Whenever Xion replaced Reinhild’s magic stone, he mixed a small amount of his own mana into it.
Xion’s highly pure mana aided Reinhild’s recovery, and thanks to that, Reinhild was able to regain his health more quickly.
But Xion had a different objective.
Xion simply meant to mix his own mana into Reinhild’s.
The heart, which plays a major role in mana circulation, is responsible for filtering out foreign mana that flows into the body.
When it senses external mana—whether from a monster’s magic stone or from a direct infusion—the heart works hard to filter out roughly seven-tenths, and alters the remaining three-tenths so it takes on the same properties as the body owner’s mana before absorbing it.
Xion sabotaged Reinhild’s mana circulation every night so that his own mana wouldn’t be converted into Reinhild’s native property.
It was a trick to fool the brain into thinking recovery was slower than it was.
Reinhild’s heart, completely taken in, prioritized distributing mana throughout the body over filtering out Xion’s.
In that process, Xion’s mana seeped into every part of Reinhild’s body.
Because he couldn’t circulate mana properly, Reinhild ended up consuming many magic stones yet failed to recover his mana well, but that didn’t matter.
Xion had plenty of time, and he was confident he could change everything about Reinhild in the meantime.
Xion intended to etch his traces everywhere in Reinhild.
Over a very long time.
Slowly.
“Who knew it would prove useful like this.”
Tracking someone else’s mana is difficult especially when it’s Reinhild’s, whose total is far less than others’.
But distinguishing his own mana was comparatively easy.
Thanks to that, it became easier to chase Reinhild; he only had to find his own mana mixed into Reinhild’s.
The quantity was still small, so it was hard work, but Xion didn’t give up.
He closed his eyes and focused for over ten minutes before finally spotting the trail.
Xion ran in the direction Reinhild had gone.
The destination was the city of Audrit.
It was a decent choice: safe roads and not far from Root.
Knights of the West Ducal House lay fallen along Reinhild’s escape route.
They were the very same knights Xion had dealt with for blocking his way.
Xion was relieved Reinhild had chosen that path.
Had he taken another, he would have been caught and executed by the West knights.
If that had happened…
“…”
Even knowing Reinhild was safe, Xion couldn’t suppress his anger.
If anything had happened to Reinhild, not even the West Ducal House would have been spared.
Xion steadied himself as quickly as he could.
This wasn’t the time to rage over things that hadn’t happened.
He had to get Reinhild back as soon as possible.
‘Did he go on horseback?’
He saw hoof prints.
They looked a little different from those of the West knights’ mounts.
Where did the horse come from?
The answer came at once.
It had to be one of the very horses Xion rode back from other towns and left with the village headman.
Xion was dumbfounded.
Not only had he neatly cleared the knights who would block the road, he’d essentially prepared a horse, too.
If that wasn’t rolling out a red carpet for Reinhild’s escape, what was it?
‘No, this is better.’
Reinhild would have run even without safe roads or a horse.
Just imagining him trudging for hours, legs swelling and blisters forming, pained Xion’s chest.
He was relieved to know Reinhild’s flight had been easier and safer.
That Reinhild had fled wasn’t a major issue.
He would be back here anyway.
❖ ❖ ❖
Xion reached the city of Audrit shortly after noon.
Entry through the gates was being strictly controlled, but Xion had no trouble getting inside.
‘By now, Rein must be resting in here somewhere.’
The thought that he would soon see Reinhild put him in a good mood.
How would Reinhild react?
Maybe he’d widen his eyes and exclaim, “Xion, why are you here?”
He might try to run at first, but if Xion rushed in, grabbed him, and hugged him, he’d give up soon enough.
If he fed him lots of good food and soothed him, he’d grumble about how hard it was and spill everything that had happened.
Just imagining it made Xion happy.
The quiet, everyday life together with Reinhild was what Xion wanted most.
It would have been even better without incidents, but a surprise like today could be a healthy spark for their relationship, so he didn’t mind much.
“I’m sorry. The person you asked after is not currently in Audrit.”
Xion’s composure began to crack when he received the report that Reinhild couldn’t be found.
Reinhild still hadn’t arrived in the city of Audrit.
Why on earth?
He should have arrived long ago.
Reinhild had left several hours before Xion and traveled on horseback while Xion had been running on two feet.
Even for a first-timer on the route, the fact that he wasn’t here yet…
‘Is entry restricted so he couldn’t get in?’
He hadn’t considered that part.
He’d been inconsiderate.
Xion ran outside the gate and searched the surroundings.
The thought that Reinhild might be hiding somewhere in the forest, shivering with cold and unable to eat, made him frantic.
But there was no trace of Reinhild anywhere around the city.
‘Nothing happened to Rein… right?’
Xion searched for Reinhild’s mana once more.
“…?”
Reinhild’s mana was felt from very far away.
‘Did he get lost?’
Xion waited for Reinhild, lost in worry.
All he’d thought about was getting Reinhild back; now he began to worry that Reinhild might have left because he was sick of him.
Did he truly want to leave me?
Did he have some special reason to come here?
Was he hiding some secret?
Had he… grown to hate me?
Xion grew anxious.
When it came to Reinhild, he couldn’t keep his cool.
The longer he waited, the more his worry multiplied.
Xion’s spirits sank uncontrollably.
Moving at a leisurely pace, Reinhild finally arrived only after a full twenty-four hours had passed for a distance he could have covered in six.
There was no telling what twists and turns had made it take so long.
As soon as Xion confirmed Reinhild’s mana had reached Audrit, he ran.
By then, Reinhild had already slipped into the city with the crowd.
Xion had planned to sneak up from behind and startle Reinhild while he lingered outside unable to enter, but he tweaked the plan ever so slightly.
He wanted to know what was going through Reinhild’s mind.
Xion trailed after him in secret as Reinhild trudged along, leading a horse and heaving deep sighs.
Whenever Reinhild looked exhausted and in pain, Xion nearly burst forward—but with tremendous self-control he held himself back.
When he witnessed that shabby inn treating Reinhild in an outrageous way, he wanted to yank out every last tongue that had spewed filthy words.
But he restrained himself.
He wanted to show only his best side to Reinhild.
‘Still, I can’t just let it slide.’
Xion paused his pursuit long enough to slip into the noisy inn where the mercenaries were mouthing off.
Busy making sure those mercs would never again have bodies capable of sexual harassment, Xion failed to notice at once that the loudest heckler had vanished.
The moment he confirmed one was missing, he hurried out to find Reinhild.
If anything happened to Reinhild, he didn’t think he could forgive himself.
He should have just gone to him when he first saw him and pulled him into a hug.
He should have taken him straight back to Root.
What secret could possibly matter that much?
In truth, Xion knew Reinhild had no such secret.
He simply wanted Reinhild to realize that Xion’s side was where he felt safest.
He just wanted to hear the words from Reinhild’s mouth: “I want to go back to Xion’s side.”
But if his selfishness resulted in anything happening to Reinhild…
‘Absolutely not…!’
Thud!
A surge of mana pulsed from far away.
And a mysterious boom.
Xion knew at once that Reinhild was there.
He sprinted straight toward it.
Reinhild was clutching his chest in pain.
‘Because of me…’
Just because he’d selfishly wanted to test Reinhild’s heart, he’d ended up hurting him.
Xion wanted to rush to him that instant, kiss the back of his hand, and carry him somewhere warm and safe.
But instead of running to him, Xion stopped where he was.
Because of one sentence Reinhild muttered.
“I have to go back to Xion…”
Ah.
In the end, Xion had gotten what he wanted.
“…”
Thump, thump. His heart raced.
It felt like he’d heard the grandest love confession.
Though it was surely night, the world looked as if it had been washed in light, bright as day.
Reinhild wants to come back to me.
To me. To my side.
‘I’m sorry, Rein.’
Xion decided to be selfish just a little longer.
Just a bit.
He would watch, just a little more, as Reinhild longed for him.
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