As Maximillian walked through the dark Acuti compound situated at the edge of human civilization. There were a few small courtyards scattered throughout the compound with a large stone wall reaching 9 feet in height encircling it.
As Max took the familiar path towards his own home, his body on autopilot and his mind basically already asleep he reached his courtyard before he knew it.
As he awoke from his stupor he reached for the door longing for the sweet embrace of his bed when the door suddenly opened and a sight which never failed to steal away his breath greeted him.
A woman no taller than 5'7 with rich, smooth auburn hair like polished bronze that flowed to her shoulders that became even more lustrous as it caught the dim light from the hallway, the strands of hair on her face which made it evident that she just woke framed her face and some how made her even more beautiful.
But it was the eyes that always struck him and made his heart flutter, dazzling emeralds that seemed to contain an entire universe of stars that didn't seem to dim despite her obvious fatigue. The light from her eyes seemed to shine onto him and lessen his own fatigue by just a bit but was enough.
Her lips were curved into a slight smile that radiated warmth, familiarity, and…anger as she looked Max up and down and shook her head before she saw his neck.
Suddenly she grabbed him and pulled him into the house and before he knew it, he was on the floor with the woman panicking a bit as applied a plaster onto the wound on his neck.
"Max, what happened this seems to be different than the other times you got hurt. The clan leader has gone too far this time" the woman said a glimmer of anger burning in her eyes. Noticing this Max smiled a bit trying to reconcile this woman with the woman he had married five years ago, before shaking his head to clear his thoughts and said
"Stop it Ana, this was my fault." he said with a bitter smile his voice carrying regret and self loathing.
Ana sat down besides Max and put her head on his shoulder.
"What happened" she asked.
Max took a deep breath and explained to her what he did. When he finished talking, Ana took her head off his shoulder
And slapped him.
Max was shocked, he didn't even feel pain just the action was enough to take him out.
He began to grow angry, he understood that he had made a mistake but it didn't deserve such an exaggerated reaction.
Just as he was about to ask Ana why she slapped him he saw her eyes. She tried to remain strong but he saw it.
The ocean of tears that was building up behind her eyes and his anger washed away as he hugged her.
She pushed him away embers of anger in her eyes as she yelled "MAX THIS YOUR PROBLEM, YOU CANNOT TAKE ANYTHING SERIOUSLY."
Then her voice quieted to a whisper as her attempts to hold back the tears was unsuccessful. "You could die Max actually die, I know this, Clan leader knows this, so why don't you know this." Her tears began to intensify.
"Why can't you take this seriously if you won't take anything rlse seriously. This is your life."
Max approached her and without hesitation hugged her once again , this time tighter as if nothing would rip them apart ever again.
"I do know An, I do. But the thing is I am ready, maybe that is arrogance and hubris talking but we delayed the contract for 4 years after we got married so we could spend more time together and prepare for the binding. Even the clan decided to delay the binding so we all could conduct it together."
Max paused for a moment as Ana's tears began to lessen.
"I'm 23 An, most people conduct the binding when they're 18. I'll probably be oldest first thread there ever was." He said with a laugh prompting Ana to give a quiet chuckle.
"I spent so long preparing for tomorrow that, I am ready." He emphasized.
"But, I can lose you too." Ana said her voice barely audible reminding Max of when they first met.
"You won't An, Never." He said his voice dripping with determination.
Then silence fell upon for a few moments before Max broke it once more.
"So, how about you An. Have you decided I will support any decision you make." He said his voice pausing as he hesitated about whether to continue, he took a deep breath before continuing
"But, I don't want to lose you either."
Silence descended upon them again for few moments before this time Ana's voice broke through much louder than a few moments prior.
"I will do it." She said her voice carrying resoluteness that left no room for discussion.
Max looked into her eyes for a moment before saying
"Alright in that case we should rest, we have a long day tomorrow."
***