Chapter 11: A Shameful Slumber and a Nun’s Rebuke

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“…!”

By the time Emil opened his eyes, the sun had already climbed high. He scrambled to sit up, realizing that not only had mass ended, but a considerable amount of time had passed since.

“How could this be?”

Emil was momentarily stunned by the fact that he had forgotten his daily ritual, one he hadn’t missed once in years. Though he had indeed struggled, lost and wandering the previous night, to have fallen into such a deep, prolonged sleep was truly unprecedented.

It was nothing short of embarrassing. While no one now compelled him to attend mass, unlike his school days, Emil knew that this was no excuse for his lapse.

The spot beside him lay vacant. Yanis, the man who had given Emil the soft pillow, had slept on a worn, tattered one himself. Though the bed was somewhat cramped for two, neither man was prone to tossing or turning, making the arrangement surprisingly tolerable.

Gazing at Yanis’s neatly placed pillow, Emil briefly recalled the previous night. He found himself inexplicably fluttered by Yanis’s shy demeanor as he spoke of his mother. They seemed to have shared a long conversation, yet sleep had claimed him, leaving his memory hazy.

Perhaps because it had been so long since he last slept for such an extended period, his body felt remarkably light. Having developed a habit of minimal sleep to keep up with his studies, this deep slumber was a rarity. The release of fatigue left him feeling utterly refreshed.

“Ah, you’re awake.”

The door opened, and Yanis stepped in. Unlike the previous night, he was neatly dressed in fresh clothes. From the area used as a clinic, the voices of other people could be heard, indicating that enough time had passed for him to already be seeing patients.

“You seemed to be in such a deep sleep, I deliberately didn’t wake you.”

“…I didn’t realize I’d sleep in so late.”

Embarrassed, Emil offered a lame excuse, to which Yanis nodded, smiling understandingly.

“You must have accumulated a lot of fatigue from getting lost and wandering. How are you feeling now? Are you in any pain?”

“Not at all. Oh!”

The man swiftly approached, closing the distance, and abruptly leaned his head towards Emil. Emil, startled, hunched his shoulders and recoiled, only for the man to gently place his hand on Emil’s forehead. A soft smile then graced Yanis’s face.

“Thankfully, you don’t have a fever. I was worried you might come down with something later.”

“Oh, no. I’m not in any pain.”

Realizing his intent belatedly, Emil hastily nodded, explaining his condition. Only after he wiggled his arms and legs to demonstrate his health did Yanis offer a satisfied smile.

“I’ll bring you some food right away. Just a moment.”

He spoke kindly, then gathered some items from the desk and exited once more. Emil watched the door where he had disappeared, then rose to neatly arrange the bedding before stepping out through the opposite door.

The darkness and silence that had plunged Emil into fear the previous night were long gone. The dazzling sunlight caused Emil to instinctively squint.

“Ah, I feel alive.”

Splashing his face with cold water seemed to clear his head. Emil took off the clothes the man had lent him, neatly folded them, and changed back into his own.

Despite promising to return soon, Yanis showed no sign of reappearing. Emil could hear Yanis conversing with others. Sitting on the bed, waiting for him, Emil finally decided to open the clinic door and cautiously peeked his head out. He saw the man’s broad back.

“Excuse me, Yanis.”

“Ah, Emil!”

Perhaps having forgotten Emil for a moment while attending to a patient, Yanis looked surprised.

“Hmm?”

The villager who had come to see Yanis looked between the two men, then asked mischievously, with a peculiar expression.

“What’s this? Did you spend the night with the priest?”

“Such improper talk. We were merely discussing Lauren. We don’t often get the chance for such conversations, after all.”

Yanis winked at Emil as he spoke. He had deliberately omitted the story of Emil getting lost in the mountains late at night.

“That’s right. I should get going now. Everyone must be worried since I haven’t returned.”

“Oh, dear. I hadn’t thought of that. Alright.”

Leaving Yanis’s regretful expression behind, Emil exited the house. The patient’s gaze, still filled with mischievous curiosity, continued to bother him.

“Emil!”

When he was about twenty meters away, Yanis called out to him.

“The day after tomorrow, don’t forget.”

At the man’s words, Emil slowly blinked. Only then did the fleeting conversation from last night resurface. Yanis, wishing for a closer relationship as they were soon to be family, had suggested regular meetings.

“Ah, I remember.”

Twice a week. Emil remembered their agreement and nodded, whereupon Yanis smiled brightly again. His expression was so radiant it was visible even from a distance. Each time Emil looked at that face, he felt a strange churning in his stomach. He hastily bid him farewell and returned to the cathedral.

His steps back to the cathedral felt light. Emil found himself humming a tune unconsciously. Though he tried to deny it, Yanis’s presence had been quite a burden.

The man seemed far more sincere and kind than Emil had initially thought. He believed that by spending more time together, he would discover even more of Yanis’s good qualities. With the ordination ceremony approaching, Emil felt certain that his trust in Yanis would deepen by then.

“…I apologize. I didn’t realize I would get lost.”

Emil, who had returned to the cathedral in a rather cheerful mood, was immediately subjected to a lengthy scolding from the elderly nun the moment he stepped into the rectory.

“When you didn’t appear for early morning mass, I went to check and found your room empty. No one saw you return after you went out; you can’t imagine how worried I was.”

The elderly nun, who had served at this cathedral longer than anyone except the priest, chastised Emil in a stern voice. It was the kind of scolding one would give a child, yet Emil merely hung his head like a culprit.

“I am sorry for causing you distress.”

The scolding continued, seemingly endless, and though Emil initially reflected quite seriously, by the end he let the words flow in one ear and out the other. At least his outward appearance conveyed deep remorse, which softened the nun’s demeanor somewhat.

“Still, it’s a relief. It would have been a disaster if you’d encountered a wild animal in the mountains.”

“Ah, thankfully, I met Yanis in the mountains. He gave me shelter for the night.”

“Yanis?”

At the mention of the man’s name, the nun’s expression shifted.

“Isn’t he a Guide?”

“Yes, that’s… correct.”

The elderly nun’s expression was ominous. Only then did Emil realize he had made a mistake.

“Father Raphael.”

The nun called Emil by his baptismal name with emphasis. Emil’s chest heaved as the nun’s face hardened.

“You must not associate with them.”

“Ah, but…”

“No. No excuses are needed. It is forbidden.”

The nun pronounced “forbidden” with particularly strong intonation. Emil tried to explain, but she had no intention of listening to him.

“Didn’t you learn this in your first year of seminary? Espers and Guides are like heathens; they can never, *ever* be saved!”

The nun’s shrill voice pierced his ears painfully. Unable to find an appropriate retort, Emil merely squeezed his eyes shut.

“Father Raphael.”

“…Yes, Sister.”

Having dedicated herself to the people of this village for a long time, she was also a religious sister who strived more than anyone to uphold the law. She looked up at the future priest, awaiting his ordination, with a rather cold expression.

“The only reason your visit to an Esper’s home was permitted is because she is your mother.”

“…”

“Was that fact unknown to you?”

“No. I am aware.”

“People like your mother are unforgiven beings. They are those untouched by the Sovereign’s saving grace!”

She uttered each word, pressing them out with deliberate force. Every single word struck Emil’s chest like an arrow. Naturally, Emil’s head drooped.

Even when he attended seminary, he had drawn many gazes due to his unusual background. His mother being an Esper was a shackle that would follow Emil, an indelible label.

Yanis, too, according to doctrine, was undeniably one who could never be saved. Yet, he was also a doctor, dedicating himself to people in a way different from priests. Emil found it profoundly unfair to ostracize Yanis simply because he was a Guide.

However, he lacked the authority to defend him. No, if he dared to speak, even greater condemnation would surely follow.

Undoubtedly, people are born with original sin. Yet, all that sin was forgiven. That was the role of the Messiah, the Savior—to free all humanity from original sin. This was a task only God could accomplish.

However, Emil felt that he still carried another original sin.

The son of an Esper, one who had received the Mark. These two conflicting epithets both followed Emil. And the very fact that these two epithets could coexist within him was, for him, nothing short of original sin.

“…I understand, Sister.”

Emil managed to open his mouth. His body trembled as he forced the words out, suppressing any emotion in his voice. He clenched his fists so tightly his nails dug into his palms, unwilling to reveal his shaking fingers.

“…You must be tired. It would be best to return to your room and rest.”

“Thank you.”

The nun, who seemed about to deliver more scolding, saw Emil’s weakly bowed head and simply turned and left. Her footsteps were as powerful and disciplined as her shrill voice. Emil stood with his back straight, gazing at the nun’s retreating figure for a long time.

No emotion could be read on his face. Emil remained rooted to the spot for a while, and only after a considerable amount of time had passed did he finally make his way to his quarters.

A white chill lingered in the spot where Emil had just stood.