At the foot of the mountain stood a bearded man with stubble covering his face, carrying a heavy wineskin. A gentle breeze swept through his simple clothes, carrying away the scent of alcohol. With proper grooming, he’d surely be a handsome man.
Sadly, Gali’s indifferent eyes revealed he’d likely stay this way forever. He used alcohol’s numbing effect to forget his troubles and pain.
His feet slowly climbed the sturdy stone steps, not even glancing at the path. He simply raised his aged wineskin to his mouth and gulped. He’d walked this road countless times; every detail was etched in his memory.
“All gone. Hic.”
Gali calmly shook the wineskin before his mouth. Only a few drops trickled down the spout into his lips. With a bored expression, he tucked it back at his waist.
“I wonder what Kevin’s up to. Such a big commotion today.”
He didn’t dwell on it, just scratching his messy black hair out of boredom.
...
Atop the mountain, where a luxurious palace had lain in ruins, Kevin restored it instantly. But he seemed extremely tense.
Seated on the throne, Kevin wore a thick, hooded cloak. His hands constantly gathered magic, frantically adding a magical disguise—just an extra precaution.
Yet the disguise meant to alter his original appearance dissolved the moment it touched his skin.
“Damn it! What the hell is going on?”
Kevin lightly tapped the armrest with his slender hand through the fabric. Beneath the cloak, his breathtakingly beautiful face flushed red with anger. He had no clue why this happened; frustration was getting the better of him.
Then, with a small, delicate foot, he kicked forward. The sound of flesh colliding with the table echoed, followed by a feminine shriek of pain.
In the quiet hall, it sounded deafening. Kevin clutched his swollen, red foot, rolling on the floor. His rosy lips parted slightly as he muttered complaints nonstop.
“Damn this weak body! Damn it, damn it.”
After a while, he calmed down. Kevin slumped back on the throne, wiping tears from his eyes with his slender hand. But his mind was already plotting a solution.
“Kevin, got any good wine? Sorry, I just finished mine.”
Just then, Gali’s deep voice boomed from outside the hall, accompanied by heavy footsteps drawing nearer. Seated on the throne, Kevin forced himself to stay calm. His heart pounded wildly in his chest, terrified his current state would be discovered.
“Hmm, I don’t have any good wine today either. You should head back early.”
Kevin replied coldly, his voice magically disguised, like an eviction order. But Gali didn’t seem to care—as if used to it. He simply started searching for wine right under Kevin’s nose.
Kevin realized he held no authority in Gali’s eyes. For some reason, it stung his pride a little.
“Ohhh, good wine! Excellent!”
Gali completely ignored Kevin’s dismissal, rummaging without hesitation. With uncanny intuition, he pulled out a fine bottle from some unknown spot and gulped it down.
Only then did he turn his gaze to Kevin nearby. Kevin was completely covered by the cloak, not a patch of skin visible, looking utterly mysterious. Yet the magical aura confirmed it was him.
“Come on, Kevin, have a drink. Though you seem off today... ah, just have a drink.”
Gali didn’t think much of it—or perhaps didn’t think at all. After all, his mind was filled only with drinking.
He shuffled toward the round table at the center, then sat quietly on an elegant chair, placing the bottle on the table.
...
Kevin let out a soft sigh. He knew this drinking session was unavoidable. Normally, he’d gladly join Gali for a hearty drink.
But today, he’d drink a little to send Gali away. He also needed to say he’d seclude himself for years due to his condition, hoping to regain his original body soon.
“Alright.”
Kevin nodded. He began compressing the vast magic within him, preparing for a spatial jump. In the next second, he appeared before Gali, sitting quietly on the elegant chair. His pale blue eyes gazed at Gali up close.
A breeze carried Kevin’s delicate, feminine fragrance, gently brushing against Gali’s cheek.
“Hmm, that smells nice. Feels like I’ve smelled it somewhere before.”
Gali sniffed lightly, pausing his actions as he muttered unconsciously. Then he turned serious.
“What is that? I quite like it. Kevin, can you give me some?”
“That’s... a bit difficult.”
Beneath the hood, Kevin’s breathtakingly beautiful face was already sweating. Even his magically disguised voice trembled slightly.
After all, how could he give away his own body scent? He needed to change the subject fast. As he finished speaking, Kevin waved his hand. Magic fetched the wine bottle from mid-air.
Two glass cups materialized before them, shining brilliantly under the light. With a gentle flick of Kevin’s fingers, both filled instantly.
“Let’s just drink.”
“Alright, drink up.”
Gali readily agreed, grabbing the cup and downing it in one gulp. But seeing Kevin’s state, he couldn’t help but ask, his voice laced with concern. Kevin was his best friend; he just hoped nothing bad had happened.
“Hey Kevin, what’s going on? Something must have happened. You can tell me.”
“A minor glitch in my magic caused a slight issue with my handsome face. That’s why I’m covered up. It’s nothing serious, no need to worry.”
Though Kevin’s tone was light, his evasive manner and extreme tension were plain to see for Gali.
Gali slowly stood up, his face etched with worry as he approached Kevin. He couldn’t bear to lose anyone else. Not again.
Just as Gali’s hand was about to touch Kevin’s hood, a long-forgotten yet familiar voice rang out from Kevin. Gali froze in place, his mind flooded with thoughts.
“Don’t.”
The moment Kevin spoke, he realized his mistake and clapped a hand over his mouth. In his extreme tension, he’d forgotten to disguise his voice with magic.
