3. Lost Moon
A freezing wind swept across the skin, carrying with it the scent of mildew and death.
This entire area was cursed.
Mutsukumo and Izala were too late-the summoning ritual had been completed.
From the center of the magic circle, a grotesque creature emerged.
Its body had no definite shape-just a massive, constantly shifting black mass.
But the most terrifying thing-
It had no eyes.
Only grinning mouths full of teeth, stretching wide as if to devour the entire world.
Izala lunged forward immediately, chanting a spell under his breath.
Chains of magic shot out, wrapping around the monster's body.
But in that instant-
"Izala! Fall back!"
Mutsukumo sensed something was wrong.
That creature's form... was still transforming.
In a split second, it tore through the chains and launched a barrage of sharp tendrils.
Its target-
Was Izala.
He couldn't dodge in time.
One of the tendrils pierced through his shoulder, hoisting him into the air.
Blood spilled downward, staining the air red.
In that moment-
Mutsukumo felt his heart clench.
He didn't think.
He didn't hesitate.
He just charged in like a storm.
The dagger in his hand tore through space, severing the monster's tendrils one by one.
He paid no attention to the pain as sharp claws raked his skin.
He didn't care about the surrounding danger.
The only thing he saw-
Was Izala.
He caught him as he fell, holding him tightly, as if afraid of losing him.
"Izala..." His voice was hoarse, slightly trembling without him even realizing.
Izala's blood soaked into his hands-hot and frightening.
Izala slowly opened his eyes, looking up at him.
"...Mutsukumo?"
For the first time, in Mutsukumo's eyes-
There was something soft, but deep like an abyss.
A feeling...
He had never named before.
---
Blood streamed down his arm, dyeing Izala's blue cloak crimson.
Mutsukumo said nothing. He just held him tightly in his arms.
A strange feeling pierced into his chest-
Unease.
"Let's finish the mission."
Izala's voice was soft like a breeze, but his eyes remained sharp as ever.
No hesitation.
No fear.
Only absolute resolve.
Mutsukumo gritted his teeth, a heavy discomfort swelling in his chest.
He wanted to say something-tell him to stop being so stubborn, that he needed rest.
But...
He understood Izala.
He wouldn't stop.
Even if he was hurt.
Even if he was in pain.
As long as the mission remained unfinished-
He wouldn't allow himself to fall.
Mutsukumo took a deep breath and growled,
"...Can you walk on your own?"
Izala gave a small nod.
He let go, but walked beside him every step of the way.
Izala's wound was still bleeding, yet he made no sound of pain.
His figure stood firm, as if nothing in the world could bring him down.
Mutsukumo glanced at him, something strange and turbulent rising in his chest.
Something was wrong.
Not the injury.
But because he hated this feeling.
The helplessness of watching him bleed.
The urge to protect him-though Izala never asked for it.
He gave a bitter chuckle, muttering under his breath,
"...How ridiculous."
Izala glanced up, briefly meeting his eyes.
Mutsukumo said nothing more. He simply drew his dagger, his eyes ice-cold.
"Hurry."
"Let's end this."
Before I lose control of myself.
---
Screams echoed through the space.
The monster thrashed wildly, its massive tendrils swinging, destroying everything they touched.
The air quaked. The ground cracked. The magic circle began to tremble.
This damn ritual...
If it didn't end now-the sealed being would awaken completely.
Izala clenched his fist, blood still dripping from his hand.
He raised his hand into the air, blue and gold light interweaving to form ancient glyphs.
Power surged. Chains of magic shot out once more, locking around the creature.
But this time...
They weren't strong enough.
Mutsukumo let out a cold laugh, but his eyes had already gone frost-dead.
"Heh. Looks like we'll have to use brute force."
He leapt forward, the dagger in his hand glowing deep red.
One slash split the sky, slicing straight through a tendril racing toward Izala.
Black blood sprayed out, the stench flooding the air.
Izala said nothing. He continued chanting, pouring all his power into the sealing circle.
But just as he neared completion-
The monster suddenly changed course.
It abandoned its attack on Mutsukumo. All remaining tendrils turned toward Izala.
In the blink of an eye, he was engulfed in darkness.
Mutsukumo froze for a second.
Then he exploded.
No more calm.
No more thoughts.
Just one instinct-
Destroy everything to get him back.
He dashed through the tendrils, slashing nonstop.
The monster's blood splattered across his face-hot, foul.
But he didn't stop.
Because inside that thing-
Izala hadn't come out yet.
"Damn it...!"
For the first time, he felt panic.
Mutsukumo-
Had never feared anything.
Had never known what it meant to worry.
But now, without being able to see Izala...
That feeling-
Made him want to annihilate everything.
He roared, unleashing all his strength into one final strike.
A red light exploded, ripping space apart.
The creature screamed in agony, its body torn to shreds-falling apart into dust.
And from within-
Izala fell, eyes half-closed, his body drenched in blood.
Mutsukumo rushed in, catching him before he hit the ground.
He said nothing.
He only held Izala tightly, feeling his faint breath.
His chest pounded wildly, his hands stiff-unsure what to do.
For the first time-
Mutsukumo realized.
He was afraid of losing him.
---
Izala's clothes were soaked in blood.
His skin was pale. His breath shallow. His heterochromatic eyes held only a faint glimmer.
Mutsukumo had never cared about anyone's injuries.
But now, seeing Izala's bloodied body, he felt suffocated.
"Heh..."
Izala gave a soft chuckle, his voice weak but still stubborn:
"Looks like I'm still alive."
Mutsukumo clenched his jaw.
This wasn't the time to joke.
His hands trembled slightly-not from anger, or maybe it was.
"...Don't say such pointless things."
He helped him sit up, placing a hand on the wound and sending a small pulse of magic to stop the bleeding.
But the moment he touched him-
Izala shuddered.
The pain suddenly felt distant.
All he could feel was Mutsukumo's warmth-something he never thought he'd experience from him.
"...Mutsukumo."
His voice was so soft it was nearly inaudible, but it was enough to make Mutsukumo pause.
"Don't close your eyes."
He growled every word, his dark red eyes intense.
He hated the look in Izala's eyes right now.
Not because it was weak-
But because...
He feared the moment Izala truly disappeared.
Mutsukumo had never feared losing anyone.
But now, he wanted to kill himself for letting Izala get this hurt.
Izala blinked, then gave another faint smile.
"...I'm not dying yet."
Mutsukumo frowned, but a tiny wave of relief washed through him.
He held Izala closer, feeling his fragile breath by his ear.
In that moment-
He realized.
It wasn't just possessiveness.
It wasn't just a desire to protect.
It was something more.
Something he'd never understood, but couldn't deny.
---
The smoke slowly cleared.
Everything was over.
But...
None of them were unscathed.
Mutsukumo panted, his body covered in cuts, blood flowing from deep wounds on his arms and legs.
He knew he was injured, but...
Not as badly as Izala.
Izala was still standing, but...
It looked like he could collapse at any moment.
His blue cloak was drenched in blood, dried in places but still dripping red.
The blue in his eyes had faded, leaving only a dull gold.
Mutsukumo clenched his fists.
He hated this.
Hated seeing him like this.
Hated...
This goddamn helpless feeling.
"...Sit down."
He ordered, his voice hoarse.
But Izala only shook his head slightly.
"I can still stand."
Mutsukumo snapped.
"Shut up."
He grabbed his wrist and yanked.
Izala didn't resist. His body had no strength-he nearly collapsed.
Mutsukumo held him, pulling him close.
Izala's breath was faint.
His chest tightened.
He hated this.
Hated the feeling...
Of losing control over someone else.
But damn it...
He didn't want to lose him.
"...Are you angry?"
Izala asked, his voice like a whisper in the wind.
Mutsukumo clenched his teeth, not answering.
He was furious.
But not at Izala.
At himself.
For letting him get hurt like this.
For being unable to stand watching him grow weaker.
For...
Caring more than he realized.
Mutsukumo looked straight into Izala's eyes.
His gaze was still cold, but deep inside-
Something was changing.
"Remember this."
His voice was low, dangerous.
"If you ever let yourself get this badly hurt again..."
"I'll kill you."
Izala looked at him.
Then gave a small smile.
It wasn't forced.
"...In that case," Izala whispered, "I guess I want to live."
Mutsukumo froze.
Just for a moment.
Then he gave a smirk-no longer cold.
He held Izala even tighter.
The warmth in his hands seeped into his chest.
"You don't have the right to die."
He whispered beside his ear.
"Because only I'm allowed to kill you."
Bạn đang đọc truyện trên: Truyen3h.Co