Morning sunlight quietly slipped through the curtains.
The estate had already awakened long before its master.
Servants hurried through the halls carrying trays of breakfast. Maids moved from room to room with practiced silence. Outside, guards changed shifts while stable workers prepared the horses for the day ahead.
It looked no different from any other morning.
Except—
the men standing outside the mansion.
Their uniforms were stained with dust.
Some rolled their shoulders to ease the stiffness in their muscles.
Others rubbed their cold hands together while waiting quietly.
They had worked through the entire night.
Not one of them had complained.
Kael stood near the window for a moment before speaking.
"...Ren."
The butler stepped forward immediately.
"Yes, Young Master."
"The kitchen."
Ren waited.
"Prepare something worthy of their efforts."
His voice remained calm.
"And after they finish eating..."
Kael looked outside once more.
"Give everyone who worked last night a week's leave."
A faint smile appeared on Ren's face.
"They'll be delighted to hear that."
Kael simply nodded.
"They earned it."
---
Breakfast ended not long afterward.
Kael placed the teacup back onto its saucer before standing.
"My room."
"As you wish, Young Master."
Ren followed quietly.
The door closed.
Silence settled between them.
Kael walked toward the window while Ren remained a respectful distance behind him.
For a while—
neither spoke.
Then...
"Ren."
"Yes, Young Master?"
Kael looked outside.
"Don't you think..."
"...the two new teams are rather interesting?"
Ren's eyes lifted slightly.
"...You noticed."
Kael didn't answer immediately.
Instead, he let out a quiet breath.
"Yesterday, I thought I was simply overthinking."
"That was why I took them with me."
Ren lowered his gaze.
"The longest route."
"Mm."
"It should have kept them occupied until morning."
A small pause followed.
"But instead..."
Kael's lips curved ever so slightly.
"...it answered my question."
Ren remained silent.
He knew better than to interrupt.
Kael finally turned around.
"Tell me, Ren."
"What did you see?"
Ren thought for a moment before answering.
"They worked well."
"They adapted quickly."
"The two new teams cooperated better than I expected."
Kael smiled.
"Exactly."
Another silence.
Then he shook his head.
"...No."
Ren looked up.
"They cooperated..."
"...a little too well."
The room became quiet again.
Ren replayed last night's scene in his mind.
The road.
The darkness.
The two new teams.
Something...
Something had indeed felt strange.
But before he could grasp it—
Kael spoke again.
"I watched them yesterday."
"During the introductions."
"And again..."
"...while they worked."
He folded his arms.
"The answer didn't change."
Ren frowned slightly.
"You suspect them, Young Master?"
Kael chuckled.
"Suspect?"
"I'd be relieved if it were only suspicion."
Ren looked puzzled.
Kael walked back toward the desk.
"They're trying too hard."
"..."
"They're careful."
"..."
"But not careful enough."
Ren slowly adjusted his glasses.
"Would you like me to investigate them?"
Kael didn't answer immediately.
Instead—
he asked something entirely different.
"Ren."
"Yes?"
"In this territory..."
"...who would care enough to watch what I'm doing..."
"...yet have absolutely no intention of harming me?"
Ren's brows drew together.
He thought.
One possibility after another crossed his mind.
Then—
his expression shifted.
"...The old mansion."
Kael smiled without saying a word.
That silence alone was enough.
Ren let out a quiet sigh.
"It seems..."
"...the Old Master has become restless."
"Not just him."
Kael's smile deepened ever so slightly.
Ren blinked.
"...Master?"
Kael gave a small hum.
"I doubt this idea belonged to him."
"He doesn't have that much patience."
A faint smile tugged at Ren's lips.
"...That leaves only one person."
Kael didn't deny it.
Neither of them needed to say the name aloud.
Another silence settled between them.
This one felt lighter.
After a while, Ren spoke again.
"You haven't returned in nearly six months, Young Master."
"I know."
"The Old Madam asks about you often."
Kael closed his eyes briefly.
"...That's troublesome."
"And if this continues..."
Ren coughed politely.
"I'm afraid she may decide to come herself."
For the first time that morning—
Kael laughed.
"...Let's not allow that to happen."
Ren bowed his head.
"Then... shall I begin making preparations?"
Kael walked back toward the window.
"...Not yet."
His eyes rested somewhere beyond the estate.
"We still have time."
Ren remained silent.
After a while, Kael spoke again.
"...Six months."
Ren looked up.
"Young Master?"
Kael smiled to himself.
"When I enrolled..."
"I thought one year would pass slowly."
His fingers rested lightly against the window frame.
"...Turns out..."
"...it wasn't nearly enough."
Ren followed his master's gaze toward the distant sky.
He didn't ask another question.
Some answers...didn't need words.
"..."
The carriage rolled steadily through the road.
For a while, neither of them spoke.
Elior looked outside absentmindedly.
Then, after a few minutes, he blinked.
"...That's strange."
Kael turned his head slightly.
"What is?"
Elior looked down at the floor of the carriage before looking outside again.
"It doesn't shake."
Kael followed his gaze.
"The road."
"It's smoother than usual."
He placed his hand lightly against the seat.
"Normally, I would've bumped into you at least three or four times by now."
A small smile appeared on Elior's face.
"I guess today you're safe."
Kael looked at him for a moment.
"...That's a shame."
Elior stared at him.
"..."
"..."
"You really don't know when to stop, do you?"
Kael's lips curved slightly.
"I was only stating a fact."
"Hmph."
Elior turned back toward the window.
But this time...
he was smiling.
Kael quietly looked outside as well.
The carriage continued forward.
Not a single pebble disturbed its path.
"..."
The carriage came to a smooth stop before the academy gates.
The coachman climbed down and opened the carriage door.
Kael stepped out first.
A moment later, Elior followed.
The carriage quietly turned around and departed toward the estate, leaving the two of them standing before the bustling academy.
Students streamed through the gates in groups, laughing, chatting, and hurrying toward their classrooms before the morning bell.
Kael adjusted the cuff of his sleeve.
"Let's go."
Elior nodded.
"...Mm."
The two of them walked side by side.
It wasn't something they had planned.
Somehow...
It had simply become natural.
The morning breeze carried the scent of fresh grass across the academy grounds.
For a while, neither of them spoke.
The silence between them no longer felt awkward.
It was... comfortable.
Just as they reached the corridor leading toward the main building—
Someone suddenly came rushing around the corner.
"Watch out! Sorry—!"
The student was hugging a tower of books against his chest.
He couldn't even see the road in front of him.
Elior instinctively took another step forward.
Before he realized what was happening—
A hand gently caught his wrist.
His footsteps came to an immediate stop.
The rushing student squeezed through the narrow space between them.
A few books nearly slipped from his arms.
"S-Sorry!"
Without waiting for a reply, he hurried away.
The corridor became quiet once again.
Elior blinked.
Only then did he notice Kael's hand still loosely around his wrist.
Neither of them said anything.
Kael quietly let go.
"You weren't looking."
Elior glanced toward the student who had already disappeared into the crowd.
"...I wasn't."
He let out a small breath before looking back at Kael.
"I didn't even hear him."
Kael gave a small nod.
"I know."
They resumed walking.
Their footsteps echoed softly along the stone path.
After a few moments...
Elior spoke.
"...Thank you."
Kael looked at him.
"For stopping me."
"It would've hurt if we'd bumped into each other."
Kael looked ahead again.
"It wasn't much."
Elior smiled faintly.
"Still..."
"Thank you."
Kael stayed silent for a moment.
Then, almost absentmindedly, he said,
"...Next time."
"Look where you're going."
Elior puffed his cheeks ever so slightly.
"I usually do."
Kael glanced sideways.
"Usually."
"..."
Elior looked away first.
"...Fine."
"I'll be more careful."
A tiny smile tugged at the corner of Kael's lips.
"Good."
Elior caught that smile.
His own grew without him realizing it.
"You're smiling."
Kael's expression returned to normal almost immediately.
"I am?"
"You were."
"I don't think so."
"You definitely were."
"It must've been your imagination."
Elior couldn't help laughing.
"...You're really going to deny it?"
Kael answered calmly,
"Can you prove it?"
Elior opened his mouth...
Then closed it again.
"...No."
"I thought so."
"Hmph..."
Elior folded his arms, pretending to be dissatisfied.
"...You really never admit anything, do you?"
Kael looked genuinely thoughtful.
"Only when there's something to admit."
That only made Elior laugh harder.
The sound echoed lightly through the quiet corridor.
Several students turned to look at them before continuing on their way.
Neither of them paid any attention.
As they continued walking...
Kael unconsciously slowed his pace.
Just enough.
Just enough that Elior never had to rush to keep beside him.
And just enough that neither of them noticed when walking together had stopped feeling like coincidence...
and quietly became habit.
"...'
By the time they reached the classroom, only a handful of students had arrived.
The room was unusually quiet.
Sunlight filtered through the tall windows, painting warm patches across the wooden floor.
Kael walked to his seat as usual.
Elior sat beside him.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Elior took out a book from his bag and flipped through a few pages.
The classroom slowly began filling with students.
The familiar sounds of conversations rose little by little.
"..."
Something felt unusually quiet.
Elior instinctively turned his head.
Kael was sitting exactly as before.
One hand supported the side of his face.
His eyes were closed.
At first, Elior thought he was simply resting.
"...Kael?"
No response.
Elior blinked.
He lowered his voice a little.
"...Kael."
Still nothing.
His gaze lingered on Kael's face.
The faint shadows beneath his eyes.
The calm rhythm of his breathing.
For some reason...
Elior remembered yesterday.
The apology.
The quiet smile.
The strange tiredness that Kael had tried so hard to hide.
"..."
"You really didn't sleep..."
The words escaped before he realized it.
Just then—
The classroom door slid open.
More students entered, talking loudly among themselves.
The sudden noise spread through the room.
Kael didn't move.
Elior hesitated.
He looked around.
The instructor would arrive any minute.
"...Kael."
He called once more.
Still asleep.
Elior slowly reached out.
His fingertips lightly tapped Kael's sleeve.
"Kael..."
The moment his hand touched him—
Kael's eyes opened.
Almost instantly.
There wasn't a trace of confusion in them.
He simply looked at Elior.
"...Class?"
Elior nodded.
"It'll start soon."
Kael glanced toward the front of the classroom before sitting up properly.
"...I see."
Elior couldn't help asking,
"Were you that tired?"
Kael was silent for a moment.
Then he gave the same calm answer as always.
"...A little."
Elior looked at him doubtfully.
"A little?"
Kael nodded once.
"Mm."
"..."
Elior didn't believe him.
Not even a little.
But he also knew—
If Kael didn't want to say more...
He wouldn't.
So instead of asking again, Elior quietly reached into his bag.
He took out a small paper packet.
"I was going to eat these later..."
He placed it gently on Kael's desk.
"They're sweet."
"...Eat one before class."
Kael looked at the packet.
Then at Elior.
"...You're sharing them with me?"
Elior smiled.
"You look like you need them more than I do."
For a brief second—
Kael's gaze softened.
"...Thank you."
Elior smiled.
"...You're welcome."
The morning bell rang.
Their conversation ended there.
Neither of them noticed...
That caring for each other had already begun to feel as natural as sitting beside one another every morning.
"..."
The morning bell finally rang, bringing the last class to an end.
The moment the professor stepped out, the classroom became noisy again.
"Let's hurry."
"The line will get longer."
"Hurry up!"
One after another, students left for the cafeteria.
Within a few minutes, only a few people remained inside.
Kael didn't move.
He sat in his chair, one hand resting against his forehead. His eyes closed for only a second before opening again.
"...Kael."
He looked over.
Elior had already packed his books.
"You look tired."
Kael smiled a little.
"I'll be fine."
"You've been saying that since morning."
"I have?"
"Mhm."
Elior looked at him for another moment before picking up his bag.
"Stay here."
Kael blinked.
"...Why?"
"I'll bring lunch."
Kael immediately shook his head.
"No. We'll go together."
Elior sighed.
"Kael."
"Hm?"
"Look at yourself."
Kael looked down at his own clothes before looking back at Elior.
"I don't see anything wrong."
"Exactly."
"You don't."
Kael couldn't help smiling.
"So that's the problem?"
"Yes."
Elior stepped closer to his desk.
"You couldn't even keep your eyes open during the last lesson."
"I was listening."
"I know you were."
"But you were still sleepy."
Kael rubbed the back of his neck.
"...It's only lunch."
"I know."
"I can walk."
"I know."
"I can carry a tray."
"I know."
"Then why are you stopping me?"
Elior answered without thinking.
"Because I don't want you standing in that long line when you're this tired."
Kael was quiet.
Elior softened his voice.
"Just rest for a little while."
"I'll be back before you know it."
Kael looked at him for a few seconds.
Then he finally nodded.
"...Don't rush."
A small smile appeared on Elior's face.
"I won't."
He turned and walked toward the cafeteria.
---
The cafeteria was already crowded.
Students filled every corner, chatting as they waited for their meals.
After collecting two trays, Elior carefully made his way back.
As he reached the doorway—
Someone looked up.
Aevrin.
His eyes rested on Elior for a brief moment.
Then they quietly moved to the second tray.
He said nothing.
He simply watched Elior leave before lowering his gaze back to his own meal.
---
When Elior pushed open the classroom door again, it was much quieter than before.
Kael was still sitting where he had left him.
"...I thought you would've fallen asleep."
Kael opened one eye.
"I was waiting."
"For me?"
"For lunch."
Elior laughed softly.
"I brought it."
He placed one tray in front of Kael.
"Eat before it gets cold."
The two of them ate together.
Neither of them talked much.
It wasn't an awkward silence.
They were simply hungry.
By the time they finished, Kael reached for both trays.
"I'll return them."
Elior was quicker.
"I'll take them."
"You already carried them here."
"So?"
"You don't have to make two trips."
Elior looked at him.
"It's only to the cafeteria."
"I'll be back in a minute."
Before Kael could say anything else, Elior had already picked up both trays.
A few minutes later, he returned after placing them on the tray return rack.
He pulled his chair back and sat down.
"There."
Kael looked at him.
"...Thank you."
Elior smiled.
"You've thanked me a lot today."
"...Have I?"
"Mhm."
Kael thought for a second.
"I guess you earned them."
Elior laughed.
"I wasn't collecting them."
A comfortable silence settled between them again.
After a while, Elior looked at the clock hanging above the classroom door.
"We still have a little time before the afternoon class."
Kael followed his gaze.
"We do."
Elior rested his arms on the desk.
"So..."
"Sleep."
Kael smiled helplessly.
"You've been waiting to say that."
"I have."
"I noticed."
"Good."
Kael let out a quiet chuckle.
"...Alright."
He folded his arms on the desk and rested his head on them.
"I'll wake you before class."
"...Mm."
That was all he answered.
Within moments, his breathing became slow and steady.
Elior opened his notebook, intending to revise the morning lesson.
Every few lines, though, his eyes drifted back to Kael.
"..."
"You really were tired."
His voice was barely above a whisper.
Kael didn't stir.
For the first time since morning, the tiredness had disappeared from his face.
He simply looked... peaceful.
Elior smiled to himself before returning to his book.
A few minutes passed.
Without warning, Kael shifted slightly in his sleep.
His hand slid across the desk until it brushed against Elior's.
Before Elior realized it, Kael's fingers had lightly closed around his hand.
Elior froze.
"...Kael?"
No answer.
He carefully tried to slip his hand away.
The sleeping Kael only held it a little more firmly.
Elior looked at him for a long moment.
Then he gave up with a tiny, helpless smile.
"...You really are asleep."
He didn't try again.
Instead, he quietly turned another page of his notebook with his free hand.
Outside, the academy remained as lively as ever.
Inside, the classroom stayed peaceful.
And for a little while longer...
Kael finally got the rest he had been missing.
— by Aurea;"The safest place in the world is where your weary heart no longer feels the need to stay awake."