#134

Facing the gaze that seemed to scold him, Cullen had nothing to say. Especially since he hadn’t intended the action himself. It was the same logic as not wanting the emotions that had tormented him all day. It was a completely unfamiliar situation for him.

When Cullen remained silent, Kiyen waited. As if he needed to hear his answer. He was genuinely perplexed.

“I apologize. It was a mistake.”

Cullen, looking surprised, first apologized to Kia, who was hiding behind Kiyen and looking at him. It was his fault for slapping Kia away.

But seeing Kiyen’s expression soften simultaneously, an unbearable frustration welled up. He simply couldn’t believe the scene before him.

The very sight of another being next to Kiyen.

He had never imagined this situation before. Didn’t Kiyen always keep him by his side after leaving the palace?

He had expected to become his second someday, but this was too soon. In just one day, Kiyen seemed to be prioritizing Kia over him.

“The compass is an important item, and I slapped Kia away because I didn’t know what might happen if he touched it. In fact, Kiyen cannot touch Akesis’s belongings, and Ulli was affected.”

Trying to somehow calm his crumbling insides, Cullen explained the reason.

“You could have stopped him with words. There was no need to slap him away like that. It’s unlike you. Aren’t you kind to the young?”

Kiyen’s expression had softened, but he seemed displeased with Cullen’s actions. This could be because he considered Kia a younger being than he appeared. He knew that. That must be why. Self-loathing rose at his words. It felt like he had done something terrible to a child.

“I did it because it seemed like you were going to touch it immediately.”

Cullen continued the conversation that could have ended there. He was afraid of how he would appear to Kiyen. At the same time, resentment about the situation that required him to act this way tangled up. He couldn’t control it.

“I’ve never seen you slap someone like that before. Especially not your companions.”

Kiyen, perhaps sensing Cullen’s sharpened emotions, furrowed his handsome brow. The word “companions” struck him. He felt a sense of rejection. Kiyen did not consider Kia a companion. He had only let Kia join because he wanted to, not recognizing him as a comrade like Ulli, Arne, or Lasano.

“I’ve only known Kia for a day. We’re traveling together, but that doesn’t mean I recognize Kia as my comrade.”

Then Kiyen turned his eyes to Ulli. Kiyen’s lips curved into a wry smile.

“So, you accepted the woman who tried to kill you as a companion?”

Ulli, who suddenly became the topic of conversation, looked back and forth between them with a bewildered expression. Cullen quietly clenched and unclenched his fists. Both he, who was continuing a conversation that should have ended, and Kiyen, who was nitpicking, were a mess.

“Why are you suddenly dragging me into this? Besides, unlike Kia, I’ve gone through life and death with Cullen for over three days!”

Ulli tried to brush it off with a light tone, despite her embarrassment. But Kiyen didn’t let it go.

“However, Kia never attempted to kill Cullen.”

“That’s because at the time, he didn’t know about Cullen.”

“I don’t know.”

Kiyen released Cullen’s arm, stepped back with a self-deprecating laugh, and withdrew. Kia looked around, unsure what to do.

“In my eyes, you all seem to be showing resistance because Kia is a Dragon. Even though he has never directly harmed you. This child is a Young Dragon who hasn’t even reached adulthood. Roughly twenty years old, a young being even by human standards. But this scene now is certainly different from how you treat young human children.”

As the situation escalated, Arne bravely stepped forward. He tried to maintain a calm voice as he spoke to Kiyen and Cullen.

“Um, how about we calm down and talk later? Cullen has apologized, and Kia also seems startled. I don’t think it needs to escalate this far.”

Lasano also sided with Arne.

“There’s no need to draw lines, Kiyen.”

At the word “drawing lines,” Kiyen looked at them with narrowed pupils.

“It has always been you who drew lines. All of you humans have said so. That I am a Dragon, and you shouldn’t trust Dragons.”

Kiyen looked at Cullen with the last sentence. He had heard it countless times from the palace, from Lasano, and from Ulli.

“I have finally met my kin, whom I have searched for my entire life. A span of time you could never imagine. This child I found is a Young Dragon who has much growing to do. I only expected the attitude you show towards young humans. But I was mistaken.”

Kiyen looked at Cullen with complex eyes. His gaze seemed to say he was disappointed in Cullen. Seeing that, a surge of emotion welled up.

He understood with his head. Yes, he could understand.

The reason he met Cullen was ultimately due to his desperation for his own kind. Cullen had never wished for something for such a long time, so he could hardly imagine Kiyen’s feelings.

But aren’t they lovers?

Even if it was just a nominal title, he had said he would fulfill that duty.

“Kiyen……”

His expression crumbled slightly. His eyebrows curved. The sentence that was about to burst out, filling his throat, hovered.

Kiyen, am I only this much to you?

Last night, when he felt their emotions connected, it was so vivid, but now it felt as if it never happened. He felt the pain of being instantly pushed out of Kiyen’s circle by the boundary of species. He wanted to ask directly and confirm.

However, Cullen also recalled Kiyen’s words. The words he had said about leaving with Kia to start a family if Cullen died.

The answer was already decided. Cullen did not want to be hurt more than he already was.

Cullen closed his lips, which had been about to move, and straightened his body. He composed his expression, which was about to collapse, and said to Kiyen and the others, “It’s not the time to create internal strife over something like this. They will soon find the third Artifact and have to face Zarkas. There is no reason to create unnecessary conflict due to emotional turmoil.”

“I was being overly sensitive. It would be best to rest here today and head deeper tomorrow, following the compass’s direction. From tomorrow, we will only rest at night.”

It was undoubtedly because his body and mind had become lax. He had been intoxicated by the sweet time with Kiyen and forgotten his duties. Cullen was not in a position to be lost in the happiness of love. Hadn’t he accompanied Kiyen for revenge in the first place?

Kiyen had done nothing wrong.

The one who was wrong was him, who had loved him so carelessly.

Tired of feeling the emotional turmoil surrounding him, Cullen once again withdrew, just as he had yesterday. Knowing that this behavior was not good, he had to fully commit himself starting today. If this continued, as Lasano said, factions would form. He was tired.

Leaving Ulli and Arne, who tried to follow, Cullen put as much distance as possible between them. Marking his way back, he recalled the time that had passed. So many things had happened since he met Kiyen. He had known sorrow again, learned joy, and felt happiness.

And now, he was even feeling petty jealousy, something he thought was far from him. It wasn’t so much jealousy towards Kia, but a sense of loss about how insignificant his presence was to Kiyen.

The jealousy he was experiencing for the first time was more painful than he had imagined. It hurt so much that he wondered if it would have been better if he hadn’t loved at all. What would it be like now if that were the case? Would it be peaceful?

Without knowing the answer, Cullen stopped beneath the massive trunk of a large tree. He was tired without having exerted himself. He wiped his face with his hand, leaned against the tree, and slowly sat down. Then he planted his sword sheath into the ground. Holding the sword hilt loosely, he gazed ahead.

If asked if he hated Kiyen, the answer was no. He was simply frustrated and disappointed. And Cullen knew that this part was also one of Kiyen’s beloved aspects. Because he was a Dragon, he couldn’t understand him perfectly. Just as he couldn’t fully understand Kiyen.

Thinking that even this situation was happening because Kiyen was the subject, his mind slowly cooled. In the first place, there was nothing Cullen could do. It was just, simply……

Just as his thoughts continued, Cullen quickly rose from his seat at the rustling sound above his head. He drew his sword from its sheath. As the leaves, beginning to change color, were swiftly cut, long, black hair scattered down. Wide, yellow eyes, seemingly startled, looked up at Cullen.

“……Kiya-nim?”

“Sorry! Did I startle you?”

Even though it was Kiyen whose hair had been cut by the sword, Kia quickly apologized and descended from the tree. Cullen looked around, but Kiyen was nowhere to be seen.

“Did you follow me?”

“Yes!”

The Dragon seemed like a Dragon. He hadn’t sensed any presence.

Cullen watched Kia with wary eyes. As he remained standing with his sword drawn, Kia, sensing his gaze, sat down on the ground. Pulling his knees to his chest, he looked up at Cullen.

“Hey, did I do something wrong?”

It was an innocent question. Cullen stared at Kia, who asked as if genuinely curious. If he had intended to kill him, it would have been possible long ago. He wasn’t a Dragon bound by contract like Kiyen. Even if Magic didn’t work on him, the Dragon’s inherent power alone would have been enough to deal with him.

Cullen slowly lowered his sword. Kia then smiled as if pleased, but then glanced around again, cautious. He ran a hand through his long black hair and waited for an answer. Cullen quietly replayed his question.

“You did nothing wrong.”

Kia stared at Cullen with his yellow eyes, then asked again.

“But you’re sad because of me, right?”

He couldn’t deny that immediately.

“I don’t know much about humans, but I know the emotions of living things! When I’m around, Cullen-nim becomes sad.”

“……You don’t have to call me Cullen-nim.”

“But Kiyen-nim told me to. He said since you’re Kiyen-nim’s lover, I should address you the same way.”

He was speechless. His chest tightened.

“Kiyen-nim cherishes you the most among humans. That’s why he said I shouldn’t harm you. I’m not dangerous!”

Kia flapped his wings, watching Cullen’s reaction.

The confusion and disappointment that had clouded Cullen’s heart lost their direction as he listened to Kia’s words. The Dragon before him was truly young. As Kiyen had said, he was only large in size, no different from a human child. And yet, Cullen had been wary of such a being.

Self-loathing turned into an arrow aimed at himself. Cullen embraced his sinking emotions and furrowed his brow. He couldn’t possibly treat such a being coldly.

“Do you cherish Kiyen-nim too, Cullen-nim?”

Kia continued to ask, as if intensely curious about something. Cullen quietly nodded.

“Yes. I do.”

“I see.”

Kia grinned bashfully.

“Me too. It’s my first time with my own kind. If I keep my promise, Mom said I can stay with Kiyen-nim forever. I wish you could stay with us until then, but that’s not possible, is it?”

Seeing Kia ask with genuine regret, Cullen nodded again.

“I am human, so I will not be able to live for long.”

Kia reiterated the limitation Kiyen had already told him. However, the same despair he felt then did not strike him. His heart, accustomed to being hurt, quickly covered it up. Cullen acknowledged that it was time to accept the truth.

“Really? Me too.”

He intended to.