"Hades?" Luna gasped as she saw him entering the castle.

His clothes were scorched, his torso bare, and his left arm hung uselessly by his side. His face was bruised, one eye darkened, and blood trickled down from his head and stomach. Even his legs seemed barely able to support him.

Marilyn was the first to reach him, quickly wrapping an arm around him and guiding him to the couch.

"Ah, don't worry about it… just training," he muttered weakly, his eyes unfocused.

Luna placed her hand on his chest, a soft green glow spreading beneath her palm. Warm light seeped into his skin, closing his wounds bit by bit. She could feel several fractured bones and how much blood he had already lost.

"What kind of training causes this?" Marilyn asked with a frown.

She had seen harsh teachers before—her sister being one of them—but never anything like this. Even during the most punishing sessions, the damage had never been this severe.

And that was what truly scared her. Hades already had Luna's passive healing aura working on him day and night. For him to still end up like this… it spoke volumes about how brutal his training must have been.

His wounds mended, and the bruises began to fade under Luna's light, yet the color didn't return to his face—the blood he lost couldn't be restored so easily.

"Hades… is this training really necessary?" Luna asked softly, her voice trembling.

Even when he trained under his mother, it was never this cruel. Whoever was putting him through this seemed less like a teacher and more like someone taking revenge.

The redhead smiled faintly at his wives before saying, "First, come here and sit with me."

He shifted to the side, making room for them on both ends of the couch.

Luna and Marilyn exchanged a quick glance, worried still in their eyes, but they sat beside him nonetheless.

Hades took both their hands and spoke gently, "I need you two to understand… whatever General Vulcan is doing, it's for me—and for us."

Marilyn's brows knit tighter. "I understand that he wants to help you progress, but isn't this a bit too extreme?"

Luna nodded in agreement. "Yes. There's not a single part of your body left uninjured. What exactly was he trying to do?"

Hades let out a long sigh before replying, "General Vulcan wanted to awaken the beast inside me."

Marilyn's eyes narrowed, while Luna's expression turned puzzled.

Before Luna could ask further, Marilyn spoke, her tone calm but grave. "He wanted Hades to feel cornered—to experience helplessness. In that state, a dragon's instincts take over, and their inner beast surfaces. When it happens, their power multiplies for a short time… but they lose all sense of reason. The beast strikes at anything nearby, even allies."

Luna's eyes widened slightly at the explanation.

Like most dragons, Marilyn had been trained to keep her inner beast restrained. She had been thrown into situations where all hope was stripped away—where despair was meant to break her. Yet through those trials, she learned to stay composed, to think clearly even when every instinct screamed to give in.

It was the only way to keep her sanity intact when chaos demanded otherwise.

While losing control grants immense power—perhaps the greatest strength one could ever reach—it comes at a cost far heavier than most can bear.

"He said… that state represents the ceiling of my current potential," Hades admitted with a weary sigh. "That's why he kept sending beasts at me—one after another—until the sun dipped below the horizon. Only then did he finally stop."

"General Vulcan… gave up?" Marilyn's voice rose in disbelief. The stories she had heard about that man painted him as relentless—unyielding even in the face of exhaustion. For him to quit midway was almost unthinkable.

Hades nodded slightly. "It seems Mother gave him strict orders about the training duration. I could see it in his eyes—he didn't want to stop."

"What?!" Luna burst out, her voice trembling with both shock and anger. "He wanted to keep going even after seeing you like this?!"

Her hands balled into fists, the green hue around her fingertips flickering violently as if her healing magic itself mirrored her fury.

Hades let out a soft sigh as he cupped Luna's cheek, his thumb brushing gently against her skin. "Luna… have we not talked about this?"

The silver-haired girl met his gaze, still defiant. "But Hades… this isn't what we expected."

"I know," he replied quietly, "but you have to understand—there's no other way. I need to push myself now if I want to stand a chance in the upcoming contest."

Luna fell silent, her eyes lowering as the tension in her shoulders lingered. The worry in her expression hadn't faded, no matter how calm she tried to appear.

Hades sighed and turned toward Marilyn.

The raven-haired woman spoke softly, her voice steady yet laced with concern. "If you truly believe this is necessary for your growth, then I won't argue. But please, my lord… if it ever becomes too much, let us know."

"Yes, Hades…" Luna added gently, her earlier anger softening. "I know we're not allowed to join your training, but at least let us share a part of the burden—somehow."

Hades smiled faintly at their words. He reached out and drew them both into his arms, wrapping them close in a firm, reassuring embrace. "I understand. And… I'm sorry for making you two worry."

Luna melted into his chest, humming softly as she closed her eyes, her earlier unease fading in his warmth.

Marilyn, though her cheeks flushed a faint pink, didn't stiffen this time. Instead, she allowed herself to lean into him, the quiet comfort of his presence easing the worry that still lingered in her heart.

After a brief pause, Hades asked softly, "How was your day? Did you go out?"

Luna giggled, her silver hair swaying lightly. "We spent the whole day chatting while I taught Marilyn how to make your favorite gratin."

Hades raised a brow, a hint of amusement glinting in his tired eyes. "Oh?" He turned toward Marilyn, only to find a spark of determination flickering in her gaze.

"I'll make you a proper dinner tonight," she declared with quiet confidence.

Hades chuckled, his voice still a little rough. "I'll look forward to it… I'm starving."

Marilyn nodded, already rising from her seat. "Then I'll start right away. Give me an hour."

"Take your time," Hades replied warmly, watching her stride toward the kitchen with light, eager steps.

When she disappeared beyond the doorway, Hades turned back to Luna with a faint smile. "So? Are you enjoying yourself here?"

Luna blinked, caught off guard. "Why so suddenly?"

"I mean," he continued, "it's been over a month since we arrived. You've spent most of your life with your grandmother… among humans. I just wanted to know if you're comfortable here."

Luna's expression softened. She understood what he truly meant beneath those words.

A tender smile bloomed on her lips as she replied, "A long time ago, I already found my home—in you. Yes, I still care deeply for my grandmother, but my heart… my priorities will always stay with you."

Hades leaned back on the couch, exhaling in quiet contentment. "I'm glad to hear that… and relieved to see you getting along with Marilyn. Though, I can tell she still hasn't fully adjusted to this new bond between us."

Luna giggled softly. "Yes, I can see how tense she gets around me. But I can't blame her. Until recently, she saw me as her mistress—and you as the one she'd serve for the rest of her life."

Hades hummed softly, "Well, she'll adjust in time."

"I know," Luna replied with a gentle nod before leaning in a little closer, her eyes glimmering with curiosity. "Tell me, Hades… do you remember our promise?"

His brow lifted slightly. "You mean… the wedding?"

Luna's face brightened instantly, her blue eyes sparkling with joy. "You remembered?" she asked, her tone filled with excitement and warmth. "Yes! Have you thought of a venue yet?"

Hades chuckled under his breath. "I spoke with Mother about it, but… there's no proper place for a wedding here in Aethernox."

Luna tilted her head thoughtfully. "Then how about somewhere in the human realm?"

He smiled, but there was a faint trace of regret behind it. "That would've been nice… but you know the Pact. Mother and the other dragons wouldn't be able to attend."

Luna nodded slowly, understanding the weight of his words. "Right… I almost forgot."

Hades gently took her hand in his, his thumb brushing over her skin in a slow, tender motion. "Well, I was planning to talk to Beatrice about it—see if there's a good place in Torseque."

Her lips curved into a soft smile. "That sounds lovely."

Torseque was quite a lovely place. Surrounded by nature, silent and quite calming.

Hades nodded, "Then it's decided. During my trip to Torseque I will have it planned and when I return, let's plan things further.

°°°°°°°°

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