[BL] Guardians of Fate
Chapter 95 - 21: An Unexpected Savior [9]

Chapter 95: Chapter 21: An Unexpected Savior [9]

Ardyn was at a loss for words.

How did he know? When he turned to him earlier after the rubble was cleared, did something clearly visible on his body glow blue? Was that what gave him away?

Come to think of it, he still didn’t know where his own mark was. Was it somewhere on his face or around his neck? He had been so focused on protecting Luke that the thought of investigating the location of his mark had completely slipped his mind. All he knew was that it had to be somewhere on those two areas.

What’s the right response for a situation like this? he wondered.

Ardyn weighed his options for a moment despite the slight cloudiness caused by the pain. If he denied it, what would be the point? He was sure that Leon would try to confirm it one way or another. Since both of them — he and Luke — were incapacitated, it would be easy for Leon to convince or force them, whichever way he chose.

Even though Ardyn had a hunch that Leon wasn’t exactly the forceful type, it didn’t hurt to be careful.

Still, he felt that he shouldn’t deny anything in front of this guy.

So Ardyn did what he always did: follow his instincts.

His heart.

"Yeah," he admitted, eyeing Leon warily. "How do you know that? What do you mean your father suspected it?"

At that moment, he remembered Evan’s cautionary advice to him.

[Never tell anyone that you are an Otherworlder.]

That warning seemed so long ago even though it had only happened yesterday.

And now, he seemed to be in big trouble. If the Duke knew his identity, it would mean danger. Not only for him, but for Luke as well.

Another of Evan’s words came back to him.

[If the Duke finds out that you’re an Otherworlder, there is no doubt that he will have you killed.]

Ardyn tried not to flinch at the thought. His back hurt even more, and he just wanted to get up and leave with Luke. He didn’t want any trouble. He just wanted to find out the reason for his existence in this world and also figure out what to do from now on.

He didn’t want to come to such a conclusion, but if the Duke knew and sent Leon here to kill him...

Wait, did that even make sense?

How would the Duke even know that he was still in the city and not in one of the safehouses after the evacuation?

The thought made Ardyn even more confused.

"It’s a long story. I’ll explain it later once we’re in the carriage," Leon said quietly, as though reading Ardyn’s mind. "I merely wanted to let you know."

"You’re... not gonna kidnap me or anything like that, right?" Ardyn tried cautiously. "Or are you gonna bring me to the Duke by force and have me executed?"

"What?" Leon looked surprised. Once again, Ardyn noticed the innocent side of him peeking out from under that uncertain and aloof façade. "No, no, that’s not what I had in mind."

Is that true? Ardyn wondered.

What should I do? Should I trust him?

Ardyn turned to Luke, who he noticed had been silent the whole time. For some reason, the man was staring at Leon with an unreadable expression on his face.

It was unclear whether Luke was happy, shocked, or annoyed by this revelation. There was no particular emotion that Ardyn could read in his eyes.

It was a little disconcerting, to say the least. Now that the danger had passed and the surroundings were clear and bright, Ardyn could see his Summoner’s features better, and it was admittedly a fascinating sight.

Luke was handsome, in a charming sort of way. His appearance wasn’t very striking or something that would stand out in a crowd, but it had a certain subtle quality to it, one that would grow on you over time.

His light brown hair fell in soft waves, with a few stray strands falling over his brow. His green eyes were the color of lush grass, and he had a straight nose and a defined jawline. The features blended seamlessly with the overall softness of his disposition, displaying an openness that drew people to him naturally.

Before he was caught staring too long, Ardyn hastily asked him, "Uh... what do you think?"

Luke shifted his gaze to Ardyn. "You didn’t notice it?" he asked unexpectedly.

Ardyn blinked, startled out of his reverie. "N—Notice what?"

"Earlier. His magic."

"His magic?" Ardyn repeated in confusion. "Yeah, I noticed... Well, I do find ice magic really pretty, if that’s what you’re asking?"

The blank expression on Luke’s face softened, now containing a trace of amusement. "I’m not referring to that," he said, and he seemed to be trying not to chuckle. "I meant the color of his magic. And the aura."

"The... color? Aura?" Maybe it was the pain preventing Ardyn from thinking straight, but the words were processing very slowly in his head.

Luke turned to Leon. "You sensed it from the beginning, didn’t you?" he said softly. "That we’re the same. That’s why you rushed over and helped us without hesitation even though there was no guarantee that we might still be alive underneath. It’s also why you decided to use your magic despite your reluctance."

Leon said nothing, but his jaw clenched slightly in response.

Ardyn looked back and forth between them, confused. What was Luke talking about?

"Of course, you could still pass those off as a genuine attempt to help. But still, you probably came here to the city instead of hiding in a safehouse for the same exact reason," Luke continued in a soft tone. He sounded so gentle right now, like he was just telling a child a bedtime story. "There was this strong pull within you, wasn’t there? The distance between us was so close that you had to bridge the gap. That’s why you chose to rush over alone, unaccompanied, no matter what it took. Frankly, there was no reason for you to come here by yourself."

Ardyn blinked. A... pull?

Come to think of it, he’s right. Leon did come here all alone, and without soldiers, it seems.

"It was a feeling you couldn’t explain," Luke continued on, his eyes never leaving Leon’s. "A calling that you couldn’t ignore, and so you risked everything. Is that right?"

Leon stared back at him, and now his expression was the one that was hard to read.

And then, after what seemed like an eternity, he gave a small nod. "...Yes," he admitted.

Without further ado, his hand went to his left arm, and he slowly pulled up his sleeve, revealing a distinct crescent moon mark with swirls around it. He gazed at Luke, and as a result, his eyes and the mark glowed a bright, pale blue.

There was a moment of silence.

"...My Guardian," Luke said breathlessly, and he seemed relieved at the solid confirmation. "You’re my Guardian."

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