Chapter 2: A Friend’s Humble Abode

“I just saw Miss Dumpty and her group following you from under the bell tower, which is why I chased after you,” Jeanne said, walking alongside Levi on the academy path and glancing at him with a hint of worry. “Why did you come to such a remote place?”

Levi, a third-year theology student with the best grades in the academy, had become friends with Jeanne after several post-class discussions and a chance encounter outside school.

Jeanne was aware of Levi’s humble origins and the ostracism he faced from Camilla within the academy.

As the adopted daughter of a Duke, yet still of common birth, she possessed few resources to contend with the influential family backing Camilla. Her only recourse was to assist Levi as much as possible within the academy’s confines.

“Because I live this way,” Levi replied calmly.

Jeanne paused, surprised. “The dorms… aren’t they in the opposite direction?”

Levi offered a helpless smile. “The academy dorms also charge rent. You know I don’t have that much spare money.”

“Then where do you sleep…?” Jeanne asked, her gaze drifting towards the path’s end. In a secluded corner of the academy stood a dilapidated shack beside a wooden shed, where two horses snorted softly beneath its shelter.

“The stables?” Jeanne’s eyes widened slightly.

“It’s the hayloft next to the stables,” Levi corrected. “When I have free time, I help the school staff feed and brush the horses. In exchange, the academy lets me live in the hayloft. It’s a way to work and study.”

“So that’s how it is,” Jeanne nodded thoughtfully.

Levi gestured towards the shack with an open hand, speaking with a self-deprecating tone. “Care to grace my humble abode with your presence?”

“I’d love to,” Jeanne smiled.

Levi froze for a moment. “I was… just kidding. This rundown shack really has nothing to offer you.”

“Even if it’s humble, it’s a friend’s home,” Jeanne replied, completely unfazed. “Besides, I’m not some delicate young lady; I’m just a village girl from the borderlands. I’ve even stood night watch for my village. Do you think I haven’t slept on straw before?”

Levi was momentarily at a loss for words, managing only an awkward, yet polite, smile.

With nothing left to say, he had no choice but to lead Jeanne into the hayloft he called home for a quick tour.

He pushed open the door, and Jeanne, stepping in behind him, looked around with curiosity.

“Meow!” A black cat, sleek and entirely dark, leaped from a pile of straw and trotted towards Levi.

“A cat?” Jeanne’s eyes lit up as she watched the black cat rub itself between Levi’s legs. “You have a cat, and you said you had nothing to offer!”

“My roommate, Dyna,” Levi explained. “I raised her to…”

“Catch mice, right?” Jeanne finished his sentence. “Yes, haystacks often become nests for mice. If you don’t deal with them, they’ll climb all over you in the middle of the night.”

Hearing her words, Levi truly believed Jeanne had indeed slept on straw.

“This one is excellent at catching mice, though her meows during mating season can be a bit annoying,” Levi said, bending down to pet Dyna before walking over to his desk.

Jeanne bent down, not immediately reaching out to pet Dyna. Instead, she extended a closed fist towards the cat.

Dyna began sniffing at Jeanne’s hand. Only after Dyna had grown accustomed to her scent and proximity did Jeanne attempt to gently stroke her chin. Yet, Dyna still recoiled, avoiding her touch; to the cat, Jeanne remained an unfamiliar guest.

“If I had known you had such a lovely roommate, I would have brought some ham or cheese,” Jeanne remarked with a touch of regret.

“If you have such good things, you should give them to me to improve my meals,” Levi said, placing his books on the room’s sole table. He then sat down and began working on his thesis. “My apologies, Jeanne, but please play with Dyna for a bit. I need to finish the paper due the day after tomorrow.”

Jeanne looked up at Levi, who was diligently writing at the dilapidated desk by the window, and immediately understood the situation. It was already dusk, and the sky was beginning to darken. Levi intended to accomplish as much as possible while there was still some natural light.

“I’ll bring you some candles,” Jeanne offered.

“No need,” Levi replied placidly. “I’ll manage my schedule just fine.”

“Writing in such dim light will strain your eyes,” Jeanne said, rising and walking over. She casually grabbed a handful of straw, squeezed it firmly, and then placed it on Levi’s desk.

After her touch, the straw remarkably emitted a golden glow.

Levi paused his writing, surveying the luminous golden straw, and couldn’t help but chuckle. “Is this also a beginner’s technique?”

He reached out and spread the straw across the desk, allowing the light to diffuse more evenly. The miraculous light Jeanne had created was soft and gentle, not at all harsh, much like the warm sun of winter.

“The source of a Paladin’s power is light,” Jeanne explained. “This light should last about two hours, so you can write at your leisure.”

“You make me want to become a Paladin too,” Levi said with a laugh.

“You’ll have your chance once you advance to the Cathedral Academy,” Jeanne replied. “But for you, the opportunity to become a Bishop is even greater, considering how well you write theological treatises.”

“But I’m not particularly devout,” Levi said, twirling the quill in his hand. “I merely treat writing as a task and an assignment.”

His statement was, in fact, somewhat understated, given that Jeanne was a cleric. In reality, Levi, having always struggled at the bottom of society, harbored no faith in God whatsoever. He even held a critical view of the Benevolent Holy Church that governed the nation. His papers simply aimed to analyze the theology of the era from an academic perspective, primarily through the translation of ancient texts.

“There’s nothing wrong with studying purely from an academic standpoint,” Jeanne said. “I’ve heard that the school professors highly praise your papers, and having them published by the District Cathedral would be a significant advantage for your advancement.”

“I hope so,” Levi murmured, his attention returning to his paper.

Jeanne smiled, gazing at his back. “You are a diligent person; your efforts will be rewarded.”

She greatly admired Levi, sensing vaguely that he was kindred spirit: resilient, proud, and unwilling to surrender to fate. She had rarely encountered a peer like him before.

“Indeed, this world isn’t fair,” Levi replied casually. “Aside from hard work, I have nothing.”

“You have me,” Jeanne blurted out.

Levi turned his head, looking at Jeanne with surprise.

Jeanne met his gaze for a few seconds before suddenly realizing that her words, given the current atmosphere, seemed rather inappropriate.

“Ah, I mean… I mean if there’s anything you don’t understand, you can always ask me,” Jeanne explained, waving her hands instinctively and somewhat flustered. “And also, once you advance from here, I’ll recommend you to the Bishops I know…”

‘Why am I panicking?’ she thought, feeling a blush creep up from her own overreaction.

Her initial outburst hadn’t been particularly awkward, but her subsequent flustered explanation made the atmosphere distinctly strange, almost as if she were digging herself deeper.

Fortunately, Levi merely offered a faint smile before turning his face back to his work. “Thank you, Jeanne, truly thank you.”

Jeanne paused, then a small smile touched her lips. “Mm.”

Levi continued to focus on his thesis, occasionally flipping through reference texts, jotting down notes on his manuscript paper, and then adding a few more lines to his essay.

Jeanne stood behind him, watching for a while. Seeing that Dyna had settled back onto her usual haystack, she decided not to disturb them further.

Finally, she stepped outside and looked around, surveying the area.

As the sky grew darker, she returned and spoke to Levi’s back. “It seems they won’t be coming to trouble you again today. I won’t disturb you any further; I’ll be leaving now.”

“Alright, see you tomorrow,” Levi said, turning to watch Jeanne depart.

It turned out Jeanne had stayed because she was worried Camilla and her group might return to seek further retaliation, a realization that filled Levi with a touch of gratitude.

He didn’t repeat his thanks, choosing instead to file away this act of kindness, intending to repay it in the future.

Dyna yawned languidly. As her guest left, she merely flicked her tail, a silent farewell.