Reincarnation: Beyond Mortal Bounds.

The welcome party was still going strong when Riven and Anya stepped outside. Riven saw other kids hanging out all around the building, probably trying to hook up, which made total sense. I mean, can you blame them?

With hundreds of hormonal teenagers packed together in a remote location, far from home and everything they know, it's not exactly surprising that they'd find ways to let off some steam.

Riven was still feeling the weight of whatever just transpired between him and Vaelorian but he decided to focus on Anya. She was his date tonight after all and he'd be damned if he let Vaelorian ruin this night for him

In a quiet corner of the corridor away from the noise, Anya was finally alone with Riven. It was time for her to make her move.

"So, are you having fun?" she asked Riven and the boy strolled closer with a smirk.

"I am, but I can't think of other ways we can have more fun," he replied, slowly pulling a strand of hair away from her face, and she blushed.

It seems both of them are not messing around tonight. It's very clear they want each other, their hearts pounded with nervous excitement as they both stared at each other. As they leaned into each other and their lips met, sharing a tentative kiss, Riven suddenly clutched his chest, a sharp pain slicing through him like a jagged blade.

One minute Riven was standing, the next his knees were buckling beneath him, and he dropped to the ground, groaning in pain.

He can't breathe!

Anya's eyes widened with terror. She hurriedly dropped to his side, her hands trembling as she tried to understand what was happening.

More pain shot through Riven's chest each time Anya touched him, and instinctively he recoiled from her when she tried to touch him again.

Her mind raced, genuine fear gnawing at her

"Is your arm still hurting from yesterday? Should we call the healers?"

She rushed out in a panicked voice, trying to reach for the trembling boy, but he moved away from her touch.

What should I do? Anya thought freaking out.

"Vaelorian, I need you,"

Riven tried projecting his inner thought, it was too faint; he couldn't concentrate. But still, he kept trying and each attempt came a desperate whisper that barely carried.

Riven didn't give up, he tried again and again to reach out with his thoughts, calling Vaelorian for help, but each time a thick, suffocating fog obscured him, he was finding it really hard to connect. It was as if something or someone was trying to stop him from calling for help.

"Ughh!"

Riven groaned as the pain intensified when Anya touched him again. It was a relentless ache that seemed to be consuming him from within.

The pain is from within!

A light bulb suddenly turned on in his head. He was definitely certain she was the reason he was in pain at this point. The owner of this body didn't like what just happened between them.

It was the same with the haircut, wasn't it!

Anya's heart clenched as she watched Riven's face contort with unexplained suffering. She was helpless, unsure of what to do, her mind spinning with panic. She clutched her head, feeling utterly powerless in the face of his torment.

Yesterday he had his arm broken and today this, what should she do?

Should she just go and bring the healers? Will he be okay alone here? What exactly is she supposed to do now?

Anya gasped when a figure suddenly appeared behind her out of the shadows.

It was Vaelorian!

When did he get here?

His presence was imposing yet oddly gentle in that moment, he paid no attention to the blonde girl. His focus was entirely on Riven. Without hesitation, he moved swiftly, his eyes filled with concern and something deeper—an unspoken emotion dancing in the depths of his eyes.

He had that same expression yesterday, Anya thought.

"Riven, look at me," Vaelorian commanded softly but firmly, kneeling before him and gathering the younger boy in his arms. "Tell me what hurts."

"Chest... it hurts so much," Riven managed through clenched teeth, his voice strained and trembling.

"You're going to be fine, I've got you."

The older boy spoke and with a fluid, gentle motion, Vaelorian scooped Riven into his arms, lifting him carefully but securely. His arms encircled the smaller boy, cradling him as if he were the most precious thing in the world.

The warmth of Vaelorian's embrace radiated through Riven's trembling form, offering a fragile semblance of comfort amid the chaos.

"Move!" Vaelorian said, his voice commanding, his glare shot toward Anya, who squeaked and quickly stepped out of the way, her heart pounding in her chest.

Vaelorian didn't hesitate; with long strides he started walking away with Riven in his arms. There was no time to waste! To Vaelorian, the younger boy's well-being outweighed everything else.

Anya watched the older boy stride away with haste, and before she could even process how he was moving that fast, Vaelorian vanished into thin air with Riven, their figures dissolving into the shadows.

What the heck just happened? She thought with trembling breath as she hurried back into the ballroom.

Back in their room, the atmosphere was thick with tension. Vaelorian gently laid Riven on the bed, careful to support his trembling body. He held him close, wrapping him in a protective embrace, trying to take away the pain that wracked his fragile frame. But no matter how much he tried, nothing seemed to make the ache subside.

Vaelorian's heart broke each time Riven let out painful groans and whimpering.

Why wasn't the healing working?

Meanwhile, in Riven's mind, a storm raged as something dark desperately clawed at his heart.

"I'm sorry, please stop hurting me. I won't kiss anyone again. Please, just make it stop!"

Riven repeatedly screamed the same silent words inwardly, desperation evident in his pleas. But nothing changed because he was still in pain and his body was trembling on the outside,

"Why won't he stop hurting me?" Riven thought whimpering. It was just one kiss, and he has already said he was sorry.

"I'm sorry, Riven. I'm trying everything to make the pain go away, but nothing seems to be working." Vaelorian spoke hugging the younger boy, his voice was soft but tinged with pain.

"That's because this isn't something you can heal. This bastard is punishing me for kissing her. He's doing on purpose." Riven replied through gritted teeth, his voice was weak and strained, but he managed to assure Vaelorian because he didn't want him to blame himself.

Vaelorian's brow furrowed, confusion flickering across his face. "Who's punishing you?" he asked gently, trying to piece together what Riven was implying. "Riven, do you know who's hurting you?"

Riven's response was a shaky nod, a groan escaping his lips. He clung tighter to Vaelorian, reluctant to speak the truth.

How could he tell him the truth without revealing who was behind his torment?

"Eryndor? Can you hear me?" Vaelorian opened his thoughts to his trusted friend.

"Yes, Your highness." came Sir Eryndor's immediate response.

"Riven is in pain. Check around the premise, whoever is hurting him has to be around."

"On it, Your Highness." Vaelorian heard Eryndor's reply before their link disappeared.

While only a few individuals in the empire possess the gift to inflict pain, they must be in close proximity with the victim for it to work and Vaelorian wasn't aware any of the kids here had this gift.

Why would anyone want to hurt Riven this much?

"Riven, you have to tell me who's hurting you. Please, love." Vaelorian pleaded wiping sweats from the younger boy's forehead and the latter just kept whimpering and hugging him tightly.

Vaelorian sighed, his frustration and defeated doubling as he wrapped his hands around Riven.

Why wouldn't he tell him who's hurting him if he knew?

"Riven, you fucking bastard! You're so fucking lucky you're already dead." Riven fumed inwardly as another round of pain shot through his chest.

This fucking twerp was having fun torturing him. It's like he wanted to remind Riven who was in charge. His mind was getting clouded, his body was already exhausted, and the pain refused to go away.

"Please tell me who they are." Vaelorian tried again gently.

But Riven shook his head violently, burying his face in Vaelorian's chest as if the act alone could shield him from whoever was hurting him.

"I can't help you unless you tell me who's doing this, love." Vaelorian spoke softly running his hand through the younger boy's hair.

Without warning the pain in Riven's chest disappeared and his eyes fluttered closed, tired and exhausted he seemed to drift into sleep.

"Riven, if you're afraid of them coming for you again, don't worry. I'll take care of it. Just tell me who they are, okay?."

Vaelorian tried again, but this time he got no response and the younger boy was no longer trembling or whimpering. He immediately went into a panic, checking his pulse and breathing. He sighed in relief when he realized the boy was only sleeping.

Vaelorian watched over Riven's sleeping form, concern and helplessness swirling inside him. Riven's grip on him remained tight, even in sleep, and Vaelorian didn't mind. He softly brushed the damp hair away from Riven's face, his heart aching beyond words.

Riven was in pain and he couldn't help him.

"Your Highness?" Eryndor's voice interrupted Vaelorian's thought.

"Did you find anything?" Vaelorian asked.

"I'm sorry, your Highness." Sir Eryndor replied, sounding defeated and Vaelorian took a shaky breath.

"Continue looking." Vaelorian commanded before shutting off the their mental link.

"How can I leave you alone when you do things like this?" Vaelorian whispered looking at Riven. He's so beautiful! He looks so fragile when he sleeps. Vaelorian hugged Riven closer and kissed his head gently.

He was going to let things play out between them naturally but he can't afford to do that anymore. Not after what Kaelen did and what just happened. He's not going to leave the younger boy alone anymore.

Just like that, Riven spent the night cuddled up in Vaelorian's warm embrace with the older boy acting as his pillow. Needless to say, he had an amazing sleep.