Did he still feel it wasn’t enough? Or was there something he wanted to do while on top? As Kishiar watched, trying to guess his intent, Yuder settled comfortably into place, then spoke with his eyes closed.

“...Stop thinking. Just rest.”

“......”

“It's not only me who needs rest... you need it too.”

Ah. So it wasn’t either of those reasons.

Yuder had seen right through him—that Kishiar had been clinging to the last thread of rationality, intent on comforting him to the end. So the reason he climbed on top now... was, in other words, to keep Kishiar from moving after he’d fallen asleep. He’d taken it upon himself to play the role of a human paperweight.

He knew better than anyone that his own body was the most effective restraint to keep Kishiar la Orr in place.

Kishiar barely held back a smile threatening to burst from affection, and instead whispered casually,

“Mhm. I know. But it’s a mess in here right now, and it’s not really ideal for sleeping. I’ll move you to my bedroom—rest there for a bit while I clean this up.”

Yuder didn’t answer. But the faint shift in the scent rising from his body spoke for him.

Rejection.

He didn’t want Kishiar making excuses to move around more after saying they’d rest together. A judgment befitting someone who knew exactly how much Kishiar could secretly accomplish in even the briefest span of time. He didn’t care about the wet sheets—he just wanted them to sleep together right now.

Well then. He’d have to give up.

Kishiar quickly abandoned the idea. He released ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) all tension from his body and gently patted the back of the one lying on top of him. At the touch, Yuder’s scent softened again, as if understanding his intent. Kishiar knew exactly what to do to help Yuder feel at ease.

Though Yuder had never said it aloud, Kishiar knew he liked resting with his ear against Kishiar’s chest, listening to his heartbeat. No matter the situation, if he held Yuder close and let him hear that steady rhythm, he’d calm down remarkably fast.

This time was no exception. As Kishiar adjusted his position to pull him into a more comfortable embrace, Yuder nestled his head against his chest—and a long, steady breath flowed out from within.

The sound of a weary day ending.

The breathing of someone sinking into peaceful sleep.

A formless mist-like scent brushed softly over Kishiar’s hair and face before dispersing. But unlike usual, it wasn’t drawn back into Yuder’s body. It remained in the air, gently rippling like waves.

“......”

Only then did Kishiar release the magic and force he’d used to seal the room. The Swordmaster’s perception confirmed that the Cavalry’s perimeter was undisturbed—no intruders, all quiet. Thoughts, as habitual as breathing, began to flood his mind—but the single sigh Yuder exhaled chased them all away in an instant.

Kishiar let out a quiet laugh, then placed a soft kiss atop the sleeping one’s head.

Just as Yuder found calm in his heartbeat, Kishiar could only truly erase all thought and rest within Yuder’s breath and warmth.

***

Yuder opened his eyes. Without checking the clock, he could estimate the time just by the light outside the window.

Perfectly on time—the hour he usually woke to prepare for morning training.

His body felt surprisingly light. There was a mild ache below the waist, but even that wasn’t unpleasant. In fact, he felt rather refreshed.

“You’re awake?”

As he assessed his condition, Kishiar spoke gently. He was still lying beneath Yuder, as if serving as his bed. Not uncomfortable in the slightest—in fact, he looked so at ease it was as if this were the most natural place to be. Yuder, briefly distracted by that face somehow even more beautiful upon waking, leaned into the fingers idly tousling his hair and gave a slight nod.

A smile bloomed on Kishiar’s face.

“I was going to ask whether you appreciated my efforts to help you rest, but seeing your face, I don’t think I need an answer.”

“...Yes. Thanks to you, I rested well.”

At the honest reply, Kishiar chuckled softly. Since Yuder was still on top of him, the vibration of that laugh traveled directly through their touching skin, tickling him with a sweet sensation.

He hadn’t even realized how tense he’d been until now. All the taut nerves within him loosened completely. His head felt clear, and his body filled with such gentle warmth that he felt full, even without eating. The rest had been so complete, so dreamless, that it almost seemed too good to be true.

“Then, as promised yesterday, I owe you a story. Shall I tell you now? Or after morning training?”

Yuder thought for a moment.

“I’ll come back after training.”

Hearing about his grandfather was important. But not so urgent that he needed to rearrange his daily schedule. Now that his head was clear, he could finally understand the words Kishiar had spoken yesterday.

“All right. Then I’ll see you later.”

Kishiar leaned in and kissed Yuder’s cheek.

Now that they were back in the capital, morning training with Ever had resumed.

With the insights she’d gained in the South, Ever’s control over her power had become noticeably more refined. She greeted Yuder with a much calmer and clearer smile than before.

“Welcome.”

The morning training Yuder did with Ever was entirely devoted to controlling the flow of energy. In the past, Ever had struggled to grasp the way Yuder manipulated his power—but now, she had grown confident enough to voice her own thoughts freely.

She’s not quite as strong as she was in the previous life yet... but her path of development has shifted. It’s hard to say what effect that will have.

In his past life, Ever had been like an immovable pillar—focused solely on maintaining consistent, unwavering power in any situation. That made her extremely reliable in crises. But being unshakable also meant she didn’t change.

The current Ever, however, was exploring how to divide and adjust her power—sometimes slower, sometimes faster—depending on the situation. She’d also started practicing combat techniques using terrain and throwing knives. And surprisingly, it suited her quite well. It was a side of her Yuder had never seen before.

The changes didn’t stop there. In the past, they rarely talked beyond training. But now, the two of them often exchanged small conversations while working together. Neither was particularly talkative, but there was no discomfort.

“Last night, Hin and Pin snuck into the indoor training hall again. They were caught in the middle of a session. We already agreed they wouldn’t train outside the designated hours, but... they keep doing it. I’m worried they’ll get sick from overexerting themselves.”

Hearing the deputy commander’s concerns about Hin and Pin brought back memories of encountering the siblings at Alik’s house. The moment they saw Yuder, they’d bolted—and ever since, they’d been like ghosts, skillfully avoiding his gaze. But it seemed they’d still been training.

Come to think of it, Ever had also experienced failure in the South while pursuing the Sage, and had overcome it. Maybe she could see the twins from a different angle.

“They were probably training at that hour to avoid me.”

“Avoid you? Why?”

“They were helping Alik with a magic experiment. I caught them.”

“Experiment...? What kind of experiment? How did they even...?”

“Alik’s trying to create a magical artifact for Awakeners that allows teleportation. Apparently, they were assisting him.”

“Oh my! Can something like that really be made?”

Ever was shocked.

“It’s still in the research phase, so we don’t know if it’ll succeed. That itself isn’t a huge issue. But their attitude... Something’s been bothering them since we returned from the South.”

“By attitude, you mean...”

“They haven’t said anything clearly, but... it seems to be related to Hosanra.”

Ever understood immediately, even without a detailed explanation.

“I did think they’d gone unusually quiet since then... but to this extent...”

“I’d like to understand what’s truly going through their heads before they go too far in the wrong direction. But it seems they really don’t want to talk to me. Could I ask for your help?”

After a moment of thought, Ever nodded without hesitation.

“I think I understand where their hearts are. I’ll try talking to them.”