Finding Home (Chapter Five)
_Note: This story is based on, and set in, the "Cold Blood" universe which was made and written by Onyx Tao. Please read his brilliant stories! _ **_OBSERVE: My storyline, "Finding Home", is not to be considered canon to the Cold Blood universe, there are bound to be several differences between this "alternate universe" to Cold Blood and the actual one. So if you're a fan of Cold Blood, please don't be mad if you spot several "flaws" within this alternate Cold Blood universe. Artistic freedom and yadda yadda... :)
Also: This is the *second* chapter of Part 2. It will cover Livius' past, and might contain... unpleasant - aswell as pleasant - scenes. Unless it sucks. Then there will only be unpleasant scenes, inevitably. :) ..... oh but, do be warned. Gruesome violence is described. Viewer discretion is adviced and bla bla bla blahhh....
AND: This chapter may be read indepently (with only slight difficulty of comprehending the contexts of certain issues) of previous chapters, though I would recommend to at least read the chapter before this one...
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-Part 2- -Chapter 5- -"Wishing to stay here, eternity long..."-
Intense brightness radiated Livius' dreams asunder. As his eyes were opened , he felt a wave of disorientation hit him across the face. Where am I?, he thought. The most basic of questions. It took him a few minutes of lying in bed, staring at the unfamiliar room, to finally accept the transgressions and events of yesterday. It had been the most intense day of his life, even more intense than his first and so far only battle, which took place not even a week ago. But now, he was here, in House Shade. Yesterday he had been intimate with... Oh no. Did I .. No. I didn't... not with... a minotaur?
Livius felt traces of a taste in his mouth; it had to be minotaur semen. And even his skin smelt of minotaur. It had not been a dream. Suddenly his ears registered something else; music. Harp music. It came from outside. Livius got on his feet and approached the window. He was met with an overwhelming sight; lushious gardens, rich with flowers, trees, and adornments. Skillfully crafted statues of minotaurs and humans amongst carefully laid-out stone paths, and a wonderful river running slowly by wonderful hills where grazing cattle roamed free. His hands had already become warm from the combined effort of the sunrays and the heated stone he rested on, by the window frame. Livius had only seen the whole place through the filter of night before, and he never imagined it to be this beautiful by day. And that harp music..
Livius noticed that someone had placed a big vat of water, aswell as a large porcelain tub, in which to stand, in the middle of the room. No doubt intended for his use. It was a fantastic sensation to clean himself with such clear and fresh water. From the outside, fresh summer winds made the hair on his skin stand on edge; goosebumps. He felt more pure than ever. Once done with his cleaning, he noticed that his robes were placed and folded on top of a chair. They had been washed and steampressed, and practically looked as good as new again. He dressed himself in the robes, and looked out the window once more. He would have to go outside.
As he got out into the corridor, he momentarily glanced the doorway leading into Philon's room. Livius shivered a bit, ashamed of himself. He didn't dare risk the minotaur being in there, so he quickly rushed outside instead.
It was warm. Very warm. The air was thick with humidity, but pleasant breezes swept the garden and made it all bearable. More than bearable, divine. Livius went around the corner, following a path leading into a large collection of scattered exotic plants. On his left, he could glance into the room he just had left. The vat was empty, the tub full of dirty water. Upon the floor, some of the water he had soaked himself with lay glistening in sunlight. As he continued walking, he noticed some people tended to gardening duties. One by one, they all stopped to wave and greet Livius as he explored the garden. It was a strange thing to be welcomed by unknown people in such a kind way.
Livius suddenly noticed a large avenue, with mighty oaks on both sides, towering like protective giants. Not knowing where it would lead, he decided to walk amidst the proud trees, following the path. Livius looked up as he walked towards the unknown destination, and beams of light broke through the randomly constructed umbrella of leaves, like arrows funneling their path through rusty shields. The music gained volume as Livius walked closer to its source, and all of a sudden, farther away between the cover of the trees, he could see him in the distance; Philon.
He was lying peacefully in a large hammock, seemingly knitted out of hemp or some similar material. Livius was amazed at the fact it supported his weight. He looked so relaxed, lying there, his tail swaying about in the air, along with the long strips of cloth from the loincloth he wore. Apart from that garment, he was entirely naked. A few meters away from him, another minotaur sat down, playing an enormous harp. He was remarkably skilled, and had his eyes closed, clearly passionate about the music he created. Livius had to spend a few moments to ascertain he wasn't hallucinating, as it seemed to him that the minotaur was blue. Stepping closer, he saw it was indeed so; ranging from summer day skyline to dark sunset, the hues of blue played remarkable tricks to the eye. Just like Philon, this blue minotaur wore only a white loincloth, and he was remarkably muscular. He was nowhere near as big as Philon, but his body had more tone and less fat. His horns and his hooves shone bright as ceremonial armor in the sun, causing Livius to believe he's had them waxed. _Perhaps minotaurs can be vain too? _
Livius soon became spellbound by the music; the notes being plucked and thrown out into the air like seeds from flowers riding the breeze. The song was uplifting, spirited, and it gave Livius a sensation of endless hope and wonder, as it everything was possible. He never wanted the song to end. Once it was over though, it felt as if his whole body was somehow lighter. Should I ever decide to make songs out of my poems, I want this minotaur to be the composer, thought Livius.
"Thank you so much for your fantastic harp play. It is such a privilege to enjoy the miracles you so gladly offer an old bull like me."
"You are too kind, my Lord Shade", said the blue minotaur. His voice was surprisingly light for his body, and it had a very gentle tone.
"Would you please excuse me for a moment, my dear friend? I need to speak with Livius here."
"Certainly. I will retire to your west wing. One of your servants offered me a massage, and I would be mad to take a pass on that, given the reputation of House Shade"
"I am pleased to hear such rumours are still flourishing. Hopefully, you will enjoy the treatment."
"No doubt I will!", said the minotaur minstrel. He took a deep bow, first towards Philon, and then he turned to bow at Livius aswell. Shocked by this, Livius bowed clumsily in return. As the blue minotaur walked off, Livius felt a sudden surge of hesitation to be alone again in Philon's vicinity.
"Come here, Livius", said the white minotaur as he smilingly waved at the human to approach. Livius obediently ushered himself forward. The big minotaur took a firm hold of Livius' shoulders and pulled him close, into a loving embrace. "Sweet human", said Philon and placed a huge kiss on Livius' forehead. The lips were like heavily stuffed cushions. It was hard for Livius to deny that he liked it, but he still cringed away and slipped out of the minotaur's embrace. Philon looked sad for a moment, but it still seemed he was prepared for the human's reaction.
"Look, Philon, I ... Last night.. I didn't mean to.. "
"Calm down. We have all the time in the world. This is House Shade. Stress is for the rest of the world, it wont be allowed here."
"I just didn't mean to ... sneak into your room and ... touch you. I don't know what came over me. I really meant to leave, but.. then you woke up and invited me to... oh gods.. this is hard for me"
"I can understand that it is. You didn't believe this situation would ever present itself, and you feel confused and ashamed for acting against what you perceived to be your agenda, am I right?"
"Well... yes? Yes, you are."
"It's not the mystery you make it out to be. Not to me, and not to yourself. This new place, this strange culture, these new values and individuals... all of it offer new perspectives for your perception of reality, and your old perspective still clings to your brain, whispering not to let it fade. Your old self, from only a few days ago, still begs you to listen to the notions that have seemingly always reigned. But with these new sets of feelings and thoughts you are assaulted with, your perspective is beginning to feel forced to adapt; to open up. Question things. Question yourself."
Livius nodded and stared at the ground. Philon's words rung true, but it was hard to face him.
"In fact, I have a question for you...", continued the minotaur.
"Yes?"
"Disregarding all the confusion, fear, shame, guilt, regret... disregarding all that which you believe you should feel; did you like it?"
"Did I like... what happened last night? What I did... with you?"
"Yes."
Livius had to pause and think for a while. If he would be limited to mere reflexes, his instinctive response would have to be "yes", but where does that leave him? Once again, Livius felt very conflicted. It couldn't be as simple as that. There had to be a conspiracy or something. How could he just like being around the very ones he's always been told to be the enemies? It had to be a method, some sinister plan.
Livius used his signature power, enhanced it to stretch deep into the psyche of the white minotaur. Nothing. Still nothing that indicates any spell, any technique, any skill... nothing dabbling with coercion or subterfuge. Nothing. The only thing Livius picked up were emotions; kindness, empathy, genuine desire to make the human feel comfortable and happy. How can this be?
Livius needed to be honest. Honest with Philon, honest with himself. No matter how painful and confusing it was.
"I... yes. I liked it, Philon. No wait..", he began. He looked up at the white minotaur who wore a troubled look on his brows. Big eyes trying to convey safety.
"The truth is ... I think it may have been the best moment of my life."
Livius temporarily lost control of his body. That's what it must have been, because he suddenly felt... relaxed? Was it the confession that brought that sensation, and if so; due to the words or their actual meaning, the honesty behind the words? Could it be true? It was out in the open now, in a sense. To Livius, it felt like a huge step to say these things aloud. The minotaur seemed to be overjoyed, and somehow that magnified the emotions in Livius. He felt relieved.
In the air was only stillness. Scent of exotic plumage was carried on summer wind. And in his hammock, Philon lay smiling.
"I am very glad that you feel that way. I am not certain you're sure of what you're saying though. It may have been your most intense moment, but surely it wasn't your best?"
"I have lived a secluded life, as a mage in service of the Empire. I have never been keen on women, and when it comes to men... no. I haven't gotten around to enjoy any form of sexual contact with men, I have .. simply not found time. And I suppose.. well the truth is that I haven't really found men all that interesting either. I guess you could call me a little bit of a ... virgin. I guess."
Philon smiled, he didn't seem judgmental or surprised. "No shame in that. But you were very keen on me, I could tell. Have you always been attracted to minotaurs?"
"To what used to be my great shame; yes. Of course, it matters little here, doesn't it?"
"It should matter little anywhere, whatever you happen to desire. So long as there is no harm, what's the foul? Without victims, there are no crimes."
"Where I come from, it is unthinkable to be attracted to minotaurs. It is considered a perversion, and it is indeed a crime in our culture."
"Criminalize feelings of desire and lust? Barbaric. Lust and desire can be interwoven with love and compassion, and bonding of all those forms help this world thrive. It is not a perversion, it is healing - the bridge between the gaps. Enjoying pleasure with one another is the greatest thing there is, never feel ashamed about your nature, Livius."
Livius had no words to contribute with. He just tried to look approving, and nodded stiffly as a compulsive reply. Philon could probably tell it wasn't sincere, and with a booming laughter, he got a hold of Livius by wrapping his arm around the human and pulling him close, to his own body.
Livius made nasal sounds of discomfort, taken aback by the sudden contact with the minotaur. His body was so warm, and the soothing scent was so exceedingly different from a human's, but it was a strangely good thing. Philon gently pulled him closer to his chest, and Livius made no attempt to resist, as it would be bad manners. He saw beads of sweat on the approaching surface. Philon had begun to perspirate in the sun. Livius couldn't help but expect the experience of diving his face into all that sweat to be anything but pleasant. But out of politeness, Livius decided to not begin a struggle even at this point.
As his face connected with the thick hide, landing softly against the warm wetness upon the muscular torso, he discovered that continuing to appear polite would instead become a growing problem, as it turned out the experience he feared would be unpleasant turned out to be unfathomably wonderful. Just like the night before, he found the aroma sublime. He felt insanely safe, and desires began to once more swell in him. The chest that his head now lay on was so exquisitely hard, yet the skin so responsive, so mouldable, and well-scenting. His face was now moist with minotaur musk. He couldn't help but sigh with relief. Thoughts inside him raged, he wanted so badly to press his lips against the nipples, suckling them. He wanted to taste everything he had tasted last night. He fought like a beast to feel ashamed. He had to stop enjoying himself!
"I can tell you are conflicted, Livius. What is holding you back so much? What is stopping you from enjoying yourself?"
"Sin. It's a sin. I just can't get it around my head... I mean, the.. to do .. it.. with another man. And a minotaur? Unthinkable..."
"We just talked about this, Livius. I can understand it must be hard to absorb. But try and listen to me; I loved what you did last night, and you loved it too. We were two individuals who loved sharing moments of pleasure with each other. How can that ever be a sin? Two souls, in their unique bodies, making love to each other? There is nothing wrong with that. Those who have dictated the rules of life to you, the moral values, did they ever give you a reasoning to go with their ideals, or did they just speak matter-of-factly without basis? As if they owned the truth? I wonder, since they obviously condemned love; what did they instead preach as high morals? Killing others?"
"It is.. unclean to make love with those who.. cannot procreate with you. It is .. sinful lusting. Decadence."
"Tell me something, Livius. What is the bigger sin: two souls with desires for each other, who please one another no matter if a child is the outcome or not; or two souls in battle, where one end the life of the other against that person's will, berefting the possibilities of these two people to share each other's perspectives with one another, learn from the other? Ending the future of a soul with equal right to live?"
Livius suddenly started thinking of the battle. He remembered the sounds of turmoil, dust and sand, in the air and in his lungs, as he tried to breathe in the cold air. The horrible sights, watching his friends die. Sending the minotaur to his death. What if they needn't have fought? What if they could have been... friends? In an alternate life, could they even have been... blood brothers? Strange scenarios started to conjure in Livius' mind - images of himself laughing and cuddling up with the minotaur that he instead sent to his death. Livius began feeling emotional, but at the back of his mind, he was trying to convince himself that the notion was ludicrous. Such utopic images have no place in a soldier's mind. But am I a soldier? I am doing the very thing I would never have thought myself capable of doing. I *am* cuddled up with a minotaur right now, and.. there's no place I would rather be... no place..
Livius teared up. He knew there was no way to beat Philon's logic. He pressed his face harder against the minotaur chest, buried it deep in there. Hopefully he would be able to quench and silence his pathetic sobs, but it was soon pointless, and his salty tears streamed down aswell. He was reduced to nothing. Weak! Weak, pathetic fuck! You are useless! You will never be an adequate servant of the Empire, he thought to himself. He was outraged aswell as unfathomably sad.
"Let it all out, Livius. I will never judge you. I know you have killed, and I know you have seen death. Aren't you tired of it all, though? It is not weakness to deny destruction. Creating and preserving life and love, now that takes power. That takes strength. Ending it takes nothing. In the void, you find no strength."
"I.. have killed.. and seen death... and I was told that it .. was.. for the glory of the Empire.."
"A banner showered in bloodstains never represents a strong faction. It represents the end of opposition, the end of questioning what's wrong. But you are beginning to do just that, Livius. Breaking free from the shackles of a country that produces units, not people. The values you have been fed since birth, you see it all from a distance now. Is the stench of blood really so inviting as to found the ideals of a nation on them? Wouldn't a nation that encourages the will of many be even stronger? Last longer? Provide more joy for all its inhabitants?"
"I am just one man... one who has done a lot of harm. What can I do to change the world?"
"Much. Noone has the right to judge another so casually as we judge ourselves. If I would have walked my life in your shoes, all that which I might find detestable, would suddenly appear acceptable. That which was intolerable, becomes tolerable, and all the choices and feelings and thoughts that I would find strange from the perspective I have now, would make sense and be clear. It is so easy to judge, so easy to not see. So many different cultures, and ways, and ideas.. but there is one universal law we can all adhere to.."
"What is that?"
"Do no harm. All is fine, as long as there is no harm. Can you imagine a nation built on that principle? A banner without stains of blood?"
"I... can't.. and I don't know a life without war. I have honed my skills to conform to one purpose: defeat my enemy"
Philon smiled warmly and held up Livius' head, which was soaking wet by now. He looked intently into his eyes. "There are no enemies for you to fight here, Livius. But that's all right. Because I will school you in other things. I will teach you to heal, and to love."
Livius had a will to reply, but found no words. He just looked into the eyes of his bovine saviour, perplexed by his borderless understanding and empathy.
"Would you like that, Livius?"
A nod. It was all he could muster.
"Then I will teach you all I know. You will be a student of love, and of healing. And you will excel. You will learn strength and power beyond all that which you've been told, and it will be real power, not a pale substitute; no instrument of hatred. It will be pure. I look forward to teaching you."
Philon's smile broadened before pulling Livius close, and suddenly they were kissing. It wasn't Philon forcing himself upon Livius. It was mutual. A shared moment, and Livius wanted nothing else in the world. His tongue was intertwined with the thick bull tongue, their saliva mixing. Their respective sensory organs of taste sending signals across the worlds they came from - across the oceans of differences, reaching each other's alien shore, finding peace on the opposing beach head. The experience was divine. And not a single atom in Livius' body told him that this was in any way wrong.
Time passed, and Livius continued sucking on the strange tongue. Its surface was fairly coarse, but the taste was sweeter than wine. It was a strange sensation, to be kissing a minotaur, who's head was ill adapted for a human to interact with it like this. But somehow, it worked out just fine. Livius began to grope the muscular chest while they kissed, and Philon used his enormous right hand to massage the human along his back and neck. Livius felt himself getting harder, but the combined pleasures of this loving session, and the heating rays of the sun, made him drowzy. After a while, his tongue slipped out of the muzzle, and slid wetly down along the minotaur's neck. Soon enough, Livius was lying on top of Philon as a human blanket, approaching a state of deep sleep. He could still feel the fantastic moving of his muscles and skin, shivering and quaking along the back from the pressure applied by the bovine giant. A deep, vibrating sound undulated inside Livius' ears. At first, he figured it to be his unconscious playing tricks with his mind, but he eventually figured out that it had to be the minotaur, who was humming a strange tune. It was soothing, to be sure. Livius began to slip in and out of consciousness, scarcely aware of his own senses or his surroundings. He only knew he was ..
"...safe."
Suddenly Livius realized that the word had indeed slipped his mouth, and his eyelids broke open like trap doors of a well guarded fort. Embarrasment came cascading in over his face, and flooded his capacity to think. He could only pray that Philon hadn't heard, but the sounds produced by the jolting torso of the minotaur beneath him indicated otherwise. The shame that settled was an uninvited guest, and the odd snickering from below sounded certifiably content.
"Don't feel ashamed, Livius. I am actually glad you feel safe here with me. Nothing will happen to you"
".. unless the hammock crashes from our combined weight", Livius filled in.
"Oh, don't worry. It's stronger than it looks... just like you"
"Ever the charmer, eh?"
"Always", Philon said and kissed Livius' forehead. "It's time I show you around".
With those words, Livius could feel the body beneath him shifting around. Quickly, he got up on his feet and tumbled down on the ground with clumsy effort. Philon swung himself off from the hammock in a move that revealed experience, and then he stood up. He motioned Livius to join him as he began walking towards the estates.
As they walked across the lushious gardens and Philon spoke passionately about the various breeds of flowers and plants that grew there, aswell as how to best tend to them in order to see them grow effectively, Livius was astounded by the evident lack of guardsmen, soldiers or defensive fortifications. Quite clearly, this minotaur lived according to his philosophy. It wasn't just empty words. Livius felt compelled to ask about it, but he didn't want to interrupt the passionate speech, even though he found it to be boring. He wasn't a flower man. Philon eventually noticed and chuckled.
"You don't have to pretend, Livius. If you're not interested in these things, just say so and I wont waste your time"
"I don't consider a moment here to be a waste of my time, to be honest. But.. I just wonder how you manage to stay safe when you have no guards?"
"The political climate amongst the minotaur clans are always in turmoil, but I am blessed in that I belong to a small, close to insignificant clan. We have very few mages, and I am therefore respected enough to benefit from protection around the borders, and along the paths leading here. I feel no need to maintain soldiers of my own, to the great surprise of the clan's council", Philon said and let out a troubled sigh. "They often invite me to various political meetings and such, and they want me to engage more resolutely in this idiotic war and the various interdomestic clan issues. But I don't like partaking in those things. I prefer to stay here."
Livius felt.. well not stunned. Nothing could shock him anymore when it came to Philon, as it felt, but he was still a bit taken aback by the lack of interest in something as crucial as politics. He bit his tongue. No point in mentioning anything. It is Philon´s decision and if wants to ignore the ... No. I have to mention this.
"Philon... ", began Livius, his face slightly red and his body full of energy all of a sudden. "How can you *not* care about politics?! It is the lifeblood of any society, the conductor through which values and systematic organisation for everyone's benefit is directed. It is all we have, and we can cling to, in times of despair and disillusionment. Without politics, we are nothing! It is the essence of large scale communication, and it can be a great tool for peace aswell, if that's what you need to hear. It's ... I mean... "
Livius didn't know what else to say, he stuttered and tried to give words to his thoughts, while flailing his hands and staring all over the place, trying to find the correct way to instigate an interest in the stubborn minotaur. Suddenly Philon laughed.
"I didn't realize you could be so passionate about something so boring. But I guess you see things differently. Obviously it's not boring to you... Very well, I will try and take an interest. With your guidance, maybe I can even learn to like it, who knows? But tell me something, Livius.."
"Yes?" Livius replied in a baffled tone.
"How come you, as a representative of the Empire, show such dedication and willingness to teach me the benefits of politics, speaking so warmly about a participation that might indirectly contribute to our chances of quelling the human armies in war? Politics is, after all, a lot about dichotomizing and subduing through means of war. Especially in these times. Are you slowly switching sides, I wonder?"
The grin on Philon's face would have been priceless if it wasn't for the fact that Livius knew he had a point, and it made Livius speechless. What am I doing, honestly? I am trying to make him interested in fighting for his own people. I am trying to help him understand the mechanisms of his side of the political fence. Which ... which side am I on?
Livius eventually shook his head and couldn't help but shuckle. "I don't know left from right anymore, I guess.. Well.. for some reason I want to help you and... well I guess I .. I guess I want to stay here, and that does mean I will have to understand your politics and.. since you don't appear to be overly well versed in it, it's only logical we .. learn together. I guess... is that switching sides, I mean.. yes maybe it is? In a sense. I don't know. All this is so ... confusing"
Philon smiled a confident and calming smile and placed his arms around the smaller human. "No need to worry. Let it all take it's time. If you want us to study politics then by all means, let us do so. It's more fun if someone is passionate about it, might even be contagious". Suddenly Philon halted, and his eyes widened. "Oh! But I also have to teach you spells! You have to see my study!"
Although he nodded and smiled, a part of Livius felt something sinister arise. His original mission was to gather intelligence, learning new things. If he would return to the Empire with arcane spells that he had learned from a minotaur mage.. No. I don't want to return. They can go fuck themselves. I would rather stay here until I grow old and gray, Livius thought to himself jokingly. Or was it jokingly? Livius just didn't feel so sure about that anymore. One day he might have to return to the Empire, but.. maybe not? Maybe he could indeed stay here. Would he want to? Right now, it felt as though he would.
The notion was strange to Livius, but it felt honest. As they walked to the study, he looked around the place, the surroundings; it was all divine, tranquil. The people who lived here had a serene aura about them, and Livius felt genuinely safe here. In fact, he even felt... loved. It was an entirely new sensation, one that sent ripples of desires in him to explore it even more. It was his new drug, and no other place could offer it.
The arcane study lay like a rounded beacon of wonder amongst networks of interconnected trees, and wonderful plants tangled the whole place, whether it be tree, ground or structure. It was almost as if nature had been given freedom to play around as it saw fit, yet somehow there was a subtle feeling that it was all controlled. Shaped, even, by a conscious being. Livius couldn't put his finger on it, but he felt confident that the whole thing was planned in minute detail; as if there was a message hidden in the chaotic reign of flora clasping its colorful hands around the large, white dome. Without hesitation they entered, and the lofty building seemed to almost expand as they did so. Livius believed it was the light that helped create that strange impression. Somehow the convex roof appeared nearly translucent, or perhaps it somehow magnified the sun's rays without making the room any hotter. Not that it wasn't hot to begin with; the air was moist and sticky, but it still seemed as though it should be even warmer where they were. Yet it wasn't. The whole room they were in bathed in intense light, and Livius even noticed vines and branches from strange plants climbing the walls, even inside the house itself. Like rattlesnakes, they crept along the white surface of the structure, and nimbly hid behind large wooden shelves, keeping tomes and books in their wake. Philon approached and started rummaging the various shelves for literature, while humming a strange melody. Livius kept observing the interior of the house, almost expecting something miraculous to happen, like maybe the furniture coming to life and dancing about; but nothing happened. After a while, Philon had gathered quite a collection of books, and he jovially dumped them all on a sturdy table near Livius.
"Food for the mind", said the giant minotaur, beaming his smile at the absent-minded human.
"What.. what is all this?", Livius asked. He couldn't believe how incredibly forward his host had been. This was the ultimate sign of trust and approval in Livius mind; the mere thought of introducing a student to magical lore as quickly as this felt alien at best.
"Arcane literature. Not merely a catalogue of spells, but also a lot of documents covering the basics of our history and customs aswell. Pretty much everything and anything you might want to know. Or need to."
".. and you want me to read this?"
"Well, yes. Certainly. If you want to? I just think it's for the best, if you want to grow as a mage. I am sure the Empire creates fine mages, but it always helps to learn more."
"You do realize that I am from the Empire? Giving me this information...it's .. I mean... it's basically ...."
"What? You are from the Empire??!", Philon suddenly exclaimed, a shocked look of feigned disbelief on his face. He was clearly jesting, and quite soon the dramatic expression changed, as Philon let out an overwhelming chuckle. It was evident he found his own joke to be very amusing.
"Very funny...", Livius said in a barren tone of voice. It took quite some time before Philon settled down, but eventually he did; his massive body ceased to hectically dance from the rhytmic laughter. His face was livelier in color as he turned to Livius in an attempt to get more serious.
"I am sorry, Livius", he snickered. "- but as you probably know by now; I don't consider you an enemy. What you choose to do with the knowledge you receive here is entirely up to you. Besides, I doubt you can use it to do any harm; I don't teach such spells, nor would I ever use them."
"It's a mystery to me how you manage to survive with such pacifistic notions. Surely, you are aware that the rest of the world doesn't share your views? I myself still find all this hard to digest, but I am beginning to see how you've organized your life, and your philosophy.. well.. I would be lying if I didn't admit that it's starting to grow on me.. ", Livius said with a calm smile. Philon nodded and looked pleased, and Livius felt compelled to continue. "However, you do live in a secluded haven, with war raging all around you.. and although I am no expert on minotaur politics, I would assume there is a lot of that going on too.."
Philon nodded once more, this time with a hint of troubled weight upon his brow. It was evident he disliked the subject. "I am fully aware of the rest of the world. However, I am construed in such a way that I withdraw from obligations regarding the traditions we are supposed to cling to. It simply holds no interest to me. The oceans of warfare and politics remain unchartered for me. Instead, I put my efforts in staying here, perfecting my gardens and deepening the relations I keep with all individuals living here. That is what holds meaning in my life."
"But you can't escape fully, can you?", Livius asked. It was impossible not to be stunned by the lifestyle Philon had chosen for himself and his servants. No wait.. not servants.. inhabitants, Livius corrected himself in an instant. Still, this remarkable exception to the minotaur standards would not go by unnoticed for very long, or had it perhaps effectively done so? Livius felt himself growing increasingly curious.
"Your assumption is sadly correct. I have been lucky enough to know tranquility for a long time here, but I know it can't last forever. Many years ago, I partook, albeit rarely, in meetings and gatherings with my own and other clans, and I quickly made a reputation of being largely uninterested and unable to contribute on a satisfactory level; it was a fragile guarantee for me to escape future involvement. Fragile in that it would not last during volatile times such as these. I have dismissed many invitations to various parleys and discussions from convoys and emissaries sent here, but I am running out of arguments to be left alone. I am one of the few mages of note that this clan is in possession of, and so I have duties that seem unavoidable". Philon released a deep, and displeased sigh. Even talking about these things seemed to dampen his spirit. This otherwise so powerful and composed minotaur had a weakness after all.
"Well, I told you I would help out in such affairs, and I am not backing out now."
Philon smiled. "I do recall that, Livius. And I promise that I will listen to you that horrible, fateful day when we have to talk politics. But first - let's have some fun! Magic is fun, for instance, and I have sworn to teach you all I know. Now come here, and let's see what to work on first..."
With a chuckle, Livius joined Philon further into his study. He once more found himself amazed by the sheer amounts of notes, papers and books the building held. Some were disparately littered across the ground, others were perfectly organized in shelves. In front of a podium, symbols were painted on the floor.
"Please stand right there", Philon said and pointed at the center of the plethora of symbols. With a loose stance, Philon placed himself behind the podium, looking at his human student with proud eyes. His smile broke out like a flower, and the lessons began.
Livius had never experienced any day in his life go by as quickly as this; Nighttime came creeping around the corner, clad in silken garments of serene darkness. She was there seemingly in an instant, to invite them both to cease practicing and go to sleep. They both reluctantly accepted the offer.
The seasons passed mildly at House Shade. That much dawned on Livius, as time sailed its course over ever-changing waters. Some days passed by so quickly that Livius was barely able to comprehend when they had ended, even as his head lay upon the pillow. Other days, the sands of time seemed to crawl to a halt. Those days were initially few and far between, but as the seasons changed, and autumn changed for spring, spring for summer and once more back to autumn, Livius found himself at a loss for a plan ahead. His head was filled with knowledge of minotaur Houses and customs, habits in political games, honor codes and ways to adress minotaurs and how to behave properly in public and private spheres. Simply put; how to be a human in minotaur lands. Still, those rules and regulations meant nothing in House Shade. This was a sanctuary from requirements, demands, duties, obligations - and yet it didn't lack them, but all such initiatives were devoid of orders or chains of command. It was like a family. One that Livius had begun to feel he belonged to.
Philon was an eager teacher. He could go on for hours on end, either talking or showing, and together they spent what seemed like ages in the library and arcane crafting chambers. Livius learned new spells all the time, and Philon was in awe over the fact that his human student was learning so fast. Livius kept the secret of his signature to himself, painful as it was. That one principle, he could not afford to part with, taxing as it was to his conscience. As the months flew by like the birds in the sky, so did Livius intentions of taking notes and gathering knowledge for his old allies. What he learned here, would stay here, as he would too.
He would often find himself staring out into the night, leaning against his window sill until the wee hours dragged a carpet of light into his room. He was trying, desperately, to unravel the mysteries of his own heart. It no longer belonged to the Empire. It belonged to a giant, two-legged bull with a huge smile and an endless supply of warmth in a world grown cold. As little sense as it made, Livius knew he was no longer a servant of the Empire. He was an adept of love instead, and looking down at his feet, he could picture himself seeing imaginary chains being broken apart and slowly dragged away by the spirits of his once fears. He knew that he had finally found the one thing he never truly had in his past:
A home.
The rustling of the wind and the crackling sound of fallen leaves scattering over a hard surface woke Livius up from his deep sleep. As he opened his eyes, he realized he was lying on the stone floor inside the adjacent dome-like structure where the library and arcane study was located. He'd been up all night reading books, and eventually he had fallen asleep, near the entrance. There was drool on the floor, and a few books lay randombly about; some opened, some closed. Livius chuckled at the bizarre situation. This casual approach to living and working would have been unacceptable at his old home, yet here it was praised like a virtue. Just to celebrate the vast differences between the cultures, Livius made sure to enjoy every second of his peculiar awakening. In truth, it was very easy to do so. The autumn breeze from outside bred multiple fresh gusts that lingered on the doorstep, before their climb yielded an abrupt descent upon the space shared by Livius, his books, the dust and the stones. Livius snickered as the cool air spattered grain and specks of the dust upon his face, and as he rose from the ground, the blood gently rushed like a sensation of pins and needles across his tired skin. Dawnlight outside was on the brink of transformation; from the deep blushing scarlet skyline, to the golden bows bordering the blue and white depths crouching over the planet like a painted visor of the gods. Livius was in heaven, and although he didn't feel he deserved it, he had no worries anymore. Nothing could harm him.
Looking down for a brief second, Livius noticed a book he hadn't seen before. Since he was on his way out, he had no intention of halting his steps, but the title of the book caught him off-guard and forced him to do so. "The Proper Training of Humans", by a certain Maelar of Ourobourus. With a suspicious look on his face, he picked up the book and let his eyes wander over page upon page with fascinating descriptions and images of minotaurs treating humans in various demeaning ways. It appeared to be an old, and quite pedagogic instruction manual on how to treat human slaves. It was quite graphical. But why was it here? How come Philon had such a book in his possession? At first, Livius felt worried. For a fairly long period of time, as he was flipping through the pages, he felt a growing sensation of looming evil. Had it all been a conspiracy? Was this something that would await him? He attached his vision to an almost surreal image of a minotaur assaulting a human to the brink of death, allegedly for the "grievous crime of disrespecting his master and/or questioning his superior opinion".
He closed the book and stood still. As time went by, his form was like a statue in a long deserted ruin, but in his mind the cogwheels were grinding. Then, out of the blue, he laughed out loud. It struck him that even the thought of Philon harming anyone was so ludicrous that it became a living, breathing paradox. Livius eventually got tears in his eyes from his incessant laughing. The scenario was just so bizarre, and seemingly impossible. As Livius calmed down and regained his posture, the gravity of the realization struck him: it had been nigh impossible for him to imagine this minotaur he lived with of ever being able to inflict harm upon a living soul. Minotaur. The enemy. The beastmen. The mantras he heard as a child suddenly became a parody as his thoughts drifted towards Philon and his contradicting ways. Looking back at the book though, he knew that Philon was a clear exception. Some minotaurs truly were as vile as... man. We certainly would have treated minotaurs in the same way... if not worse. And with that thought, Livius got a sinister idea in the back of his mind, and he instantly left the library in pursuit of his minotaur host, with the book in tow.
Walking across the gardens, Livius spotted Philon through one of the windows. It seemed the minotaur had withdrawn to one of the smaller rooms, adjacent to a large living room. He appeared to be eating his breakfast by himself in there, occationally glancing out the window to observe nearby flower arrangements. He did not notice the quickly pacing human with a book and mischievous grin. After Livius came around a bend and entered the mansion from the side, he made his way past the rooms, just barely able to contain his impending snicker. He was about to pull a prank on his saviour, but it was hard for him to focus on the act. As he approached the final room, he suppressed his smile and instead feigned an aggravated and irritated expression. He launched himself around the corner and managed to appear profusely upset. Philon raised his head and was seemingly prepared to welcome Livius as he came in, but once the minotaur noticed the expression on the human's face - he froze.
"Is something the matter, Livius?", asked a very shocked Philon, to which Livius sported a bitter face.
"Oh, don't act so innocent. Don't think for a second that I don't see right through you. I have found some hidden sources in your library, Philon, so now I know how things are supposed to be! Therefore; I refuse to put up with how you run things here. Your era of abuse is over. It is time you start doing the right thing for once. I wont stand your treatment any longer!"
After a short pause, Livius leaned forward and looked Philon straight into his eyes. "I am so disappointed in you, master!"
Philon's ear sank as his eyes widened. He looked genuinely clueless and couldn't speak a single coherent word at first. He just looked at Livius with endless sorrow and shame in his eyes, his boggled brain entangled by confusion.
"I.. I.. I don't understand, Livius? What.. what's happened? What did I do? What have I done?", pleaded the minotaur.
Livius raised the book high into the air, as if he was a vicar preaching to the masses. "You've been lazy, that's what! This is how you're supposed to be runnings things, master!", proclaimed Livius as he authoratively placed the template for assorted teaching methods at Philon's table. The baffled minotaur looked, firstly at the book, then back to Livius' barren face, then once more back to the book. He grasped it and looked through the content, and it took him quite a few seconds until he even registered what book it was. When it finally dawned on him, he started to smile ever so slightly, returning his look at Livius, who found it hard to keep up the act. Together they broke out in a hearty laughter, and Livius sat down at the opposite end of the table.
"You certainly had me there for a moment, my dear, sweet heartmage.. ", chuckled Philon. Livius merely nodded as a reply, his smile honest and wide. It had been both devastating and hysterically fun to watch his master's struggle. "Of course, you realize this is no joke to those humans who live like this even to this day?", he continued, subtly tapping at the cover of the vile book.
"I can imagine that humans would be no different, sadly. Not that I have witnessed it myself. I have only seen battle. But that was in the past. Now I will no longer have to endure sights like that. I will never have to watch humans mistreat a minotaur, ever again."
Philon nodded and set the book aside. "You probably won't, Livius. But you never know. And some minotaurs may deserve ill treatment, at times. Especially those who force other minotaurs to partake in political debates", Philon said with a sigh.
"Something on your mind?", Livius inquired with a gentle smile. He could tell that something was awry.
"It seems I have to take you up on your offer soon, Livius. You see, an envoy is on its way here. It is Lord Steam. He is a mage, like me, although we are highly different; both as mages and as .. persons. I am sure you understand that I will be forced to maintain the illusion of minotaur standards when he arrives.."
"Then perhaps this book can serve as a guide?", said Livius with a sly grin.
"Heaven's no! Nothing that extreme!", exclaimed Philon, to which Livius gave a sudden laugh.
"I was just joking. But I understand the need of blending in, you don't want to appear radical to the others."
"Precisely. It is imperative that he does not notice something that raises suspicion, or he could potentially cause problems in the long run. If he is subjected to something he feels compelled to report back to the council, I might be put under scrutinizing eyes - something I would prefer to avoid."
"Do you think ... I mean, is there real danger here?"
Philon smiled and shook his head. "I doubt that, Livius. Although Lord Steam is very formal and stern, I have no reason to believe he is unreasonable or over-zealous. Nevertheless, it is important that you and the other humans behave according to the standards he is used to. We will practice before his arrival."
"Sounds like fun", Livius said and rolled his eyes.
"Well, everything can't be fun all the time, you know", chuckled Philon. "Sometimes, there are duties to be performed. Even here at House Shade"
"I suppose you're right. I never thought I would get to be this spoiled. So.. when do we start the practicing?"
"There is no need to stress. Is there something you would like to do before we get started with the tedious work?"
Livius smiled and looked at Philon. The muted white complexion of his hide reciprocated so well with the lighting in this room, and the heavy shadows worked as a pleasant contrast on his body, accentuating his muscled tone. He wore nothing on his upper body, and only a loose, kilt-like apparel from his waist down to his knees. The muscles on his calves rippled some from minor movements. Livius felt a sudden craving. One he hadn't felt since his first night, which ended with his unplanned nighttime visit in his master's chambers. That time felt like a mistake. But now - Livius knew what he wanted, and he did not feel anything remotely akin to shame in admitting it to himself, or to Philon.
"I can think of a few things.. ", Livius said with a suave voice and gave Philon a very seductive glare. He didn't feel sure that Philon got the hint, since human expressions differ from minotaur ones. At the same time, this particular minotaur was probably very used to human communication by now, even subtle approaches.
Philon smiled and rose from his chair, approaching the sitting human very carefully and majestically. He placed himself behind Livius and crouched slightly, leaning his muscular and warm chest against Livius head. His huge left arm grasped Livius' hand and lifted it, steering it backwards until Livius could feel it connecting with the minotaur's huge, strong thigh. Livius gasped with delight and decided to steer his own hand by himself, and he soon managed to dig it under the warm cloth of Philon's loose garments. He gently grasped the rounded testicles. They were steamy hot, and made the palm of his hand sweaty from the touch. Thick, bovine lips hovered near Livius' ear, and with a warm cloud of musky air, Philon whispered; "I am your humble servant.. "
Livius stood up and turned around to face Philon. Swelling with emotion, he pressed against his stout form and continued to knead and rub the massive genitalia. It was astonishingly wonderful, but in the midst of his enjoyment, some dark thoughts had begun to dig their way into unwelcoming caverns of the brain. It took only a moment before the thoughts had clawed their way past all defenses, and then; overshadowing Livius' desires, came a sudden pang of shame and guilt. The feelings derived from a great notion of inadequacy. Livius could only feel it was justified, he was sexually inexperienced, and now he was here; in a haven of liberation from all things restrictive, not least sexual exuberance. The realization was startling in its effectivity to kill Livius' certainty, but it hadn't gone unnoticed by Philon, who instantly laid his hands as comforting supports around Livius' chin, and raised his head. As the eyes of the two met, Livius felt as though the minotaur could look right through him. It always felt like that, but in a good way, for the most part. At this moment, Livius wasn't so sure.
"What's the matter? I can tell something's wrong..", boomed Philon's whisper in its soothing fashion.
"I .. I don't think I have much to offer you.. in terms of ... you know... prowess. I am .. well.. the closest I have ever gotten to anything remotely sexual with someone else was... when I ... with you... ", stuttered the hesitant Livius. He was blushing rather profusely, but that felt like a minor detail in the turmoil of emotional distress that he was forced to endure. He composed himself after a few seconds and felt compelled to speak more, in the absence of a reply. "In the theater of sex, I am barely even a spectator.."
Philon smiled and waited until Livius could muster the will to look into his eyes. Once he did, Philon spoke. "In this theater, all participants are both audience and actor at the same time, and pleasure is never a competition, Livius. There are only winners in this particular play. Whether or not you perform like a sexual veteran, or an insecure neophyte, it is you that I choose to perform with, and this moment is ours alone. How it plays out will be unveiled as it happens, and there is no such thing as a failure in this particular theater."
"How can you be so sure?"
"Because love allows no failures. It is just not possible, Livius. If sex is just a meaningless physical ritual, or performed without heart, it can probably be measured in terms of success or failure. But I love you Livius, and therefore; what we do in our attempts to pleasure each other can never go wrong, because we share what we give and receive from an eternal source."
"You mean ... love?", asked Livius.
"Yes Livius. Love. The neverending source, and the purest power I know. What we share, what we delight in - no matter how things turn out, cannot ever go wrong. Unless you don't love me back. Then the line is broken. Do you love me, Livius?"
Livius had difficulty respiring, but had no road blocks hindering his instinctual reply from reaching the air outside his mouth. "I love you so much that I ... ", Livius began. He just understood what he had said openly, and it made him pause for a while to collect his thoughts. ".. I am sometimes afraid of going to sleep, in case my time with you proves to be nothing but a dream that I can't ever allow myself to wake up from. I want to spend eternity with you. I .. love you."
Philon's smile was in no way exaggerated although it seemed wide. It had a confident and pleased look to it, and he soon leaned in to kiss Livius, who couldn't close his eyes as he observed those big, thick lips wrapping around his own. The sight was too enticing. He enjoyed every second of the deep kiss, and switching his attention between the bovine tongue and the lips, his thoughts ran a marathon inside his own head; ideas and prospects of what they could do, what they could share, not only in bed - but in the forever that would follow this day. When the kiss was over, Livius looked into Philon's eyes, searching their intent.
"Then let's share a moment of pleasure, in the undying name of love".
Livius could only nod as he was lead into Philon's sleeping chamber. They were soon once more inside the room where his affection had once taken start. Now though, they were both awake and very aware of what they wanted. Philon lay himself on the bed, and sprawled across the sheets. With a longing glare, he invited the human to join in. Livius was no longer overwhelmed by feelings of inadequacy, nor any shame, guilt or hesitation. He was filled only with feelings of lust and longing. And he knew it derived from the everclear pool of love and affection.
While his shaking hands slowly removed the loose clothes from his frail human form, he felt as though he was caught in a dreamlike mist of several conflicting attributes. There was no mistake that he wanted this, and the arousal came from deep within, lingering like a vapour around his whole being. It was a holistic delirium. At the same time, he felt a sense of disconnection too, as if this experience wasn't real; yet it was. He was here, in the present, and damned it all if he couldn't get that into his self-sabotaging mindstate. As he stood naked before his lord, his hands began wandering over his own body, almost to ensure he really was there. Moist, sticky skin met the fingertips with a texture that felt familiar even though the situation was alien. Still - it mattered not. He was about to change that fact. He could devote the rest of his lifetime to becoming a champion of handling sights like this. Smiling warmly, he slowly walked towards the huge bed, drawing closer to the magnetic core; the minotaur master, whose groin had begun to bulge out the restraining form of the cloth he wore; the shield between the holiest imaginable part of his body and the longing human, eager to indulge in all it could offer. Livius wanted to make the moment last, there was no need to rush.
He placed his hands around the hooves. He was amazed to find them so warm, on top of being hard as stone. Leaning down towards their unhumanlike shape, he began kissing them, while he eagerly caressed the muscular calves of the trembling minotaur. The soothing grunts of appeasement became an erotic melody in Livius' ears, and he initiated a trail of kisses along the wonderful, furry leg. Every new kiss he planted felt softer on his lips than the previous, and straws of fur remained on his lips after he raised them to transport farther along the intended path. From his perspective, he could see the contents beneath the cloth of the minotaur, although it was dark from the shade. He could almost make out a mist trickling under the concealed area; the warm air of arousal in a confined space, soon to be explored by yearning lips and tongue. But he wasn't there yet, he was only at the knee so far.
The smooth hill that was the muscled approach to Philon's thigh was pleasant to bathe the face into. The bulging hide yawned over the cap of the knee, but wasn't too compact for Livius' lips to mould in his lover's kiss, while grasping his hands around the massive form of the thigh. In some sense, he felt like a lost boy, clinging to a fallen tree to find some comfort. As he kept kissing, his hands greedily rubbed and fondled along the intoxicating form, musk rising like morning dew from the grayish body of the massive minotaur. Livius dragged the aroma into his nostrils, and found the very scent itself to be like ethereal snakes crawling into his being, coiling around the tempest of the heartbeats, breaking lose its chains to commence a foray of lust into the quaking soul of the human slave; this mage turned vigilant in the service of love. Passion bringing joyous tears as every new kiss along the thigh condensed his mind further into willful obediance and saturating desires. The top of Livius' head was strangely tickled by the presence of heavy cloth, which parted a collection of his hair as he moved into it. He had approached the holiest conceivable area, and he slowly removed the loin cloth, basking in the rising warmth from Philon's massive genitalia, as it lay invitingly hard and moist in full view. He observed the thick skin and ropey veins, painted with dots of male sweat upon its silky yet leathery surface. Trying to quench his lust to dive into this buffet of sexual delight was proving harder and harder by the second. Livius looked at Philon, and in the minotaur's half-closed eyes glistened comfort and expectations, mirroring Livius' own feelings. Philon's thick, bovine tongue hung out ever so slightly from his jaws, and he lifted his giant hand and placed it on his human's cheek, slowly guiding Livius' head down towards his crotch.
Livius tried to keep the focus clear as his face landed on the aromatic surface of the firm shaft, but he was now so closely embedded against it that he only saw blurry outlines of its shape. His chins almost seared, although delightfully so, from the contact of the warm skin. He felt so hard now, that he was nearly about to burst, yet his desire to please the minotaur far outshone the desire to relieve himself. He extended his tongue and let it engulf the delicate shaft, feeling up on the rises and falls of the various jutting veins, suckling his path on the magnificent and rock hard meat as he moved his mouth closer to the flaring and swelling tip. Once he got there, he opened his mouth wide to take it all in, and the familiar taste of the minotaur's breeding organ satiated Livius profoundly and quickly. The tip of the bloomed penis was almost like a miniature stump, albeit with a fleshy texture, leaking juicy precum down the human gullet. And how eagerly he let it do so. By kissing and grinding his lips harder and firmer, the squirts grew in intensity, and Philon moaned louder. Soon the throbbing almost quenched Livius tongue, disabling it from moving as nimbly across the holy region, but he didn't stop trying. While sucking, his hands held the enormous, sweat covered balls, rubbing and massaging them as the scent of arousal formed like a thick mist in the room. The bovine lord seemed to clench his jaws together, and his eyes looks glazed-over and watery, saliva slowly trickling down his quilted lips. Livius felt the cascade-like convulsions of Philon's impending orgasm whip against him like tidal waves of pressure, and the thrusts from minotaur hips sent him bouncing against the magnificent body upon which he lay. He could feel the stirring of the cock increasing, shivering almost.
With a sudden moan, Philon unloaded his seed. The orgasm made him shake, and Livius did all he could to milk every drop from the large cock, the taste sweeter than nectar. It felt as if the balls sank into the body, working as hard as they could to spray all that they contained into the yearning human slave, who was deliriously overjoyed from the continued currents.
Soon the minotaur opened his muzzle, and lay panting on his back, his seed covering large portions of himself, streaming elegantly from the pools newly formed. Livius rectified by licking up as much as he could, and once he reached the face, he licked the tongue of his master. It wasn't long before they locked into a lengthy kiss, and Livius felt the strong minotaur hands travel all over his body. His arousal made him quake a bit from desires to relieve himself, and Philon soon noticed, and smiled.
"Time for your treat", he gently rumbled and lifted Livius off of himself. Livius observed as the giant body turned and placed itself on all four, with the behind facing him. The large bovine head turned to look back at Livius, and his smile was as warm as ever. "I know you've never been inside someone before, but if you feel like it, I would love to be your first.."
Livius smiled back and nearly felt his heart exploding from lust and joy. "I couldn't have found a better first time partner.. I love you, master. I have never felt this way with anyone before.. I just wish.. I mean with us.. if we ... -"
"I love you too, Livius. But don't worry", Philon interrupted. "We will have plenty of opportunities to do this, whenever we feel like it. Just do what you want with me, take your time to explore.."
Livius knelt behind Philon, and with his hands he explored the large, powerful calves. The bulging muscles rippled along the thick hide, and with infinite patience, Livius lifted the firm tail. As it rose by the will of his hands, he could see straight into the cupping cavity under the tail, revealing the anus and the surrounding, massive muscles of the bovine buttocks and thighs. Livius kept on stroking along the pillar-like legs as his face approached the entrance. Gently, he kissed the opening and the adjacent, soft skin. The tail was now laying on top of his head, and it traced along his back like a warm serpent. He felt like entering this sacred body, before he would drive himself insane from lusting to do so. He kept kissing his way down, along the carnal delights of the bovine body, until he eventually reached the skin of the ballsac. As he gathered up the soft skin with his lips, he could see the testicles move up and down further below, like two heavy orb-shaped anchors within the sac. He cupped them from below with his hand, and leaned down to plant a kiss along their forms, before elevating his head up above the buttocks once more. He beheld his lover's back, which ran like a canyon before his eyes, and at the end of this pleasant sight, the two horns rose like towers, moving only slightly in the distance. It struck Livius just how big Philon truly was, this giant minotaur who was now at his service. Existing only for his pleasure, at this moment. Livius' erection brushed against the back of a minotaur thigh, and he adjusted his position to make his penis slide in under the massive bovine balls, gently rocking himself back and forth in delight from having their weights upon his shaft, while kneading the buttocks on the sides of the awaiting cavity below the tail. The gaping mouth of the anus was framed by slightly protruding edges. Wonderfully meaty, gray colored borders they were, pulsating with arousal, inviting Livius to partake.
Livius grabbed Philon's sides further up along the torso, and managed to pull himself up a bit, until he was finally in a position where he would be able to penetrate the minotaur. He shifted himself slightly to get to a comfortable stance, and placed his hands on the sides of the buttocks, as he gently pushed against the giant form. Livius could feel his penis pressing against the meaty anus, pushing the soft edges aside as he entered. He could feel himself slide nimbly into the large body, and he was awestruck by the warm sensation that overwhelmed his sensitive organ. It was like being massaged by a steamy mist. The experience was so soft and pleasant that it was barely possible for Livius to initially understand that he was inside Philon at all. Yet the erratic movements within, the micro tensions of muscles from the minotaur, soon made it clear to Livius that it was indeed meat surrounding his yearning member after all. He felt his organ overwhelmed by poweful layers of muscle, moving like waves over his shaft aswell as his glans. It was insanely stimulating, and the sensation and excitement was beyond words. Livius was unable to control his desire to pump thoroughly into the meaty cavity, shaping and pressing around his cock with wet warmth. Philon's breathing increased, and Livius began stroking the palms of his hands over as much of the minotaur body as possible, feeling the subtle shifts between states of tension and relaxation on the bovine pelt. The realization of being inside someone he loved dawned on Livius, and something as simple as sensing his lover's skin upon his hands became a miraculous revelation. This was a holy moment, if ever there was one. Livius' pulse skyrocketed, and he began pounding harder and faster, holding on firmly to his master. His panting and Philon's rumbling moans joined together in the misty air, clouded by the sweat of both human and minotaur alike. Livius was delirious from the ecstacy of it all, having never felt anything like this before. He could feel it wouldn't be long before he would orgasm. From the very first seconds of entering, it felt as if he was about to burst, and now his very being screamed for release, praying he could fill as much of his lover as possible with his seed.
Suddenly he felt the spasms of climax emptying him from within. His seed flowed into the rear of the minotaur, and he could feel some of it streaming out aswell. He let loose a prolonged gasp, unable to think coherently due to the deafening orchestra of orgasm. Breathless from the excitement, Livius' body sank and seemingly melted onto the firm back of his lord. He lay there panting, observing the horns further away. They had become blurry from his fogged eyes, but he could clearly see them turning, as Philon looked back at Livius. For some reason, it all seemed to be a bit like looking at a display through heavily condensed windows, and even the sounds had begun to appear muffled. Livius felt a bit like he was about to faint from the exertion of it all.
"That was wonderful, dear Livius. I truly hope you enjoyed it as much as I did", trailed Philon's voice in a ghostly fashion. Livius had become so drained, both physically and emotionally, that this whole situation felt more or less surreal now. He smiled and tried to reply, but instead slipped into a dreamless sleep, his mind sinking like a ship in deep waters.
Livius awoke abruptly next morning, his face perceivably boiling from heat. Opening his eyes, he quickly had to squint them due to the striking intensity of bright light. It took him a good few seconds before he realized that he shouldn't be in a room where sunlight could shine through. In fact, he clearly felt the caress of a subtle breeze on his skin. He had to have been outside. Once again, he attempted to open his eyes, flickering his eyelids while shading his face with a clumsy hand. He turned his head and found that he was indeed outside, laying on top of Philon. They were lying together in the hammock. The smiling face of the minotaur was unmistakable as it appeared in Livius' field of vision.
"Awake?", Philon asked gently.
"Seems so.. how did I end up here? Did you carry me?"
Philon nodded casually. "I felt we could use some sunlight. When I woke up you were still sound asleep, and in the spur of the moment I decided to move us out here. I hope you don't take offense to that, my beloved heartmage?"
"No, I.. Heartm-..?", Livius stumbled. He let out a chuckle before continuing. "Of course not. How could I? This is ... great. And last night was beyond divine. I have never experienced anything like it."
Smiling even wider, Philon leaned in closer to kiss Livius. The thick, bovine lip taste was a welcome morning gift, and their respective tongues soon slithered around one another in a symbiotic dance. For the longest moment, Livius was convinced he was in heaven. When the moment was over though, Philon suddenly appeared eager to go elsewhere, as if he had a sudden realization.
"I am sorry, Livius, but I have to go and prepare. We have a very special guest visiting us today."
A startled look fell upon Livius, as he grasped the implications. "Lord Steam? Is he coming here today?", he asked in a perplexed tone. Philon nodded, and looked almost apologetic in doing so.
"I got the news just before you woke. I didn't expect him this early to be honest, but now it seems we have to prepare for his arrival. If I have understood things correctly, he has a very small entourage. Don't worry, it will work out fine. You are good mannered and well versed in our ways. There is nothing to fear".
With those words, Philon's grip around Livius hardened ever so slightly, signalling for Livius to get down. He instantly rose and climbed down the hammock and Philon soon followed. Livius joined his master in a brief walk towards the main complex, soothed by the humming of the minotaur, who clearly inspected the flora as he strolled without a care in the world. Livius smiled at the calmness displayed by his master, his lover; his everything. But deep down, he couldn't help but feel the slight tingling of anxiety brooding. What if something would go wrong?