POSSESSION: The Hidden Omega In All Alphas' Academy [BL]-Chapter 188: Lit The Lantern

"Another ritual here?" Zenith’s voice sounded quite curious while he stared still at Kylian’s eyes which seemed pretty anxious, as if he was bothered by something inside while putting his demand in front of him.

But by this time, he was aware that even if Kylian was bothered by something, he would try to deal with it all alone at first, considering what a tough cookie he always has been. But the least Zenith could do was lighten his mood, with a soft tease, "Babe, don’t tell me is it our wedding ritual? Did you plan that surprise for me by the time I was busy performing my prayer rites?"

Kylian was well aware that it was one of Zenith’s tactics to lighten up his mood, as he must’ve already sensed his anxiousness by now. But the unusual palpitations running inside him had already made Kylian quite uneasy as he rather scolded Zenith softly, "Stop joking all the time..."

"I am pretty serious, though! Even if you ask me right at this minute, I am ready to walk with you down the aisle, because I don’t want anybody else to stay next to me in this life...except my pretty little grumpy babe." With a warm smile curved on his lips, Zenith gently nudged Kylian’s pointed nose tip with his finger, as if he was trying to cheer him up with his silly actions.

But Kylian couldn’t bear to ignore those unusual feelings inside him as he grabbed onto Zenith’s cool, big hands and faced the elderly monk while declaring aloud, "We are prepared to do the ritual, Sir. Please tell us what we need to do..."

"Very well." As if the elderly man was waiting to hear these words, he gestured to the middle-aged monk standing close to them to arrange something that will be needed to perform that particular ritual.

Following his command, within a few minutes, he brought there a big red colored spherical paper lantern with lucky chime rings attached all around it, along with a small but pretty oil lamp which must be particularly placed inside that lantern. There were some mysterious ancient drawings all over the outer surface of the paper lantern but just watching their ritual’s proceeding, it was unknowingly making Kylian feel a bit anxious inside.

When the beautiful oil lamp was lit was handed it over to the elderly monk, he closed his eyes for a second and chanted something like a hymn in a low deep voice. After that, he averted his glance towards both the boys, especially Zenith who was curiously watching the whole procedure in contrast to Kylian who felt quite nervous.

"I should clarify it first before beginning the ritual, my children." Walking close to them, a small serene smile curved that monk’s lips but he mysteriously narrowed his eyes on them, before stretching his hand to hand over that red paper lantern and ignited oil lamp to them, as he continued to explain.

"Most of the couples who come here to seek blessings from the divine Mother would often do this ritual...as it will signify what kind of future will be awaiting you. Once you place this oil lamp inside the lantern and say your prayer, you must release this lantern up in the air as it will start to ascend on its own, riding along with the wind.

"If the lantern successfully ascends above and disappears from our sight, that means both of you will be leading a bright, soothing, and happy future together. But...after reaching mid-air, if the lantern suddenly turns upside down and falls on the ground...that would symbolize a tumultuous future awaiting ahead you... But in either case, you should humbly accept whatever result you get."

"What?" Suddenly, Zenith’s face turned a little dark from hearing his explanation, as if by now he had started to sense the anxiety piling up inside him which Kylian was enduring on his own. Zenith was already aware of the bitter truth that their life and future ahead wouldn’t be a smooth sailing road for them, especially after he had chosen to hold Kylian’s hand.

But to test it directly with a ritual made him feel quite anxious, as he objected looking at Kylian, "Why do we need to do this kind of ritual, babe? Don’t you still trust me when I have already laid my heart bare for you?"

"It’s not because of that, Zenith. I just wanted to perform this scared ritual here, together with you." Masking a small nervous smile on his face, even though Kylian tried to sound calm, his heart was thumping unusually faster with each passing second.

Kylian gently accepted the lantern and the lamp from the elderly monk’s hands, with the thought circling in his mind, ’I must find out a glimpse of our future, now that I know we are each other’s fated mates. Until I find a hint about it, I can’t rest easy...’

"But...babe—"

"You said you would do anything I ask for, right? Then...would you still object if I say I want this now?" Kylian exactly knew how to make Zenith agree with his words, and when he smartly applied this move, Zenith was unable to voice any objection anymore, especially when meeting his keen ocean eyes gawking at him.

Thus, exhaling a heavy sigh, he held the lantern tightly while Kylian carefully placed the lamp inside of it. While they were performing the ritual together, both the monks observed them keenly with their curious eyes, especially to keep a check on whether they were doing everything rightfully or not.

After they had finished the initial process, before both of them were about to release the lantern up in the air, Zenith pursed his lips and glanced at Kylian once, before mumbling in a diligent voice, "I don’t care about the outcome we will get in the end, but remember, I love you. And I will keep loving you no matter what happens...okay?"

"I know. And it was my choice to trust you, Zenith." Mumbling with a gentle smile pressed on his lips, Kylian slowly retracted his hands away from the lantern, and it started to flow up along with the strong mountain wind’s direction.

It was already past afternoon, and the sky was turning dusky since the sunset time was approaching close. So, the red lantern floating up in the sky was clearly visible to them and with each passing second, Kylian could feel his heart beating faster with anticipation.

Crossing his fingers, he continued deliberately saying his prayers to the Moon Goddesses, ’Holy Mother, please I beg of you...at least today, please give us a positive outcome of the future ahead of us. I am grateful to you for giving me Zenith as my Alpha...but...I want to make him happy in the future. I will do my best to cherish the family that I want to build with him...so please, give us a chance...’

’I don’t know why would Kyle suddenly want to have this ritual...but please Holy Mother, give a positive outcome of the test so that I can get to see my baby being happy. I don’t wish to watch him anxious when he’s already too much of a worrywart. I wish to see him smiling...always...’

On the other hand, Zenith also continued mumbling his keen wish to the divine Moon Goddesses, while sliding his glances occasionally at Kylian, whose gaze was keenly fixated on the lantern floating up above them.

"Hmm, the lantern is smoothly floating high, and there doesn’t seem to be any sign of concern. So, it seems you were destined to lead a good future together." The middle-aged monk answered with a big generous smile on his face after observing the scenario for quite some time.

After that, he calmly glanced at the elderly monk’s face which was turning a little glum as time passed, which made the middle-aged monk keenly ask him, "Master, don’t you think it is sailing smoothly?"

"I hope so..." A vague, small answer escaped from the elderly monk which winced him a little.

Even though the middle-aged monk was silenced by that answer, by the time the lantern had reached quite high above in the sky that made Zenith lit up with a wide smile.

He draped his hand around Kylian’s waist and pulled him closer, before proudly narrating, "Look at it, babe. I told you that I love you no matter what happens, and see, how high the lantern is floating up! Soon, it will disappear from our eyes and that means, we will win the test, right?"

Indeed watching it fly high above them had started to make Kylian feel at ease as he nodded with a soft smile. Deep inside his heart, he felt as if a heavy burden was lifted from his chest, as he saw it as a foreshadowing of the future he was supposed to lead with his fated pair, Zenith, as he thought in his mind.

’Thank goodness...now...I feel quite confident. I think there will be only happiness in the path that we have chosen. I think...we will be really happy together...and will live a life worthy of—"

.....

"CHISSSS.... KA-BOOM!!"