Chapter 54: Interstellar / 7.3 : A promise
Eden walked the halls of the ship for his quarters. Every time he met a soldier on the way they would smile at him and he would smile back. Since yesterday’s meeting where Yanzhao tried to have him thrown out of The Military Society, everyone treats him differently. They all realized that the reason why he stayed away wasn’t that he thought he was better than them but because he doesn’t know how to make friends since he never had any. Yanzhao’s plan turned against him.
When he arrived in his quarters he was surprised to see an Alpha looking out the window. Eden closed the door and called:
"Supreme Commander?"
Haoxuan turned around. Eden’s eyes softened when he saw that he was nervous. Haoxuan just looked at Eden silently, he came to see him because he missed him. Since the meeting, Eden spent all his time training with other soldiers in the simulation room. He doesn’t eat with the other soldiers so he couldn’t even see him. He just walked to his quarters without thinking and he doesn’t even have an excuse.
Eden tilted his head with a smile. He felt stunned, Gege is being shy! This is crazy! In all of the universes, his husband was always a proud and confident person. He’s determined and as soon as he sees him he does everything to have him. He’s the type of person who always takes what he wants when he wants it so to see him nervous around him is indearing. Eden took a step closer and asked:
"Did you want to ask me something?"
Haoxuan coughed and said:
"I wanted to know when did your spiritual strength change?"
He felt relieved about being able to think of a question to ask. As soon as he saw Eden it was like his brain became foggy. He makes him feel nervous and excited at the same time. All he can hear is his rapid heartbeat.
"A couple of hours before the end of the trial I felt something hit my head and passed out. I woke up in a dark cave surrounded by 7 Goises and felt my spiritual strength soar."
Haoxuan frowned, he stood behind Eden and looked at his head. He passed his hand through his hair and saw a wound that Eden had disinfected.
He wasn’t surprised that he used western medicine instead of using a healing pod. Even after seeing the wound, he felt reluctant to pull his hand away. His hair was soft and it smelled like cherry. The smell was familiar. When he felt he might’ve taken too long he stood before him again. He looked at him just for a second then away.
"We’ll launch an investigation to find out what happened.
"There’s no need."
Haoxuan looked at him with a frown, if Eden doesn’t want it to be investigated then he can’t since he is the victim.
Eden smiled.
"You heard the rumors circulating about me, everyone thought that I was a spoiled rich guy who used his money to get in when I’ve worked harder than anyone. Any soldier might’ve wanted to teach me a lesson so you’ll never find the culprit."
Haoxuan didn’t react even if he disagreed with Eden. The person who did this to him wanted him to die not to teach him a lesson. Everyone knows that even an Alpha would die if he was surrounded by seven Goises so what chance did an Omega like Eden would have? He’ll investigate secretly.
Eden could tell that he was angry even if in this universe he doesn’t show much emotion because he knows him by heart. He’ll deal with Yanzhao anyway so there’s no need to investigate. He took a step closer and asked with a smile:
"Can I call you Gege?"
Haoxuan’s anger vanished at that question. The fact that he wants to call him Gege means he wants them to be closer and he wants that too. He nodded. Eden smiled brightly and his green eyes shone as he said:
"Thank you Gege."
Hearing Eden call him that made him incredibly happy and it felt oddly natural. He couldn’t stop himself from smiling. Eden’s heartbeat quickened, he thought Gege looked so cute. He knows that Haoxuan is known for never showing emotion let alone smiling so the fact that he did for him made him happy. Why is Gege so precious in this universe? He just wants to eat him.
Haoxuan coughed and said before leaving:
"I should go."
Before closing the door he looked at Eden one last time. Eden smiled at the closed door. This universe is going to be so much fun.
As soon as they were back in The Royeax Kindom & Principalities all the soldiers left for their home. Since they’ve been on planet Vrokkro for less than two weeks they have a free weekend. Before Yanzhao could get into the hovercar he had ordered he was called to Supreme Commander’s office. He knows what this is about, he felt Haoxuan and Qiping’s coldness since the meeting. They’ve been friends for a couple of years so to have them only treat him like a colleague now is hurtful. He knocked and entered when he heard enter. Usually, he would just enter without knocking but they made it clear with their behavior that they aren’t friends anymore.
He closed the door and looked at Haoxuan and then Qiping who was standing near him behind his desk. Haoxuan ordered:
"Sit."
Yanzhao took a seat. Qiping asked:
"You know what you did wrong right?"
Even if he asked the question Yanzhao could tell that it wasn’t a real question. He was startled when Qiping yelled:
"Not only did you accuse a fellow soldier without proof but you used our friendship to try to humiliate him in front of everyone."
Qiping narrowed his eyes at Yanzhao.
"When you said that Eden had cheated on the trial you assured us that you had proof and that it would be beneficial to have the trial in front of the other soldiers to make sure it doesn’t happen again. You clearly had a vendetta against him and wanted to belittle him."
Yanzhao looked down in silence. What can he even say? They saw right through him.
He looked up sad and said:
"I’m sorry I didn’t think that his spiritual strength expediently grew out of the blue. It’s never been seen before, anyone would think that he had cheated."
Qiping yelled:
"It doesn’t matter you don’t make accusations without proof. You’re a Colonel and you know less about the rules of The Military Society than Eden a soldier in training."
Haoxuan said in an even voice:
"You must be aware that he can report you to the council and if he does you’ll be on your own."
Yanzhao looked at him in fear. He worked so hard to get to where he is he can’t lose his place as the Colonel. He looked at Haoxuan pleadingly.
"I made a mistake and I swear it won’t happen again."
"I suggest you apologize to Eden so he doesn’t denounce you to the council."
Yanzhao immediately nodded.
"I will I promise."
Qiping looked at him with contempt and ordered:
"Leave."
Yanzhao was shocked by his attitude but he stood up and said before leaving:
"Thank you for seeing me and I’m sorry."
He closed the door behind him and got into his hovercar. His fists were clenched as he thought about his supposed friend’s attitude. How could they put duty before their friendship? They know that he likes Shangyu since he told them and this is how they act? They even said they won’t have his back if the council removes him as the colonel. He should’ve known that they would throw him out at some point.
Qiping and Haoxuan have been friends since they were kids and when he became colonel he let them in and treated him as an equal. Then the three of them became best friends and they were always together. Like a fool, he thought they would put their friendship above everything else but he was wrong. They should help him get rid of Eden instead of telling him to apologize. Yanzhao took a breath to calm down. He’ll apologize to show them and Eden that he made a mistake and he is sorry. Now he has even more reasons to kill Eden and he’ll never give up before he is six feet under.
Qiping sighed and sat in front of Haoxuan.
"This is ridiculous, I knew he loved Shangyu but to go as far as having his fiance thrown out is too much."
Haoxuan said:
"He’s indeed gone too far but unfortunately for him, he went after the wrong person."
Qiping smiled.
"He did, I didn’t think Eden was like that."
Haoxuan looked at his hand, he can still feel Eden’s soft hair. He was surprised too just like everyone else. He’s seen how things have changed for him since then so at least something positive came out of that farce. He looked at Qiping:
"You know me, from now on I’ll only consider him as a colleague. When he did his interview a month ago talking about how he struggled to become colonel because of his gender I never said anything even if it was a lie. I thought that he wanted to show other Omegas that they can enter the army too and their hard work will pay off but that’s not the case since he was willing to humiliate one just for some useless Alpha."
Yanzhao acts like he wants to break the stereotype of the Omegas for them but then he acts like a typical one. He showed that he only cares about himself.
Qiping’s eyes flashed in amusement. He’s never seen Haoxuan show any kind of feelings speaking about a soldier. Even if he hadn’t qualified Shangyu as useless his disdainful tone showed how he felt about him. He asked:
"What do you have against Shangyu?"
When Haoxuan narrowed his eyes at him he chuckled. He’ll talk to him when he is ready that’s how Haoxuan is.
When Eden got out of the hovercar his mother immediately ran to hug him. Eden hugged him back with a smile. He knows that it must be hard on him after losing his father than having Eden sign up for the army. Shian pulled back and checked Eden everywhere to make sure he is okay. Eden smiled.
"Mother I’m fine I promise."
Shian pulled him inside. Eden took a seat next to him.
"How was your first trial?"
"It went great I easily passed it and I won first place."
Shian smiled.
"Congratulation I knew you could do it."
Eden’s eyes softened. Even if his mother wished he didn’t sign into the army he still supported him. When he died during the last trial he was heartbroken. What killed him most is that he couldn’t even bury the body to put him to rest. He’ll make sure he doesn’t go throw the heartache he did in the original timeline.
"I know you’ve always believed in me."
Shian caressed his head affectionately. Eden smiled.
"My spiritual strength and physical level as changed."
Shian looked at Eden surprised.
"How so?"
"It’s 5S and triple-A like father was."
Shian was stunned. Eden being 2S was already impressive since he is an Omega but now he’s telling him he is 5S and triple-A.
Hearing that reassures him and makes him beyond happy. He hugged Eden tightly with tears in his eyes. He was so scared this entire week. He thought that he would receive a call telling him that his only son has died. Even if Eden has experience unlike the other soldiers he is still an Omega but knowing now that he is even stronger than an Alpha is everything.
Eden pulled back and looked at his mother. The relief he felt was visible, he knows that this is heavy on him so he just wants to show him that he doesn’t have to worry anymore. Eden promised teary-eyed:
"I’ll always come back home."
Shian held Eden’s hand and nodded. He believes in him. Eden held his hand tighter, he’ll never break his promise, and anyone who tries to kill him he’ll destroy.
