Chapter 52

Chapter 52

After a deep sleep, Yale finally woke up, feeling much calmer than before.

There's nothing that a good night's rest can't solve. If it's still bothering you, just keep sleeping until it no longer does.

He left his room with a composed demeanor to freshen up. Looking at himself in the mirror, he felt as if he were gazing at someone from another lifetime. There was a faint tinge of blue beneath his eyelids, a clear sign of exhaustion.

Would he feel less weary if he stopped worrying about Xi Ze?

Yale leaned against the edge of the sink, allowing himself to drift into a momentary emptiness.

"Knock, knock."

A hesitant knock sounded from outside the bathroom door. The lingering insect finally mustered the courage and softly said, "Alpha?"

"Alpha, I made some desserts today. Would you like to try them later?"

Yale snapped back to reality, noticing the almost imperceptible anxiety in the insect's voice.

Despite no longer needing to rely on him for survival and possessing an extraordinary background, he was still meticulous and cautious to an almost excessive degree.

...How could he truly bear to abandon him?

He hung the towel back on the rod and washed his hands one last time before saying, "I'm here."

...

When Yale sat down at the dining table, breakfast was already laid out in front of him.

Everything was tailored to his taste, a delightful array of adorable little desserts. Although he genuinely enjoyed them, wasn't it a bit too much?

Staring at the nearly twenty plates before him, Yale pinched the bridge of his nose, feeling slightly overwhelmed.

The very insect who had called him for breakfast was nowhere to be seen. After offering only half-hearted apologies indirectly, the culprit had vanished. This was unacceptable.

Putting down the knife and fork he had just picked up, Yale called out, "Xi Ze?"

The absent-minded drone responded, emerging from the blind spot behind the balcony. He quickly approached Yale's side and replied softly, "I'm here, My Lord."

"Why were you hiding there?"

Xi Ze pressed his lips together. After a moment of hesitation, he knelt half-way and looked up at the male with a low, hoarse voice, "I thought the Male Sovereign wouldn't want to see me anymore."

"How could that be? Don't jump to conclusions."

Yale found the situation both amusing and vexing.

Pushing his chair back, he attempted to pull the omega up but met with resistance, causing him to feel helpless. "Get up."

Releasing a small amount of soothing pheromones, Yale tried to calm the tense Xi Ze, but for the first time, his efforts had little effect, even causing a backlash.

Perhaps his words yesterday had frightened the omega. After all, they had never had such a severe disagreement before; yesterday could even be considered a cold war.

Under normal circumstances, the omega would have reacted to his pheromones by now, yet the room was eerily quiet.

The tense muscles in Xi Ze's shoulders and back were noticeable. Placing a hand on them revealed a slight trembling.

This was not the behavior of an omega who was relaxed and comfortable; it was simply an attempt to please him.

Yale exerted some force to pull the submissive male up, meeting his fearful gaze, veiled by lust, with a sigh.

He reached out to grasp Xi Ze's collar, forcing the male to bend down and tilt his head for a kiss.

"Don't be afraid."

"Our relationship isn't that fragile."

With his fingertips gently stroking Xi Ze's face, Yale's voice was soft and soothing, calming the submissive male's anxious heart.

"It's just a small misunderstanding now, not something that would lead to a breakdown."

"We'll sort it out properly."

As if a death row inmate had received a pardon, the body beneath his palm ceased its trembling rigidity. The submissive male visibly relaxed, hesitated for a moment, then cautiously leaned in again.

His cheek was lightly brushed by the tip of Xi Ze's nose, as if the male was scenting him, confirming that there was no anger in his pheromones or mental bond before finally easing up.

"...I'm sorry, Alpha."

That unease seemed never to have vanished; it merely hid itself deeper, occasionally surfacing, becoming a weapon of self-harm if it escaped Yale's grasp.

If it had been tenderly held and nurtured...

It would have transformed into the present situation, a damp but desperately wagging puppy.

Yale felt a tickling sensation from the rubbing and chuckled intermittently. As the body beneath his palm returned to its warm and supple state, he proposed,

"Want a kiss?"

Xi Ze kept his eyes tightly shut, eagerly absorbing the heat of the male insect.

Only after hearing those words did he slightly prop himself up, licking and kissing at Yale's lips, gumming and nibbling in a sticky manner.

He wasn't rejected, but the intensity and passion weren't as before.

Throughout the kiss, the male insect's breathing remained shallow and steady, indicating that this was a purely comforting gesture.

Xi Ze's heart couldn't help but sink.

He knew what kind of answer the male insectoid was expecting, but he truly couldn't bring himself to say it – or perhaps, at least, not until he could buy a few more days.

During his tenure as an admiral, quelling beast tides was a frequent task. Before they discovered the fatal weakness of those frenzied star beasts, casualties were inevitable, resulting in a growing number of orphans within the empire.

Upon the conclusion of every war, a list of fallen heroes is compiled to notify their families for the retrieval of personal belongings and provision of compensation.

He couldn't forget the fiery rage in the eyes of that tear-streaked cub when he handed over a bloodstained military badge, the hatred toward the star beasts burning fiercely within.

"I vow to avenge my Alpha! I'll slaughter every single Star Beast out there!"

Later, that fledgling was admitted to the Empire's Military Academy and became a soldier under his command. In one of the battles against star beasts, his name was added to the list of war martyrs.

His alpha parent had once said that their fledgling was gifted in painting and would attend the Crescent Moon Art University, becoming a renowned painter who traveled with an easel, painting landscapes across the galaxy.

Despite being so young with a promising future, this insect was lured down a vastly different path by intense passions, only to be cut down prematurely by the harshness of fate.

After decades of warfare, he was no longer the arrogant and confident cadet, believing he could win every battle and return home with his soldiers unscathed.

This uprising had a certain degree of assurance, but the battlefield was fickle and unpredictable. He couldn't guarantee victory, nor could he assure himself that he would...return alive.

Should he be defeated, Anto would disguise it as a pirate attack, vanishing completely in the midst of the chaos, leaving no trace for any insect to follow.

Yale didn't often keep up with the news and was unaware of the dirty dealings behind the scenes. He might suspect that the pirate was involved or sense that something was off, but he wouldn't be able to connect all the dots.

Unaware of the truth, a male insect wouldn't seek revenge, nor would he return to the home planet to confront those ruthless individuals, only to meet a tragic end.

The impact of discovering an unknown, adopted female insect and an admired Imperial Admiral was vastly different, leaving distinct marks on one's heart. He was terrified that these unresolved feelings and obsessions could devastate Yale.

If he were to lose, the backup plan and compensation he had meticulously arranged for the male insects would come into play. Once Yale escaped far from this mess, he would eventually forget about him and resume his life.

This was the worst-case scenario, but as a general, hoping for the best was taboo. Regarding Yale, he couldn't be too cautious.

Xi Ze's breaths came in ragged gasps as he lowered his gaze, intently studying the male's face. Ignoring the almost unbearable pain in his heart, he deepened the kiss.

"Mm..."

Yale let out a soft moan, oblivious to the fact that the female insect had already settled his affairs. With great effort, he managed to pry their entangled lips apart.

Realizing his lips might have swollen again, he subconsciously pressed them together, feeling a faint sting on his lower lip.

"Alright, alright, let's stop for now. You should eat something."

Considering the well-being of his lips, Yale patted the male insect's lower back to signal him to get down and pushed half of the plate towards Xi Ze.

"You haven't had breakfast, right? I made quite a bit, some processes were quite intricate. Did you get up very early?"

Xi Ze brushed his lower lip with the back of his hand, still somewhat dazed. Upon hearing this, he instinctively averted his gaze, a hint of guilt flickering in his eyes.

"Wait," Yale's eyes widened as he considered a possibility, "you didn't sleep last night?"

Looking down at the insect's hesitant expression, Yale knew the answer. He took a deep breath, regretting having kissed too soon.

"Mm, you know how to make me angry," Yale murmured.

Before another cycle of anger, apology, and reconciliation could unfold, he promptly squashed the brewing tension.

"I really appreciate your effort, but next time, just come find me to kiss directly. This is too torturous and not beneficial for our relationship, nor our physical and mental health."

Xi Ze hastily nodded, pushing back the small pile of desserts that the male insect had favored but had pushed towards him.

*

True to his intuition, the subtle sense of chaos and unrest in the area faded away after that day.

Though there were no patrolling military females coming and going, it was clear that surveillance measures had been intensified.

In addition, sophisticated protective devices, which seemed out of place in this backward and remote star sector, gradually emerged around the vicinity.

Yale knew that this was most likely the doing of the female insect, all for the sake of maximizing his safety.

Although he felt somewhat stifled by being kept in the dark, Yale hadn't ventured out during this period.

After all, it was a solid fortress that had been built with great effort.

During this time, the perception through their mental bond had weakened. Yale connected with Xi Ze again via the mental link, but only superficially, not as deeply as before.

Without both parties fully immersing themselves and opening up completely, a deep mental link was likely to fail, and the backlash could result in mental power damage.

Yale found this reasonable, just like how one couldn't force things when not in the right state. A little leeway was needed to accommodate more uncertainties.

But the omega clearly didn't think so.

Perhaps it was because he had hesitated when he said "I want to try" before, and then the subsequent intimacy felt like a meager piece of candy, disappearing quickly no matter how carefully it was savored.

The omega was always more anxious than him, like a dragon guarding a vast fortune, counting and reconfirming time and again, keeping watch all night with wide eyes.

But such vigilance wasn't foolproof, for treasures could run and jump. If unhappy, they could dash out of their nest at any moment, and the dragon couldn't very well ask directly—

"Are you still here? Will you leave?"

Yale pondered for a long while before realizing that he wasn't the only one afraid of the other leaving; the omega was even more fearful. So...

Actually, there was no need for either of them to be afraid.

He reached out to encircle Xi Ze's waist, collapsing onto the sofa together with the omega. At first, he could still smell the burnt odor from the explosion, but soon it was overwhelmed by a faint bitter scent that rose up.

"The mental bond was too risky. I'll make it up to you next time."

"Hmm..."

The couch was small, and Xi Ze straddled Yale's lap with his knees spread, steadying himself as he straightened his back. He took the initiative to pull the male's hand and slide it under the hem of his work vest.

The female's body was full and exquisite, muscular yet supple. Every curve was perfectly proportioned, a testament to the living embodiment of strength and beauty. In his palm, he felt warmth and tenderness.

But as the vest was gradually rolled up, it revealed countless scars of varying sizes, crisscrossing and of different depths, almost shocking to behold.

Those marks were left behind from battles where healing serum couldn't be applied in time, forcing him to rely on his natural regenerative abilities. They symbolized the responsibility and honor of defending their territory, badges of courage worn proudly across his body.

Yale's brows knitted in concern, and sensing this, Xi Ze couldn't help but let out a low gasp.

He guided the male's hand to rest on his heart, the steady and powerful beats transmitting through their palms.

"They've all healed. It's alright now," he said in a hoarse voice.

The heat from his palm was intense, diverting Yale's attention for a moment. An idea crossed his mind, causing his Adam's apple to bob slightly.

"Will... Xi Ze choose to lactate in the future?"

He chuckled softly and shared his fantasy with the omega.

Sure enough, the omega's body trembled, his waist weakening as a hint of moisture and bashfulness flickered in his dilated eyes.

"When the time comes, my lord can try it out..."

Still biting the cloth, Xi Ze reached out to press down on the alpha's wandering hand, mumbling in a low voice, "The cub will take one side... and I'll save the other for you."

Yale had only intended to tease him, but he ended up being the one caught off guard. He laughed while coughing.

"Cough, cough, really? You're saving one side just for me, cough, cough?"

"Mm-hmm, it's true."

Yale couldn't stop laughing, but the heat within him remained intense.

A gentle breeze blew in from the balcony, fluttering the curtains and casting a soft glow as sunlight streamed in, illuminating the floor.

From Xi Ze's perspective, he could see the flowers on the shelf—pink and tender, radiating innocence and charm.

Only now did he realize how embarrassing his current state was. His ears and neck blushed like a rosy dawn, and, perhaps from the cold or something else, his tense abdomen trembled uncontrollably.

"Look," Yale said calmly, following his gaze to the balcony outside.

"The flowers you planted are also watching your punishment."

Caught off guard by Yale's revelation of his hidden fantasy, Xi Ze bit his lower lip in shame, shaking his head with a quavering voice.

"Mate... Mate..."

His throat bobbed as he called out to Yale, each time without any real content, as if merely calling his name brought him some comfort.

"At this time, that little bird will soon fly over for its meal... If you behave, we can finish the mental guidance sooner."

Yale's fingers brushed against Xi Ze's crimson, almost bloody, earlobe, his breath warm. "Okay?"

Xi Ze's mind was a jumbled mess, and he nodded vaguely in agreement, rubbing the corner of his wet eyes against Yale's palm.

After a mental guidance session, it was typical for the male to require feedback from the female. This would enhance the male's mental pleasure and deepen his affection for the female.

Though not scientifically proven, it had become an unspoken social norm.

Yet, Yale rarely sought Xi Ze's feedback, limited to being bitten once by the Omega or having a casual touch, without venturing into deeper intimacy.

Perhaps he was still somewhat traditional, especially when society imposed stricter expectations on Omegas. Even if he didn't understand, he learned to consider their feelings more.

Just now, he suddenly realized that his unusual behavior might make Xi Ze anxious. The Omega's repeated inquiries about making love were likely due to this.

Yale withdrew his hand from under the Omega's gaze, but instead of retracting it, he traced it down along the Omega's waistline.

"This is so beautiful."

He praised, and as expected, the Omega's face flushed red, with dampened, lowered eyelashes.

This creature, who could potentially be a powerful and fierce beast, willingly exposed its vulnerable underbelly.

The fluffy tail, sensing the eagerness, restrained itself as it rubbed against Yale's hand repeatedly, yearning for the Alpha's touch.

Yale took a small inhalation.

Stimulated intensely, the Omega's waist jerked abruptly, unintentionally letting out a muffled moan as he opened his mouth. The black tank top he was biting fell, mostly concealing the undulating caramel skin beneath.

Yale lifted the fabric directly and offered it to the Omega's lips, his voice slightly hoarse.

" Bite down on this."

...

That night, the optical computer suddenly beeped, signaling the transfer of a file package into the message inbox.

Xi Ze adjusted the brightness and tapped on the file.

Inside were details of the Empire's latest sleep inducers, specifying various dosages and formulations along with their corresponding effects and side effects.

"The Head of Biotechnology: This is one of the most advanced options available from our current supplies. Which type would you need, and what dosage?"

Xi Ze browsed through the options and inquired about numerous precautions before selecting a dosage that was both effective and free of side effects.

Soon, this galaxy would become a battlefield. Although it was the heart of military operations, safe from invasion and massacre, the high tension, violence, and danger still loomed constantly. Without taking precautions, there was a possibility that mental strength could be pushed to the brink of collapse.

During the years of relentless warfare, the aristocrats, who possessed wealth and a personal guard to protect them, would often take these sedatives to shield themselves from worry and stress. Upon waking up, they would witness a rebuilt world.

Instructing for the medication to be expedited, Xi Ze switched back to the virtual combat training interface, continuing to simulate the upcoming battles time and again.

It might be arduous, but he would still strive with all his might to triumph.

Every day of Xi Ze's early life had been devoted to this objective. He was the Empire's most relied-upon blade and bulwark, an embodiment of faith for countless soldiers.

To defend the Empire's territories, to intimidate lurking external foes, and to bring every soldier back home alive – that was the essence of his life and conviction, unyielding and indestructible.

And now.

With weary eyes, Xi Ze glanced at the master bedroom, as if he could see through the door the male insectoid sleeping soundly, wrapped in his blankets with shallow breaths.

He wondered if the male had kicked off his covers. He must remember to check later, lest he catch a cold again.

—Not to mention Yale.

...

In recent days, the atmosphere outside was evidently tense. From the balcony, one could spot various fighter jets and starships swirling in the sky, their presence imposing even from afar.

Although he didn't step out, the residents of this district had practically vanished. Presumably, they had received advance notice and left for other planets to escape the impending war.

Despite knowing that he was likely safe, Yale couldn't help but feel anxious and nervous, his mind somewhat preoccupied.

While he was relatively secure within layers of protection, Xi Ze would undoubtedly be embroiled in this conflict. Though unsure of the specific role he played... the likelihood of him being wounded or bleeding was considerable.

In the afternoon, Yale was lost in thought as he gazed at the sky outside his balcony. Suddenly, two hands emerged from behind him, interlacing around his waist, and a warm breath caressed his ear.

"Ruler, stop staring."

Yale was spun around by gentle pressure on his shoulders, only to have his lower lip captured in a kiss, filled with a newfound initiative and dominance, yet also tenderly affectionate.

The female insect's tongue held a sugary treat, its outer coating sweet like an orange. As it moved, the candy rolled between their lips.

Before Yale could react, his chin was lifted by the female, and without warning, the entire candy was swallowed whole.

"Um?"

Xi Ze gazed down at him, then closed his eyes to deepen the kiss. He continued until the male in his arms was slightly short of breath, his moist eyes growing unfocused before he reluctantly released him.

Yale caught his breath and realized that he had been brought to the master bedroom. A strange premonition welled up inside him as he looked questioningly at the male.

"What's wrong? Suddenly...?"

A wave of tenderness washed over Yale before he could react, and his vision quickly blurred. "How peculiar..."

Xi Ze caught the sliding male just in time, lifting him with his knees and gently placing him on the bed, covering him with a blanket and tucking in all four corners neatly.

The effects of the medicine were excellent, but the male's sleeping face seemed somewhat restless, his brows slightly furrowed.

He gazed at Yale in a trance-like state until a knock on the door interrupted him. Then, he leaned down and placed a kiss on the male's forehead.

"I'll be back soon."

*

A vast expanse of deep red stained the sky, resembling an ominous bloodstain. In an instant, countless struggles and deaths rose and fell, continuously unfolding.

Amidst the cacophony of cannon fire and laser beams piercing through structures, the whoosh of military female Wyverns spreading their wings and the rustling of their tail membranes echoed throughout the battlefield, like a prelude to dawn.

All the flames and bloodshed seemed distant from this house. An invisible shield preserved its serenity, as if it were a precious rose in the depths of the heart, meticulously protected under a glass bell jar.

Yet, Yale, who was previously in a peaceful slumber, suddenly furrowed his brow. His body trembled involuntarily, as an uncontrollable heat rapidly swept over him, as if something was brewing within.

...

"So good, so obedient... Would you like me to take you out to play later?"

"Woof! Woof woof!"

What... voice?

A furry presence wriggled energetically in his arms, radiating joy. Upon noticing his owner's sudden stiffness, the creature eagerly stood on its hind legs, using its front paws to cling onto Yale's shoulders.

After a dizzying spell of vertigo, Yale's eyes snapped open—

The scene before him gradually came into focus. He was at home. With hesitation, he placed his hand on the ecstatic dog's head, "Tangyuan?"

The small Samoyed in front of him was about three months old, with pure white, fluffy fur and round, gleaming eyes. It kept wagging its tongue at him, "Woof!"

Skilled in dealing with the puppy's enthusiasm, Yale inadvertently looked up and noticed that the clock on the wall had already struck nine... Yes, he had intended to take Tangyuan for a walk.

He swiftly put a collar on Tangyuan and, after a quick tidy-up, stepped out of the door. However, just as he closed it, he bumped into his neighbor who had just finished work.

"Taking Tangyuan for a walk?"

It was a serious and efficient doctor, an elder sister figure, whose gaze swept over the puppy chasing its tail and she frowned slightly.

"I still recommend you get a professionally trained therapy dog. No matter how adorable, Tangyuan is an untrained stray..."

Yale lowered his gaze, extracting the key from the lock while interrupting her with a smile, "It's all the same, Sister Gu. Adorable puppies are natural comforters, aren't they?"

"Sister Gu, you've been working overtime every day lately, your dark circles are showing. You need to make sure you get enough rest."

"Okay, okay... I got it. Go ahead and take your walk, but be careful."

The young doctor's expression relaxed slightly. After giving him a word of caution, she entered her own home.

Tangyuan was an abandoned Samoyed puppy.

When Yale first encountered him, the little guy was found beside a trash bin, filthy and scrawny, limping along with a broken hind leg. It seemed he had been accidentally crushed.

Perhaps due to extreme hunger, upon seeing Yale, who was sitting on a chair in a daze with food in hand, the puppy cautiously approached, rolled onto his back awkwardly to expose his belly, and whined affectionately for some food.

After successfully enjoying Yale's breakfast, he still wasn't satisfied. He energetically wagged his tail, rubbing against Yale's legs, and shamelessly followed him all the way home.

In the end, he won himself a dedicated caretaker.

In the neighborhood, many people strolled with their pets, forming small groups to play together. However, most of them tended to avoid Yale and Tangyuan. The silly little dog was contentedly chasing a ball on the lawn by itself.

"A stray dog can never be truly domesticated!" a senior dog-walker declared with disdain. "These creatures, after wandering for so long, don't really acknowledge their owners. They might just run away one day."

"Hey, this kid is even glaring at me! What did I say wrong?!"

Yale crouched down, scooping up Tangyuan, who had been startled and had taken refuge behind his leg. Yale held the puppy in his arms, gazing intently as the old man was led away by his daughter.

"Father, please hold your tongue. I've already told you that person is mentally unstable, yet you provoked him..."

His legs had gone numb from maintaining the same position for too long. The puppy in his arms seemed to sense his distress and obediently licked his hand while its tail swished back and forth beneath them.

Yale closed his eyes, burying his face in the soft fur of the little dog.

"How dare he say our Tangyuan would get lost... I curse him to never receive his pension, to forever fail at catching fish..."

Ironically, those words turned out to be prophetic.

One evening, after returning home from class, he found the front door ajar, and the puppy that usually bounded up to greet him was nowhere to be seen.

"Tangyuan... Tangyuan?! TANGYUAN!!"

From the surveillance footage, he had forgotten to lock the door properly. Tangyuan, now grown, had leaped up to bite the doorknob, bolting out without looking back.

In that instant when the white figure vanished from sight, his pupils dilated.

A deafening explosion echoed in his chest, as a piercing alarm blared in his ears. The reversed blood flow numbed and froze his limbs.

The following memories abruptly became hazy, turning into a chaotic cacophony of harsh breathing, disoriented screams, and desperate explanations… All of it faded from his world in silence.

After a night of turmoil, he was left utterly exhausted. The air in his throat was thick with the pungent smell of blood. He wandered dazedly down yet another street before finally collapsing by a trash bin, his vision going black.

"Clang."

A metallic dog tag hit the ground, producing a crisp sound.

Yale's eyes moved slowly.

On that familiar dog tag, a frozen crimson stain, darkened by blood, mixed with putrid sewage, slowly seeped out from beneath the trash bin.

His little dog lay within, its spine crushed by wheels, exposing stark white bones and pink organs. Its intestines sprawled across the ground, shattered almost beyond recognition.

The once soft and fluffy fur, now drenched, clung limply to its cold, stiff body.

Its misty gray eyes gazed at the sky beyond the trash bin, its mouth slightly ajar, as if it would let out a "woof" in the next moment, its breath still warm.

...Tangyuan?

Yale jolted awake.

The curtains were drawn halfway, allowing a deep crimson and radiant glow to pour in, spilling across one corner of the bed and illuminating the traces of tears on his face with stark clarity.

His heart seemed to have been torn apart, leaving only bloody fragments pounding violently within his chest, causing a suffocating and piercing pain. Yale couldn't help but break into a coughing fit, struggling to prop himself up from his drained body.

My mind was a blank canvas, the ravaging nightmare that just moments ago had been so vivid, now dissipated like remnants of snow, leaving no trace behind. Only an immense sense of terror draped over my heart, along with overwhelming sorrow and anger that burned fiercely, almost too heavy to bear.

Yale sat motionless on the bed for a moment, his body still trembling with residual shock and fear.

The details of the dream had faded, yet it unexpectedly reminded him of the male drone, like a traveler on the verge of drying up in search of a refreshing oasis. For the first time, he felt such an urgent and desperate longing for—

Xi Ze to be by his side at this very moment.

Shaking, he pushed aside the covers, but his body was so weak that he couldn't even stand. He stumbled forward a few unsteady steps, nearly collapsing to the floor.

Struggling to his feet after crawling a few steps, he managed to open the door only to find the house eerily quiet and deserted.

He couldn't locate the male drone in the bathroom.

There was no living room.

No balcony.

Not even the kitchen.

It was as if the female drone had never existed in this home, all of it merely a grand illusion of spring and autumn.

And now, he had awoken.

Yale knelt dazedly on the floor, the blood-red remnants of the sun flooding over him like a tide.

The burning sky, the empty house – the crimson sunset seemed to pierce through the rifts of time and space, reflecting from the depths of his memory with a haunting familiarity that left him trembling.

All his recollections snapped back into place in an instant, like a bullet fired years ago finally piercing through his forehead, yet unable to draw any more blood.

How could he have forgotten...?

Why had he forgotten?

He once lost a little dog.

Yale bowed his back deeply, violently expelling a mouthful of blood.

Author's Note:

Ramble:

So it's not that he doesn't have a mouth on purpose, quq. The General worries too much and often bears heavy burdens (and loves staying up late! Balding alert!)

The plot involving the dreams can be connected to Chapter 2 "Sharing the Bed" in the VIP section. That was Yale's brain self-protectively revising his memory after being stimulated, whereas this is the true account of what happened then.

This dream has nothing to do with the serum; it's because Yale is approaching his second differentiation, causing a violent upheaval in his mental landscape. It's just that circumstances later took an unexpected turn.

Does anyone still remember the previous setting? The mental landscape is used to store memories, whether they're from distant times or those you think you've forgotten – they're all preserved inside, awaiting rediscovery.