Chapter 9: A Shared Night

“This voice… Emil?”

“…Yes.”

“Good heavens, what are you doing here?”

Yanis muttered to himself, disbelief coloring his tone. For once, the man’s voice was a welcome sound.

He longed to stand, but his legs felt like jelly, perhaps from the sudden release of tension.

Abruptly, a sharp, clicking sound echoed, and a spark ignited in the air. It seemed he carried a flint.

Seeing Emil slumped on the ground, Yanis wore an expression of utter disbelief.

“Why are you here?”

“…I got lost.”

“Oh dear, for heaven’s sake.”

Emil felt a wave of shame for getting lost in a place that was practically his home.

His embarrassment doubled, knowing he was receiving help from Yanis, who had only recently settled in the village.

“And you, why are you out here at this hour…?”

“Ah.”

As Emil hastily changed the subject, Yanis pointed to the dog, which now sat obediently, awaiting its master’s command.

“This fellow wanted to go out. After he attacked you recently, I kept him indoors, but he kept wanting to leave.”

“I deliberately chose a place where there wouldn’t be people and came out at night, so I didn’t expect to find you here.”

It was a perfectly understandable explanation. Emil, too, would have been severely injured had Yanis not intervened.

Observing Emil, Yanis’s expression turned to one of concern.

“This area is dangerous due to predators. Last time, Tag even came back covered in blood; it seems he encountered a wolf.”

“I will accompany you to the village.”

“Ah, in that case.”

Yanis readily extended a hand to Emil. The kindness offered first by Yanis was secretly welcome.

Indeed, it was something Emil had yearned for.

While it felt somewhat uncomfortable to receive help rather than offer it, there was no reason to refuse in a situation directly tied to his survival.

Emil slowly nodded his head.

“Thank you.”

****

As they descended towards the village, Yanis remained silent.

Having wandered aimlessly through the mountains for a long time, Emil was utterly exhausted.

Emil glanced at Yanis, who walked ahead, and slowly followed behind him.

“Woah, woah.”

Yanis occasionally chided his dog, which was descending too quickly.

The same dog that had been so aggressive towards Emil was remarkably submissive to Yanis.

This sight was both surprising and, deep down, a little disheartening for Emil.

Though he had never been particularly good with four-legged animals since childhood, a longing to befriend them always resided in a corner of his heart.

Coming back to his senses, Emil realized they had reached a familiar path.

Due to the late hour, no one was out and about.

Yanis, who had been leading the way, suddenly came to a halt.

“It’s getting late. What will you do? If it’s alright with you, perhaps you could spend the night at my place.”

At the man’s words, Emil looked in the direction of the cathedral.

By now, all the lights in the cathedral would surely be out.

Naturally, access to the lodging would also be difficult. Since priests typically rose for morning prayers at dawn, the likelihood of any being awake at this hour was exceedingly low.

Emil was utterly exhausted.

Having wandered outdoors for such a long time, his stamina was completely depleted.

Emil hesitated for a moment, looking at Yanis, who was extending kindness to him.

Even though Yanis was his mother’s fiancé, they had only met for the first time recently.

However, refusing his offer of hospitality would create an awkward situation in many ways.

Jack’s house and his mother’s house were both far from here.

The volunteers who assisted with chores would also be asleep at this hour.

While they would surely open the door if he knocked, it would mean waking them up because of him.

There was also the option of spending the entire night outside. He could endure it somehow, but it would undoubtedly take a toll on his body.

“Emil?”

“Ah, yes.”

After a brief hesitation, Emil composed himself and nodded.

“It’s incredibly presumptuous of me, but… I would be grateful for just this one night.”

****

Yanis led Emil inside the house.

The dog glared fiercely at Emil, its eyes narrowed, but it did not enter the house. It hadn’t received permission from its master.

The dog, which had been snarling fiercely and baring its fangs, quickly softened its gaze and acted affectionately when Yanis clicked his tongue.

“Please, come this way.”

Yanis guided Emil further inside, past the clinic filled with various medicinal herbs and books. This area appeared to be Yanis’s private space.

Aside from the essential furniture, books occupied the most significant portion of the room. It was neither lavish nor luxurious, yet it possessed a certain comfort.

Emil turned in a wide circle, surveying the room.

The books were primarily medical texts. There were even some written in ancient languages.

Although Emil had studied ancient languages at the seminary, the script in Yanis’s books was unfamiliar to him.

A book written in a familiar language caught his eye. ‘The Esper’s.’

Out of curiosity, he opened the book and slowly turned its pages. It was quite worn, as if it had been read repeatedly.

Just as he became engrossed in the book, Yanis approached, carrying a steaming mug.

“It’s warm tea. It’s best to warm yourself first, as a drop in body temperature can make you prone to illness.”

“Thank you.”

A comforting warmth emanated from the mug he held.

Just by cradling the cup in both hands, Emil felt a sense of peace.

It was the same tea he had received from Yanis and drunk before. He remembered it for its unique aroma.

Emil sipped the tea slowly, feeling the tension drain from his body.

“Your home is very cozy. And there are so many books.”

“It’s a rather humble space to host a guest. I live alone, so there’s only one room.”

Yanis picked up a fallen book from the floor and placed it on the desk.

“Oh, no, not at all.”

Emil, having slowly surveyed the room, shook his head.

“I think it’s a wonderful place. I’m already so grateful just for a place to sleep.”

His words were sincere.

It was more spacious than the seminary dorms and exuded a warmth of human touch.

Even the desk, somewhat cluttered with stacks of books, appealed to him.

As Emil spoke with such earnestness, Yanis smiled, a mix of awkwardness and pleasure on his face.

“Please use my bed. I can sleep on the clinic bed.”

Emil recalled the clinic bed he had seen upon entering.

While it resembled a bed, it was merely a wooden board with a blanket draped over it.

If Yanis, who was considerably taller than him, were to spend the night there, he would undoubtedly ache all over.

“No, you don’t have to do that. I’m already imposing on you, and if you go to such lengths, I’ll feel terribly guilty.”

Emil shook his head, overwhelmed by the excessive kindness. Yanis gazed at Emil’s face in silence before speaking.

“It’s quite alright. I’m only sorry that this is all I can offer a guest, as I cannot provide a proper clean room.”

Due to Yanis’s insistence on giving up his bed for Emil, the two men engaged in a lengthy debate.

Yanis seemed utterly unwilling to yield, forcing Emil to resort to the absurd suggestion of sleeping outdoors.

After a long discussion, they finally reached a compromise: they would share one bed.

Considering the conversation that had just transpired, filled with mutual consideration and deference, it was a remarkably sensible conclusion.

“Please wear these clothes.”

“Ah, thank you.”

After their conversation concluded, the man offered Emil warm water and a change of clothes.

He explained that they were clothes too small for him to wear.

Emil quickly washed and then changed into Yanis’s garments. A strange scent clung to them, evoking a peculiar sensation in Emil.

The clothes Yanis had given him consisted of a dark green tunic and dark-colored trousers.

They were a little large for Emil, but not uncomfortable to wear.

As he sat on the bed, a wave of belated fatigue washed over him.

Perhaps it was the effect of the tea.

The tea Yanis had offered was quite effective.

Emil, feeling languid and lost in thought, picked up the book he had set aside earlier and began to read.

Although the book contained ancient script, it was not difficult to read.

[Numerous surviving texts and records indicate that Espers appeared much earlier than commonly assumed. …Ancient Espers utilized extraordinary physical abilities and supernatural powers to serve as leaders of their groups or as prophets, and in some cultures, they were even revered as gods themselves. …However, unlike the present, they were unaware of the existence of Guides, so the emergence of Espers generally led to the destruction of cultures and tribes.]

By the time Emil had read two paragraphs, Yanis, who had gone to wash, returned.

The man approached Emil, who was engrossed in his book.

So deeply absorbed was Emil in the text that he seemed entirely unaware of Yanis’s return.

“Do you like that book?”

Emil, who hadn’t noticed Yanis’s return, startled slightly and looked up. A sheepish smile belatedly appeared on his face.

“Well, it’s about things I don’t know much about. It’s quite interesting.”

Regarding Espers and Guides, Emil’s knowledge was limited to what he had learned at the seminary, leaving him completely uninformed about their origins or history.

All he knew was that Guides and Espers had to register their identities in each territory, and the lords would then present their rosters to the Empire.

He also knew that to fully control their abilities, they needed to be paired with a Guide.

Furthermore, books on the subject were exceedingly rare, with the seminary library’s collection being the only ones Emil had ever encountered.

“If you’re curious, you’re welcome to borrow it.”

“No, it’s alright.”

“I have many books on Guides and Espers. The one you’re reading now is, so to speak, a basic text, so you should find it enjoyable.”

“It would be good to read it as if you were studying heresy.”

“…Ah.”

Emil’s cheeks flushed at Yanis’s playful remark. Indeed, during his time at the seminary, one of the most fascinating subjects he had studied was apocryphal research.

Reading the apocrypha—books not included in the scriptures—stirred his heart with a thrill, much like tasting forbidden fruit.

Perhaps this was how the first humans felt when they succumbed to the devil’s temptation. Unable to decline further, Emil hesitated, and Yanis pressed the book into his hands.

“In that case, I’ll read it quickly and return it to you.”

“Return it whenever you like. It makes no difference to me.”

The man responded kindly, a gentle smile gracing his lips.