The Greed of Kronos

By the seashore

Thirty-nine: By the Seashore

As soon as they exited the garden at the back of the mansion, there was another garden in front. Simply put, the Azvameth seemed to be fond of gardening since their estate was in the middle of two gardens. The outer garden and the inner garden.

Astian and Kronos were already outside of the garden. No, they reached the outer garden maze, to be exact. That was why Kronos confidently called Skia as soon as they entered the maze garden. 

“Skia.”

With that being said, a substantial black fog swirled in front of them, and when it was gone, it presented a bowing Skia on its fox form. “Yes, master.”

Shortly after that, Skia then lowered its body in order for them to ride on its back. Well, even though the shadow king is living in its master’s shadow, it could still clearly hear and see everything as Skia and Kronos were connected after sealing a permanent contract when he was still a three days old child. 

Skia could even understand Kronos even if he did not say anything. They were like the other half of each other. That was why Skia could quickly tell what Kronos wanted.

Moreover, it would not be called if not for a ride.

When Kronos noticed that his familiar was already doing the job even if he had yet to say it, Kronos then looked at Skia proudly before shifting his gaze towards Astian. 

After the incident at the garden, Astian was totally out of it. Although he wore the same face in front of Hethera and Demiris, the lad did not hesitate to show off what he truly felt at the moment to Kronos. 

‘Look at him, not noticing my f*****g stares.’

The good thing was that if Astian could understand him even though he would only say one word, he could also understand Astian even though he would not be uttering any word. 

Hence, after a moment of staring at Astian, Kronos then extended his hands and called out for him. “Astian.”

With that being said, Astian then blinked as he looked at Kronos and then looked at the hand that was extended in front of him. 

Seeming to realize that they were departing, Astian placed his hand on Kronos as he replied in a flustered manner and got onto Skia’s back. “Ah- yes.”

Shortly after that, Kronos made sure that Astian was comfortable before he hopped behind Astian and made the same portion they did a while ago. 

“Where are we heading, master?” Skia asked as soon as it read the atmosphere. Knowing Kronos, it would not be the dormitory nor the Academy. 

He would tend to make things up to other people at a place wherein no one recognizes them and that they could freely express what they feel. 

When they were at the village, it would either be a nearby valley or a marsh. 

However, Skia could not detect any of those nearby as they were already at the Imperial City, the center of everything. The closest that matches the description was that of the east, whose pride is their ginormous and fresh fishes. 

“Ocean,” Kronos responded. Right. Oceans are the best for reconciliation.

With that being said, Astian then bobbed his head and turned around slightly to see Kronos as he was still in a daze. “Huh? Are we not going back to the dormitory?” Astian asked absentmindedly.

Seeing this made Kronos to feel more guilty than he looked away and replied with his usual tone of voice. “No.”

At some point, he should at least make Astian feel better. 

“Alright.” Astian simply replied. 

Because the ocean was outside the Imperial City, Skia did not have any choice but to leap towards the sky. They were high enough to touch the clouds and see the vast lands. Like what Astian wanted, the birds flew together with them, and the cold wind softly slapped his cheeks and brushed through the fabric that he wore.

Even though he was in a daze, Astian still crept out a smile as the thing that he anticipated and wished for actually came true.

However, it was but a short term bliss. When they landed, Astian did not wait for Kronos to get down and assist him. Instead, he got off on his own and started to walk towards the seashore.

On the other hand, Kronos pressed both of his lips as he slowly approached behind the lad who was silently staring at the ocean. For the reason that he could not see Astian’s facial expression, Kronos could also not guess what he was thinking about.   

Therefore, Kronos decided to call him so that they could apologize facing each other. “Astian.”

Astian, “...”

Kronos, “Look at me.”

With that being said, Astian stared at the ocean for a long time before slowly looking at Kronos with tears escaping his eyes and dripping down his chin. 

The scene was heart-clenching that Kronos could not help but to pull Astian for a hug while giving him a pat on the back. “Don’t cry.”

Why must he cry? Did the news of him dropping out upset him that much? Kronos actually had the thought of going to another class other than Exi since Sir Samael mentioned that he would help. If that would be the case, then they could still see each other. Was there any reason for him to cry? For some unknown explanation, Kronos panicked.  

“You… are you really going to drop?” Astian sobbed as he looked at Kronos with a devastated expression. 

It was worse than the time that Eros knew of his deep secret. Not only that he felt like he was walking on thin ice, but also that he was flustered and his mind was blank. “I-”

When Kronos tried to explain, Astian then cut him off as he whined like a baby and cried loudly. “Why is that? I can help you if you have trouble. We only became friends not too long ago, but you’re abandoning me already?”

While it’s true that they were the only one in the season at that moment, Kronos still could not help but to flush out of embarrassment. If someone were to pass by, then he would be marked as a bad guy. 

And he promised himself that he would not be one anymore. Hence, while Astian was still crying his heart out, Kronos took a moment for him to be calm and composed.

Then, not a moment after, Kronos was back to his expressionless face and abruptly cupped the lad’s cheeks. “Astian.”

By doing so, Astian stopped crying loudly, but his tears were still freely escaping from his eyes. In addition, he was showing off a scowled expression and pouted. “What?! If you’re just going to say that you’re leaving school, then don’t bother calling me!”

“I won’t.” Kronos simply replied. 

With that being said, Astian’s expression changed into a confused one as his tears seemed to stop escaping from the rim of his eyes. “Huh?”

“I won’t. Don’t cry.” Kronos replied again. 

And so, the tears were already nowhere to be found, and Astian’s face was back to normal. He even held the hands that were cupping his cheeks and looked at Kronos with sparkly eyes. “Really?!”

As soon as he saw Astian’s sudden change of demeanor, that was when one corner of his lips twitched. It certainly felt like deja vu.

Kronos, with a baffled expression, replied to Astian. “Fast-”

However, even before Kronos could finish what he was about to say, Astian smiled warmly and made it more innocent as he shifted his gaze towards Kronos and then towards Skia. “You already told me that you won’t ~! Skia! You heard that, right?”

Skia, on the other hand, was captivated by Astian’s charms that it unconsciously replied while in a daze. “Yes, young lord.”

Seriously, who the hell is his true master? Kronos could not entirely blame Skia as the latter was weak to kind and angelic things or people. Given that it had a cold master, the shadow king sought warmth from other things. 

The downside was that Astian was not listening to him. “Ast-”

Astian would always cut Kronos off, but Kronos could not even get mad as he felt like it was his fault for making him cry.

And at that moment that the lad was showing off such warm smile in the morning at the seashore, it seemed like he was the sun himself. 

“Kronos, what are you waiting for? Let us go back to your house and tell your parents that you take it back!” Astian laughed as he struggled by himself to get on Skia’s back.

When he got on top, he then looked at Kronos, who was standing still at a distance and acted as if he was about to cry. “Won’t you?”

Seeing this, Kronos heaved a loud sigh as he massaged the bridge of his nose and replied with a scowl. “Fine.”

Right after that, Kronos and Astian got on Skia’s back and were about to depart. However, the sentimental side of Kronos perked in as it was the first time ever since he was reborn to see the beauty of the ocean.

The last time he was in the ocean, he had to kill a family. The place was meant to make a happy memory, but he tainted it with blood just because it was an order from his father. Had he known that his father was planning to kill him, he was long gone arrested for killing his own father first. The one who strikes first wins, they say.

Astian, on the other hand, stayed silent as he let Kronos be in his deep thoughts. Sometimes, Astian could feel that Kronos was actually older than thirteen because of how mature he was. But then, looking at Kronos at that moment, his eyes were sparkling as the blue ocean reflected on those. Like a child seeing the ocean for the first time. 

Shortly after that, Kronos then told Skia to go back to the dormitory abruptly. At first, Astian retorted because they were supposed to go back to the Azvameth estate. But Kronos had his reasons. Instead of going back just to say that he would change his decision, it would be better if he would just write a letter to Hethera and Demiris that he would not be dropping out. The reason for his change of heart might be funny, but Astian really got him.

“Waah! We’re back already. I wanted to stay in the ocean for a long time.” Astian exclaimed as soon as he creaked the door of their room open.

The first thing that they noticed when they got back was that the silent dormitory. At that time, Kronos and Astian did not know if their classmates were still sleeping. But then, when Astian happened to ask a maid on the way to their room, it seemed like everyone already got into the main campus for the summoning ritual. And that it has been some time since they had departed. 

That only meant one thing. They did not spend that much time at Kronos’ house, then the two of them seriously stayed at the seashore for a while. 

“Next time.” That was why the next time that they would be going, Kronos would be more time conscious. 

With that being said, Astian perked his head up as he looked at Kronos with an excited expression showing that he did not expect for it, but it was not a bad idea either. “So there’s a next time? Alright then, yay~.”

Kronos did not verbally reply. Instead, he flicked his fingers on Astian’s forehead before going to his desk to do his business. Astian, on the other hand, started to change into uniforms while patiently waiting for Kronos to change into one too. 

As such, after finishing his letter, Kronos changed his clothes into a uniform, and when they got downstairs, he ordered one maid to send the letter in his stead. What’s the use of having that much maid at the dormitory that seemed to be a mansion when they would not order them properly?