‘While I’m gone, you’re the castle lord. So you protect the castle.’
The image of his hyung, grinning as he clapped Taeyon’s shoulder with a gloved hand, was vivid.
Originally, protecting the castle was supposed to be his hyung’s job. While his hyung stayed in a safe place, defending the castle until the very last moment, it should have been Taeyon who went out to kill the demonic beasts.
But his hyung had left Taeyon behind at the castle and departed, leading the knights. The sight of him transforming into a beautiful white wolf and powerfully kicking off the ground as he ran was the last image Taeyon had of his hyung.
He had taken the risk to protect Taeyon.
That’s why, even after Libellon couldn’t return, Taeyon found it difficult to accept his hyung’s death.
‘You are now the heir, Young Master.’
‘As the heir, you must receive the seal.’
‘From now on, you must learn how to govern rather than how to fight.’
Wasn’t it too hasty to tell him to inherit that position when his hyung’s body hadn’t even been found? But not only his subordinates, even his father demanded that Taeyon become the heir.
So he left Oblyad Castle.
Even knowing it was irresponsible, he simply couldn’t bear life at the castle.
“They couldn’t even find his body. Thanks to that, I don’t even know how hyung died. He was probably eaten by a monster or demonic beast.”
Because that’s usually what happens when a body can’t be found. Taeyon clenched his teeth hard.
“I… hate demonic beasts.”
“……”
What filled Taeyon right now wasn’t loathing and anger. It was deep sorrow. Without realizing it, Kaniel grabbed Taeyon’s hand.
“Taeyon…”
He didn’t know what to say next. Kaniel looked up at Taeyon with trembling eyes. Seeing that face disguised with a calm expression, emotion somehow boiled up inside him.
Kaniel stood on tiptoe and pulled Taeyon’s chest into a tight embrace. He too knew what it was like to lose family. It was a pain like something that constituted your very self was being torn away. The closer the relationship, the more parts crumbled.
It became hard to breathe, tears came, laughter came and then immediately turned to sadness. An indescribable emptiness or void would fill your chest completely. It was a pain difficult to express in words.
“I’m sorry for making you talk about something sad.”
When Taeyon saw Kaniel holding him tight like a lifeline, he felt the pain that had been filling his insides subside. A gentle, peaceful warmth softly caressed his sorrow.
Until now, no matter who offered words of comfort, they hadn’t resonated. He thought of them as superficial consolations from people who didn’t know how heartbroken he was.
But now it was different. He truly felt comforted.
Taeyon stared blankly at the top of Kaniel’s head, and the moment Kaniel loosened the strength in the arms that had been tightly embracing his back, trying to end the hug, Taeyon pulled him even closer.
“Taeyon…?”
Was this because the other person was Kaniel, a Tuner? Was he simply reacting intensely to a Tuner’s single word because he was an ability user?
“Are you okay?”
The only certain thing was that he didn’t want to let go of this warmth. Taeyon tilted his head, resting his chin on Kaniel’s shoulder. Hot breath touched Kaniel’s neck.
“Yeah… No.”
At that answer, Kaniel worriedly embraced Taeyon’s back tightly again.
“What’s wrong? Where don’t you feel well?”
“Well… Maybe I used my ability too much last time.”
Otherwise, there was no way he would feel this desperate longing to cling to Kaniel’s warmth. It was probably a lack of tuning. That’s why his ability wavelength was wavering, and every nerve in his body was on edge, oriented toward Kaniel. So they needed to keep touching like this.
Kaniel soon remembered that ‘last time’ too. Right after being kidnapped by the Winged Tribe, Taeyon had come to rescue him and had to rain down hundreds of lightning bolts when monsters came flooding in.
He’d said he was fine since his ability wavelength wasn’t running wild, but that had clearly been a lie. Otherwise there’d be no reason for this to happen again now.
“What should I do when that happens?”
“I need a Tuner.”
“What does a Tuner do?”
“When you use your ability and your ability wavelength goes wild, they calm it down.”
“They calm down the feeling of your nerves being on edge and all the surrounding stimuli being amplified?”
“Yeah.”
“I see…”
Then doesn’t Taeyon need a Tuner too?
“If we go to the city, will there be a Tuner?”
“There will be. Though I don’t know if they’ll be compatible with me.”
“There’s compatibility too?”
“That’s called compatibility rate. Mine tends to be low.”
“Then it must be hard for you to find a compatible Tuner.”
Taeyon smiled bitterly. That’s why he’d never received tuning until he met Kaniel. Because of that, while others could freely use their abilities, Taeyon had to limit himself to using his carefully only once or twice. As long as he didn’t reach a berserk state, his wavelength would settle down very slowly, so he had no choice but to rely on time.
“Right. That’s how it was… I couldn’t find one for a long time.”
“Then what should we do…”
What should they do when Taeyon’s condition wasn’t good right now? Kaniel kept stroking Taeyon’s back with a worried heart.
“It’s okay.”
You don’t look okay, so that’s why I’m saying this. Kaniel muttered to himself inwardly. Just like last time, he kept saying he was okay, but he didn’t look it at all.
His voice had lowered and become husky, quiet enough that you had to lean in to hear. His legs seemed unsteady as he was putting his weight on this side, and the arm embracing his shoulder was very firm, as if worried he might fall.
Kaniel kept talking so that Taeyon wouldn’t fall asleep or lose consciousness like this.
“Every ability user needs a Tuner. Then being a Tuner must be a good profession.”
“A very good profession…”
Taeyon muttered and stared at Kaniel’s round head with sharp eyes.
Since tuning requires sexual contact, it causes discomfort in some people. Kaniel was someone who didn’t know the concept of tuning itself, so it would be even more so for him.
Perhaps now was an opportunity to let Kaniel know what benefits there would be if he became a Tuner.
“If ability users don’t receive tuning, they go berserk and become monsters that harm their surroundings. To such ability users, Tuners are like a spring in the desert. They can’t help but treasure them.”
“Um… are you saying ability users worship Tuners?”
“Yes. More than you can imagine.”
Kaniel still thought that was a bit too much.
“You too, Taeyon?”
“Me too.”
“H-how?”
“Anything.”
A soft laugh echoed near his ear. Taeyon kept whispering close to Kaniel’s ear. Kaniel listened to the story while flinching because his ear tickled.
“I’ll do anything. I might not leave your side. Even if you ask me to wait on you hand and foot, or ask me to buy you expensive jewels, I’ll do whatever you want.”
That much? Kaniel was a little shocked by Taeyon’s words. Because normally, Taeyon’s image was closer to someone who was waited on rather than someone who waits on others. He was a knight, and moreover, wasn’t he someone called ‘Young Master’ by Arkan?
Having thought that far, Kaniel recalled how Taeyon usually took care of him. Taeyon was someone who wouldn’t even let Kaniel pick up firewood and did everything himself. Despite his appearance suggesting otherwise, he took very good care of people.
“I’ll get you whatever you say you want to eat, buy you anything you need, and go anywhere with you if there’s somewhere you want to go.”
“That much?”
“Yeah. That much.”
Seeing how Taeyon spoke without even being embarrassed, it seemed that ability users making a fuss over Tuners must be normal.
If Taeyon got such a Tuner… then what would I do? Without realizing it, Kaniel hugged Taeyon a bit tighter.
But that arm strength soon loosened completely.
“When that time comes, I’ll… worship that person together with you too.”
“You’ll worship them together?”
“Yes. Since I’m a mage, I can make cool breezes blow in hot places or prepare ice for them.”
“…Is that all?”
Taeyon asked, lightly pushing Kaniel away to break the embrace. The hands that had been embracing Kaniel were now gripping his shoulders.
A somewhat sharp gaze stared at Kaniel. Kaniel stammered, flustered by the sudden interrogation.
“Um… also, I could let them walk on water…?”
“No. I mean is that your entire feeling about it?”
Feeling? About doing ‘that much’ for a Tuner? Kaniel looked up at Taeyon with bewilderment. He did think it was a bit excessive, but it felt awkward to say that outright. It might just be a cultural difference.
“The person who becomes Taeyon’s Tuner would be fortunate…?”
“……”
“Taeyon seems like a good ability user…?”
“……”
“I hope you find a Tuner soon…?”
Each answer sounded like he was talking about someone else’s business. Of course it did. Kaniel didn’t know anything. But Taeyon secretly hoped he would question what happened to their promise to go places together.
