The atmosphere in front of the hut felt silent and tense. Not a single person dared to make a sound. Under the night sky, the only thing breaking their silence was the sound of night insects humming cheerfully.
Arvin just kept looking at Davin in silence. The brownish-white-haired youth had been lowering his gaze all this time, squeezing the edge of his clothes with an expression full of regret.
After a few moments that felt like an eternity, Davin finally gathered the courage to lift his face and look at Arvin.
"I am truly sorry for making you so angry." he said in a low voice, deeply regretting his careless action. "Honestly, I never knew that my action of telling that secret would instead make you furious like this. I thought, because they are your spouses, they had the right to know."
Arvin let out another long sigh after hearing the apology loaded with regret. His anger had subsided, but he could not let Davin act out of his control again.
"I accept your apology, but with one absolute condition!" asserted Arvin, his gaze sharpening indicating that he did not want the slightest refusal. "From this second on, I will keep watching you and don't you ever stray from my side! Wherever I step, you must be near me!"
Davin's eyes widened hearing the condition that sounded like an invisible cage.
"Even when you are bathing?" chimed in Davin in shock, unable to comprehend the condition.
"Yes!" answered Arvin without hesitation. "And you must do it without protest! I do not want to hear your refusal!"
"B-But... what if I want to defecate?" asked Davin again, his face blushing slightly asking such a trivial thing in the middle of a tense atmosphere. "You can't possibly come inside too, right?"
"If you want to defecate, just go to the toilet alone and I will wait for you right in front of the door!" answered Arvin firmly, completely uncaring about the ridiculous question. He took one step closer. "Don't you ever think of using your ability and escaping from me, Davin. If you do it and I manage to catch you, I guarantee this second life of yours will not end comfortably and peacefully!"
After giving his final warning, Arvin turned his body, starting to step his feet towards the shelter house he had made.
"Let's go inside, all of you must rest. Tomorrow the inter-academy tournament will start soon." ordered Arvin to everyone. He then turned his head slightly back. "And you Davin, remember my words, don't you ever leave my side!"
Davin could only gulp and nod in resignation. He and the other six youths immediately followed Arvin's steps walking into the house.
That long and tension-filled night finally passed peacefully.
....
The next day, the morning weather greeted them very brightly. The morning sunlight slipped in through the ventilation slits.
And to save time before heading to the Larkvood academy, they all decided to bathe together.
One by one they started taking off their clothes without awkwardness. Allen, Alrain, Ordion, Alvein, Kylen, and Dylan were already completely naked and started washing their bodies. But not for Davin.
The brownish-white-haired youth was still standing frozen in silence near the door, his face blushing seeing the sight of the seven of them already naked together in front of him.
Arvin, who was pouring water over his shoulder, turned to look at Davin who was just standing frozen near the door.
"Why are you just spacing out there, Davin? Hurry up here, take off your clothes! We must head to the academy soon!"
The reprimanding call that Arvin had just shouted at him made Davin instantly flinch.
Even though he was initially very hesitant and awkward, the youth still gathered the courage to take off his shirt, then stripped off his pants before finally he was completely naked.
With slow steps and full of nervousness, Davin stepped approaching Arvin. His heart beat fast as Arvin was looking straight at him from head to toe, completely not caring about the state of their bodies which were both naked.
"A-Are you satisfied with seeing my naked body like this?" asked Davin nervously, his face blushing looking at Arvin's face.
"Yes, that's much better!" answered Arvin quickly and blatantly without the slightest bit of shame. He handed a piece of soap to Davin. "Let's bathe immediately. Because before long, we will go to the Victoriaz academy."
Inevitably, Davin finally joined in and they bathed together.
The atmosphere inside the bathroom gradually became so lively, filled with the sound of laughter, splashing water, and light jokes from Allen and Alrain. However, in the midst of that liveliness, there was a pair of light purple eyes secretly glancing at Arvin often.
Right now, Davin was secretly stealing glances at Arvin's face while he was rinsing his blue hair.
Even though he didn't turn his head, Arvin was very aware that right now he was being looked at intensely. But, he deliberately ignored it and kept acting as if he knew nothing.
I don't know if you keep glancing at me because of your guilt over last night's incident, or if you are indeed starting to get attracted to me? thought Arvin, feeling amused by Davin's coy behavior. It seems, I have to give you a little push today so you are truly willing to be my eighth spouse.
A few moments later, when the shared bathing event was over, they immediately put on their respective academy uniforms.
Seeing Davin who didn't have a change of clothes, Arvin immediately made a set of Astoria academy uniform using his alchemy magic.
The brownish-white-haired youth gladly accepted the new uniform given to him, and immediately put it on. The uniform felt very comfortable and fit perfectly on his body.
"H-How is it, does this suit me?" asked Davin nervously, straightening his uniform robe and asking for Arvin's assessment when he had worn the uniform neatly.
Arvin walked closer, cutting the distance between the two of them and staring at him intently.
"It suits you perfectly!" he praised without hesitation, his voice sounding gentle. "You also look very cute in that uniform and I like you! Are you willing to be my eighth spouse, Davin?"
Davin instantly fell silent stiffly. His breath caught in his throat after hearing a blunt proposal thrown suddenly without the slightest small talk. His light purple eyes widened perfectly, confused about what to answer.
On one hand, he quite knew Arvin's character, even though they were just reunited yesterday. But on the other hand, he wasn't sure if right now he was indeed falling in love with the youth who used to be his former great enemy, or just feeling glad being near him.
Seeing Davin who was just silent and speechless with hesitant eyes, Arvin didn't want to force him with sweet words. He chose a more extreme way to get a certainty.
"If you are willing to accept my proposal and my feelings, hug me right now." said Arvin with a low voice, looking straight into Davin's eyes. "And if you refuse... slap my face hard! But remember one thing, Davin. After you slap my face and reject me today, I will never again ask this feeling of mine to you."
Hearing that highly unexpected ultimatum, Davin gulped. Time seemed to run slower.