Kyrie opens his eyes after a long dream. Looking around, he sees that he is back to the temple, and he suddenly feels an intense desire to see Ian. He lifts his heavy body and sits on the side of the bed. A gloomy Ian enters, carrying a basin of water and a towel. Ian looks at Kyrie, seated at the bedside and hesitates at what he is looking at. Tears start to gather up in his eyes; he lets go of the basin of water and runs towards Kyrie. Ian throws himself at Kyrie, and Kyrie receives him with open arms. They crashed into the bed together. Ian started to sob while holding Kyrie's clothes with his face on his chest.
"Sorry that I was so late," says Kyrie.
"You better not do that the next time! You were out for a week again. I didn't know what to do." Ian says.
"I am sorry, Ian... Don't cry!"
Kyrie caresses Ian's back to soothe him, but Ian did not stop sobbing.
[I am a man of many sins... I made Ian cry like this...*sigh*]
"Ian... Look at me, Ian..." says Kyrie sitting up while holding Ian.
Ian keeps his face buried on Kyrie's chest and shakes his head. Kyrie cannot help but chuckle.
[This is too cute! Can I keep him forever? Is this a reward after that long nightmare?]
Kyrie put both of his hands on Ian's face. He lifts Ian's head to look at him but feels an arrow of cuteness shot through his heart when he sees Ian's adorable teary face.
[This face makes me want to tease him so badly.]
"Ian, you are getting bolder by the day..." Kyrie says while biting his lip.
Ian suddenly notices that he is sitting on Kyrie's lap, with Kyrie's arms wrapped around his waist, and his hands tightly grasping Kyrie's clothes. With his face turning into a tomato, he tries to back away but meets Kyrie's unwillingness to let go.
Kyrie pulls Ian towards him and whispers in his ear, "But I don't mind it..."
Kyrie kisses Ian's ear causing Ian to tremble.
"You have sensitive ears, Ian." Kyrie whispers.
Ian tears up again and punches Kyrie's stomach. He leaves the room flustered, leaving Kyrie on the bed groaning in pain.
[Ian is mean! I am still a patient!]
Imogen is about to enter but finds Ian running away from the room, blushing like a tomato. She huffs and is already sure that Kyrie has awoken.
Imogen enters Kyrie's room and looks at him holding his stomach in pain. She thinks that these two idiots are the funniest couple she has ever encountered.
"Hey, cockroach! Did you just get blocked?" says Imogen with a mocking voice.
"Shut up, crazy b*tch! I hope you didn't just waste your time coming to mock me," Kyrie says, annoyed.
"Good thing that you know that I don't just waste my time getting beauty sleep from just using the blessings one time."
"What do you want?" Kyrie cuts short. The last thing he wanted was to see her face right after he wakes up from that long nightmare.
"Two things. First one, who was that guy you fought in the forest?"
"A psycho that I knew from the previous world."
"Psycho? You have a way with nicknames."
"I think I am pretty good at them. Don't you like yours?"
"Do you want to get back to dreamland for another week?" Imogen holds up her fists.
"Geez, I am still your teammate."
"Whatever... Second, I will be leaving for a month."
"Why, all of a sudden?"
"My weapon became trash after fighting with that woman. I will go to the spring of tranquillity to get the relic of songs."
"Relic of songs? Do you mean the sword that stores the songs from the tales of the dead? Did you really destroyed your personal sword?"
"It can't be helped. I overused it."
"Geez, aren't you a bit hasty in getting that sword?"
[That sword is protected by a mana beast, a giant python at that]
"The fallen saintess and paladin seem to be stronger than I thought, and my assistant is total garbage. What other choice does it give me?"
"Wow, aren't you spiteful? Anyways... You didn't come to ask for my opinion."
"Glad you get me."
"Anyways, Imogen, let's meet at the Kingdom of Aria. I still have to settle some things before the journey."
"Okay, then that's the plan. We will have just this month to get prepared. The opponent will recover by then. Use this time to freaking get the hang of using your sword and magic. It is embarrassing to see."
[Wow... Her words really are sharp... But I have no words to counteract that after struggling to beat the demon leader.]
"Yeah," I said, irritated.
Imogen smiles satisfied with winning the verbal battle.
[Freaking childish!]
Before she leaves, Imogen suddenly remembers something, so she turns back to look at Kyrie.
She says, "By the way, that kid has problems. Be aware!"
[Kid? Ah... Nate? He is still with us?]
"What about him?"
"Something fishy. You will have to find out since that kid is attached to your man like glue. He even sleeps on the same bed."
"That kid did what?"
[Damn you, kid!]
---
Ian puts the sword down and takes a breather after practicing the sword for some time. He is trying to brush away how embarrassing he felt this morning after being teased by Kyrie. Whenever it comes to Kyrie, he does not know how to control himself. The entire time when Kyrie was unconscious, he was left antsy about what Sil, the fallen paladin, said about knowing Kyrie for a long time.
"That person knew who I was as well..." thinks Ian.
Nate runs to Ian and hugs him on the thighs, bringing him back from his daydream. Ian chuckles at this kid that always seems to be glued to him.
"Nate, have you escaped from the priests again?" says Ian.
Nate looks at Ian with puppy eyes, so Ian, defeated by cuteness, lets Nate stays with him during his training. Then, Ian goes back to the temple to freshen up for lunch. He allows Nate to enter with him to the bedroom. When he was about to unbutton his shirt completely, Kyrie opens his bedroom door in a hurry, banging the door to the wall. Kyrie looks hostilely at Nate, who was sitting on Ian's bed looking at Ian, changing his clothes. Ian can sense an electricity pass through Kyrie's and Nate's eyes. Kyrie turns to Ian and closes his unbuttoned shirt together. Then he takes off his coat and wraps it around Ian.
Ian thinks that Kyrie's childish jealousy was rather cute and starts to chuckle. Kyrie also looks at Ian with the same trick Nate did back at the temple's garden. The same puppy eyes flashing at Ian in which makes Ian feel guilty to say no to.
"Listen, Nate. Ian is mine! You are not allowed to have him."
Ian blushes and smiles at Kyrie's declaration. Nate gets annoyed at their excessive public display of affection that he can see hearts physically manifest from the couple giggling and hugging. He makes a disgusted face and runs away from the bedroom.
[You better leave!]
Looking at Nate running away after making a disgusted face, Ian hits Kyrie's chest.
Ian scolds him, "Why are you like that? You know that Nate is only a kid, and you have to fight with him for something so petty."
Kyrie hugs Ian tighter, and pouts, "I don't care. I am not sharing you with anyone."