Chapter 393: Definitive Diagnosis

Words : 1768 Updated : Oct 11th, 2025

Chapter 393: Definitive Diagnosis Princess Kira was an orc, after all. And while the sudden change may have escaped Ada, she, who could control the wind, could tell when the air became a mix of scents. It’s just that the princess did not expect to witness an exciting scene. Her only regret was not having her terminal ready, because clearly, a scene worth capturing was about to unfold. For when Luca decides to do something, he doesn’t exactly wait. And so the little man bowed to thank her before bolting out to look for Xavier. Normally, he’d teleport, but he had been asked to avoid it because the prince was spending most of his time sparring, and what would happen if he accidentally teleported while he was in the middle of a fight? It was just that Luca, who surprised the princess who was about to warn him about the door, didn’t expect to collide with a hard wall the moment the sliding doors opened. Wham! It was a direct hit. He collided face-first into a solid chest, the impact making a muffled ’thud!’ as he bounced off slightly, dazed. For a split second, he was disoriented. Strong hands instinctively reached out, steadying him by his shoulders. Huh? Strong hands? Luca blinked, looking up, and immediately froze. Because right above him, wearing a look of surprise, was none other than the prince himself. "!" "X-Xavier?" He stammered, eyes wide as dinner plates. "Luca," replied the wall calmly, though his own heartbeat had momentarily gone haywire. He hadn’t expected this either, having stood awkwardly outside, debating how long to wait and hearing things he probably shouldn’t have. Behind them, Princess Kira’s delighted squeal was barely muffled behind her hands. "Oh, this is even better than the books!" she whispered loudly to Ada, who was suddenly very interested in the floor tiles. Luca felt his cheeks ignite with embarrassment. His heart began racing again—faster now—as his brain realized that he hadn’t thought of what to do once he met up with Xavier! His mouth opened slightly, but no sound came out. Heat rushed to his cheeks, ears, and neck—until his entire body felt overheated. Still, the golden-eyed lad couldn’t say a thing! Xavier watched him quietly, quickly recognizing the symptoms of a Luca-style emotional overload, and knew he needed to give him a moment before they could even attempt to talk. So the prince glanced past Luca at the stunned but eagerly grinning princess and the politely fascinated Ada. "Princess, Ada," Xavier began calmly, shifting his grip slightly on the dazed guide who was now practically melting. "If anyone comes looking for Luca, please let them know I borrowed him for a bit." Princess Kira almost squeaked in delight. "HAHAHA! Borrow away!" Ada nodded respectfully as she hoped for the best. "We’ll let them know." Satisfied, Xavier gently teleported Luca away from the scene, carefully landing with his flustered wife in their dorm room. The trip felt both impossibly short and excruciatingly long for Luca, who found his brain short-circuiting repeatedly. Xavier’s arm was around him—cool, firm, comforting, and yet also terrifying, because he didn’t know what he was supposed to do or say once they returned to their room. But really, it was barely a blink, and in no time, the two found themselves inside their small room’s very familiar closed doors. However, what surprised Luca was how, instead of having to think of something to say, the prince actually spoke up first. "Luca," Xavier began softly, his hold loosening as he tried looking for Luca’s face that had since been squished against his chest. "I should apologize first." "Huh? For what?" asked the blinking shorty, whose initial embarrassment had turned into confusion. Xavier hesitated briefly, cheeks coloring ever so faintly. "I overheard part of your conversation with Princess Kira. I didn’t mean to—but when I teleported in, I landed exactly at the moment you said you thought you were dying." Technically, he could pretend that didn’t happen, but he didn’t want to violate Luca’s privacy like this. Not when it seemed like it had really been affecting his little chipmunk for a while now. The little guide stared up at him, frozen for a heartbeat before his eyes grew wide with realization and horror. "You-you heard everything?" he squeaked, voice barely audible. "Not exactly," Xavier admitted softly, gently squeezing his shoulders. "But from that point onward...I had heard things." A flurry of emotions raced across Luca’s face—shock first, then deep embarrassment that had his entire body burning once more. But soon, something unexpected replaced embarrassment: fear. It wasn’t logical; he wasn’t sure why he felt it, but it bubbled up abruptly. A sudden panic flickered in his golden eyes, his heart picking up speed until he felt dizzy. The mountain giant immediately sensed the shift, watching Luca’s expression carefully. "Luca?" he asked quietly, worried. "Are you alright?" But the guide’s knees just wobbled slightly in response. Without hesitation, Xavier gently lifted the heaving guide, who was still weak-kneed and overheating, and carried him smoothly toward their bed as the little chipmunk clung onto him instinctively, fingers gripping his uniform like a lifeline. The prince carefully sat on the bed, bringing Luca to settle comfortably against him. "Breathe with me," he murmured softly, his voice a calming anchor as he slowly began patting and rubbing Luca’s back, helping the rhythm of his breathing return. "Just like that. Slow breaths." The little guide tried to follow Xavier’s instructions, feeling his heartbeat gradually slow down with every gentle circle that was traced on his back. He clung to him tighter, letting out a long sigh as his panic subsided into a quieter, manageable embarrassment. After a long moment, Xavier’s calm voice broke the silence. "Feeling a little better?" "Hm...Y-yeah...thank you." "You’re welcome," replied the prince, whose hand did not pause in its comforting motions. He stayed quiet, patiently waiting, knowing that Luca needed to gather himself before he could speak. Finally, the drooping golden dragon lifted his head slowly, his expression timid and somewhat pitiful, eyes large with uncertainty. "Xavier, I...I’m not sure how to say it," he began, stumbling slightly over his words. "I’m sorry, it’s all so confusing. I just—" "Would you mind if I helped?" Xavier offered gently, voice quiet yet clear. Huh? He was momentarily confused but nodded, slightly relieved because his husband didn’t sound mad. But then Xavier didn’t speak immediately. Instead, his arms shifted gently. One hand slipped from Luca’s back and lifted slowly until it cradled the back of his head. The other wrapped protectively around his waist, pulling him forward, not forcefully, just enough to guide him. The little chipmunk blinked. Then blinked again as his head came to rest softly against Xavier’s chest. "Wha—?" he squeaked. But then he stilled. Because beneath his ear, he heard it. Ba-dump! It was loud. Powerful. Ba-dump! Ba-dump! A steady beat—but not calm. Not at all. It was pounding. Fierce. Alive. His fingers unconsciously gripped Xavier’s uniform tighter. It was like a rhythm made of thunder trapped in a body trying so hard to stay composed. "Is that...?" Luca whispered. "Does it sound familiar?" asked the prince, who chuckled softly, the sound rumbling against Luca’s cheeks, causing his eyes to widen as realization dawned. Those were his symptoms. Exactly his symptoms. "You—You’re sick too?!" Luca gasped in horror, pulling back slightly to look at him. "Why didn’t you say anything?! I thought I was just weird or maybe even broken—but if you knew, why didn’t you tell me? What if it gets worse?! What if it’s not feelings, and it’s actually terminal?!" Xavier smiled—really smiled. It was that rare, slow smile that made people stare and lose track of what they were doing, and it was making Luca want to cover his own face with both hands. "Me?" Xavier asked, the corners of his mouth still curved upward. "I’ve been sick for a long time." The little guide paled at this, only for the prince to lean in, those azure eyes meeting his squarely. "I’m used to it, because it’s like this every time I see my crush." "?!" A crush? He has a crush? Now, that was a thunderclap if he had ever heard one, for Luca’s ears rang, and his breath hitched the moment he heard it. But he couldn’t even squeak, powerless at how empty he suddenly felt. However, Xavier reached up again, this time brushing his thumb gently along Luca’s cheek. "But it’s not just this. Because without my elemental abilities, my hands would’ve been clammy every time the person I liked got close enough," he said softly. "Even now, I have to remind myself to breathe every time we’re together." He said it like it was nothing. But his voice was deep, honest, and slow—as if each word carried too much weight to rush. And Luca didn’t know why, but he felt like crying; his tears, in fact, were pooling at the edges of his eyes, threatening to burst his defenses. But what could he do? The man before him wasn’t done, not by a long shot, apparently. For he continued with words that practically rearranged Luca’s world. "Then there’s that smile...I see it, and everything just stops—" Xavier looked at him, his gaze pointed and didn’t leave his face, before he continued. "The room goes quiet. Time slows. And all I can see, all I care about...is you." It was like a sacred murmur but Luca felt like it echoed across the small room, smacking right into him. The little guide was practically shaking now, not from fear. But from being so completely overwhelmed, he didn’t know what to do with his own limbs. Xavier let his fingers trail through Luca’s hair, the motion soothing. "It’s an all-consuming feeling. It scared me, too. Still does, sometimes." He paused, lowering his voice as his thumb brushed just beneath Luca’s eye. "But if I had to go back and do it all over again..." He leaned just a little closer, forehead resting against Luca’s. "I’d still fall in love with you." Silence stretched. "I might just try saying it sooner." "I love you, Luca." And there it was; he didn’t shout it, and he didn’t use all the holoboards of Solara to show his love. All Xavier could do was say it as he meant it—just as it had always been true, just as he had never been unsure. And Luca, poor Luca, forgot how to function because for some absurd reason, he’s got it now.

Chapter 393: Definitive Diagnosis

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