Guiding the Male Lead out of His Trauma

The first awakening is far less dangerous than the second. In most cases, it’s little more than a mild illness, something you just get through like a light fever.

But the problem is, those ‘most cases’ don’t include S-Class.

There are only ten S-Class Transcendents on this continent.

In the original story, when Acteon and Hyacine are added, that number increases to twelve.

‘Don’t tell me… Acteon’s first awakening is happening tonight?’

All I remembered from Acteon’s character setting was that he entered the academy after completing his first awakening. Other than the traumatic event, I didn’t know anything about what happened before that.

So I had no idea when he would experience his first awakening.

‘And it’s happening now…!’

Not knowing what unpredictable variables might come into play, I felt a sudden sense of urgency.

Before I could even think, my body moved on its own.

Staggering from dizziness, Acteon instinctively grabbed for the nearest thing to steady himself. Unfortunately, that happened to be my hand—the left one, still not fully healed from the burn left by the control stone bracelet.

“—!”

A sound of pain escaped me before I could stop it, and Acteon, startled, immediately let go and backed away from me.

“…It’s fine. Call Blair.”

Because his heart was now sensing mana, the surrounding energy was converging on him.

As mana was rapidly absorbed into his body, he began to gasp for breath.

Normally, you’d administer a painkiller and custodian the awakened body until it grew accustomed to sensing mana.

‘But this… This could be dangerous.’

Why, though?

It felt a little different from a normal first awakening.

‘Did something go wrong? Or was Acteon’s first awakening originally like this?’

It was my first time witnessing a high-ranking Transcendent’s first awakening, so I couldn’t help but feel unsettled.

‘If I leave him like this, the mana entering his body could end up running wild in his heart.’

If that happened, Acteon…

‘…could die.’

This is precisely why Guides exist. To stabilize a Transcendent’s mana.

If mana exceeding the body’s limits starts wreaking havoc, the body can’t withstand it and begins to break apart, expelling the mana in a burst.

That’s what a mana rampage is.

‘Acteon… He’s only just begun his first awakening, so it shouldn’t get that bad. If he can’t withstand the influx of mana, though, he’ll simply die.’

A bad premonition struck me.

“Is there a Guide in this mansion right now who can stabilize you?”

The question burst out before I could stop myself.

Acteon started to answer reflexively, then hesitated.

“There isn’t, is there?”

“…That’s not…”

“If there were, you wouldn’t hesitate like that.”

I was certain from his reaction.

There was no one here who could guide him… Except one person.

‘The problem is, that person is me.’

Was this a variable caused by my coming to Brondearn?

I had no way of knowing whether Acteon’s first awakening was always like this, or if something had changed because of me.

‘But it’s too similar… Just like the second awakening in the original story…’

What if something really had gone off script?

What if I died here trying to stabilize Acteon?

Clutching his chest, Acteon slowly collapsed to the floor.

The way he gasped and grit his teeth in pain looked agonizing.

Looking down at him, I was suddenly caught in a flood of conflicting thoughts.

For a moment, fear washed over me.

‘Should I…?’

Should I help him?

My mind went completely blank, something that had never happened before.

What brought me back to my senses was, ironically, the pain in my own wrist.

The consequence of my impulsive attempt to change the future once again presented me with a predetermined choice.

At the same time, the words my professor said to me when I submitted my leave of absence floated through my mind.

“Any unauthorized guiding is immediately reported to me and the custodians through your control stone bracelet. Don’t cause trouble, and just take a quiet rest before you return.”