3A.N.: Hey everyone! |˶˙ᵕ˙ )ﾉﾞ
Sorry for skipping and not posting a chapter last week (っ◞‸◟ c) I'd had finally finished my exams and took the week off to go on Holidays to Europe (ᵕ—ᴗ—)
Thanks for waiting and I hope you enjoy this new chapter ε(´｡•᎑•`)っ
An unexpected companion
"I'll explain everything later," Valerius muttered, his voice muffled against Kai's cloak. "I swear, I will. Just—just let me hold onto this. For now, this is enough."
Kai's body stiffened at the sudden contact, the unexpected weight of Valerius pressing against him in an embrace. Kai wasn't sure how to react. His hands hovered in mid-air before he awkwardly patted Valerius's back, a gesture that felt foreign but instinctual. The tension in his limbs refused to dissipate, his mind whirling with a thousand questions, even as Valerius held onto him with the desperation of a man seeking refuge.
Kai's heart, usually so controlled, pounded uneasily in his chest. He stared down at the blonde, messy head pressed against him, feeling Valerius's hands clinging to his cloak, desperation practically pouring out of him. It wasn't just the unexpected embrace that threw Kai off—it was the feeling, the rawness of it, the vulnerability in the way Valerius held him, as if Kai were the only thing keeping him grounded in this moment.
Kai's throat tightened. He hadn't expected this. Not now, not here.
This wasn't supposed to happen. He had been planning his exit. The cemetery had always been a place of quiet goodbyes, a ritual of sorts. Each time Kai prepared to leave behind another chapter of his life, he would come here, to the tombs of Magnus and Clara. Their graves had become a part of him, a reminder of the many lives he'd lived and the people who had come and gone. But these farewells were never final. He knew he would always return—under a new name, a new face—whenever time allowed.
The Vandal attack had been the perfect excuse to disappear again. It would leave Carthago Nova in chaos, and anyone left who knew him would assume he had died in the violence. It was easier that way. He'd slip away unnoticed, and eventually, all traces of Caius would fade into history.
But now, here was Valerius, throwing everything off balance.
Valerius's arms tightened around him, and Kai could feel the young man's rapid breathing, his pulse hammering beneath the layers of cloth. He shifted, unsure whether to push him away or hold him closer. Something stirred inside him, a familiar ache he thought he had buried long ago. Memories of Magnus, of all the years they'd spent together—how many times had Magnus held him like this? How many times had Kai found solace in another's touch?
It didn't matter. Magnus was gone, just like Clara. And now Valerius was here, clinging to him as if Kai were some kind of lifeline. Kai wasn't sure how to handle that. He wasn't sure if he even wanted to.
"Valerius," Kai finally murmured, his voice low but steady. "What are you doing here?"
"You shouldn't be here," Kai said, his voice firmer this time, though it carried a strange hollowness. "I thought you'd gone."
He felt Valerius shift slightly, pulling back just enough to look up at him, though his grip on Kai's cloak didn't loosen. "I was going to," Valerius admitted, his voice rough, like he had been holding back more than just words. "But something went wrong. I—"
Kai's eyes narrowed. "Went wrong?" That familiar, uneasy suspicion crept in. He always knew Valerius wasn't telling him the full truth. There had always been secrets lurking just under the surface, secrets that Kai couldn't quite put his finger on but knew existed. "What do you mean?"
Valerius hesitated, glancing down at the ground as if struggling to find the words. "I can explain, Caius. But later. Please… just—let me explain later."
Kai's gaze hardened. He didn't like feeling manipulated, and right now, Valerius's vagueness felt like exactly that. He wasn't in the mood for half-truths, not when he had come here for closure, not more uncertainty.
"I don't have time for mysteries, Valerius," he said, his voice growing colder, his hands finally moving to push Valerius back, though not forcefully. "I'm not—"
Valerius cut him off, his grip still strong on Kai's cloak. "I know! I know you don't trust me. You have no reason to. But please, Caius—just this once, trust that I'm telling the truth when I say that I need to explain it later. Not now."
The desperation in Valerius's eyes was too real, too raw. It wasn't the same confidence or sarcasm that Kai had come to expect from him. This was different. The sincerity in his words, his fear of losing whatever chance he had with Kai, seeped through in every breath.
Kai's heart gave an unfamiliar tug. This wasn't what he had expected. And it certainly wasn't what he had prepared himself for. He had been ready to say his farewells, to slip into the shadows and start anew. But now…
Damn it, he cared.
He cared more than he wanted to admit.
Without thinking, his arms wrapped around Valerius, awkward but firm, as if some part of him had decided to meet Valerius's embrace halfway. For a moment, the world around them seemed to fade. Kai stood there, holding onto this odd, unpredictable man, who had somehow wormed his way past his defences.
It wasn't Magnus. It wasn't even close.
But it was something.
Something that made him hesitate.
"Fine," Kai said, his voice softer now, though still laced with caution. "But you better make good on that promise, Valerius."
He could feel Valerius relax, just slightly, against him, but there was still that tension, that edge. Then Kai felt it—the way Valerius's grip on his cloak lessened, his arms falling to his sides, his weight pulling back. Valerius had sensed the shift, knew he had been given a reprieve, for now.
⁂
Kai's grip around Valerius loosened, but he didn't pull away just yet. Valerius's words still echoed in his ears—I'll explain everything later—but right now, Kai couldn't think beyond the fact that the young man had found him. Against every expectation, Valerius had tracked him down in the cemetery in the dead of night, wrapped in desperation, clinging to him like he was the only thing keeping him from drowning.
This wasn't how it was supposed to go. Kai had his plan. The Vandal attack was the perfect moment to disappear, to leave Carthago Nova behind. He would return, of course—he always did—but under a new name, a new face. He'd say goodbye to Magnus and Clara at their graves, and he'd leave.
But now, Valerius.
"I was going to leave," Kai said, his voice low, cautious. He kept his eyes trained on the gravestones in front of him—Magnus's name carved in stone had always been a source of grounding, a reminder of who he had lost and why he had built these walls around himself; Clara's tomb, now beside it, was a more recent wound, a reminder that time moved forward even if he didn't—because it was easier than facing the blue-eyed young man beside him. "That was the plan. The chaos from the attack was a perfect excuse."
Valerius hesitated, his grip on Kai's cloak tightening slightly. "You were going to disappear?"
Kai nodded slowly, his voice steady despite the growing unease. "I always do. I've done this before, Valerius. No one notices. No one remembers."
"But I found you," Valerius countered.
Kai sighed, finally turning to face him. "Exactly. You found me. You, of all people. And if you could, others could too."
"I don't think anyone else is looking," Valerius said quickly, his voice thick with urgency, as if he knew his time to convince Kai was slipping away. "I—I don't have anywhere else to go. I can't stay here. And I can't leave."
Kai studied him carefully, his brow furrowing. "What do you mean, you can't leave? What's stopping you?"
Valerius looked away, biting his lip, the desperation in his eyes betraying the weight of what he wasn't saying. "I just… I have to stay with you."
The words hung between them, heavy with implications Kai wasn't ready to unravel. He wanted to scoff, to brush it off. Valerius didn't understand the weight of what he was asking. Kai's life was one of constant movement, constant reinvention. The only thing he had left to rely on was his ability to disappear when necessary. Letting someone come with him? That was a risk.
"You don't know what you're asking for," Kai said, his voice hardening. "This life—it's not for people like you." He stopped himself, his gaze flickering briefly toward Magnus's grave. "This isn't a journey you just decide to join. It's dangerous. Uncertain. There are things you can't even begin to understand about the life I lead."
"I know it's dangerous," Valerius replied, his voice unwavering. "But I don't have a choice, Caius. I—I can't leave. My…" He trailed off, swallowing thickly. "My amulet is broken. The one that—"
Kai's eyes narrowed, suspicion creeping into his thoughts. His amulet? There was something Valerius wasn't telling him, something important. But now wasn't the time to press for it.
"If it's broken, fix it," Kai said bluntly, folding his arms across his chest.
"I can't," Valerius said, his voice faltering for the first time. "I don't know how. It's… complicated."
Kai exhaled sharply, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "Complicated. Great."
Valerius's face crumpled slightly, the weight of his situation finally showing. "I don't have anywhere else to go. You're the only one I can trust."
The rawness in Valerius's voice cut through Kai's defences, making him pause. Trust. That word. It had been a long time since anyone had said that to him. Trust wasn't something Kai gave or received easily. His life was built on caution, on secrets. Valerius was throwing himself into something he couldn't possibly understand.
Kai turned his back fully to Valerius, closing his eyes as he considered the request. The thought of taking Valerius along filled him with a mix of fear and uncertainty. How much could he reveal? How much would Valerius discover if they travelled together?
"You think you can trust me?" Kai asked quietly, his tone guarded.
"I don't think," Valerius said, his voice trembling with emotion. "I know. You've been nothing but honest with me. You saved me before, even when you didn't have to. You don't realize it, but you've given me more than you think."
Kai's chest tightened. He wanted to tell Valerius to walk away, to find another way out. But the desperation in Valerius's voice, the look in his eyes—it was something Kai hadn't seen in a long time. Not since Magnus. Not since Clara. It stirred something deep inside him, a part of him he'd buried.
"I should say no," Kai muttered, turning away, his gaze falling once again on Magnus's grave.
Kai's jaw clenched. His original plan—disappearing into the chaos of the attack—was slipping through his fingers. Letting Valerius come along would complicate things. He'd never taken anyone with him before. And yet… something about Valerius's determination, his unshaken resolve, made it hard to say no.
But then came the doubts. Could he trust Valerius not to complicate things even further? The boy clearly had his secrets—Kai knew that much. But how much more would he need to know if they were going to travel together? How much would Valerius learn about Kai's life?
More importantly, could Valerius survive it?
"This journey isn't just about surviving," Kai warned, turning back to him. "It's about disappearing. Erasing yourself from everything you've known. Are you really ready for that?"
Valerius hummed in agreement, blue eyes shining with a mixture of desperation and resolve. "I don't really belong here, do I?" Kai could feel Valerius staring at his back, waiting for an answer. "It will all make sense, trust me, but I assure you nobody remembers me here. I have nothing to lose."
Kai's heart twisted in his chest. Part of him wanted to push Valerius away, to stick to the plan. But another part, the part that had once cared deeply for people like Magnus, like Clara, felt the stirrings of something dangerously close to compassion.
Kai turned to face Valerius again and took a step forward, looming over Valerius's smaller frame. The boy barely came up to his chest, and yet here he was, looking up at him with unwavering determination, like someone much larger than life. It was unsettling how much Valerius reminded him of Magnus in moments like this—earnest, stubborn, and willing to fight for something he believed in.
"Fine," Kai said, the word feeling foreign on his tongue. He watched as Valerius's eyes widened with hope, and before Valerius could speak, Kai raised a hand. "But listen to me, Valerius. This is my life. My rules. If you're coming with me, you do exactly as I say, no questions asked. If it gets dangerous, you follow my lead. Understand?"
Valerius nodded, too relieved to argue. "I understand."
Kai turned away, his eyes scanning the cemetery one last time. The graves of Magnus and Clara seemed to stare back at him, a reminder of the losses he had endured. He'd sworn never to let anyone get close enough to matter again. But now? Now Valerius was forcing him to reconsider.
"If you slow me down," Kai said over his shoulder, "I'll leave you behind."
"I won't slow you down," Valerius promised.
Kai exhaled, feeling the weight of his decision pressing down on him. He had no idea what he was getting into by letting Valerius come along, but the decision was made. There was no turning back now.
Valerius stepped forward, and before Kai could react, he wrapped his arms around him again. It was an awkward hug, Valerius's head barely reaching Kai's chest, but the sincerity in it was undeniable.
Kai stiffened, instinctively wary of the touch, but he didn't pull away. Slowly, almost cautiously, he brought his arms around Valerius, returning the embrace, though it felt strange and unfamiliar.
"I'll explain everything later," Valerius muttered again, his voice muffled against Kai's chest. "I swear I will. Just—just let me hold onto this. For now, this is enough."
Kai's heart pounded in his chest, uncertainty swirling inside him like a storm. He didn't know what the future held, but for now, Valerius's presence was enough to make him reconsider his plan.
"Let's go," Kai said, his voice softer now. "We've got a long journey ahead."
⁂
The harbour of Carthago Nova bustled under the early morning light, the chaos from the Vandal attack still palpable in the air. Sailors shouted as they loaded crates onto ships, merchants haggled over the prices of dwindling supplies, and refugees streamed in, desperate for passage to safer lands. The port was alive with activity, and yet Kai moved through the crowd with a singular focus, Valerius trailing close behind, his blue eyes scanning the scene nervously.
Kai had spent weeks carefully planning his departure, securing a spot on a vessel bound for Antioch, the first leg of his journey along the Silk Route. He was supposed to disappear, to leave behind the wreckage of his life in Carthago Nova and start anew under a different identity, just as he'd done countless times before. Valerius wasn't supposed to be part of the plan.
"Are you sure they'll let me on?" Val asked quietly as they approached the ship, the unease clear in his voice. He looked out of place amid the chaos of the docks, his fair skin and dishevelled appearance a stark contrast to the hardened sailors and merchants.
Kai didn't answer right away. He wasn't sure himself how this would go. His contact had only arranged for one passenger, and with tensions high after the attack, the captain might not be in the mood to accommodate an unexpected guest. But Kai had no other choice now. He'd gotten Val this far; he couldn't abandon him here.
"They will," Kai said finally, his voice firm. "I'll make sure of it."
They reached the ship, a sturdy vessel docked amidst the flurry of activity. It wasn't the grandest ship in the harbour, but it would serve its purpose. The journey to Antioch was long, but from there, Kai planned to follow the Silk Route deeper into Asia. The Silk Road had always been his route of choice when he needed to disappear—the vastness of the lands, the constant movement of traders, and the anonymity that came with it all provided the perfect cover.
At the gangplank, a grizzled captain stood with arms crossed, his weathered face stern as he surveyed the loading of goods. His eyes narrowed as he spotted Kai approaching with Valerius in tow.
"Kaius," the captain greeted, his tone sharp and formal. His gaze flicked to Val, suspicion immediately clouding his expression. "Who's this?"
Kai squared his shoulders, keeping his tone measured. "A friend. He'll be traveling with me."
The captain's frown deepened, his eyes narrowing as he crossed his arms. "That's not what we agreed on. I don't have room for another passenger. You want to bring him? Find another ship."
Kai felt his jaw tighten. He had expected pushback, but the captain's obstinacy still grated on him. "You owe me," Kai said, keeping his voice low. "Remember Tripoli? I got you out of that mess."
The captain's expression darkened, but he didn't back down. "Maybe so, but my ship's full. No room for extra passengers."
Kai stepped closer, his voice a notch quieter. "We'll share my cabin. He won't take up any more space. You won't even know he's here."
The captain scowled, clearly weighing his options. "Why should I bother? He looks like more trouble than he's worth."
Val stiffened at the captain's words but remained silent, glancing to Kai for reassurance.
Kai didn't waver. "Because if you don't, you might find yourself explaining that extra cargo you've been smuggling to the wrong people in Antioch."
The captain's eyes flickered, and his scowl deepened. There was a long moment of silence before he finally grunted, clearly unhappy. "Fine. But you'll share the cabin. And you're responsible for him. Any trouble, and you're both off at the next port."
"Understood," Kai said with a curt nod. "We won't cause any problems."
With a final glare, the captain barked orders to one of his men, signalling that Kai and Valerius could board.
Val let out a quiet breath of relief. "I didn't think that would work."
Kai shot him a sidelong glance. "Neither did I."
As they made their way toward the ship, Kai caught sight of a boy nearby, no older than fourteen, helping move crates to the dock. "You," Kai called, catching the boy's attention. "Come here."
The boy trotted over, eyes wide as he looked between Kai and Val. "Yes, sir?"
Kai pulled a small pouch of coins from his belt. "Go into the market and get clothes for me and my friend. Something practical for travel. We'll need them by the time we set sail."
The boy nodded eagerly, accepting the pouch. "Right away, sir."
With a quick glance at Val, the boy turned and darted off toward the marketplace. Val watched him go before turning to Kai with a hesitant smile. "You didn't have to do that. I'm fine with what I have."
Kai's eyes flicked to Val's worn clothes, still dirty from their frantic escape through the city. "You'll need something better for this journey."
Val nodded, his expression softening as he muttered, "Thank you."
Kai didn't respond, already shifting his attention back to the ship. He'd secured their passage, but now he faced the larger issue—what to do with Valerius. Kai's plan had always been to travel alone, to disappear into the vast expanse of the Silk Route as he had countless times before. But now, with Valerius at his side, everything was more complicated.
Kai stole a glance at Val, who stood next to him on the deck, looking out at the harbour. There was a desperation in Val's eyes, an earnestness that tugged at something deep within Kai, something he thought he had long buried. It had been easier to stay detached, to keep people at arm's length.
But now? Could he really do this with Valerius along for the journey?
Kai's mind whirled with doubts. The Silk Road wasn't a gentle path; it was harsh and unforgiving. Could Valerius handle it? What if this boy—this stranger—slowed him down, became a liability? And beyond that, how much more of Valerius' story remained untold? What other secrets was he hiding?
Kai clenched his jaw, weighing his options. He was used to being alone on these journeys—alone was safer, easier. Letting someone in, even someone as earnest as Valerius, felt like a risk he wasn't sure he was ready to take.
But as Valerius stood beside him, eyes flicking between the ship and the bustling port, Kai couldn't shake the feeling that leaving him behind wasn't an option either. Not anymore.
"We'll be heading east," Kai said at last, his voice quiet but firm. "It's not an easy road."
Valerius looked up at him, his blue eyes full of determination. "I know. But I can handle it. I have to."
Kai gave a slow, reluctant nod, the weight of his decision settling over him. "Then you better keep up."
As the ship rocked gently in the harbour, Kai led Valerius across the deck, his gaze scanning the organized chaos of sailors preparing for departure. The faint smell of saltwater filled the air, and seagulls cried overhead, circling the masts like ghosts of the sea. Kai's steps were purposeful as they approached the helm where the pilot, a tall, broad-shouldered man with sun-worn skin, stood watching over the crew's progress.
"Kaius," the pilot greeted, his accent thick and foreign, the cadence of his speech revealing a lifetime spent far from Roman shores. His name was Tasos, a man who had chosen the sea as his constant companion, leaving behind whatever life he had known on land. His sharp eyes flicked between Kai and Valerius, but he made no comment about the extra passenger, already privy to the arrangement.
"Tasos," Kai said, offering a nod of respect. "Thank you for your help."
Tasos grunted, his lips twisting into a brief smile, barely visible beneath the coarse beard framing his face. "It's not often I see you travel with company. I was surprised to hear you needed space for two."
Kai's expression remained neutral, though his gaze shifted momentarily to Valerius, who stood silently beside him, taking in the surroundings with wide eyes. "Circumstances changed," he replied simply. "But I appreciate the trouble."
The pilot shrugged, his eyes gleaming with curiosity, but he didn't press for details. "As long as it doesn't slow down the ship, it's no trouble at all. You'll want to settle in soon; the winds are good, and we'll be casting off shortly."
Kai nodded, gesturing for Tasos to lead the way. The pilot turned, guiding them toward the lower decks where the passengers' cabins were located. The creaking of wood and the distant murmur of waves followed them as they descended, the light dimming as they moved further into the belly of the ship. When they reached the cabin door, Tasos stopped, fishing out a small key from his belt.
"Here you are," he said, unlocking the door and pushing it open. "Not much room for two, but I reckon you'll manage."
The cabin was small, just as Kai had expected, with two narrow bunks on opposite walls, a low table, and a single round window offering a view of the bustling port outside. It was cramped, but it would do. Kai had travelled in far worse conditions.
"Thank you, Tasos," Kai said, stepping inside.
The pilot nodded, casting a final glance at Valerius before turning to leave. "Let me know if you need anything else."
The cabin was small, as Kai expected, with enough room for two narrow cots and little else. Still, it would suffice for the journey ahead. The pilot lingered at the door for a moment, his eyes again darting between the two men, before giving a short nod and leaving them alone.
Kai stood in the doorway, surveying the space. His mind was already turning over how they would manage this—fitting two people into such a confined area without tripping over one another. But at least, for now, they had a moment of privacy.
Before he could say anything, the cabin door swung open again, and the young boy who had been sent to fetch clothes appeared, his arms full of neatly folded garments. The boy, no older than fifteen, handed them over with a grin, clearly pleased with himself.
Kai took the clothes with a nod of thanks and dismissed the boy, who scampered back up the stairs. He handed Valerius the smaller set of clothes, taking the larger for himself. They dressed in silence, the tight quarters forcing them to stand close together, though neither of them seemed to acknowledge it.
Once they had changed, Kai set about reorganizing the room. He grabbed the few supplies the crew had left for them—water skins, blankets, a small oil lamp—and began placing them in a more efficient manner. Valerius, after a moment, caught on and started helping, his movements slow at first but gaining confidence as they worked side by side.
It was strange, this unspoken rhythm they had fallen into. Kai, used to solitude, found himself sharing tasks with Valerius as if it were the most natural thing in the world. He didn't like it, but he also didn't dislike it. The younger man was determined, that much was clear. It was something Kai could appreciate, even if he didn't fully trust it.
As they finished, Valerius broke the silence. "I didn't expect the ship to be this..." he hesitated, looking around the cramped cabin. "Small."
Kai snorted, folding the last of the blankets. "What were you expecting, luxury?"
Valerius gave a half-hearted chuckle, but his eyes were distant, his mind clearly elsewhere. Kai felt a flicker of something—concern? No, it was just curiosity.
"Are you sure you're ready for this?" Kai asked, his tone more serious. "It's not going to get easier from here."
Valerius paused, setting down a water skin he had been fiddling with. He looked up, meeting Kai's gaze, blue eyes searching his face. "I don't have much of a choice, do I?"
Kai didn't reply immediately. Valerius had made that clear back at the cemetery. His desperation, the way he had clung to him with an intensity Kai had not expected... it lingered in the back of his mind. It wasn't just about finding him—it was about something more. Something Valerius wasn't ready to share.
Kai turned his back to Valerius, focusing on lighting the oil lamp. The flame flickered to life, casting shadows across the small space. "Maybe not," he finally said, his voice quieter. "But that doesn't mean you're ready."
He heard Valerius shift behind him, but the younger man didn't respond. Instead, the silence stretched between them, heavy but not uncomfortable. Kai wasn't used to this—having someone around who didn't demand answers or explanations. But he wasn't sure what to make of it yet.
Kai sat on one of the cots, watching the flame dance in the lamp. Valerius remained standing, his thoughts clearly elsewhere. This was the calm before the storm, Kai knew. The voyage to Antioch would be long, and from there, their journey would only get more difficult.
He glanced up at Valerius, watching the way the light played across his face. He was young, younger than Kai had originally thought, but not a boy. A man who had seen his share of trouble, that much was certain. And yet, there was something about him—something that made Kai wary. His secrets ran deep, and Kai wasn't sure he wanted to dig too far.
"You should rest," Kai said finally, leaning back against the wall. "It's going to be a long journey."
Valerius hesitated but then nodded, sitting on the opposite cot. He looked over at Kai, a hint of something unspoken in his eyes, but he didn't say anything.
Kai closed his eyes, letting the gentle rocking of the ship lull him into a state of calm. But even as he relaxed, his mind raced with the unknowns ahead. The journey would be difficult, and Valerius's presence only complicated matters.
Still, there was no turning back now.