

Walking through an enormous archway with green flowering vines coiling on the edges, they stopped. Before them was a spiral staircase leading into the dark depths of the Great tree. The railings were made of coiled branches and vines. Moulin's eyes slightly widened, noticing the movements of green tendrils. The golden flowers around them fluttered delicately as the vines moved, forming swirls.

They weren't the only ones who arrived.

"Ah, you're here..." A soft voice spoke. Stunning blue eyes swept towards them. The elf bowed his head to the Great Oracle.

"Arcefi." Na'El nodded to him. "You're surprisingly early."

He chuckled. Eyes curling as he smiled. "I wouldn't want to look so languid before a fellow aphrodite."

Arcefi turned to Moulin, and his smile widened. For a second, Moulin witnessed him falter, a strain on his cheeks.

"Good Morning, Young Master."

Moulin returned the greeting with a genuine smile.

Na'El began leading the two purifiers down the spiral staircase. The lights from the flowers in the walls brightened at every step they took. Their steps echoed, bouncing off the walls and entering their ears.

Halfway down, Arcefi turned to Moulin and started a conversation.

"I heard rumors that you joined the battle against the Swarm yesterday."

Moulin turned to look at him, feigning a surprise, but before he could say a word, Arcefi continued.

"It's just rumored, yes? We aphrodite aren't suited for the battlefield. We excel in the arts of mana and spiritual energy, and we should be determined with it. Keep it that way. There wouldn't be balance, and our lives would be in danger. We hold value in our own field as much as others are in theirs." Arcefi's eyes softly gazed at him. His blue eyes gleamed beautifully as if it was trying to cleanse Moulin's soul from filth, purging out abnormalities.

Moulin stared at him.

In the other's silence, Arcefi chuckled. His eyes gazed warmly at the person who was similar to him. "You don't have to worry about what others said. It should have been terrifying if it was true."

'Because we are the same, we have only each other.'