Chapter 153: Pretty And Precious

It was the sounds of singing birds that awoken Moulin.

His vision was blurry. His head throbbed. There was nothing more that sparked his irritation than walking up with a headache and a lazy body.

He felt the heaviness of his limbs. Even his jaw felt sluggish when he opened his mouth. Cool air entered his lungs and a sigh escaped his lips. Not long after, his vision adjusted giving him the clear view of a ceiling made out of tied straws and weaved traditional fabric supported by large logs of wood, carefully constructed. Moulin smelled a strange scent in the air. Somehow it cooled his insides and gave a comforting feeling in his chest. His mind was clear but he awoke as if in a haze.

Once again he sighs. Determined to go back to sleep.

'You're awake!'

A hissing voice snapped him back to reality. It was loud and high-pitched as if it belonged to a child.

'Quick smother the fire...'

Another voice, slow and elderly-sounding ordered. 

A hand slipped in between the mat and Moulin's slender back. It supported Moulin as the youth sluggishly rose from the bed. 

Moulin groaned as he slowly raised a hand to hold his head. When the strange scent gradually vanished in the air, Moulin felt the lightness of his body. The strength in his arms and legs returned. The youth blinked his silver eyes as luster returned to his vibrant silver pupils. He felt as if he was reborn. His strength and vigor in his body were unmistakable.

Moulin was too confused and distracted to notice numerous small fingers reaching for the wavy pure white strands of his hair. 

'His hair is so pretty'

'His eyes are like the color of the moon'

'Hm. he smells weird'

'That's because he's not from here!'

'Do people from other tribes look this pretty too?'

'Can we keep him?'

Moulin furrows his brows. Why did it sound like he could hear voices from behind him? There was still the sound of snake-like hissing, however, he could understand them.

He turned his head around and saw about seven naga children who flinched when his silver eyes were fixed at them. Some shyly crawled backwards while fiddling with their fingers while others bravely stared at Moulin with curious eyes.

'He's alive!' A younger male naga exclaimed excitedly.

'He wasn't dead in the first place!' A female naga child smacked the younger naga beside her. 

Silver eyes blinked. 

I can understand them?

'Are you feeling alright, guest?' An elderly voice spoke. 

Moulin returned his gaze to the front and saw a female elder naga. Her upper body was cover with a thick shawl made of loom. Intricate patterns decorated it making it look warm and exquisite. She had round thick hoops as earrings and her long grey hair was braided behind her back. Her wrinkly cheeks and forehead were designed with white lines of paint. Around her thin wrists were beaded accessories. We looked refined and elegant.

Seeing the young man's expression, the elderly naga smiles softly. "You must be tired. We will leave you to rest."

When she made the move to stand from her place, Moulin reached out a hand. "Wait!"

The naga stopped and looked at him.

"How... How can I understand you?" Moulin asked. His brows knitted in confusion.

The elder naga felt an indescribable feeling as she took in the precious beauty of the youth in front of him. Even the children behind Moulin swooned. The boy who had exclaimed about Moulin's revival even reached out to touch the youth's hair again until a hand slapped it away. Wincing the naga child glares ad his sister.

Before the elder naga glanced past Moulin's shoulders and the children flinched when they met the elder healer's gaze. "Go and fetch our guest his meal. His stomach would eat him alive for starving for two days straight '

What? Moulin's eyes widened.

'Okay!' The older sister of the group immediately opened the curtains of the but and slithered outside. The others chased her while competing who would get to the mother cook first.

Moulin witness all of this and could not help smile faintly.

Once the children vacated the hut, the elder naga then responded to Moulin's question. "Our tribe, Saakar, possessed a special tonic. If a foreign being would intake it they would be able to understand our language." She explained. "I am Satriya, the elder healer of my tribe."

She bowed with a fist at ghe center of her chest. Moulin followed her gesture politely.

"You were asleep for two days since our chief had brought you and your companions here as guests."

"T-two days?" Moulin's eyes widened. "Then what of my two companions? Are they alright? Why did you bring me here-".

Suddenly, two faint knocks were heard. The young female naga removed her hand from the wood frame of the hut and she slipped inside I've curtains. She blinked at Moulin with a wide smile and bowed her head to greet the elder healer. She carefully placed a bowl of soup and a cup of water before Moulin's kneeling form. The other children secretly peeked between the slit of the curtains as they watched their sister serve the youth with silver hair. Moulin smiled at her and she blushed before quickly slipping out of the hut.

'He smiled at me!' The older sister grinned triumphantly.

'No, I want him to smile at me too!' A younger female whined.

'He looks so pretty!'

'Why does he look so pretty isn't he a man?'

The older sister faces her younger brother, 'Who says a man can't be pretty?'

While they continued to squabble outside, Moulin was seriously listening to the healer's explanation.

Turns out he had really been unconscious for two days. Two days ago, Hadrian had agreed to Seryu's offer of providing them shelter and food as well as having their healer provide Moulin an examination. Ordan was also being treated. Hadrian could not turn down their offer. Seryu was also quite persistent. He wanted to repay Moulin for saving him. He wanted to help him with all his might. Seryu's father who turned out to be the tribe's chief had no complaints and instantly agreed to his son's suggestion.

"Your lover told me about the poison that hindered the flow of mana inside your bodies as well," Satriya spoke as she watched Moulin gulped the bowl of soup. 

When he heard the words 'your lover' he almost choked. He quickly put down the bowl and coughed. Satriya hurriedly offered him he cup of water. 

"Cough! I'm sorry... Cough!" He tried to act as calm as possible, however, he could not hide the reddening of the curves of his ears.

Satriya laughed heartily, "There is no need to be embarrassed. Here in our tribe, we do not take mind to such relationships between men."

"Oh..." Moulin cleared his throat. 

"To handle such a big and powerful man, you must have tamed him quite well. Our females would love to learn from you." She chuckled. "Your body must be quite flexible and compatible with that of your lover."

Moulin cleared his throat again. Satriya spoke a few more compliments, specifically describing how Moulin's body could accommodate Hadrian's big and vigorous form. Moulin had to quickly end the conversation before smoke would spew out from his ears. 

The healer laughed. Amused at the young man's cute reactions. She let out a breath and forced herself to calm down. Gazing into those precious silver eyes, she smiled.

"Now, let me guide you to your companions."