Guiding the Male Lead out of His Trauma - Chapter 10.2
Professor, I’m sorry.
I already broke the rules by using mana without authorization, and if I do this on top of that, I’ll definitely be detained for good this time.
But I can’t just leave Acteon like this while he’s undergoing his first awakening.
‘Maybe I can count it as a debt.’
Maybe, if someday, just like in the original story, there comes a time when I have to stabilize Acteon’s power again, then I can use what happens tonight as a variable for survival. Rationalizing it that way finally let me approach Acteon.
‘If I say it was an emergency, maybe even if I get dragged off to the Bureau, I’ll just have to write a statement and get off with a slap on the wrist.’
It’s not like I caused casualties or destroyed public property like those high-ranking Transcendents do.
After reassuring myself about the consequences, I reached out and grabbed Acteon’s shoulders.
“What are you— Don’t tell me.”
“Acteon.”
Just in case, I made sure to warn him.
“Don’t forget what happens tonight.”
I was determined to make sure I got something in return for my help.
Slowly, I focused.
I found the points in his body where the mana he’d absorbed was snarled and unable to circulate properly.
‘This is worse than I thought.’
With my hand on Acteon’s shoulder, our minds connected. I only meant to put a small debt on him.
‘What is this?’
Suddenly, emotions I couldn’t even imagine came rushing in, feelings I couldn’t have guessed.
‘…Why is this happening?’
Loneliness. Isolation. Coldness.
Lack. Fear.
For the briefest moment, I felt a gentle gaze and a caring voice, but before I could make sense of them, they vanished.
Maybe Acteon realized I could sense his feelings, because his voice rose in panic.
“Wait— What are you—!”
“I’m guiding you, so just wait.”
“I’ve never heard of a Guide synchronizing with someone else’s emotions during guiding… not anywhere!”
But even knowing his thoughts and feelings were being read, Acteon didn’t pull my hand away.
He must have realized the tangled mana inside him was finally stabilizing thanks to the outside intervention.
Even his ragged breathing was gradually smoothing out.
I looked down at those confused silver-gray eyes and focused harder.
That’s when things went off script.
I was channeling my power to normalize the flow of mana through his body.
But when my power reached Acteon’s heart…
“…What was that just now?”
Suddenly, my vision spun and everything went white, as if I’d gone dizzy.
Then, Acteon’s heart began to crave my power with terrifying intensity. My strength was being sucked out of me at a frightening pace.
‘Let go— If you don’t—!’
Acteon’s voice was growing faint.
And soon, I couldn’t hear anything at all.
‘Is… this what it’s like to guide an S-Class Transcendent? How does anyone survive this?’
I couldn’t see or hear a thing.
It was obvious what would happen next. I was about to lose consciousness.
As I swallowed a curse, the only thing I could still feel was the control stone bracelet on my wrist burning hot.
That meant the Bureau had been alerted again.
But unlike at the Lorraine manor, this time my consciousness was already fading before they could even burst in.
‘If I’m going to pass out, I hope I do it dramatically enough that it looks convincing.’
I muttered without thinking, and hopefully Acteon didn’t hear me.
I don’t remember when I let go, but suddenly, I felt myself being caught in a firm embrace.
Moments later, that warmth faded away from my body.
When I managed to lift my head, the last thing I saw was Acteon blocking the custodians from approaching.
Whether that was real or not, I couldn’t tell.
Because for the first time in my life, after guiding an S-Class Transcendent, I completely lost consciousness.
And when I finally opened my eyes again, what I saw was—
* * *
‘…What is going on?’
Two boys my age were standing on either side of my bed, locked in a cold war.
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