"We need to head back to the house now, Young Master. Before Sofia calls the police."
Nolan scanned the surroundings, "Where are the others?" he asked when he couldn't see the others. It was just him and his butler. The hay figure was still there, its head gone from the burst of fire earlier and there was a lot of mess left from the ritual, but the other members were gone.
"They ran away and left. Come on now, Young Master. You're drenched from the rain. I don't want you to get sick." Atticus moved next to Nolan, gently sliding his free arm around his shoulders from behind to guide him as they made their way home.
Left with no other choice, Nolan allowed his butler to guide him back. The path down to the foot of the mountain was slippery, and Atticus made sure his master stayed safe. However, Nolan, drenched from the storm, shivered from the cold, and his knees trembled a few times. If it hadn't been for Atticus's assistance, he would likely have been lying on the muddy ground.
Atticus, on the other hand, could no longer continue. He paused, pulling Nolan closer before scooping him up and lifting him into his arms.
"A-Atticus! What do you think you're doing?" Nolan was caught off guard when he suddenly felt himself being lifted and carried like a bride in his butler's arms.
"We'll get there quickly if I carry you this way, Young Master. Now, just relax and let me hold you closer, I know you are trembling from the cold."
Nolan wanted to refute, but his whole body was exhausted from the long hiking during the storm earlier, and he was certainly cold. He wished to be home right away and sleep on his warm bed. "Please hurry, I want to sleep and cozy up on my bed. I feel so cold, I want to drink something warm."
A smile tugged in the corner of Atticus's lips, "Of course, Young Master. You can lean on me and close your eyes. I'll wake you up when we arrive home."
Nolan didn't hesitate, he leaned his head into Atticus's body, and eventually, his fatigue took over him, and he drifted off to sleep.
*
When Nolan opened his eyes, he was covered in blankets and surrounded by his soft pillows. He was already on his bed.
"Young Master, you are awake. I'm sorry I didn't wake you when we arrived, you were sleeping peacefully and even when I changed your clothes you didn't budge. How are you feeling? Do you need something?"
Nolan, still lying on his bed, cast his gaze at the white-haired butler who was seated at his study table. He was holding a book in his hand, still wearing a black glove. He stared at him, examining his figure, his mind drifting. Then all of a sudden, he asked, "Atticus, why is your name Atticus?"
Atticus, the butler, met his master's eyes. With a smile on his lips, he answered, "Because that's what my parents named me. Why is Young Master asking such a question?"
Nolan didn't reply. He shifted his position and hugged a pillow, turning his back to his butler. Atticus watched him turn his back to him, "You must be so tired, Young Master."
"That's right. Don't talk to me."
A soft chuckle escaped from Atticus's lips. "I will let you sleep, then. I'll be in my room, just ring the bell if you need me." He stood up and strode his way to the door to exit his master's room.
When his butler closed the door of his room, he fell asleep fast once again.
Nolan had a lot of pillows on his bed, he liked hugging them when he was sleeping, and it helped him to fall asleep faster. As he stirred on his bed, one pillow fell off his bed, but before it touched the floor, a hand caught it.
Holding the pillow in his hand, Atticus stood next to his master's bed, gazing down at his sleeping face. The butler examined Nolan's figure before he bent down a little as he put back the pillow next to Nolan. His hand reached out to brush off the strands of hair that were covering Nolan's face. Still wearing a black glove, his fingers trailed down and softly caressed Nolan's cheek.
"Good night, Young Master."
As though he sensed a presence next to him, Nolan snapped his eyes open and looked to his side. He saw no one, his entire room was silent. He glanced at the door and observed that it was closed. Exhausted, he hurriedly went back to sleep and didn't think much about it.