Episode 4: Twilight (7)

Glenn’s room, which smelled like sun-aged wood, had a genuinely homey vibe. There was a humble bed, and a small table with books stacked neatly on top. On the shelves were decorative items like a potion lamp and terrariums. There was even a little potted succulent plant hanging by the window.

“Thank you for the consideration, I didn’t bring a change of clothes so I think I’ll just book an inn…” Regardless of how cozy the place looked, I had no intention of sleeping with this guy.

“Oh, I expected that. That’s why I bought new clothes, look.” Glenn showed me a set of shirts and pants which looked like they would fit me just right.

How did he come to prepare this? And how the hell did he even know my size?!

“Then how about me? Do I actually have to stay at the inn?” Soren pointed to himself.

“My apologies, Lowe didn’t tell me that you would be coming. So yes. I would recommend that you stay at a nearby inn.” Glenn said with an unchanging smile.

Soren hung his head dejected.

“Kairen, make sure nothing happens to her at night, got it?” He looked at me with eyes as if I was his last hope or something like that.

“You can put your trust in us Sir Soren.” Glenn placed his hands on my shoulder and nodded.

“Thank you both. Then I will leave her safety in your hands. I’ll see you tomorrow morning.” Soren left with a salute.

Would he be able to reach the ground floor without getting lost? I stood there in a sort of daze, trying to process what had just occurred.

“Come in.” He beckoned me over with his eyes, I nodded, confused.

Reaching into his drawer, he pulled out a small casing. He opened the box, showing me what lay within.

‘And… what are you going to do to me with something like that?’

“Glenn… what are you doing…?”

“I want to apologise.” He said.

‘Apologise?’

“Yes. Lowe likely feels the same way, swayed by the bad rumours surrounding you, we both feel wronged for not knowing the real you. Will you forgive us?” He looked up at me, opal eyes shimmered as they met mine.

‘I don’t know how any of what he’s saying is related to that thing he’s showing me, but I never thought he did anything wrong.’

“I’m just bewildered that you even feel guilty about it. You didn’t do anything wrong, so there’s really no need to apologise.” I said.

Glenn blinked. “But you nearly died?”

“That’s that, this is this. My near death experience had nothing to do with you.”

Glenn turned towards the evening sky. “Death… is nevertheless an unpleasant thing.”

“...”

The difference between the person before me and the one I used to know was night and day. Yet his current image almost seemed to overlap with the Glenn from the old days.

“In hindsight, I prepared this magic artifact for you. It’s a ring that you can use to generate a powerful shield to ward off physical and magic attacks. In a situation where you find yourself under threat, rely on this.” Glenn, grabbed my hand and put the ring on for me.

“...”

“It seems to fit.”

I really wanted to smack the developers who created Glenn’s character sheet.

“Glenn… I’m not gay.”

“???”

I moved the artifact from my ring finger to my middle finger.

⌌✧ ⫺⪼▫◆▫⪻⫹ ✧⌍

“Um, Glenn… you know, I don’t think this is really appropriate? I mean… are you sure you’re alright with sleeping with someone you barely know?”

The situation only got worse when it actually came time to sleep.

“Hm? Is there anything wrong with that?” Glenn tilted his head.

‘Fuck. Like I have a choice do I? Dogman will complain otherwise if I don’t stay the night. And after showing me this amount of sincerity, can I really back down now?’

“Then… where will I be sleeping exactly?” I asked.

“On the bed?”

I’ve said it a million times over, but if I ever do get back to my original world I’m fucking serious about killing the developers.

“Is that wrong too?”

“Nevermind… you can stay on the bed. I’ll take the floor.” I sighed.

‘Truly an airhead.’

“It’s the first time I’ve considered letting a friend stay over, so I don’t understand how to accommodate in these kinds of situations.” He remarked. Not that it really did anything to clear awkward air.

“You really should interact with more people to learn about these things…”

“That’s why I was told to attend the academy.” Glenn nodded.

‘As the magic tower’s pawn, this guy has his pitiful side too.’

“Do you have extra bedding, blankets or pillows anywhere?” I asked.

“...It seems I forgot.” Glenn looked around, realising he hadn’t any.

“Got it.” Instead of highlighting the problem, it would be better to simply find a solution. No point pinning the blame on him, I got up and headed for the door.

“Where are you going?”

“To see if the other room has an extra pillow.”

“Which room?” Glenn followed behind me.

I walked the halls till I arrived before one particular door, I knocked.

“Who is it—” She called from the other side.

“Kairen and Glenn.”

“Oh…! Hold on a moment—” After confirming who it was on the other side, she pushed open the door from her end.

Her appearance momentarily put me into a trance. Hair still damp, she stood before me like a rushed mess, hastily rushed clothes wrinkled, translucent wet and barely covered her cleavage.

“Do you have an extra pillow?” Glenn’s question, posed in my stead, knocked me back into reality.

“Ah? Uh, there are two beds here so yes. Do you need it?”

“We need it. Thank you.”

She awkwardly adjusted her clothes and looked at Glenn. “Why?”

“I thought he could sleep on my bed, so I forgot to prepare additional beddings.” He explained.

“On your bed…?” Her eyebrows knitted.

I withheld the urge to cover my face. Glenn nodded as if it wasn’t a problem.

“Since there’s an extra room, why not just sleep here Kairen?” Lowe looked straight at me.

“You’re the Saint. Is that even allowed?” I… wasn’t exactly averse to her suggestion, but this could be inappropriate.

“There’s a bathroom, a main living quarter, and two bedrooms. Moreover, I can lock the doors to my room… or do you intend to do something to me at night?” Lowe hugged her body with a pout.

“No. The privacy issue is the concern…” Was Lowe really no different from Glenn? I expected her to be more careful around these kinds of things.

“Aren’t you supposed to be my guardian? Wouldn’t it be easier to do your job if you were close to me? I can trust you right, Kairen?” She spoke in a way that was both indignant and cute.

“Then why don't we all sleep here? I believe one of the bedrooms has two beds? Kairen and I can each take one in that case.” Glenn proposed.

“A sleepover! It’s decided.” Lowe’s ruling was indisputable.

I sighed.

“...I suppose that can do.” Reasonable suggestion, I guess.

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“I got two stacks, or orders, you owe me fifteen silver now. Pay up.” Lowe, wearing a paper crown, held her hand out mockingly.

In response, I took five cards from my pile and placed them in her hands. “Can’t afford it, I’ll trade in my wheat.”

“You’re losing really hard on this aren’t you, Kairen?” Glenn said.

‘Well, you’re the one who suggested playing a game I know absolutely nothing about.’

It was inconceivable for a sleepover to be complete without some kind of midnight fun to jeopardise our sleep schedule. Glenn had this well made fiefdom-based board game he got from who knows where.

For some reason, in all my five years since coming to this world, this was the first time I discovered that a board game culture even existed. It made me wonder why there wasn’t something like a tabletop game club in the academy.

“Rule, draw a penalty card.” Lowe said.

“Yeah, yeah…” I groaned, reaching over to the deck. I grabbed the topmost card and read it, feeling the edge of my lips tremble.

Glancing at Lowe, I could see her evil smirk. Does she hold a grudge against me or something? Why is she so cruel?

“What does it say?” Glenn asked.

“A slap from the oppressor due to failed negotiations.” I pressed my fingers between the bridge of my nose.

“Glenn, do the honours.” Lowe gestured lightly with her hand.

“My apologies Kairen. I’m tied up too.” Glenn crawled over to me.

If someone walked in and saw us, I swear they’d think I was flirting with two girls. But no, one of the girls was actually a guy.

Glenn in his pyjamas, looked way too feminine. With his hair untied, loosely cascading over his shoulder, he appealed to that ‘cool aloof beauty’ charm. Thin arms, and slender hands… I really shouldn’t think too much about it… I mean, it’s just a sleepover... just a sleep…’

—SLAP!

“Wow!” Lowe gasped, one hand covering her mouth in shock.

Wow indeed. I didn’t think he would go so hard with the slap. My cheeks were completely burning, and for a second there I thought my gums were bleeding.

Rubbing my cheeks as I contemplated how best I should get my revenge against him— “Glenn, you said there is a punishment for the loser that loses each round, what is that?”

“Oh, it’s this.” Glenn quickly pulled out a bottle of alcohol hidden inside the box of the board game.

“T-That… is…!” Lowe gasped.

“Challenge accepted. Let’s do it.” I saw no reason to refuse.

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A dark room steeped in the scent of herbal smoke smelled faintly of earthy musk. Black oak furniture polished to a muted sheen, deep red carpets stretched across the floor—the only splash of color in an otherwise somber, dull-black chamber.

Its atmosphere was heavy—almost isolating. In the still silence that seemed so loud, a freckled girl swallowed nervously.

Soft brown hair braided into beautiful locks, her tiny lips trembled as she held a mysterious vial with translucent gray liquid.

“I-Is there no other way?” Corin the student mage intern pleaded.

One that doesn’t involve drinking a potion. One which didn’t put the Saint at risk of some unusual side effects.

Eugene Croth sneered. “If you can’t do this much then I’ll just have to have you leave.”

Corin wanted to argue that instead of resorting to such underhanded methods, they could simply ask. “But…”

What was the use of doing something so risky? Was it for something taboo? Corin herself had no idea what Eugene needed the Saint for.

His agenda remained unknown.

A mage that walked the fine edge of what was considered acceptable, and what was considered taboo—months ago when she found out that she had been paired with a practitioner of dark magic, she knew she was in for a storm.

Black magic and dark magic were similar but different studies. Dark magic was permissible, black magic was taboo. Yet the line between the two was sometimes hard to discern.

And while Eugene was respectfully regarded as a dark magic specialist, there was no way he didn’t possess knowledge of black magic as well.

Eugene’s involvement in black and dark magic research was something the tower had always known. They had allowed it with the reasoning that it was part of the grey zone between the two classes of magic. As such, so long as he was not using it for anything harmful, he was free to continue his research.

Of course, due to the stigma surrounding black magic, there were many mages within the tower that refused to acknowledge his exemption, suggesting that he may pose a threat to the tower’s integrity.

And without substantial evidence that he was using his knowledge for malice, there was no justification to apprehend him. Moreover, as an intern, she was dependent on him for a good final report of her performance.

However, the biggest reason for her passive stance was her cowardice.

She was afraid of the consequence which would befall her should she offend such a person. May as well complete the internship without trying to step out of line, a black magician was the last person she wanted as an enemy.

With all these reasons combined, she decided to simply turn a blind eye to Eugene’s antics… until now.

“I’ll report this to the others!” Corin didn’t want to do anything criminal.

“Why are you being so stubborn?!” Eugene snatched the vial from Corin’s hand. Opening the cork, he downed half the contents in one go.

“Hikh!” Corin panicked.

Wiping the edge of his lips, Eugene barked. “This is not poison. Do you still not believe me when I say so?!”

“B-But…!” You could be the one holding the antidote!

“It’s completely up to you to figure out how to make her drink. We aren’t hurting her. I only need her for her healing abilities.” A dark glint scintillated in his eyes. “But if you fail…”

…

Corin left Eugene’s office with her head held low. With the vial tucked inside her pocket, she returned to her room with a gloomy expression. The potion went unnoticed by the little spy who had been following the timid girl.

“Potentially suspicious behaviour spotted.” The voice chirped. “I better report it to master.”

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“Does it still hurt?” Leaning against me, Lowe’s whisper.

“No.” Answering, I closed my eyes and savoured the heat burning inside and out.

“I’m sorry.” She muttered.

“Why should you feel sorry for me?” It’s just a game after all.

“Sorry…” She repeated, over and over again, nestling into my arm. “I’m sorry…”

I stroked her hair until her breathing calmed. Wiping off the tears from her eyes, I peer into her sleeping face.

I confirmed that she was deep asleep.

Then I…

I…

..

.

I woke up with a splitting headache in the morning.

‘Ah, fuck me…’

I sat up holding my head, my fingers made contact with something soft and silky.

I looked to my right. Twirling, twining, a spilling mess of teal green hair scattered across the bed. The endearing expression of the person with eyes closed—

‘Fuck me…?’

Glenn Twilight.

Sleeping with me on the same bed, under the same blanket.

‘Just how drunk did we all get last night?’

As I pulled the sheets away from myself, attempting to leave, Glenn suddenly reached out to grab me by the arm.

‘What the hell…?!’

He remained asleep, gently nudging closer to me.

‘I’m not your pillow damn it…’

I looked towards the other bed where Glenn should’ve been sleeping. There was Lowe, tucked in and snoozing away, just as how I had left her yesterday. In the end, we were all too drunk to even move her back to her own room.

I turned back to Glenn again.

‘His beauty is a freaking sin.’

I first tried to gently pry myself away. Then I realised there was no point in being so gentle, I basically yanked my arm out.

This was a guy acting all ‘coy’ not a girl.

The jerking force woke him up. He opened his eyes.

The first thing he saw was me, surprised.

And then… intentionally or unintentionally, he showed me a ravishing smile.

“Good morning.” A gentle voice flowed from his lips.

“...?!”

Smacked by a feeling that shouldn’t have come from a person like him, I was forever traumatised from then on.