103

"You..." the speechless Zyair clutched his tummy, a strong urge to vomit was in him, but try as he might, he couldn't barf.
He kept squirming on the floor with clenched teeth, even when tears cascaded down his cheeks. It got to a point where his sweat was bead-like and he kept rolling on the floor. A few minutes after, he passed out.

The seemingly uncaring Phoenix who'd kept his arms folded the entire time, uncrossed them and hurried to Zyair. Then he knelt before him, took out a green translucent bottle from his spatial ring, removed its cork, and emptied the contents in the man's mouth.
He headed to the bathtub and filled it with refined water, pouring from big golden jars brought out from his ring.
After which he took out several coloured bottles, big and small, some contained coloured powders, and others had sticky liquids.

When he was done emptying the contents into the tub, he headed to Zyair and scooped him from the floor. Then he rushed to place the man gently in the bathtub. He also slit his right wrist with a sharp knife and let the blood drop onto the brownish water in the tub for a few minutes before his wrist healed.
...

A few minutes later, the still unconscious Zyair had become bald, thanks to Lavana's mate who diligently shaved off his hair and let the water absorb them.
Soon the water began to bubble and attempt to form a sort of quicksand.
At this point, Zyair regained consciousness and found himself not only being welcomed by agonising pain but in this sticky liquid that felt like quicksand.
He strangely didn't feel the bangs that he loved a lot. What happened to it, he didn't know. But he cared more about what he was doing in this thing and how he would get out.
He saw Phoenix by the entrance of the bathroom.

"Phoenix, what did you do? Why did you put me in this thing?" he cried out with all his might.
The latter, whose hands were crossed, smilingly answered, "Don't worry. You'll be fine,"

But these words intent on reassuring the man didn't achieve the effect at all, "Fine?" Zyair furrowed his brows, "Do I look fine to you? Get me out of this thing!"
"My hands are aching," Phoenix said, not budging at all.
"You..."
"Keep fighting it. If you make it out of the bathtub successfully, you'll see the effect," Phoenix lastly uttered before leaving the bathroom, hands now tucked in his pockets, looking unbothered. He didn't forget to close the door too.

Zyair gritted his teeth in anger. What was wrong with this Phoenix? What was the use of that earlier damn elixir and golden leaf that made him suffer to the point he passed out?
And more importantly, what was this liquid in the tub that seemed to have an invisible hand that pulled him back whenever he attempted to get out of the bathtub?

Half an hour later,

Zyair, no matter how hard he tried, just couldn't get out of the tub and the pain had increased twofold. He felt his strength fading with the seconds that passed. He didn't even have the strength to call out Phoenix's name.
He could only telepath but the latter blocked him. His wolf wasn't even awake, and no matter how many times he called out in his head, his wolf didn't stir.
He never felt so alone and helpless in his life, other than the day he lost his completeness. But he couldn't just give up, no matter how tired he was.
Suddenly, the bathroom door opened and he didn't need to guess who it was.
Had this Phoenix finally found his conscience and come to get him out of this cursed tub? It'd better be so!

Shockingly, upon reaching the tub, Phoenix who wore an impish look, bent over and blew air on Zyair's head.
"You..." Zyair could only whisper his frustration.
"Don't fret. The baldness really suits you. I'm dead serious," but his goofy look indicated the opposite.
"Please, get me out of here," Zyair managed to say with a parched voice.
"Oh, you need water?"
"Phoenix!"
"Stop whispering. I can't hear you well,"
Seeing this dismissive attitude, Zyair stopped talking to him and just focused on trying to get out.

"I forgot you needed one special liquid. Without it, this suffering will be for nought," said Phoenix as he lowered his pants.
Zyair's eyes widened in astonishment, "What are you planning to do"
"I want to pee," Phoenix replied to him as if he had asked a stupid question,
"The toilet is over there," Zyair pointed.
"I know; I'm not blind. I just want to spite you. Deal with it," Phoenix started peeing on the pissed man's head.
...

Phoenix had just left the bathroom and said he wasn't returning.
Zyair wished all the more to get out of this cursed bathtub. If he were not being restricted, how would that bastard have the guts to pee on him like he was trash? Darn it!
Surprisingly, a few minutes later, he felt nothing pulling him anymore. He found it so easy to get out of the bathtub now and he without hesitation, got out.

Upon doing so, he fell to the floor on his belly as his knees lacked strength. But he didn't mind. As long as he was out of that damn tub!
Managing to get into a crawling position as the pain subsided, he saw something shocking and immediately looked back at the tub. Surprisingly, it had become plain water once again.
"How come?' he thought in bafflement. He looked down again, still unable to believe what he was seeing. Was this the effect of the things he ate and that bathtub's water?

Anxiously, he crept out of the bathroom and found Phoenix seated on the bed in a meditative pose, muttering inaudible words.
His body was faintly glowing. So it was true- the liquid in the tub and the things he consumed, weren't really the only things that helped him recover.
Seconds later, Lavana's mate opened his eyes and blood seeped out of his mouth.
"Phoenix!" Zyair exclaimed in worry, anxiously trying to go over to him.
"Don't worry, I'm alright," the latter smiled, giving a dismissive wave.
"How can you be alright? You..."
"If I say so, take it that way. I'm exhausted," Phoenix said, dragging his body from the bed and heading into the bathroom.
Zyair waited on the floor until the latter came out in a grey bathrobe half an hour later, drying his hair with a small white towel.

"Phoenix, I'm sorry for being so rude to you earlier. I didn't understand..."
"No, you aren't at fault. You pretty much reacted the way a normal person would,"
"But I... I should have trusted you more,"
"No worries. Go have a nice bath and come join me in bed. But if you're scared, you can sleep on the couch," heading towards the changing room, Phoenix yawned.

Zyair kowtowed before Lavana's mate shut the changing room's door.
...

The next morning,

All seven were out of their rooms. The other five noticed that Zyair was merry, beaming every second.
After taking their seat at the hotel's restaurant in the VIP section, Rolandro couldn't help asking: "Zyair, why are you so happy today? Did a pie fall from the sky?"
"More than that. I... it's secret,"
"What's there to hide, you can now pee standing like a proper man should," Phoenix mumbled lazily as he bit on to the chicken leg.
"Zyair, what is he saying?" Oliver asked.
"Um... He's right. He helped me last night. At least I can proudly go to the bathroom with you guys now," Zyair revealed.
"Are you saying?" Rolandro covered his mouth, eyes broadened in astonishment, just like the others. Yesterday he was incomplete and today... wow!

"Thank you so much," Zyair expressed his thanks with a look of gratitude, "If it weren't for you..."
Phoenix signalled for the man to stop talking.
"I just felt like doing it. And can we just eat? I'm so hungry," he complained, taking another chicken leg from the tray.
"Thank you, husband," he heard his mate say in mind link.
"It's nothing, dear. Anything for you," he winked after responding.

Lavana had recalled what he said on the night they first rode Enzo (his scepter) to the wiz palace, about wiz blood eunuchs having a chance to regain their complete selves. So she asked him if there was a way to help Zyair out.
Phoenix then said he had stuff that could help out but it was very painful and awful and he would need to pee on the person too. Also, if the person didn't have any fighting zeal, all the ingredients would be for nought and they were very hard to come by. Thankfully, Zyair never gave up. And he's a complete man today.

The others expressed their thanks through telepathy as Phoenix didn't want them verbally saying it but just focus on eating. They saw that he ate even more than Lavana and needed no one to tell them that whatever he did last night must have greatly sapped his energy.
"The bill's on me, today," Zyair said. He was willing to spend all his savings today. What he had gained was something that no amount of money could get him.
"I'll share the bill with you," Mel proposed.
"Me too," said Oliver.
"Count me in," said Dante with a determined face.
"Me four," said Phoenix but the men disagreed.
"We are footing the bill this time. So eat all you want, you and Lavana," said Dante as he took a chicken leg to bite out a huge part. This restaurant really makes good food!

"Phoenix, words and endless acts of gratitude aren't enough for what you did for me. So I want to cook for you and your mate,"
"You're sure you can handle it?"
"Affirmative," Zyair responded with a beam.
"Okay, I want you to prepare a popular snack in the wiz realm. I'll give you the recipe when we get to the room. You'll prepare it for everyone when we get back to the pack,"
"Okay. I will do my best," Zyair promised before also taking a chicken leg for himself.
"Oh, remember too that you're second on the list I want to train for a few days," Phoenix suddenly said, causing Zyair to almost choke on his food.
This got the others' attention.
"Are you alright?" Oliver asked worriedly.
"I'm okay. At least you have a partner for the training now," Zyair said, having no tears to shed.
"Oh! Congratulations on joining my boat. At least I won't be the only one crying," Oliver laughed at his predicament. The other just sighed in defeat.

*
*
*

Wyzeli-Syndi Landia
(Kingdom of Evil wiz bloods)

Drake Alandis, the evil wiz king was astounded by the news reported to him just now. The life lanterns of his wife and that of their key powerhouse, Antero Oswald, had been put out strangely and it could only mean one thing!

He pounded on the armrest of the black throne that had live grey serpents as his footstool, shattering it to bits, causing the guard who delivered the news to tremble.
"Go, investigate what occurred to the two of them outside," the king commanded through tightly clenched teeth.

At this juncture, a man possessing short pink and grey striped hair and sporting golden armour rushed in and knelt quickly before the king, panting heavily, "Your majesty, the queen was harmed by three creatures of another race and Antero was killed by 4 people, three of which were responsible for harming the queen,"
"What races, general Karlh?" the incensed king questioned, rising from his throne with a twisted expression of anger, stepping on the snakes.
The nervous man quickly responded, trying to sound confident, "Replying to your majesty, the people were from the following races; werewolf, dragon, sorcerer, mermaid,"
The king scowled, "How can a mere werewolf be able to hurt my queen?"
"It is an Olmpha to be precise, your majesty,"
"Oh, a wolf sovereign! All four people are rare," the king said while pondering.

"My king, according to our findings, an Olmpha emerged in the werewolf triennial competition today. A female who goes by the name Lavana. She is a member of the Blood Star pack and the late Alpha McKenny's seed. I bet if we take captive some of her people, she will show up and then the rest of the team who hurt our queen and Mr Antero will come to light," the man suggested.
The king nodded his agreement, "You may seize them. Capture her mate if she has one,"

"You are wise, your majesty. Her mate is a lone Alpha who coincidentally goes by the name Phoenix," the general replied.
"Oh. Let me see his face," the king ordered and the general took out a clear portrait of an unremarkable-looking man frowning.
"Catch him and make sure you torture him in the cruellest way possible," the king ordered.

"Yes, my king! We have figured out the hotel that the Blood Star group lodged. We will go there now and catch that man," after getting the king's nod of approval, the general rose and turned around, scurrying from the king's presence.
"Dear, I will avenge you. I will take down the opposite kingdom if need be. No one will go scot-free after laying their filthy finger on you. I'm sorry that I didn't find out in time and rescue you. I broke my promise to you, dear. Just wait, I will bring the heads of the ones who harmed you to your grave," he swore as his hands balled into fists.

***

Coming out of the hotel, Rolandro and co. were stunned on seeing the two black that were waiting for them. Both screamed expensive and best of it all, they carried the pack logo on both sides, even a magnificent flag each at the top, also with the pack's logo.
Two brown-haired, tall men wearing sequined silver suits handed the keys to Zyair and Dante and then bowed to Phoenix before leaving in another pricey car parked not too far away from them.

"Are they your men too?" Oliver was forced to question Lavana's mate but the latter simply grinned, "Whether they are or not, what matters is that we aren't going back to the pack on foot,"