I entered my room and threw my body on the bed completely. I was exhausted and despite that fact, I can't seem to fall asleep. My mind is being overrun with the thoughts of what might have happened to me if no one came to my rescue.
"If Jakob didn't come to my rescue, the criminals would have been toying with my body by now."
The thought of that alone made my stomach turn and twist. It was sickening but it would have been possible For someone like me who's always making good decisions to make such a blunder is unimaginable. It only shows how lacking I am in other aspects. And that would have cost me my life.
Because of what happened, I couldn't close my eyes for a second. The fear and the sensation I felt earlier still lingered in my mind. Just as things are becoming more and more unbearable, I turned to the wall that's separating my room from Jakob. A wild idea just came up in my head and without hesitation, I put it in motion immediately.
I got out of my room and stood in front of Jakob's door. Although I've already had the idea in mind, the choice is still within Jakob's hands. Now that I know that he is just like the rest of us, the chances of this plan to succeed has diminished significantly. But still, even after considering that, I still want to take my chances.
I knocked on the door twice, unsure that he would answer. The door to his room slowly opened. "Is there anything you need?" he asked, poking his head on the edge of the door.
"I can't sleep," I told him, "I kept remembering what happened earlier that I'm scared to close my eyes. Can I stay in your room and sleep?"
I wasn't lying. Although it might seem like I'm forcing myself to him, that's not my intention at all.
Jakob seemed to ponder about the idea for a moment and I thought he'd refuse but he agreed, fully opening the door to his room.
"If you're not bothered by coming into a man's room then you're welcome."
Jakob is unusually inviting. I thought he'd refuse since it might cause some misunderstanding but he doesn't seem to mind it at all.
"You can take the bed. Like I said, I don't plan on sleeping tonight, anyway." he said, standing by the window.
I tried not to look around inside his room but I couldn't help myself and did so, anyway. His room is completely plain with little to no furniture. It's almost the same as the room I was in earlier with only a single thing that's eye-catching.
"You don't have many things?" I asked, sitting on the bed, "I thought you'd have your training materials here in your room in case it rains but I guess that wasn't the case."
"Is that surprising? Well that's understandable. I didn't have much luggage when I came here so I don't have anything aside from my weapon."
When he said that, I turned my attention to the club-looking weapon wrapped in tattered cloth. It has a peculiar shape even for a club and it's unusually large as well.
"This is your weapon?" I asked, walking towards it as it caught my interest.
"Yes."
"Do you mind if I touch it?"
"Not at all. It's a little different from ordinary weapons and it's not like you would be able to lift it but still, be careful." he warned.
Getting his permission, I stood before his weapon leaning on to the concrete wall. I reached out to its handle and the first thing I noticed was that it's prickly and rough. It's like a cactus is hidden underneath the cloth. I didn't ask for his permission to look underneath the cloth so I tried moving it instead. And to my surprise, it didn't even budge. I got confused and tried harder and the result is still the same.
"...Strange."
That's the only word I can describe his weapon. No matter how heavy a weapon is, as long as you force it to move sideways, especially while leaning against a wall, it will undoubtedly fall. But Jakob's weapon didn't behave that way.
"Such a heavy weapon is inconvenient. How can you use this heavy thing let alone swing it?"
"It's a special weapon given to me. So it's safe to say that I'm the only one who's able to wield it." said Jakob, walking towards my direction. "You can think of it as having a mind of its own,"
As if to testify the truth of his words, Jakob held onto his weapon and lifted it with ease. That sight was so confusing that I didn't know what to think anymore. I was speechless. All I did was watch him lift it and put it back in place.
"...There's no way that's a weapon made by humans. Was it created by elves or from a dungeon?" I asked, muttering all the possible origins of his strange weapon.
Jakob tilted his head, "I guess it came from a dungeon?"
Since he is unsure of its origin itself, I can no longer pry deeper into it. But still, for a weapon as absurd as that to exist only shows how broad and mysterious the world really is.
"That's enough for now. You should go to sleep."
Jakob ushered me to the bed, pulling me towards it. I followed his lead and sat on the bed while he walked back and stood before the window. Since he had brought me to the bed to sleep, I lay down as if it was my own. Just then, the thought of us being alone inside the room finally sank in.
As if catching up on my concern, Jakob offered a reassuring remark.
"Don't worry and sleep. I don't particularly have any experience in making out and I'm not a lowlife that'll take advantage of a woman who's having trouble sleeping." he said, turning to my direction, "I've spent almost my entire life living alone. I wasn't exposed to how a noble around my age should live." he smiled the second time.
That explains why he was embarrassed earlier. Since he doesn't have any experience with women, he doesn't know how to act. That also explains his behavior whenever noble women were visiting him. But for him to live that way, I can't help but wonder what kind of life he lived before coming here.
"I'm sorry. I seemed to have forgotten all about it since I was preoccupied by the fact that I can't sleep because of what happened."
Jakob dismissed my apology saying it's unnecessary. However, I insisted.
"Let's just settle with that. If we keep arguing, it will be morning before we know it." Jakob waved his hand, urging me to go to sleep.
If he's that pushy, I have no other choice but to do as he says. Surprisingly enough, maybe because of our conversation, the thought of what happened earlier flashed in my mind. And strangely enough, I didn't feel fear washing over my body. It may be because of other things overwriting that experience or the fact that I can sleep soundly because Jakob is around.
Before I knew it, I was woken up by the chirping sound of birds outside and the faint ray of light coming from the window irritating my eyes. It was already morning. I got up and realized Jakob was already gone. I immediately checked my body in case he touched me while I was asleep but that doesn't seem to be the case.
"I know it's rude after reassuring me but I can't help but make sure." I sighed deeply.
I walked towards the spot where Jakob stood last night and saw him already starting his training. I can't help but wonder that despite not getting a single wink of sleep, he is still diligent in his training. Anyone would have skipped training after pulling an all-nighter. So it seems like Jakob is not your average person. A few moments later, a knock disrupted my thoughts and the attendants from yesterday entered the room.
"Please excuse us.... Good morning, Lady Aira."
The attendants' faces were turning red, giving me a strange look as if teasing me. That moment, I knew they were misunderstanding something.
"..N-No. This is not what you think.." I trailed off.
"We completely understand, Lady Aira. We wouldn't refuse if Sir Jakob called for us as well."
The attendants suddenly got fidgety all of a sudden. It was then that I realized that they are not going to listen when they started to tell me about their fantasies with Jakob.