Chapter 7 — A Heightened Affinity
After an eventful weekend, Monday came around again. Because of the secret he had never meant to acquire, Bayul spent the entire weekend watching both Ian and Rita like a hawk. He was anxious that Ian might learn the truth through some other channel, and equally worried that Bar might let something slip straight into Rita's ear.
Fortunately, none of that came to pass, and the weekend passed as ordinarily and uneventfully as any other.
"Bayul, how are you feeling?"
With his classes finished, Bayul was walking with Elaine toward the temple, having been summoned by Priest Wagner. It was his first visit since being told he had developed an affinity.
"I'm fine. Did you have a good weekend, Elaine?"
"Good? You call this good? Finals are coming up. I'm already dying. Dying, I tell you."
At Elaine's groaning complaints, Bayul burst out laughing.
"What's so funny?"
Elaine asked, puzzled—he hadn't been trying to be funny—when Bayul laughed out of nowhere.
"It just doesn't suit you somehow."
"……?"
"Remember how curt you used to be with me? Honestly, back then I found you really intimidating. Seeing you grumble like this right in front of me now—it's strange, but I'm grateful for it too."
Joining the diplomatic delegation to the imperial palace together had turned out to be a blessing in disguise. Thinking back on those days brought a smile to his lips once more.
"Just let the past stay buried, will you? If I dwell on it too much, I still get so embarrassed I kick the blankets clean off in my sleep."
"Pfft, all right. Sorry, I won't bring it up again."
"You promise?"
"Yeah, I promise."
Only after Bayul's declaration did Elaine finally relax, and then he abruptly changed the subject to the Chairman.
"By the way, this Chairman of yours. What's he like? You've met him, haven't you?"
The story of how Bayul and his friends, along with Eli, had visited the Chairman's office the day Rayegar first appeared at the Academy had long since spread far and wide. Thanks to that, students occasionally asked Bayul about the Chairman, just as Elaine was doing now.
"…Mm, yes, I met him briefly, with Rai."
"What was he like? I've only ever seen him from a distance. They say he's impossibly handsome, like Rai? And that his charisma is something else entirely?"
Charisma, huh.
Well, maybe that wasn't such a bad way to put it, from a certain angle. After all, he was a man who bent everything to his will.
"He was a lot of fun. He jokes around like he's Rai's friend, and… he knows so much about everything, and… he treated us really kindly, too…."
Bayul didn't want to outright twist the truth, but the man was still Eli's adoptive father. This was the best he could offer.
"Oh, I knew it! My guess was right! He's a man of true perception!"
"…Huh?"
"He dealt with that bastard Jared in a single stroke, didn't he? Who else could pull that off? An enforcer of justice. That's exactly the kind of title that suits the Chairman."
Bayul glanced sharply around them. He was checking whether Eli was anywhere nearby.
Phew. Thank goodness he's not here.
Already on edge over his visit to the Chairman's residence on Saturday, there was no telling how Eli might explode if he overheard talk like this. It had to be prevented at all costs.
"I wonder where that bastard Jared is now, and what he's doing."
"Hmm… back home in the imperial territory, I suppose?"
"No way. He'd get absolutely torn apart by Duke Hector if he went back. There's no chance he went straight home. I can tell without even looking. He's holed up somewhere, partying himself into ruin."
After all, the direct reasons for his suspension were gambling, alcohol, and worse—dragging in prostitutes on top of it all. One might believe it if he'd turned over a new leaf. But that boy would never change.
"Bayul, that bastard might come after you for revenge. He's bound to think you're the reason he got expelled. So be careful for a while, you hear me?"
"…Yes. Thank you, Elaine."
They had already survived one major incident, but Bayul held his tongue. It wasn't that he didn't trust Elaine—he was simply worried, deep down, that if this matter became public knowledge and reached his father, he might be sent back to Hamilton.
"Now that we're at the temple, want to drop by and see Nathan before you go?"
"I think it's still a bit early. I'll see him later, once he's had more time to gather himself."
Right before Nathan leapt from the balcony, it had been Bayul's words that pushed him over the edge. Words meant to comfort had instead wounded him more deeply and hardened his resolve.
Seeing Bayul's face might well reignite Nathan's anger from that moment. He fully intended to apologize someday for the poorly chosen things he'd said back then. For now, all he could do was hope that Nathan recovered his health quickly.
"He's doing pretty well, so don't worry. Starting today, he'll be attending classes again."
"Wow, really? Sounds like he's improved a lot!"
"Still, the priests are keeping an eye on him, just in case."
The same tragedy could never be allowed to repeat itself. The Academy, too, its vigilance sharpened by this latest incident, was working on establishing a student body dedicated to preventing violence on campus.
"The Divinity Department really has its work cut out for them. I should do my part to lighten their load."
"That's exactly what our department exists to do. It's nothing out of the ordinary."
Elaine took great pride in being a Divinity student. As if it were nothing at all, he clapped Bayul on the shoulder and pointed ahead.
"We're here. He'll be waiting inside."
"Thanks for walking me over, Elaine. See you at mealtime."
"Right. Hope the checkup goes well."
To Elaine's eyes, Bayul looked perfectly healthy, but there was no telling what lay beneath. He wisely asked nothing, waved, and disappeared.
Knock knock.
The moment Bayul rapped on the door, Priest Wagner's voice invited him in. Though this was far from their first meeting, Bayul still felt a faint tension.
"Ah, Bayul. It's been quite a while, hasn't it?"
"Hello, Priest Wagner. Have you been well?"
"Oh, I'm always the same. I heard you were selected for the diplomatic delegation and went to the palace. You must have met Duke Randert himself—surely it was a good experience?"
"It was difficult and awkward at times, but it was a joyful and special experience, Your Holiness."
"I imagine so. A student rarely gets the chance to visit Vergara. All the more meaningful since it was for Crown Prince Lindemann's coming-of-age ceremony. Still, the long train ride can't have been easy on you. Are you holding up all right?"
"Yes, there were moments of tiredness, but nothing out of the ordinary."
"And you're sleeping well? Eating well?"
"Yes."
Unless some new illness appeared, there would be no returning to the frailty of the past. At Bayul's confident answer, Priest Wagner smiled kindly, looking relieved.
"Looking at you now, your face does seem better than before, truly."
"Well then, shall we begin the examination?"
At Priest Wagner's instruction, Bayul moved to the cot. With practiced ease, the priest crossed his hands and laid them on Bayul's abdomen.
Bayul closed his eyes and quietly looked up at Wagner, who was concentrating intently.
Something felt different today than before. Was it because it wasn't his first time? The energy was certainly foreign—but it no longer felt unfamiliar. Perhaps he had adapted without realizing it, for he felt almost no resistance at all.
"……!"
Then, suddenly, Priest Wagner's eyes flew wide open. He looked utterly astonished—again. A sight, if anything, Bayul had grown used to.
Could something be wrong besides my affinity?
Rising from the cot, Bayul, overcome with worry, cautiously called out to the priest.
"…Priest?"
But there was no answer. Only the priest's eyes, flickering uneasily.
"H-have a seat, for now."
A short while later, Priest Wagner finally collected himself, and he and Bayul moved to the sofa.
"Whew."
The sight of him releasing a long, deep breath suggested this was no simple matter.
Has he finally sensed the spirit's energy within me? If he asks, what am I supposed to say?
Bayul could only pray that such a thing would not come to pass.
"I-I don't know how to explain this, even to myself."
Priest Wagner began, his voice trembling.
"Don't be alarmed when you hear this. Your affinity… it has… grown even stronger than before."
"…Stronger? What does that mean?"
"Simply put, the presence of Lord Desperatio that flows from you has become far, far more powerful."
"Whaaat?"
The affinity itself had been an absurdity from the start—and now it had grown stronger? No, why? And how?
In truth, Bayul had all but forgotten about the affinity. He was no devotee, and the thing had caused no noticeable changes in his body.
He had simply taken it as a good thing that the demonic affinity shielded his body, and thought nothing more of it.
"Even before, it was a strong affinity—one that only a high priest could have sensed. But now…"
Now…?
Priest Wagner could not bring himself to finish. That Bayul possessed an affinity more powerful than his own—his, given in lifelong service to the temple—was simply beyond comprehension. It was not jealousy. Jealousy is only possible between those standing on roughly the same ground.
He had never heard of such a precedent, never seen one. He had chosen silence before, fearing it would dampen the faithful's morale, but now he had no idea what to do at all. The matter had grown far too large for a mere priest to shoulder.
"Wait here a moment."
Priest Wagner, his words trailing off, abruptly hurried out of the room. Left without a proper explanation, Bayul paced back and forth, gnawed by a nameless unease.
Before long, Priest Wagner returned. And in his hands was a thick book.
"Take this."
Bayul had his back to him—how else to put it? It was as though the book had no form at all, as though only two black wings, sketched against empty air, were floating there.
"It is the holy scripture of Lord Desperatio."
"…A scripture?"
"Yes. A book containing his divine word."
"Why would you give this to me…?"
"That's just it. I don't rightly know either."
Priest Wagner shrugged.
"All I can say is that it simply feels as though it must be so. Whether you read it or not, I suspect it will do no harm merely to keep it close."
If this is the will of a god, then surely there is a reason.
Bayul would never know—could never know—the heart of a priest who, because of the boy's standing, could not so much as invite him into the Divinity Department.
"It seems a powerful blessing of Lord Desperatio rests upon you, Bayul. Congratulations."
Looking at Bayul, who stood dazed with the scripture in his hands, Priest Wagner smiled—wistfully, as if envying him.