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(Sweaty...)
It was the neck. Then around the temple. The sweat that was hiding behind his hair and was slowly soaking the body finally formed into drops and fell down. He put down the bowl and wipe the sweat with the back of his hand. Right, left, then forehead. His finger touched the accessory Chloe had put on him and withdrew his hand in a hurry. He wetted his throat with a glass of water, and his hand gripped the spoon again. Cain's eyes followed a series of trivial, everyday actions.
Just a little more until the moment the heat subsided under this moonlit night. This was an oasis for traveling merchants, residing just a short distance from Set's paradise. It's difficult for travelers and merchants alike to travel to and from such a place in the hot sands. Therefore, the sage and his wizards visited one of the small oases scattered about. They weren't on vacation. It was a request. And said request was completed without a hitch, and the oasis, where the heat of the day was lingering, was relieving the crew of their fatigue. The good service here couple with the lively hospitality made fame to this oasis, reaching to even those in the far capital.
All the shops in this oasis were street vendors, there were no tables or chairs as everything was designed to be a pick-up-and-go kind of deal. The plates and mugs with intricate patterns crammed on to the thick carpet was quite a spectacular sight. On top of that, it was surprising to see that Akira was eating like he was used to the local's cuisine. Meanwhile, Heathcliff seemed to be struggling with how to sit still. They were offered a spicy dish recommended by one of the merchants, said to be usually served along with cold ale or tea that can quickly cool down the gullet. As a result, everyone on the request team was sweating feverishly from aforementioned food.
"...-kun, wipe your sweat."
"Hm?"
Faust looked at Akira with troubled eyes, seemingly annoyed with his unawaring reply, and Akira, in return, blinked his eyes, and smiled apologetically at him.
"Sorry Faust, it's just that, this is quite delicious."
"I know. It's definitely an unique flavor. It tastes painful, but for some reasons I keep putting it in my mouth. But even a chef wouldn't want to mix it with the taste of sweat."
"Right..."
Faust then applied a towel to his cheeks and forehead, wiping away the droplets of salty fluid. Akira, who got taken care of like a little child, seemed a little embarressed. As he watched the exchange between the two of them, Cain felt a bit disappointed inside his heart.
(I wanted to see more.)
Akira, who was sweating and moving his mouth like crazy. The sweat that dripped down his skin. The Adam's apple that went up and down every time he drank cold tea. The clothes that absorbed the sweat and changed its color once it sticked to the skin and exposed the lines of the body. And the untanned, sweaty skin he could see through the sagging cloth.
"Sage-sama, can I sit here too?"
"Oh Heath. Of course you can!"
"Thank you so much!"
Fueled up with cold ale, Faust and Heathcliff sat perfectly on either side of Akira. The cats shying of the merchants turned their faces around and sit comfortably next the sage. They began to relax beside him as if they could finally take a breather. Others wouldn't know, but from Cain's point of view, it was clear that Faust and Heathcliff had finally released the tension from their bodies. He really had a healing effect to others. The two wizards were diligently taking care of Akira as they indulged in a conversation with the dark-haired boy in the center.
"..."
He wanted to take care of him too, but he didn't want to be seen as a big brother or a reliable friend. He wanted to be his friend, but he didn't think friends would look at each other with such a burning gaze.
(He's really cute.)
With two close friends sitting next to each other, Akira became distracted by other things rather than eating. Even though he was just engrossed in devouring whatever was on the table a few moments ago, but now he's moving his gaze to the two of them, to inside the store, to other meals. Occasionally she peeked at Heathcliff's side profile or Faust's way of eating with glistening eyes. Akira liked beautiful things after all. He also had a weakness for a well-groomed face.
Chloe's costume was amazing again this time. Wizards who did not participate in the journey to Set's Paradise were also dressed in clothes with similar tastes but different charms for this particular request. After finishing the request and changed into these new clothes, Akira's eyes were sparkling with amazement and admiration. He looked adorable at that time.
Now, Cain himself didn't care much about beauty or ugliness. After all, he believed a person is more than just their appearance. However, he'd be lying if he said he wasn't flattered when Akira said he looked good in his new clothes. Unfortunately, those eyes that were admiring him were now diverging their attention to someone else, and Cain could feel his eyebrows moved into a certain order.
Cain stirred his cold jug. Akira was staring longingly at Heathcliff's delicate blond hair that was clinging to his shiny skin as he sweated from the food he ate. Bam! As soon as Cain put, or rather slammed, the mug down, a cold refill arrived at his hands, and he deliberately stood up.
"Alrighty! Let's have more fun! I also want to dance to music here!"
Once the declaration was done, the merchants clapped their hands as soon as they gulped down their ale all at once. Each person picked up their instruments as if they were diving at it, and the music began without any command. The cheerful and passionate music made Cain's heart tremble with a melody different from that of the city where he was born and raised, and his legs and arms moved freely as if he had forgotten his anguish. The thumping of goblet drums, the clash of cymbals, the plucking of harp's strings, the mixture of sounds echoed along with his heart.
"Go brother! Show us some moves!"
"Let's tune it up even more! C'mon everyone! Let's dance!"
Other travelers also gathered at the merchants' cheering, and the area around Cain became lively. There were wizards who were dancing among humans, mixing magically into the night time festivity. Akira and the other three sat down and looked at the crowd happily. As they swayed their bodies in the festive mood, Cain grinned at them, at him, with his white teeth, and put his hand on one of the ornaments that made a nice sound.
"Huh...?! Cain?!"
Akira's surprised voice sounded like music to his ear, adding more excitement to his performance. His gaze was now following Cain's every move.
(Good. Look at me only.)
"I've heard this from Arthur before, but Cain really takes his clothes off when he's drunk..."
He heard Heathcliff's confused voice. Even Faust's disgusted sigh. Every time he took off his clothes one by one, the ladies cheered with excitement. With passion. Like an invitation. He knew the angles that made him look good. The technique of how to charm others was necessary when he was in the Knights order. And he still remembered them. However, the fact that the technique was now being used for a completely different purpose, and the fact that it was coincidentally used in a completely correct way as intended by the music of this land, made he laugh.
Akira's face was red. But he didn't turn his gaze away and instead, still stared at him with sparkling eyes. He was fully captivated. Cain looked down at him with red cheeks in return, but only focused his eyes on the sage, as if he couldn't see Heathcliff, and Faust, who was so angry that he was about to scold him to death. Amusement, joy, happiness, all overflowing through Cain's head without restraint as his legs whimsical slipped out of the dance circle.
"Ahaha! Akira, how was it? I think it's pretty good for my first time!"
"Uwahhh!!!"
"Cain is crushing the sage!"
"Hey drunkard! Loosen your monstrous grip!"
"Ahahaha!"
He pretended that his legs were tangled up and hugged Akira. Of course, he also knew that Akira could not take it. He easily fell backwards once they made contact. He could hear Heathcliff and Faust pushing food and mugs away from their surroundings. Knowing that , he rubbed the tip of his nose against the neck of Akira, who was trapped in his arms.
"You're heavy and hot! Let him go!"
"Ah... I'm fine don't worry."
"Are you sure, Sage...?"
"Yep. I'm super comfy thanks to Chloe's clothes!"
"That's not the problem..."
"Cain, are you okay? Are you drunk? Do you want some water?"
Akira's hands wrapped around his back were moving gently up and down. He took off all of his clothes on the stage and threw them away, leaving his body barely covered. Akira was truly a kind person, taking care of his sweaty skin without being shy, but he was hoping that he'd move more lewdly. He was thrilled when he thought that his bare, flawless hand was caressing his naked back.
(The bust of the chest is about this big, and the waist is about this thin. The merchant gave him a sachets earlier in the day, so there's no odor coming off.)
Akira would never have imagined that the drunken knight who hugged him would think of stuffs like this. A part of his body seemed to get hot, so he closed his eyes and exhaled deeply. He could feel the body beneath him trembled.
"...Um, Cain, are you about to fall asleep?"
"Cain, if you're going to sleep, let the sage go first."
"Are you sleeping already...?"
Ignoring the noise around them, the knightly wizard concentrated on their overlapping heartbeat. Thanks to the thin cloth that matched the weather of the hot sand, the area that connected their bodies was wide and large. His breathe hastened. His body temperature was also high. His voice was slightly raised, and his mind was filled with obscene fantasies as he felt his skin begin to sweat. When he hugged Akira even more tightly and locked him in, he heard a whine of embarrassment.
"Cain~! Please don't go to sleep~! Wake up~!"
That miserable voice was so pitiful and cute, it managed to wake him up. His black hair scattered on the colorful carpet was beautiful. It was a mess, after the journey and what he had done to him a few moments ago, but it added to his charm. Staring at those night-colored eyes, and feeling satisfied that he was the only one reflected in his wide-open vision , Cain slowly closed the distance...
"Akira..."
He said with a trembling sigh on his lips. Unfortunately, the knight had only a few seconds before Faust slapped him hard on the buttocks.