The Dread Knight's Rage-Chapter 128: Before I Go…

"You are aware that I am a grown man who doesn’t need your help getting dressed, right?"

Jiaoying ignored Solomon as she continued to help him fix his clothes.

He looked particularly dashing today. A simple sleeveless robe and trousers with sandals that would be comfortable to travel in, and the simple necklace that his parent had gifted him.

"Just indulge me for a bit. If I’m not going to be able to undress this body for a few days, I would at least like to take my time to say goodbye."

Jiaoying took special care to graze the pads of her fingers against her lover’s partially exposed chest.

Solomon grabbed her hand abruptly and held it in place. "You seem determined to test my restraint. Honestly, I admire the nerve."

Jiaoying smiled at him cloyingly, secretly trying her damnedst not to let him see just how much his words and behavior affected her. His new attitude was a threat that her undergarments were wholly unprepared for.

"Down, boy..." She rolled her eyes. "No flirting before you leave my sight... You’ll only give me something to obsess over while you’re gone."

As Knight Commander and Grandmaster of the Sunset Order, Jiaoying could not just up and leave with the group. No matter how much she may have wanted to.

She had to go and inform the emperor of her return first, then catch up on any work that may have required her attention.

If all of that didn’t take too long, and the others were still in Belistra, then she could meet up with them at a later time... for around a day.

Jiaoying felt bad enough about not being able to go with Yari during such an important moment. Luckily, she seemed to be rather accepting, but that didn’t make Jiaoying feel any less guilty.

And being separated from Solomon opened up an entirely new can of worms for her feelings.

She was far from some young schoolgirl giddy about her first love, but... This was her first relationship since her divorce. And it was with not only a younger man, but the woman she’d developed a crush on in her adolescence.

It was no wonder she wasn’t overly enthusiastic about being the only one stuck at home.

Solomon was a bit different from Jiaoying in that he wanted to depart with something sweet to remember his lover by. He wasn’t overly fond of sad goodbyes.

Jiaoying released a surprised noise when Solomon pulled her in closer and cupped her butt in his hands. He held onto her with a firmness that made her wince in delight.

As he leaned in, his eyes spun with that dangerous, warm orange glow. The pleasant scent wafting off his body only made Jiaoying want to bury her nose in him and never let go.

"...Tell me no again. I want to hear if you really mean it."

His words, though spoken gently, hit Jiaoying like hammers. "...You know that we don’t have time for that."

"Maybe not." Solomon admitted as he lifted her. He pulled her pants away in one smooth motion and spread her legs. "But I at least have some time to make sure I say goodbye to you properly, right..?"

As Solomon left a trail of kisses down her inner thighs, Jiaoying wondered to herself where Yari had gone off to. She thought perhaps if she were here, this bear of theirs would have been easier to handle.

And then his mouth engulfed her clit with a desperate hunger. And she realized with certainty that nothing on the mortal plane could have kept the young horseman away from her.

-

"...We’ve been over this. This is what your kind do, they pee outside."

Bansha sat on her hind legs as she stared up at Raizel. She did not blink, and certainly did not begin to do her business.

Raizel groaned within his armor. "Look, you don’t have a choice! You’re due for a growth spurt soon, and now that we’re staying in Lady Xu’s house, you’re going to have to learn how to do your business outside so that you don’t inconvenience her servants.

The metal knight suddenly held out his hands as he gestured to the great, wide outdoors. "Hell, you’re going to have to start living out here sooner or later because you’ll be too big to stay inside a house!"

The way Bansha’s faces drooped, one could have sworn that Raizel had just called her a slur.

Tears bubbled up in all six of her eyes as she ran underneath Raizel’s legs, yelping like a pooch who’d just been beaten.

"Oh? What’s wrong with you, sweet girl?"

Raizel’s nonexistent blood froze in his chest. He turned around just in time to see Bansha running right up to Yari, who took her into her arms without concern for her flames.

"P-Please, pay her no mind, Miss Assata." Raizel stuttered. "She’s just upset because the potty training is going poorly."

Yari wrinkled her brow. "What? But Solomon said she’s usually so obedient?"

The elf placed the pooch back on the ground and scratched under her chin.

"Right, what was it again... Ah, go take an Uriel."

Raizel was sure he’d misheard. "Pardon?"

He nearly fell flat on his face when Bansha trotted back over to him, lifted her leg, and relieved herself all over his foot.

Raizel would have been angry if the situation weren’t so unbelievably absurd. "Ha. ’Go take an Uriel’. Why didn’t I think of that?"

Yari smiled helplessly as she walked over to him. "Well, you know your brother. His imagination is only outclassed by his ability to hold grudges."

Raizel wasn’t offended by the trick at all. In fact, it was a very Solomon-like thing to do. He was only mad that he hadn’t thought of it first.

"I assume you heard that we’re leaving..?"

"To the land of the fae of all places." Raizel nodded. "Do try not to lose your underwear or wind up with Star Powder in your nose."

Yari rolled her eyes. "Yes, well, since I’ll be leaving in just a moment, I’m not in a position to stick around and help you, so you’ll have to do the ritual on your own. But don’t worry, I’ve made it so simple that even a child can do it."

She handed Raizel a small pouch with a few small items inside. Two vials, a bit of chalk, and a special seed.

"Luckily, this will be rather simple since we don’t have to go through the trouble of calling down your soul from the great beyond. All you need to do is draw the circle, place the seed in the middle, and then go inside the seed.

The entire process should only take around a day and a half at most. Once it’s done, drink both of the potions, then get some rest and food. You will certainly need both."

Raizel had to remind himself not to tremble as he held the pouch in his hand.

This was it. The point of no return that would define the rest of his... well, certainly not life.

Raizel still had his reservations. It would have been impossible for him to pretend he did not.

What he was about to do was seriously going against his moral code.

But would it not be worth it, even just a little, if it meant that Nila would look at him the way she used to...?

Raizel had begun to feel as though, no matter which option he chose, he would have some unshakable regrets...