The Black Dragon Warrior

18. Ruined Relations

"Fuck." Eros and Jace snapped their
heads at the same time, to look at Akira
who was rubbing his face with his hands. "I forgot to ask who's giving him
information."

The two shared a single look and
smacked Akira on the back of his head, a
force hard enough to make him stumble
out of the patio and fall on the ground
face first.

With a groan, Akira got back up,
snatching a bottle of out Eros' hands, and took a large swig out of it. "I deserved that."

"You did." Eros agreed, looking at the
vast garden ahead of them, several
weapons laid out for the trainees to
choose from in the morning.

Times like these were when each of them missed Prae the most. He was the
comfort they needed in the hardest times.

Eros was hiding behind a large pillar in
the storming night, his small and fragile
body filled with angry, red welts all over
as a result of the punishment he received.

He was told that those who become gods
do not cry. But he wanted to. It was
hurting him so badly. Every welt was
throbbing in a burning sensation. But he
also knew that crying would mean even
more punishment.

"Are you okay?" Eros flinched at the
voice. He slowly looked up to see a boy
with the kindest eyes. "It looks like it
hurts,"

The boy sat beside him and revealed an
ointment that was hidden in his clothes.
"I stole this from the master's office. Let's
use it quickly and put it back." Eros let the boy rub the ointment all over
his hands, legs, and back. Even the most
gentle touches hurt him, even though he
could see the boy trying his best not to
hurt.

"I'm Prae Mattelline. What's your name?"

Eros blinked his eyes, "Eros.. dressino.."

Prae smiled, closing the ointment and
stood up, "Let's go and sleep, Eros, we
need to wake up early,"

Eros took the hand offered and stood up,
rubbing his eyes.

"You can cry if it hurts," Prae consoled,
but Eros shook his head.

"No, I'm strong!"

Prae smiled gently and wiped a tear that
was falling from his eyes, "Crying doesn't mean that you aren't strong, it means that you have been so strong and now you need to have a break."

Eros sobbed on the boy's shoulder, telling him how bad it hurts and how he wishes that master would not beat them as punishment. All while Prae stood there, letting the boy cry all he wanted.

Eros looked away, gulping down the tears that threatened to spill down his eyes. He took another gulp out of the bottle of alcohol nicked out of the master's room.

They knew that the master knew they kept stealing her stuff. After all, they've been doing it ever since they were young.

It was Jace's first day inside the castle. After being dropped at the doorstep by his parents, the boy was timid to approach the 'seniors' inside the threatening looking place.

Even though his anxiety was pulling him back, he tried. He tried introducing himself to several people who looked around the same age, but no one paid attention to the boy. People either ignored him or made fun of his state. After all, Wolf's were known to not be very fortunate in terms of wealth.