DKFTI 128

Human brains are simple, when they don’t know something, they don’t. But once they’ve learned a stimulus, it’s hard to go back to ignorance. Sibel wondered if the warmth spreading from his fingertips to his head had melted even his frontal lobe.

He could feel Aizen’s body heat. The way Aizen treated people was always intense, no matter who they were, whether he liked them or not. Always the same, always burning. Just like now, when his touch felt like it could devour him.

“Mmh…”

The same hands that had roughly torn at his own clothes slid over Sibel’s body with impossible gentleness. Every place they touched lingered too long, unwilling to leave. The tingling sensation flowing through Aizen’s palm climbed up Sibel’s spine.

Sibel unfastened the last button and pushed Aizen’s shirt down over his shoulders. The piece of fabric dropped to the floor and the white shirt that had filled his vision was replaced by the exposed, well built body of a man.

“Ha…”

Their lips parted for a brief breath. Aizen’s eyes were darker than usual. Perhaps it was the alcohol or the feverish heat of arousal, his neck down his chest, was glowing red.

Drawn in, Sibel reached out and ran his hand across Aizen’s chest. His muscles were hard as stone, and every place his fingers touched reddened quickly.

“You know…”

Playing idly with his fingers against Aizen’s skin, Sibel spoke softly.

“Don’t go too rough this time.”

Aizen’s hand froze.

“Like last time?”

“Y-you know what I mean.”

He meant don’t handle me like you’re trying to kill someone.

“Ah…”

Was it his imagination, or did Aizen’s eyes suddenly look even more out of focus? What on earth was he imagining?

Aizen nodded, but Sibel did not trust him. He obviously hadn’t listened to a single word.

“Mm, mm.”

Aizen pulled Sibel in by the waist. Their upper bodies pressed together without space to breathe. The contact was different now, skin to skin, bare friction instead of fabric. The warmth of their bodies rubbed together, setting their nerves aflame.

Aizen’s hand slid down along Sibel’s back, tracing the shape of his spine, feeling the lines of his muscle beneath his palm. Sibel flinched from the ticklish touch, but Aizen only pulled him closer instead of letting go.

Their lips met again. Aizen bit Sibel’s lower lip, then pushed his tongue in. The strong scent of alcohol mixed with saliva made Sibel’s head spin.

When Aizen’s large hand brushed along his ribs, a small moan slipped out.

“Ah, ah…”

The rough, calloused palm scraped against sensitive skin, and muffled moans escaped Sibel’s mouth. His body, already familiar with the pleasure that would follow, responded eagerly.

“Ah, wait…Aizen, slower.”

“I thought I was already going slow.”

Aizen muttered against his neck, his hot breath pooling and dispersing near Sibel’s collarbone.

Sibel stroked the back of Aizen’s head as the man gently bit his throat. The warmth of his scalp, the pounding of his heart pressed against his chest, all of it felt vividly real.

Sibel absentmindedly thought as he hugged Aizen’s shoulders. Drunk Aizen was even more clingy than usual.

He had always liked physical contact, but the alcohol made him even clingier. But it wasn’t unpleasant. It felt a bit like holding a giant dog in his arms.

Just as the air between them grew heavy and ripe.

Knock, knock.

“Mm?”

The sudden knock pulled his drifting mind back to the surface. Sibel’s blue eyes turned toward the wooden door.

“Mmph… wait, Aizen.”

Someone had definitely knocked.

“Ah… what now?”

The dazed glow in Aizen’s eyes instantly turned sharp. His piercing gaze fixed on the door.

“Who is it?”

His cold voice didn’t hide his frustration. But the person outside didn’t answer, only knocked again, knock, knock.

“Haa…”

Should he just ignore it? Why interrupt such a good moment?

Sibel finally sighed and pushed Aizen’s shoulder.

“Ah, what?”

Aizen looked ready to complain, but Sibel shook his head quietly. The mood was already gone, and with Sibel’s refusal, Aizen reluctantly threw his half-hanging shirt over his arm and stomped toward the door.

His thoughts were simple: Get rid of whoever it is fast and pick up where they left off.

“This better be worth it.”

Grinding his teeth, he pulled the door open, only for his eyes to go wide.

“Elder Brivan…”

The one who had interrupted their private moment was none other than Brivan.

“May I come in?”

Brivan looked at Aizen and asked, “May I come in?”

Aizen turned and glanced back at Sibel. ​stolen content​Sibel knew who he was too; he had seen the man only a few hours ago.

“…Let him in.”

With that, Brivan stepped inside the room.

The High Priest Brivan, the Demon King, and the being who could no longer be defined as either human or demon—Aizen—sat together around a round table. It was a strange sight indeed.

There wasn’t even a cup of tea between them, yet all three quietly regarded one another. The silence dragged on as they scrutinized each other’s faces, until Brivan finally spoke first.

“Aizen.”

“How’d you recognize me? No one else could.”

Aizen sounded genuinely curious that Brivan had seen through the spell concealing his face.

“How could I not? I wasn’t sure at first, but I know you too well to be mistaken.”

“Hmm. You’ve keener eyes than I thought.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment. What were you doing at the temple?”

“Are you here to interrogate me now?”

Brivan shook his head.

“Nothing like that. The truth is, I just needed someone to talk to. My mind’s been restless lately.”

“What kind of serious trouble could a carefree old man like you possibly have?”

Brivan had always been calm and gentle by nature, which was probably why he could put up with Aizen’s rotten temper without much trouble. He was unshaken by most things, so seeing him wear such a heavy expression was rare, even for Aizen.

“Something’s wrong with His Holiness lately.”

“When was that man ever normal?”

Aizen’s tone was indifferent, but Brivan shook his head.

“It’s different this time. The atmosphere inside the Holy Capital feels strange.”

“What do you mean, exactly?”

“High-ranking clerics are suddenly being dismissed or disappearing altogether. The military at the front lines is also making unusual movements. And my visit to the temple today was at His Holiness’s command. But the relics he ordered me to retrieve are… peculiar.”

“What did he ask for?”

“The Ark of the Sacred Tree, the Codex of Alignment, several kinds of holy water… and the Horn of Resonance.”

Aizen quietly recalled each of the items Brivan listed. The holy waters were one thing, but searching for those ancient relics now was strange. Most of them were purely symbolic, old artifacts whose use had long been forgotten.

“I doubt he really needs all of them. He’s probably hiding the one he really wants among them.”

“Hmm.”

Indeed, that fox would surely take precautions to keep word from leaking out.

“He was never one to show his hand, but lately, it’s become impossible to read his mind.”

“It’s probably because of the war with the demons.”

“Human nature doesn’t change that easily.”

“Maybe he’s losing his mind.”

“It’s strange. Definitely strange.”

A shadow fell over Brivan’s face.

“Lately, it feels like a completely different person has taken his place.”

“Maybe he’s just under too much stress.”

Whether Brivan was right or not, Aizen still felt uneasy. ​unauthorized copy​The man was usually so composed, seeing him this concerned was enough to put him on edge.

“I may not look it, but I started as a low-ranking healing priest and have lived my whole life in the Order.”

“That’s true enough.”

“The Holy Kingdom is standing at the center of a great change. That much is certain. And I have a bad feeling about what’s coming.”

Brivan lowered his voice.

“It’s troubling, especially with you gone during times like these.”

He sounded a little sorrowful.

“…Don’t act like you miss some apostate.”

“You’re not just a former disciple or colleague to me.”

His warm voice betrayed his affection. Then he lifted a chest from where it had been unauthorized copyresting at his feet and set it on the table.

“There’s something I want to ask of you.”

“A favor?”

Aizen found it strange that Brivan could so naturally ask a favor from someone who was no longer a holy knight, nor even human.

“If anything happens to the Holy Kingdom… use this.”

Brivan opened the lid of the chest.