Chapter Text
"To the woman he once vowed to claim in death is now the one he yearns to claim a life with instead. To her, in a hundred years."
It may not seem like it, but Moze isn't used to being alone. Like how a shadow will always be accompanied by its body, the same goes for him and his general, Feixiao. If not her, he still has his co-messenger, Jiaoqiu, to find solace. Unfortunately, today is the first time in a long time that he has been alone.
Even without instruction, he made it a lifestyle to always follow Feixiao around in the shadows when unoccupied. But the Merlin's Claw has a catching-up affair with the Divine Foresight of the Loufu, in his private orchard. Having two generals able to detect him would lose his stealth's purpose. He would still go with her, but as per instruction, with respect to her 'meeting' with Jingyuan, Feixiao suggested he either accompany Jiaoqiu or do his errands. And if danger were to come,
"What prey would require the attention of two generals?"
He planned to follow the first option given by her, yet,
"Look at her! Do you really think she can keep up with the speed you want to teach without sufficient strength?"
"That's for her to discover, Yunli! How is focusing on strength helpful when her footwork is still messy?"
The pink-haired girl whined and walked closer to the pink-haired foxian, "Mister Jiaoqiu, is the elixir done? It may help stop my masters from arguing. I have 13 days left!"
Moze grimaced at remembering how loud the group was. The two masters who kept bickering back and forth, the student who kept yelling phrases she didn't know the meanings of, and the grey fella who either stared off a wall or was part of the noise. At least one of them was enjoying the sight. Jiaqoqiu, cunning as ever, secretly watched them in entertainment- which Moze immediately backed out of.
Which leads him alone in their temporary apartment in the Loufu. With nothing else to do, he decides to do what he loves the most.
Clean.
After taking a shower and changing into a new set of clothes, he went on to adorn himself with cleaning gloves, a mask, and headwear. To the general audience, their apartment is far from dirty. But to Moze, the tiniest sight of dust does not go unnoticed as it irks him. He cleans the windows, wiping each tile and drying them afterward. He cleans the kitchen, emptying the trash that's filled with vegetable and fruit peels, and all ingredients Jiaoqiu considers to be inedible- are these corianders?
He wipes and sharpens the weapons they have, appreciating Feixiao's taste when it comes to the diverse designs. Although she doesn't care whatever weapon she uses or how it looks like, her weapons match her in a way. Like him, he's the weapon that matches her most. He cleans their bedrooms and rearranges and re-folds their clothes. He sighs out of leisure, cleaning makes him at ease.
That is until he noticed the chest he is currently cleaning. It's familiar, but he can't recall its contents. It's unlocked but seemed to have been unopened for centuries. He decides to open it-
And the memories came crashing down.
The chest was full of strales,
"For every successful mission, you will earn one strale. One strale will buy you forgiveness after each assassination attempt."
dull daggers,
"Until the day you kill me, you must do as I tell you."
and a notebook.
"You will eat three square meals every day, study, learn martial arts... Oh, and you will shower daily."
Aside from that, Feixiao also instructed him to work on his literacy and numeracy with the help of Jiaoqiu. This is what the notebook is for. Deciding to open it was-
horrid.
The first pages of the notebook were unreadable and unrecognizable as if it were a discovered ancient language. Even though it's his own penmanship, Moze could not decipher anything. He grumbled in either disdain since he did not remember his handwriting to be this bad, or in amusement; seeing himself judge his past writing skills proved that he improved.
Flipping through the pages, a little hint of nostalgia enveloped his senses. He looked at the strales he gained centuries ago, and he continues to gain and collect til this era. He shook away the negative thoughts that tried to creep in and shifted his eyes to the pages before him. Each page he passes slowly becomes decent and readable. Skipping through the pages, he reached the last pages and noticed lengthy writings. He has indeed forgotten.
It read,
To myself in a hundred years, remember these lines.
Unity of Discipuli Medicus, the Immortality's true path. Remember their words. My family, before that woman killed them.
"When that time comes, we must carry on each other's wills."
I was once concerned that I would not be able to get close to that woman, yet I was assigned as Yaoqing's shadow guard and followed by her side at all times. Each time I aimed for revenge, I lose.
But I will not waiver.
I have improved. According to her words, I am nearing to master the art of vanishing and reappearing like a ghost.
Every success of a mission is an opportunity for revenge.
My blade.
The edges of my dagger will forever be aimed at her.
1st Attempt
"General, report!"
"One hundred and seventeen of the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus have been captured and will be handed over to the Ten-Lords Commission for imprisonment. However, this young man has likely suffered torture with their medicines. Look..."
As Moze hides himself in the shadows, the woman being referred to as the "General" walks towards him. She had already noticed his presence. Fitted with anger, he initiated an attack by raising his dagger. However, in the blink of an eye, the dagger comes crashing to the ground, his arm being held by the white foxian.
"You wish to kill me?"
"You killed my family."
He notices a momentary unease in the eyes of the fox-eared woman. A flash of- was it confusion? pity? His guesses remained guesses as he noticed the woman's hold was tight yet gentle.
"You count them as family?"
"They saved me. They are the only reason I am alive."
She lets go of the boy and shakes her head, "I see you know nothing... Never mind." The moment her back faces him as she attempts to leave, the boy assumes an opening. He picks up the dagger from the ground, jumps high into the air from behind her, and lunges forward.
He momentarily and silently gasped at the smirk that faced him, "A fine attack!" She praises him. This time, the dagger does not fall to the ground, as it ends in the woman's hands. However, he does not give up.
"It's not polite to bite people, you know..." the General condemned as Moze bit and gnawed on her hand. Noticing the Verdant Knights ready to charge and detain the man, "Ah, don't worry about me. Stand down."
The woman does not fight back. She simply dodges his assaults. The young man is panting and out of breath, yet still desperately seeking a break in her defenses. After a while, they stand in a stalemate.
"How about this? You can come back with me." She said, which immediately made the boy raise his head from panting, looking at her with anger and confusion. "I'll make a deal with you. Come with me," She hands him a strale, "and you can challenge me whenever you please until the day that your vengeance is successful."
"What do you mean?"
"If you come with me, you can kill me any time you like."
Even the surrounding Verdant Knights were stupefied by her words.
"Of course," she added, "until the day you kill me, you must do as I tell you. You will eat three square meals every day, study, learn martial arts... Oh, and you will shower daily."
The young man swallows a heavy gulp. "What about after I kill you?"
The woman was caught off-guard for a moment before erupting into loud laughter, "Then, naturally, you will be free to do whatever you please."
4th Attempt
Days have passed since he was saved lost his family. The effects of the poison slowly but surely subsided. He has been in the doctor's den since the day the general of the Yaoqing left him there to be treated. Either she cared for his health and other people's safety, or it was a timeout for him. Under one day, he tried to harm the general, and all three attempts involved his bites once he realized it was another loss.
Feeling less dizzy than before, Moze decided to practice his stealth among the shadows by facing and cornering himself onto a wall. The only light in the room was the shine from the curtains in the room that wasn't opaque enough to stop light from traveling further.
"Camouflaging with a bright green hospital gown isn't the best way to hone your skills." A familiar voice. He whipped his head to the source of the voice and saw the foxian general he hadn't seen for days idly sitting down on the couch. His eyes flickered to the room door, but the door was closed with no signs of being opened recently.
Since when- How did she-
I didn't notice her. Much less sense.
Pushing his thoughts away, he immediately lunged towards the general's direction for an attack-
And for the 4th time, it's another failure. Both his arms, dagger still in hand, are suspended in the air as the general holds them. Before he could attempt to bite her like always, he felt something touch his pulse point before darkness enveloped his vision.
Falling onto the woman's arms, he rests. "Tsk, tsk. You shouldn't overexert yourself while healing."
"Hm, I should find something that'll help hide yourself with the shadows..."
After placing him back in bed, the general decided to leave. She would later continue to visit him from time to time. One of her visits included a dark purple jacket neatly folded.
9th Attempt
The grey-haired man did not expect the general to actually bring him with her to her abode. After being patched up and bed-rested for a few days, he expected to be caged, or held by chains or a leash. Yet...
He stood silently behind the general as she rummaged around her closet. She hands him a towel and a few of her clothes. "I didn't know I had this many clothes from back when I was still a knight!" she cheered. "Good thing I didn't rid them. They'll fit you just right."
Leading him to the bathroom, she asked once he settled on the tub, "Do you know how to use these products? Do you remember how the doctors used them on you as they assisted you to bathe earlier?"
A pause.
Then the man nodded... too slowly. Which the general caught as uncertainty.
"Let me assist you for a bit." she offered. She patiently introduced the basics of bathing and the proper materials to use, and he patiently listened and learned in return.
She placed a decent amount of shampoo onto her hand and smeared it on the man's hair, ignoring the fact that his clothes remained on and soaked. A hiss was heard when she tried to make a lather, "Does it hurt?" she asked. The young lad stays silent, but his expression gives it away. How his eyes are shut tightly, his teeth gnawing on his lower lip, and his furrowed eyebrows scream nothing but discomfort.
"Poor thing..." she mumbled, audible enough for the both of them. "I'm sorry" Her hands were the softest he felt. She massaged his head, and he slowly relaxed under her grip and even leaned in on her touch. Though it was less calculated than how the doctors bathe him, he prefers her touch more, it seems. Seeing his relaxed state, "Calming, isn't it?"
How could he consider a pair of hands that has taken the life of many, to be so gentle? The callouses were there yet it's what he likes most, the hardened skin soothing his own.
Once again, he stayed silent. But the general, having such keen senses, could tell his answer.
After they were done, Moze was left in the living room as the general took her time in the shower. Wearing a green hoodie and black pants, he resumed being indifferent but acknowledged how the quality of the clothing was way better than what he used to have.
He stared at the door adjacent to him. Hearing the water run from the other side with the general inside.
Another opportunity.
Holding his dagger, he hid among the shadows and waited for a single sound of a creak or any signs of movement from the door he kept his eyes on. Not a minute passed until the door swung open. Immediately, his arms worked fast, and threw the dagger in his hand toward his prey.
Missed.
Before the dagger could even collide with the wall a few inches away from the doorframe, the pale foxian was already halfway through the stairs and directed to her room. Moze blinked in astonishment as his eyes watched her climb the stairs and enter her room in less than 5 seconds. He looked at the dagger stuck in the wall, its dull edge barely hanging.
The man sighed. Even if the general moved slower, he still would've missed.
"You're deprived of needed sleep. That's what's affecting your aim. Come here." He hears the woman call from above the stairs. Plucking the dagger out of the wall, he made his way to where the general ordered him to be. "Ta-da!" The woman cheered, showing him a room with nothing but a futon, a table, and a drawer. "I didn't plan to have another subordinate live with me, so this room is underprepared."
Yet it was more than what he was used to. The idea of resting- without any poison thriving inside his blood vessels or any other new poison and remedies disrupting his attempts at slumber- was incredibly enticing. He couldn't help but be grateful, though his anger remains. He merely responds with a grunt.
Chuckling, "May I get a thank-you, at least?" she teased.
Staring at her pale face, he pondered and eventually caved in, "Thank you, Merlin's Claw"
The said Merlin's Claw snorts, "So formal. I didn't know my title is prominent enough for you to know."
"I've heard your name a lot. You are my family's main prey." his statement earned a grin from the woman.
With her eyebrows raised she jests, "Prey, huh? You sure the roles didn't get mixed up there?" A glare from the man was her only response. "You mentioned you've heard my name countless times, " she said, "But those aren't names. Just measly titles."
"Titles?"
"The Merlin's Claw is what's written in the books, and the Vanquishing General is what people call me." She explained. "The former sounds too formal, the latter too exaggerated. Neither suits me." She sighed dramatically before adding, "I prefer my own title, the Lacking General — lacking in worries, regrets, and rivals."
That made the man ponder and ask, "Is this an indirect order that I call you that?"
The woman laughed, and he stared indifferently. "Feixiao," she finally said. "My name's Feixiao. There's no need to be formal around the person you're trying to assassinate."
Responding again with his signature grunt, "Moze." He introduced himself briefly.
127th Attempt
A box was handed to him. His gaze holds distrust and curiosity as he looks at the gifter, Feixiao. Simply receiving a smile from the foxian, he had no other idea than to open the box that contained-
Huh?
He looks up to meet Feixiao's gaze. "Your daggers have become very easy to catch even with carelessness due to how dull they have become. It's better to change gears!"
The box contained a set of daggers of different shapes and sizes. Moze analyzed each one, daydreaming of new methods for completing his missions.
Just by simply looking at his expression, Feixiao could tell he was satisfied.
She turned around and in a blink, Moze's hand which held a dagger aimed at her, was suspended by her. "Still too slow."
241st Attempt
"What was that?!" A pink-haired foxian barged into the room after hearing a commotion. He gasped once he processed what he saw.
The grey-haired man's chest was pinned by the arbiter-general against the table, hands behind his back, which caused the documents to topple onto each other and created a commotion. The daggers stuck on the floor and the walls didn't go unnoticed by the pink foxian's eyes.
Smiling, Feixiao let go of her hold. "Fret not, Jiaoqiu. It's just a game of ours!"
"Game?" Jiaoqiu's eyes twitched, "Look at this mess!"
"I will do the cleaning," Moze said, nonchalantly.
"It's not about-" Jiaoqiu cut himself off, sighing frustratingly, "It seems like this isn't the first time the two of you got into a brawl. This game of yours is dangerous!" He scolded the two, throwing a disapproving look at the general.
The general snickered, "Take it as a casual spar or training, Doctor."
"As your doctor, I advise the two of you to stop this nonsense. How long has this been going on?"
"Since the day you've heard the gossip from the knights."
462nd Attempt
"Didn't I tell you two to stop just a few months ago?" Jiaoqiu exclaimed, just arriving at the now-damaged pavilion.
"This isn't our doing," Moze stated, referring to the mess around the area.
The doctor raised a brow and proceeded to look at the white-haired foxian. Smiling, "Yes, we did... spar. In a different place! But we sensed and followed the abominations here which caused this mess."
With a light chuff, "It was you who caused this. You used a log as your arrow and shot it all the way here."
2647th Attempt(?)
"That would've been your perfect timing to strike at me," Feixiao said between gasps, pushing away her axe. They had just been strolling around a deserted part of the Yaoqing when the borisins ambushed them. Moze normally follows his routine; following Feixiao while being hidden in the shadows, which made a bunch of borisins assume that the Merlin's Claw has been left unguarded.
One of the borisins held a flask barely filled with an unknown substance that was thrown at Feixiao. Despite the minute amount, it triggered something within her-
Moon Rage.
-causing her moves to be less precise, rather, slacky. Unfortunately for them, her shadow guard was there to assist in the ready.
"I am also your guard," Moze replied at her jest. His brows slightly raised in concern, his eyes carefully scanning the general's chest that kept rising and falling at an unusual and unsteady pace. To the normal eyes, it would seem like nothing. But to a person who has seen her and been with her for more than half a decade, it was noticeable. He's never seen her falter, even as small as this one.
Feixiao straightened her posture.
Eyes never leaving her figure, "...General?" he called. During work hours, he'd call her by title rather than by name. Anytime other than that, her name would be cursed under his breath multiple times.
They stood there for minutes. Moze looking at the woman who's raising her head at the sky with her eyes closed. Breathing irregularly different from what he'd heard from her.
This is the perfect chance-
The silence was broken, "Bring Doctor Jiaoqiu here. Tell him I need his medical assistance." she sternly said, facing her back at him. He does not know if she sensed that he took out a dagger. He does not care, either. She was weakened and something that you would call a minuscule of vulnerability.
This. This might be it.
His hands gripped the daggers tightly.
What are you waiting for?
Sighing internally, he reluctantly hid away the daggers. Nodding, he became one with the shadows to fulfill his general's order.
2648th "Attempt"?
It's been a few days after Moze heard of Feixiao's condition from Jiaoqiu. Her possible blood ties with the borisins. The general took a leave from her post so she could rest, as advised by her healer. It's been a few days since he last saw her too.
He could not forget the sound of her whimpers that night. He wonders how intense the pain she must be in to react that way- and how much discipline she had to muster up to not react further.
He has no plans of disturbing her. Until,
"The Merlin's Claw has asked for your presence in her chambers." One of the Verdant Knights informed him.
He expected to receive another order to assassinate corrupted individuals or clear areas from abominations. Yet none of those were said. Rather he was surprised to be asked after he entered her room,
"Why aren't you using this situation to assassinate me?"
He blinked, slowly. His brows furrowed, "You- " He pursed his lips, "Why would you want that?"
Groaning, "I'm bored to death! Not being able to do my morning and evening jog pains me more than... whatever this is." Moze took note of how her ears moved more animatic-like when she's genuinely frustrated. Despite her long hair being down, the strands on her face do nothing to hide her flush demeanor; her pale skin intensifying the redness of her skin. Her eyes were drowsy and tired as she looked up at him from the bed she was sitting on. "You're the only one that Jiaoqiu won't detect. Wanna spar?"
Even the way she talked seemed... off.
He stepped forward to push Feixiao back down to sit when she tried to get up. His hand pushed her shoulder down, and the other was plastered on her forehead. "General, you're still under a severe fever." Even without a thermometer, Moze knew this wasn't some average fever. Her temperature can be deemed life-threatening to normal civilians. "Rest."
"I want to move around, I can't remain listless," she complained after he removed his hand from her forehead, but the hand on her shoulder remained there.
No wonder Jiaoqiu keeps scolding you.
"I am one of the arbiter-general of the Xianzhou Alliances, I don't need this much rest. I could just eat and heal immediately- but of course, Jiaoqiu won't allow that. But at least I have you to train my senses, or maybe we can..." Feixiao continued to talk about her complaints and suggestions.
Just by the way you talk and look at me, it's obvious you're still tired.
"So why don't you get your daggers and..."
An idea appeared in his head. He's seen the general and doctor use this multiple times against each other.
"Or maybe a fist-to-fist would be better to avoid damages. It'll leave pieces of evidence th- ah?" Feixiao's rambles halted when a sensation coursed through her body that calmed her senses.
It worked. Moze thought as she observed his general's eyes gently closed. His hands were rubbing and massaging her ears. It was easy to make her surrender, her ears already lop-sided.
Feixiao leaned closer to his touch. A rarely heard yet familiar sound came out from her chest. Purring?
Moze patiently continued his antics until his general's head started to sway- her body and mind starting to fall asleep. He removed one of his hands from her ears and transferred it to hold the back of her waist. He then helped her lay down on the bed. His other leg bent and kneeled on the edge of the bed, and the other leg remained grounded on the floor. His back and neck bent down in order to lean close to the general as he held her.
Trying to retract his touch from her, Moze felt a sudden pull strong enough to make him fall and lay next to the white-haired foxian. Having not recovered yet, he didn't notice when Feixiao's arms circled his neck, pulling him close and her face snuggled in between his neck and shoulder blade.
Before he could say something, "You're... cold. Your touch is cold. I like it." Feixiao tenderly expressed while snuggling closer.
The softness of her hair and ears successfully enticed Moze to hold the woman back. The faint sound of purring came back when his hand found its way to her ears, and his other hand held her waist and pulled her closer. Her warmth... it has some familiarity.
Placing his chin on top of her head, he whispered, "I could assassinate you just by playing with your ears."
"Yeah... I'd surrender immediately."
???? Attempt???
He couldn't remember when it all started. Or how it happened in the first place- how he ended up this way.
A small smile formed on his face when he felt another chaste kiss on his lips, her hands framing his face. She just keeps kissing his frown away. Another one on the tip of his nose. Below his eyes. His cheeks.
"Gener-" Another kiss.
He groans, feigning annoyance but his actions say otherwise. The hands on her waist pulled her closer, "Feixiao," he said grumpily. It was just a normal day in the Yaoqing, yet this day seemed most tiresome. When their patrol and hunt ended for the day, the two found themselves back at the Merlin's Claw's chambers, both in sleepwear. He still wears his raisin-colored signature hoodie, while she wears a dark blue crop top and shorts to pair.
Looking up at him, Feixiao tilted her head and with a teasing smile, "Hm?" She removed the hood covering his hair before rummaging her hand to play with it.
He leaned closer to her touch, eyes closing. He hums to express his content. His eyes opened when he heard her giggle, and all he could think was,
My general is so beautiful.
He could not remember- nor bother to- when such intimacy started between them. When did he start to see his general's femininity? It was as if he had always seen her like this. Had always held her so gently and closely. Looking at her as more than a leader- he cannot recall when his hatred isn't hatred anymore. He feels... the adoration coursing in him.
"When that time-"
She's beautiful.
"When that time comes, we-"
Lan, this woman is incredible.
"When that time comes, we must carry on each other's will-"
I can't.
He shook away the thought and Feixiao, as perceptive as she is, noticed he was more than just looking at her, "Moze?"
Moze responded by diving in for a kiss. The act solicited a surprised gasp from the foxian, but the kiss was not unwelcome. Their bodies molded together like matching ornaments; his hands securing her waist, and her arms draped over his shoulders. Just like the many exchanges they've had before, it was addicting. Their lips danced slowly and softly, relishing each other's warmth and taste.
Not even a second passed after they broke apart for air, Moze captured her lips once more- this time with more fervor.
"Ah-" Their kiss broke apart but their distance remained close. "You biter," Feixiao called out, a teasing smile adorning her face. "It's not polite to bite people, you know..."
Who knew their first encounter would be a foreshadowing of the things he loves to do to her?
Licking his general's lips clean of blood, Moze muttered, "Sorry," His voice was guilty, but just like the rest of their intimate endeavors, he would do it again.
With a light giggle, Feixiao claimed his slightly pouted lips which Moze reciprocated with equal vigor. He grunted when the foxian bit him back, nibbling at the bitten spot after. His lips did not bleed; the general having more restraint than he does.
His lips traveled downwards and reached the juncture between her neck and shoulder blade,
Let's just say the closest he's got to assassinating his general that night is by his teeth sinking into her skin.