Chapter 16: Freesias by the Water

Jack was running towards him.Alison

“What is it? Where are you going?”

“Just out for a walk. Where are you coming from?”

“From Lauren’s. She wasn’t feeling well.”

“Your mother?”

“Yeah. Nothing serious. She’s fine now.”

Emil’s expression instantly stiffened at the mention of his mother’s ill health, yet Jack spoke as if it were a minor inconvenience.

Emil had not seen his mother since their last dinner together. He felt a pang of guilt, especially considering he had run into Yanis by chance several times.

As Emil’s face clouded with remorse, Jack, misinterpreting his expression, waved a dismissive hand and slung an arm around his shoulder.

“Debating whether to visit Lauren, aren’t you? Go another time. She said she was tired and wanted to rest.”

“…I understand. Does Yanis know too?”

“Know what?”

“That your mother’s tired.”

“Wouldn’t he? Ah, I don’t know.”

Jack’s mumbled reply, suggesting Yanis should naturally know, lacked any genuine concern. Emil tilted his head slightly, finding Jack’s tone almost derisive.

For some reason, Jack always reacted peculiarly whenever Yanis was mentioned. Emil wanted to point out his strange behavior towards the man who would soon become part of his family, but he couldn’t quite articulate what was bothering him.

Jack glanced sidelong at Emil, whose expression was a tangle of emotions.

“Let’s walk for a bit.”

****

Emil and Jack had been walking in silence for thirty minutes. The best part about being with Jack was the ease with which they could simply stroll.

When alone, Emil often felt uneasy, drawing considerable attention, whether positive or negative.

“You seem quite busy these days.”

“Me?”

“Yeah. Lauren was wondering about you.”

“Ah.”

At the mention of his mother’s name, Emil paused momentarily before casually resuming his pace.

“You should visit sometimes. Lauren waits for you every day.”

It wasn’t that he intentionally avoided her. Rather, a recent memory had simply left him feeling overwhelmed.

A memory he couldn’t bring himself to share with Jack resurfaced, and Emil nodded quietly, only to suddenly notice something odd.

“How do you know that?”

“Know what?”

“That my mother waits for me every day.”

It was an offhand question, but Jack’s face registered a sudden realization, and he blinked rapidly several times.

“…Well, how could I not know? We live in the same neighborhood, and I occasionally greet Lauren… Plus, you’re going to a completely different village once you become a priest. It’ll be harder to see her then, obviously.”

“That’s true.”

As Jack said, their time was limited. He should be visiting his mother more often and spending time with her, yet the memory of their last encounter unconsciously made Emil avoid Lauren.

Emil nodded, readily acknowledging his oversight.

“The church has been chaotic these past few days. The Priest has been gravely ill. Yanis visited today, so he should recover soon. I’ll have time tomorrow.”

“The Priest is sick too?”

“Of course. He’s human.”

“Huh, I thought priests, being God’s representatives, weren’t supposed to get sick.”

Jack’s tone sounded somewhat distorted. Emil could understand Jack’s sentiments, given that Guides likely didn’t receive favorable treatment from the clergy, but such talk still made him uncomfortable.

Striving to avoid any conflict, Emil barely managed to quell his rising irritation.

“Anyway, it seems a lot of people are getting sick lately. Lauren, the Priest…”

“Indeed.”

Though the Priest’s severe condition overshadowed it, the Nuns were also taking turns with minor ailments.

With the elderly Priest unable to properly manage himself, they forced themselves to rise and attend to the church’s duties.

“Now that you mention it, the Nuns aren’t well either. Is there some kind of problem?”

“Right. It’s not even that cold.”

The two engaged in a conversation that lacked much substance or direction. While many were ill, Yanis’s visit today meant the Nuns would soon receive proper treatment and medicine.

“Yanis is here, so they’ll be fine. He seems to be a good physician, doesn’t he?”

Perhaps with Yanis providing care, the churchgoers’ wariness towards him would lessen. Then, meeting and conversing with Yanis would feel less conspicuous.

As Emil’s thoughts reached this point, his heart felt significantly lighter.

He would have to leave the village upon his ordination anyway, meaning his opportunities to meet Yanis would vanish. Parting ways with Yanis also meant fewer avenues for Emil to delve deeper into understanding those with supernatural abilities.

“Hmph, what good will that do?”

“Why?”

At the mention of Yanis, Jack’s face crumpled into a frown.

“Yanis is…”

“Jack!”

Just as Jack was about to speak, someone called out to him.

Margaret. She sold fabrics and occasionally took commissions to sew clothes, her skill so exceptional that people from neighboring villages often sought her out.

Even now, she was wearing a very stylish gown, a bold mix of colors.

“Everything you asked for is done. Here.”

“Ah, thank you.”

Margaret handed Jack a parcel tied with red fabric. As he accepted it and offered his thanks, Jack’s expression was remarkably brighter than before.

Emil watched them exchange pleasantries, and when his eyes met Margaret’s, he offered a slight nod. Margaret blushed faintly and bowed her head a little.

“See you later, Jack.”

“Yeah. I’ll wear it well.”

“You? Wear that? I look forward to it.”

Margaret giggled, then slipped inside her house. At her words, Jack laughed with a somewhat foolish expression.

Emil waited patiently for Jack to turn his attention back to him. He was eager to understand why Jack held such a harsh opinion of Yanis.

Jack, with a faint smile, meticulously scrutinized the carefully tied parcel, clearly eager to see what was inside.

“So, what about Yanis?”

“Ah.”

At Emil’s prompt, the smile vanished instantly from Jack’s face. Pouting, Jack tilted his head in thought, then shook it to himself.

“It’s nothing serious. Just many shortcomings as a fellow Guide.”

“Why? What kind?”

“It’s just… I wish he’d help Lauren more. From my perspective, he lacks a certain attentiveness, you know. I was the one who consistently helped Lauren before that man came along.”

Emil suddenly stopped in his tracks, causing Jack to turn and flinch in surprise. Emil seemed quite taken aback by Jack’s words.

“Is Yanis… that bad?”

“No, it’s not like that, hmm.”

Jack appeared somewhat flustered by Emil’s grave expression. He hadn’t expected Emil to react so seriously.

“Well, considering he’s engaged to Lauren, it’s like that. You know how long I’ve known Lauren, so… But, well.”

‘It’s better for me that way, though…’ Jack mumbled, and Emil gazed at him intently, his eyes silently demanding an explanation.

Jack noticed Emil’s stare but chuckled awkwardly, swiftly changing the subject.

“I’m thirsty. Did you know there are freesias blooming by the water?”

****

Upon reaching the stream, their spirits lifted considerably. Just as Jack had said, freesias bloomed vibrantly along the bank.

Initially, they only removed their shoes and dipped their feet in the water. After confirming they were alone, they shed their outer clothes and began to swim and play.

Though the weather could hardly be called warm, neither of them seemed to mind.

“Anyway, you won’t have many days left to play so freely, will you?”

Jack’s words spurred Emil’s resolve. Indeed, how many more days would he have to strip off his clothes and swim carelessly in the water?

As Emil hesitated, Jack offered to keep watch.

“What about you? Aren’t you coming in?”

“Why? Want to challenge me?”

“No, just… let’s play together.”

“You’re no match for me.”

Jack wagged his index finger from side to side, boasting. It was only natural that he, with his professional military training, was incomparable to Emil.

Emil had no intention of competing, but Jack’s words made him instinctively snort.

“What? Are you laughing at me?”

“No, when did I? I just meant I can have fun on my own.”

He feigned nonchalance, carefully shedding his clothes. The seminary was quite close to the village center, so there were no streams or lakes nearby.

This was a source of great regret during the hot summers. After folding his clothes and placing them on a rock, Emil plunged boldly into the water.

Splash!

With a resounding sound, water sprayed in every direction.

“Ah, you rascal!”

“See? It would’ve been better if you’d just joined me!”

Jack, suddenly drenched, roared in protest. Emil, utterly delighted by the sight, burst into laughter.

Though his hair and trousers were thoroughly soaked, Jack still showed no inclination to enter the water fully. He merely rolled up his pant legs and dipped his feet in.

His attempt to act so mature was both ridiculous and amusing. It was astonishing how he, who had repeatedly splashed and teased Emil when he struggled to swim as a child, now tried to maintain such a dignified composure.

A mischievous impulse suddenly seized Emil, and he feigned swimming, circling Jack. For a while, Jack watched Emil, seemingly lost in thought, his gaze distant.

Seizing the moment, Emil hovered nearby, then stealthily approached and abruptly yanked Jack’s leg.

“Hey!”

“Ah, you!”

“Wahahaha!”

Splash!

Jack, who had been staring blankly into space, flailed his arms a few times before plummeting into the water. Emil roared with laughter at the sight of Jack’s stunned expression.

Jack scowled fiercely at Emil, then roughly stripped off his water-soaked, clinging clothes.

“Damn it, I don’t care anymore! You’re gonna get it!”

“Aaaah!”

As soon as Jack was in the water, he grabbed Emil’s shoulder and dunked him. Emil frantically tried to escape, but it was useless.

“Achoo.”

“What, a cold?”

“No, I’ll be fine soon.”

The impromptu water play continued for a long time. Just before sunset, Emil and Jack emerged from the water, hastily dried themselves, and put on their clothes.

Jack clicked his tongue, seeing Emil cough. As Emil, shivering, quickly dressed, Jack was deep in thought.

His clothes, soaked from Emil’s earlier prank, were still far from dry.

“Jack, you have a scratch here.”

“What?”

“Here—”

As Jack bent down to inspect his clothes, a long scratch was visible on his back. Not just one, but several. When Emil pointed, Jack uttered a soft “Ah” in recognition.