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The air in the dojo was tense as the sparring session abruptly ended with a sumo throw that landed Adaman on his back with a painful thud. It was no surprise that he had lost yet again, having been distracted by the soft, gossiping chatter from the sidelines instead of focusing on proving himself in combat. He cursed, grimacing as he was pinned down and forced to endure Kamado’s piercing, critical gaze from the same awkward position that he might as well have gotten used to after so many sessions ended the same way. If only he had been better at observing multiple details all at once. Even if he was keeping his ear towards the audience, how did he not notice the sly foot that aimed to shift his opponent behind him in preparation for a move sequence that nearly always secured his defeat?
“Disappointed in yourself again, I see.” The commander released him, then hoisted him up more easily than he would have liked to admit. “And you’ve lost weight. How much muscle are you willing to lose before you finally take Beni’s word to heart and eat more? Boy, look up when I’m talking to you.”
“Sorry, Commander. I’ve been busy with clan duties this week, that’s all. I will work hard to fix my mistakes.”
Kamado shook his head. “Why are you so worried about that? You made less mistakes than you did last week. Were you too focused on the clock above the spectators to realize it? If so, that was your only major mistake.” Adaman’s eyes widened, and he shrunk away instinctively. He had no doubts that his state of distraction was obvious, but the possibility of his mentor recognizing the true cause of it was something that had not yet occurred to him until that moment. Let him think that the leader of the Diamond clan would obsess over a clock- at least that would be logical, unlike the truth behind his ever-declining attention span.
When he noticed the boy’s perplexed expression, Kamado sighed. “Nevermind that. Our sparring is over, and I have yet to see who triumphed between Warden Melli and Warden Gaeric. The latter may be the one I expect to face, but it is important to brace for any situation long before an attack is on the horizon. Foresight of future opponents, you see- I may be a force to be reckoned with, but everyone has their own hidden, seemingly insurmountable strengths that have yet to be awakened.”
As if on cue, the noisy crowd of spectators from the other room rushed into their space, shattering the silent tension that permeated the atmosphere just moments ago. In the center of them all was what appeared to be a battered Gaeric on a makeshift stretcher, surrounded by panicked-looking Galaxy Medical Corps staff. Amidst the commotion, he caught a glimpse of Irida’s shock and Ingo’s bewilderment among the benches that overlooked his own humiliating match.
“But… how? How?!” He heard the other leader exclaim, barely containing her indignation as her fingers dug into the back of a wooden bench, leaving marks in their wake. It made for an astonishing sight, those fingers- so slender and elegant when dancing over a flute, yet so powerful when channeling her rage. Kamado’s words echoed in his mind- everyone has their own hidden, seemingly insurmountable strengths that have yet to be awakened. Adaman shook his head, trying not to turn to the person next to her and let his thoughts run even further. There were more pressing matters at the moment that could threaten relations between the clans if he didn’t find a way to mitigate the situation.
Melli was a newcomer to the realm of physical combat, and this was his first time in Hisui’s Annual Competition of Martial Arts, created as a celebration of humanity’s peak physical power rather than a showcase of historical rivalries, although the latter has reared its ugly head many a time. There was seemingly little expectation for his win against one as experienced as Gaeric, who had participated as the Pearl clan’s strongman for longer than Adaman could remember, and who consistently held victories against everyone, often rivaling Kamado. This turn of events would almost certainly ignite distrust and fury among the people, especially having unraveled at a time when the clans were supposed to peacefully exchange techniques and celebrate all combat styles.
That said, it was not entirely impossible for Lord Electrode’s warden to have triumphed. Under normal circumstances, he would be too clumsy to fully direct an impactful strike, and his height and immense amount of muscle wrapped tightly under clothing would prove to be of no use since he would not know where or when to act. However, should the haughty jester face a swipe to the garment just shy of his weakest spot and to the left, Adaman could imagine an immediate, furious reaction that would lie beyond any human’s power to defeat. His neck hurt just thinking about the time when such fury was mistakenly directed towards himself. Even so, the pain was as temporary as all such fleeting memories, and his thoughts were broken when the warden that plagued his hurried mind burst into the room, his voice instantly overpowering all the commotion around him.
“Come back here, I’m not finished with you!” Melli roared at Gaeric, who was still being carted off outside to the training grounds. “You have committed the worst kind of sacrilege! You’re lucky I didn’t bring out my sacred lighting rod or you will face all of Lord Electrode’s wrath! Oh, out of my way already! You pathetic little people can’t stop the Great Melli!”
The scene at the threshold would have been comical if onlookers did not have to behold Melli’s horrifyingly contorted and enraged expression as Zisu and Ingo struggled to hold him back. Amidst the chaos, his suspicions were all but confirmed when he gazed down to where the embroidered depiction of the Lord of the Hollow that rested above Melli’s left thigh had been torn in half, his uniform depicting a half-moon with angry eyebrows in its stead.
“Care to explain what in Sinnoh’s good name is going on here?”
Adaman flinched, quickly turning around to face Irida and Kamado’s respective disapproving and quizzical countenances.
“It would be much appreciated if you do. Of course, I never intend to underestimate Warden Melli’s skills, but to have this occur in the very first round against Gaeric of all people is a little jarring to say the least.”
“Just a little jarring?” the anger that Irida had just managed to keep under control was already creeping back into her voice. “Don’t you see what’s at stake? This isn’t some minor loss that Warden Gaeric can shake off like the one Adaman here just had. Warden Melli, with all due respect, has a terrible reputation beyond consistently keeping Electrode’s destructive energy contained. To have lost to him, and with such terrible results, would mean shame for us all. The entire Pearl clan will be expecting foul play!”
At this, Kamado gulped and nodded, uncharacteristically intimidated, although Adaman supposed it was to be expected since Irida rarely spoke with such a tone. “Yes, indeed. Well then, Adaman, can you explain what all this is about? For the sake of peace among us all?”
“From what I can see, Warden Gaeric must have torn the image of Lord Electrode on Melli’s clothes and angered him to an uncontrollable state. He’s never kind to those who think ill of his charge, but he would never react this strongly unless something near and dear to him was destroyed somehow.” It felt wrong to speak of his friend this way when he couldn’t hear it all and defend himself. Sure, Melli wasn’t above talking behind others’ backs, but Adaman at least hoped it wouldn’t have come to such a sensitive topic.
Irida scoffed. “What kind of explanation was that? Are you insinuating that my dear teacher is the one at fault? I’ve seen his power against countless foes. There is no way such a minor mishap could cause things to end like this.”
“When did I say that? I was just suggesting it as a possible cause. The embroidery is torn one way or another, and if you want to play the game of observational experience, I’ve seen how angry Melli can get when his most treasured possessions get damaged- even more so when they have something to do with Lord Electrode.”
“Adaman, while I understand your concern for your friend, Irida makes a better point here. A man simply does not grow such pronounced muscles that nearly tear his clothes within mere seconds- just look at him right now- nor does he fly into such a concentrated rage that, as the conversations behind us have relayed to me, provide him with enough force to hurtle 90 kilograms of essentially pure muscle through the wall of the dojo.”
The Diamond clan leader stared at the ground, not knowing what to say to convince them without telling a particular anecdote that he swore should never be brought up in public, especially when Melli could be in earshot as well.
“Glameow got your tongue?” Irida was staring right at him in disgust. “What kind of swordcaps or aux powerguards did he consume, then? And how many did he guzzle knowing they would all take effect in the middle of the fight when he’d be sure to lose? What else is there, anyway, if not that? Some ancient traditional Diamond clan medicine that enables him to speed up muscle growth in the matter of seconds to save precious training time? After all, what’s the point of physical integrity and training for years in Hisui’s harsh terrain if such a thing exists?”
“None of that is true,” Adaman felt his own irritation begin to seize control of his tongue. “Melli has always been very muscular, but he isn’t used to… well, using those muscles for combat. Or being shirtless for that matter- while nothing compared to the Icelands where the Pearl clan are thriving, the Highlands are too cold for the likes of us. Either way, though no one ever sees them, he’s used those muscles frequently, meaning whenever Lord Electrode became enraged, and he always hurtles it back into the hollow after calming it down.”
“What about the unusually rapid muscle growth? His own frenzy? He can’t be merely imitating Electrode, could he? I just can’t see how any of what you’re saying makes sense given what everyone else has seen.” Irida sighed, exasperated. “Stop lying for him, Adaman. I get it, caring for your friends. But you’re leading us in a circle, and the truth, like the match itself, should be fair and square.”
A testimony to the dark event in the past that he hoped to conceal seemed to be the only option that they would believe, yet at this point, he had inadvertently lost both of their trust. There was no telling whether anyone would take his word. He nodded, and was about to attempt another explanation when a familiar dark cap and striped cloak graced his peripheral vision.
“My apologies for the interruption; I couldn’t help but overhear your discussion of Warden Melli’s, er, surprising victory. He has mostly calmed down, at least by his own standards, and everyone is now hoping that all would finally be at peace.”
Kamado shook his head. “Warden Ingo, I’m sure you got a closer look at Warden Melli’s state than any of us did. Perhaps you can provide more insight and help us to make more sense of this situation, since Adaman here clearly seems to be hiding something about Warden Melli’s incredible physical power.”
The Warden looked surprised. “Really? Well, unless I heard incorrectly, all that he said about Warden Melli’s behavior regarding sacrilege against Lord Electrode was true. In fact, I even observed a particular instance of such uncontrollable rage myself- this is unfortunately not the first time this has happened, in other words.” He eyed Adaman as he spoke, as if treading over his words cautiously. While Adaman appreciated the consideration, he knew there was no going back.
It was Irida’s turn to look astonished. “Well, in that case, when? Why did no one know of this, that such a dangerous individual was not only in charge of caring for the most dangerous Lord Pokémon, but also prone to losing his mind under such arbitrary circumstances?”
“Because he isn’t dangerous.” Adaman spoke up, feeling the need to defend his friend more than ever. “He only becomes this way if that forsaken patch- the very one that I embroidered for him- gets irreparably torn, which is usually very unlikely to happen. Had I known he’d worn his Diamond uniform instead of the sparring attire, I would have acted sooner. For that, I apologize.”
“I would also like to add that Hisui needs him to temper Lord Electrode’s fury. No warden before him has lasted even a month without either succumbing to electrocution or losing control of the twenty-year surge-floods that unleashed massive thunderstorms and hurricanes onto the villages that once populated the Highlands. I’ve lost many a colleague during my years in the Highlands, and I’d much rather have an insufferable one than none.”
Frustration permeated the atmosphere around the four of them, all unsure how to proceed and dreading the outcome when the time would come to face their own people.
“I suppose we should let you know the whole truth. Warden Melli truly doesn’t have control when this happens, but I don’t know how else to convince you. Ada, do you want to tell them, or do I have your permission to do so?” There was a barely-noticeable twitch and grimace in Ingo’s countenance when the nickname slipped, and Adaman felt heat rise to his cheeks.
“Y-you can tell them.” he nodded, looking toward the ground. He was relieved that Irida and Kamado seemed to finally believe his side of the situation, even if it took Ingo’s testimony for it to happen. And as unbefitting of a leader as he was in letting meekness take hold, he simply could not bear to witness the discussion in its full intensity, especially after he had pathetically handed the reins to a Warden of a different clan. A Warden who was nonetheless capable of sending shivers through his entire body with a single, piercing gaze that somehow also made him feel safe and reassured. His thoughts darted back to the discussion of hidden, seemingly insurmountable strengths- there was no telling what Ingo’s true potential would be if he already held such power over him in plain sight.
“In that case, I shall begin. Around three years ago- two before Leader Irida ascended to her position- Warden Melli and I met briefly to discuss the range of land in which our Lord and Lady were permitted to roam. His Pokémon- I believe it was his Skuntank- ran over and splashed a bit of mud directly over his uniform where the Electrode was. His mood instantly shifted, and he was visibly upset as he stormed off, claiming that he wanted it to be cleaned. He left his hat behind, which I decided to return when I was finished rounding up all my own partners. I reached the Moonview arena shortly afterwards, and there I found him attacking Adaman with such brutal force that even his Pokémon partners couldn’t fend him off. I managed to divert his attention by playing the flute for Electrode- something I acknowledge that no one should ever do under normal circumstances- and he was instantly back to his old self, coaxing the Lord back to the hollow. It was clear then that the frenzy-like behavior was completely out of his control, and this was only confirmed by his reaction when he saw what he did to his own Leader.”
Feeling embarrassed at the looks of mixed shock and sympathy from Irida and Kamado, Adaman eyed Ingo, thankful that he left out the grisly details and hoping he’d understand his intention to contribute to the recount. “Just to be clear, he handed the uniform to me to fix in case there was any damage to it- even though it was just covered in mud. I ended up unraveling quite a bit after washing it off because I embroidered the image long ago and wanted to redo it since my previous work was unsatisfactory. I didn’t anticipate what would happen next, but Ingo saved me, and… and I’m always indebted to him for this.”
He looked away from the man he had been staring at without realizing it, and pretended not to notice how Ingo’s eyebrows raised when he uttered the last sentence. “My point is to reiterate that he’s genuinely not himself when this happens, and that it’s very unlikely if we are aware of any risk to that patch. I promise we’ll do better to prevent anything like this in the future. Again, I apologize for what happened today. I will speak with Melli and we will apologize to Warden Gaeric as well, along with any other necessary reparations that would maintain our peace. Just… I ask that you please don’t mention any of the details from the past to Melli. Or anyone else, for that matter. He tried to exile himself after it happened, and it actually took a lot of persuasion from me to get him to stay.”
The group fell silent once more, lost in thought.
“I just don’t understand,” Irida mumbled quietly. “No one even mentioned anything like this to me. Do the other wardens not know about this?”
“They do. Ingo and I spoke with them, but they all promised to keep quiet about it after becoming aware of the detriment his departure would cause. But even if it happened years before you became leader, I now see that I should have let you know as well in case this happened since, well, it did.”
Letting out an exasperated sigh, Irida nodded in resignation. “I guess I see where you’re coming from now. Do hold your promise to Gaeric and help him through this. After humiliating him with such a terrible loss, that is the only way to have him on your side and tame the tumultuous temperaments of our clan. As much as we struggled to get along in the past, I suppose the Pearl clan should put effort into keeping up with the times and maintaining better relations- especially considering how you Diamond types have done much to respect our Hisui’s sacred space while helping to expand our settlements. Now that you’ve explained yourself, I’ll try not to let this get in the way of our peace.”
“Thank you, Irida. We’ll be sure to resolve this.” he was at a loss for words at this point, but was nonetheless relieved and grateful that they came to an understanding. He turned to Kamado. “Commander, as for the damage caused to the dojo-”
“It is no matter. Our craftsmen need to improve the stability of this structure anyway. If the walls are capable of breaking under such circumstances, they are surely in need of stronger material. Hmm, perhaps I should task Akari with helping the construction corps now that her surveying duties have all been completed…”
“In that case, I will still be here for my weekly visits, so let me know if I can help in any way.” Adaman flushed at the thought of the weekly visits. Perhaps he should have specified the one where he visited Beni and Kamado since he regularly saw Ingo at the training grounds as well.
“Very well, that settles it. While it is uncertain whether this competition will continue tomorrow, I will still do my best to prepare. It seems that Warden Melli has plenty of unseen power on his hands, and I look forward to facing him at some point in the future.”
After the other leaders left and the room became almost empty, Adaman slumped down onto a nearby bench, holding his head in his hands. A few seconds passed, and he felt the spot next to him dip slightly under another’s weight.
“It has been quite the eventful afternoon for everyone, it seems. Would you like to vent your worries, or will you be on your way back to the settlement soon?”
Adaman lifted his head, looking wearily at Ingo before leaning against the other man’s shoulder. “Always so formal and fancy. Just hold me while everyone’s gone for once. You can have me all to yourself tonight for saving me yet again.”
Ingo hummed in satisfaction, his hand snaking around Adaman’s waist and squeezing lightly at his hip. “Just tonight, or will I have the pleasure for eternity by the time I leave you begging by the end of it, as I always do?”
“I wish. Have to be at the Brava arena by four in the morning to care for Lady Lilligant now that Arezu’s working here full time. Can’t wait ‘til we find a new Warden, but it’s incredibly fortunate that Warden Calaba has been able to watch over her when neither of us can.” He gasped when he felt Ingo’s strong hands firmly knead into the knotted flesh on his upper back.
“I see. And after that?”
“Run to the Coastlands and meet with Iscan at nine. See how his leg’s recovering and help with Basculegion. Update him on what happened and hope he doesn’t worry too much considering Melli took his place for the event. Meet with Palina to deliver whatever Iscan inevitably has for her. At least I’ll have Basculegion to travel on by then.”
“Giving away your Celestica flute hasn’t exactly helped you to save time, has it?” Ingo attempted to lighten the mood, only to realize it had the opposite effect when noticing Adaman’s grimace.
“I’m still trying to carve a new one. Ironically, I haven’t had enough time to finish it with all these duties, but it’s close to being done. Hopefully it’ll be worth the while even if I’m bad at playing those things.” Noting Ingo’s surprised look, he continued. “The Celestica people as we know them may be the ones who created the crafting recipe, but the- I mean, the people I descended from branched from them, and the methods to create the sacred instruments were still passed down to us through fragments. So I just hope I’m not too incompetent at making or using it.” Ingo held him closer in reassurance, deciding not to push the topic further.
“I didn’t mean it in a negative way. I’m sure you’re doing a wonderful job in every aspect of your leadership. But I must ask, how are you doing?”
Adaman lifted his head, visibly confused. “Everything’s alright. I mean, I literally just told you what I’m going to do tomorrow, and everything today is on track to be fixed, at least for the moment. Just need to find Melli and Gaeric…” he sighed and rested against Ingo’s shoulder once more. “This is a long day. Just a few more minutes with you.”
“You know I’m not talking about any of that, Ada. I’m talking about you. You’ve clearly gotten thinner, and it doesn’t seem that you have slept well for a long time.”
This again. “I’m fine, Ingo. I promise. It’s just been busy since the settlement is expanding in both area and population, and I haven’t been able to do much else. And what about you? I know I’ll still meet with you and Melli this week, but how’s Lady Sneasler and the Highlands?”
Ingo’s hands stopped with their massaging movements. Typical of him to change the subject. “Splendid. But you shouldn’t worry so much about others if you don’t have enough time to even rest.”
“But I just-”
“My point is that you need to take better care of yourself,” Ingo cut him off this time, turning his head to look him straight in the eye. “Sure, your clan is flourishing and expanding rapidly, while still maintaining harmony with the Pearl clan and the people of Jubilife throughout the untempered lands of the south. But what of you? If we had a mirror you’d see how the powder on your face has melted to betray the shadows under your eyes, and though you hide them under bandages, the wounds on your arms must show how unkind you have been to your body when it calls for slumber.”
The look of horror on the other man’s face as he instinctively held his arms closer to his chest almost made Ingo regret his words, but he could not hide his worries any longer. “Speak with your wardens, or negotiate with the Fathers of Time to share the burden. Tell Leader Irida and Commander Kamado that efforts to integrate foreign relations and wild lands into Hisui have natural delays when you don’t resolve them all by yourself. At the very least, talk to me. I will not let you live like this, and I will do all that I can to prevent your self-destruction- even if it means quitting my own Jubilife duties for a week and tying you to your bed.”
It was rare to see Ingo show even a hint of disdain, but to hear such angered passion behind his concern along with the image produced by his last phrase left Adaman under a cloud of mixed fear and shameful thoughts. “Ingo, people might hear.”
“That is of no matter to me. I will waste no more time. Go and speak with Warden Melli, then head to my quarters and wait there. I will handle the rest with Warden Gaeric.”
“But I have to apologize to Warden Gaeric as well. I still have a lot of responsibility in this, since I should have met with Melli before all of this, or at least known about his uniform.”
“You don’t seem to take into account how unlikely these turn of events truly were. No one could have predicted this so easily, and I promise you that I will make them understand. Besides, this is something mainly between Melli and Gaeric- I’m sure that once they’ve settled down, even they would rather forgo their misgivings than exacerbate the collapse of the bridge between the clans that we all so painstakingly built over these years. It would be just as fine if you come back tomorrow, after everyone has rested well. That includes yourself. Go, now. I won’t take no for an answer in this.”
Still shaken by the unyielding firmness in Ingo’s tone, Adaman nodded and stood to leave.
The next half-hour was spent in the Galaxy headquarters arguing with Melli’s incessant belligerent claims against his fallen opponent, which only simmered down after Adaman promised to fix the embroidery- out of the other’s sights, of course- in exchange for Melli’s genuine apology to Gaeric. When they left, they passed the Medical Corps where Gaeric, sporting a blackened eye and a broken arm, groused to Ingo, who quietly listened as Pesselle brought ice and an assortment of medicinal herbs on a tray. Adaman could barely assess the extent of the damage or discern what they said, only wishing he was in a better position, or at a better time, to help. He felt a nudge on his arm, and turned to see Melli frowning down upon him.
“You were staring, and it wasn’t at the Great Melli. I don’t like it one bit.”
“Was just contemplating it all, okay? You’ve caused more than enough trouble today. I wanted to check if everything’s alright with them before I can actually help. Hopefully the medical team and Ingo have it covered in terms of Warden Gaeric’s recovery.”
Melli scoffed. “Of course. And I’m the one who needs to apologize, even though the damage done was mutual.”
“Not to everyone else. No one understands what Lord Electrode’s image means to you, I’ll give you that. But that just makes Warden Gaeric’s defeat and physical wounds appear all the more detrimental since you seem unscathed to them. Imagine losing to someone new to combat after almost always winning five rounds of competition for years. I feel terrible for him, and I hope you at least try to empathize with them this time. What did you do to him, anyway?”
“Well first of all, everyone made the huge mistake of underestimating my power despite my clear superiority to you puny people. Second of all, I have completely forgotten exactly how I defeated him.” He was met with a deadpan expression. “Why the sour face? I mean, sure, I got a little angry, beat him down in close combat, body-slammed him to the ground and seismic-tossed him through the wall, but he deserved it for what he did to Lord Electrode! I just don’t know why he didn’t get up and fight back. Well, now that I think about it, maybe I did go a little far.”
Why did I bother defending him? Adaman internally groaned. “You’re hopeless. Look, I know you’re still peeved since Lord Electrode isn’t intact on your uniform, but I think you need to be more aware of your own strength. People, no matter how strong and sturdy they seem, aren’t Lord Electrode, and you can’t throw them around with the force that would send your Lord back into the Hollow. And keep in mind that frenzies and mal-intended brute force are heavily looked down upon at the competition. You can be our ‘number one’ alongside Iscan- you may even surpass him, but you’ll have to work on controlling your power.”
“‘Number one’ strongman? I thought I already was! I won, didn’t I? You didn’t even win, and who knows when Iscan will walk again.” The momentary regret of his previous actions was all but dissolved in haughtiness and prideful reasoning yet again.
“Don’t get cocky. In a normal session, I doubt you’d last a minute without tripping over your own feet. That is, if they even let you participate again considering all the controversy this is stirring up.” Adaman sighed. Although the giant buffoon made him want to pull his own hair out at times, he wanted nothing less than for the rest of Hisui to shun him away. “Just remember to be here at noon tomorrow. You still have an apology to deliver to Warden Gaeric and the rest of the Pearl clan.”
He received a mumble in reply as they stopped in front of Ingo’s quarters. “I’m meeting him here soon. You go home and rest. Get up early and don’t be late.”
A look of mock betrayal took over Melli’s face. “Fine. Go spend the night with Bald Basculin-face, see if I care!” He turned away with his nose in the air before summoning Wyrdeer on his flute.
“I’m not fixing your uniform until next month!” Adaman shouted back.
“You better, or I’ll do worse to you in the next competition! Today was nothing! Nothing!” his voice echoed, becoming smaller as his figure disappeared past the gates and into the distance.
Adaman shook his head, a wry smile on his face, and began to examine the wrinkled uniform Melli had left with him. A pair of angry eyebrows on a pale half-moon glared back at him, the loose white strands hanging from the bottom of what remained of the patch making it seem like some ghostly Tentacruel drawn from a child’s recollection. It wouldn’t be a difficult fix, and he wished that he had his supplies with him so he could sequester at least one of his impending tasks to the back of his mind, or at the very least make himself more useful during his wait. While he took pride in his ability to perfect a variety of patterns relatively quickly, even simple patches as important as the one in his hands called for much more patience and precious time that would be difficult to manage in the coming days.
He recalled Anthe’s demonstrations of a strange new machine when they worked together to exchange materials and create new designs a few days ago. It both astounded and irked him that the device could be configured in such a way that an intricate image of a Gyarados among crashing waves appeared within minutes on plain fabric. Embroidery was to the Diamond clan as music was to the Pearl clan- the artwork was a sign of respect, appreciation, and love reflected through the time and effort dedicated to every piece. However, efficiency was one of the core values of his village that was much more consistent with Hisui’s rapid changes, and one that he himself constantly strove to uphold.
It was difficult for him to express his conflicting feelings regarding the innovation. On one hand, he wanted to become more familiar with it due to its inevitable rise to prominence in the coming years. On the other, he worried about the significance of the countless pieces his people had done in the past. Ever since his first stitches as a child under Mai’s guidance, he had many memories of gifting embroidered garments to others- for Mai herself, for Melli, and, of course, for Ingo, through the numerous elaborate patches used to repair his coat and hat. What would become of their meaning if he decided to use the machine for the sake of preserving time? Would his love for each of them still be as clearly expressed in a future where anything is possible?
“My apologies for the wait. Contending with a man whose will rivals the solidity of Lord Avalugg’s legacy certainly required some time. I hope you don’t mind me bringing your train of thought to a halt as well.”
The claws, feathers, clouds and mountains adorning the formerly torn parts of Ingo’s uniform almost seemed out of place with his breathless, comically wide-eyed look. Adaman chuckled and pulled him down for a kiss.
“You arrived right on schedule, as you always do. How’s Warden Gaeric? I wasn’t able to assess his condition very well back at the dojo.”
“He sustained some damage on his arm and leg, and there was an inconspicuous bump on his head beneath his hair. However, with how actively he engaged in our conversation, I doubt any of the injuries are true causes for concern. He was quite furious that he was fully knocked out, even for just a few minutes, and wanted nothing less than to leave his bed for more training. I still managed to convince him to be willing to listen to Warden Melli tomorrow as planned.”
“Of course, it’s understandable that he feels that way. I hope he recovers soon.” Adaman held back a deep sigh of relief. “Wow, you’re everyone’s hero today. I might even forget that my own loss was because I was watching your face when Commander landed me in the dirt.”
Ingo’s expression darkened instantly, and Adaman gulped when he felt a large hand curl tightly around his throat. “I was planning to see you admire me from the sidelines tomorrow, but it seems you’d rather experience my strength firsthand.”
“What makes you say that?” feigning obliviousness always seemed to rile up even the most patient of men. His behavior achieved its desired results even more quickly than expected, and Adaman let out an embarrassing yelp when Ingo suddenly lifted him up and landed a harsh smack on his bottom as he carried him through the threshold to his bed.
They made quick work of their shoes, robes, and the rest of their clothes, and continued to grapple and kiss as if starved of each other. After delivering a forceful bite to his lover’s neck, Ingo pushed himself up, looming over to stare into Adaman’s half-lidded eyes.
“I’d say buckle up, but perhaps I should tie my belt around your wrists instead. Get ready for the ride of your life, Ada- this train will not hold back.”
***
Adaman never felt more restless in his life than in that night he was supposed to spend as a rare moment of repose. Between clouded memories of breathy moans and screams of pleasure, or nails clawing into sheets and teeth digging into skin, there were instances that were so vivid and clear in his mind that he would have crossed his legs in shame if he pondered too much about them.
There was the whiplash from Ingo’s adorably unfitting jargon contrasted with literal gut-churning force that surely caused his abdomen to bulge and form more space for the “train” to travel into. A delicate kiss would follow, giving him a brief sense of peace before teeth would find their way to his collarbone and leave marks like makeshift tracks for some other train to glide over. Ingo was intensely everything all at once- perhaps just like the chains of vehicles that he spoke of so fondly- harsh in close proximity but serene from a distance; rugged in appearance yet full of elegant mannerisms; he was capable of both expertly altering his course and charging forward with unmatched power in any given conflict, along with a penchant for conducting all parties involved towards a peaceful resolution. Even at his lowest, having lost nearly everything from his time and being regarded as an amnesiac by all of Hisui, Ingo won over Adaman’s heart with hardly any effort.
Part of him thought back to when he was selfishly reluctant to help Ingo to regain glimpses of his lost memories, worried that the turmoil and heartache of remembering his previous life and loved ones would create some rift between them. Such a notion seemed ludicrous after seeing the man reawaken some intense youthful energy that made him stand straighter and significantly taller than Adaman himself; his enormous muscles, once obscured by the illusion of feebleness under his slouched posture and tattered cloak, constantly strained his uniform as he proudly puffed out his chest, ready to subject the nearest living being to the joys of battling or the glorious mental illustrations of locomotives- if they expressed any interest, that is. He was always such a gentleman to everyone else. Everyone, including the one who lay next to him, covered in marks of love and unable to rest for much longer as the sun barely began to shine into the lowest clouds on the horizon. Adaman felt a shiver through his spine, the same excitement that Ingo’s insistent and lustful confession roused in him less than a month ago. He was still restless, and he wanted more, but short was time. Only time, which he cherished and worshiped for his whole life, would leave a world so bleak when it runs out.
It felt painfully unfair that he must leave, and not just because of the dreaded limp he would deal with throughout the day. Only a few minutes would pass before he would be separated once more from the only person with whom he could confide his intrinsic stigmas and most unorthodox secrets. He took a deep breath and opened his eyes. There, through the window, was the twinge of dawn’s light just beneath the distant mountains. But that was merely in the periphery, for it was Ingo and his wide-awake, knowing eyes that pulled him back to reality.