Guiding the Male Lead out of His Trauma - Chapter 15.1
This country does not impose any restrictions on religion, but the vast majority of its people worship the god of love and peace.
This Grand Cathedral was also built in honor of that god.
How ironic, that a country which exploits Awakened more efficiently than anyone else as weapons, would revere the god of love and peace.
Yet, for that very reason, the Grand Cathedral was the pride of the capital and carried a certain symbolic status.
There was always a steady stream of people coming to pray for their family members heading to war, and funerals for the fallen were also held here.
Because of this, there were usually two main reasons for visiting the cathedral.
One was simply to offer up prayers.
The other was—
‘To clean the gravestones of those laid to rest in the underground crypts and grounds of the cathedral.’
Hyacine and I were here for the latter.
Prince Isadore, together with his aide, said he had someone to meet and left us for a while.
Once the most talkative person disappeared, the atmosphere naturally grew quieter.
Not only did I grow silent, but so did Hyacine at some point.
To comfort my downcast younger sibling, I deliberately started a conversation.
“Anyone seeing you now would think you were a statue. Why are you so stiff?”
“It’s not exactly a pleasant place, is it?”
“That all depends on your mindset.”
When I patted Hyacine on the back, the tension on his face finally eased.
As I led Hyacine toward where our parents’ gravestone stood, old memories came back to me.
When we were young, we didn’t grow up in the capital, but in a medium-sized town near the eastern border.
‘It’s now become a ruin, a place we can never return to.’
A war fought over the mana stones of the Great Forest.
When the immense power of a Transcendent swept through our town, only Hyacine and I managed to survive.
After that, all my memories of childhood are of doing whatever odd jobs I could to feed Hyacine in cities far from home.
Then, by chance, I Awakened for the first time and entered the military academy, and Hyacine was also recognized for his high potential and received the Lorraine family’s sponsorship.
Thanks to my Awakening, we were able to enshrine our parents’ gravestones in the Grand Cathedral.
However.
‘After enrolling, I learned the reality of being an Awakened, and Hyacine was left to suffer alone at Lorraine.’
Sometimes, we each came separately to offer a brief prayer, but this was the first time we had come together to visit both our late parents.
‘We have to survive well enough to come again next year.’
Guided by a priest, we headed to the back of the cathedral, and I glanced around to look for Acteon.
Not that Acteon could possibly know what I was worried about. He was scanning the surroundings.
‘Is it because he thinks Cassiel might be here?’
As a high noble family, Brondearn would almost certainly have deceased relatives interred here, too.
Especially Cassiel’s twin, Claire.
‘Since she’s an S-Class Transcendent, officially listed as killed in action, she would definitely be here.’
Just as I was about to suggest to Acteon that we meet up later if he wanted, he looked over at me.
No, not at me exactly. At somewhere behind me.
At that moment, the back of my neck prickled, and a sharp voice, full of edge, rang out.
“…You. What are you doing here?”
Who else but Cassiel would address me so aggressively?
‘Of all people, to run into him here… Why is he still here, anyway?’
Unable to hide my discomfort, I turned around, and there stood Cassiel, looking ready to devour me on the spot.
Worried things might escalate, the first thing I did was grab Hyacine’s hand tightly.
I could feel how much effort it was taking Hyacine to suppress his anger, ready to spring out at any moment.
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