Professor Gemstone is on the case! part 3 (30)

There were four towers around the outer castle.

The one tower Ilya led Ezera to was an old one, which had probably made for a dungeon in the past, was a residency one, where the important guests were to sleep. It was the right one for a traveler coming from the city's path.

The tower behind it was for food stocks, grains and dry meat and such. Above the first level was where the cooks worked. Then, there was the second front tower, which was previously explained to be an expansion of the training hall. The last one, behind-left, held the treasury, it was heavily guarded.

When Ilya indicated where his quarters were, at ground level, Ezera took a good look at their surroundings and questioned him:

"Where do you escape it from?" There were no windows at this level of the tour.

Ilya made them climb or jump, depending on the spaces, to the first floor, where he opened that one window with his lofty magic trick. They slipped inside an empty space.

Ezera watched as Ilya knelt to the corner of the room, and removed a prominent stone tile from it... Revealing a way downward.

Ezera almost whistled.

"That's genius." So that was how.

They jumped one after the other, falling light as feathers in the grand chambers bellow. Once on his feet, Ezera inspected the place. It was a very vast space for just one person. From his estimations, the entire quarters were covering the entirety of that level of the tower, which was impressive. It was far bigger than Ezera's own attributed quarters.

It must be lonely for only one person.

"Say, did you bring any servant or friend with you?" Ezera inquired.

Ilya, busy putting the tile back in place in his ceiling, ignored him. Ezera didn't insist more on the matter, instead going a bit sideway.

"Then you have no ally in this place, do you?"

For the time it took Ilya to repair his ceiling, he didn't say a word. Once he was done, he turned to look at Ezera from the side.

"I do. You have met."

"Really?" Ezera frowned.

"The innkeeper."

The innkeeper? Ezera squinted in the air for a few moments, before he recalled that time a few days ago, when he visited the capital's inn with Narcis.

"Ah, yes! That man. What a shame, I actually wanted to meet him too! Everyone knows bartenders and innkeepers are very useful contacts to have."

Ilya hummed, positive.

"Then... I might introduce you. Soon."

"You would? Thank you, Ilya."

"Mh."

Ilya passed by Ezera, going to light up the candles.

"Regarding the matter of the condemned library," the man said, "I am grateful for your guidance. I might not have found it without your help."

"Do not concern yourself. Admit we make a good team!" Ezera teased him with a wink.

Ilya didn't admit. Once he had lighted the candles, he started undoing his hair, slowly.

"There is one thing I wanted to ask you."

Ezera perked up.

"Yes?"

"The school at which you exerced. Was it an international one?"

Ezera frowned.

"No, it was not. Should it have been?"

"In ancient times, the kingdoms of Azarock agreed to summon a very specific type of people. People who were already used to being in contact with different lifestyles and languages, and who could adapt quickly in the face of the summoning. They were supposed to be summoned in different places, all throughout the continent."

Ezera didn't like the idea of that, either.

"But it didn't happen. Were you even aware the ritual had taken place, outside the kingdom."

"We didn't. We were lucky to have a spy inside."

Ezera chuckled darkly.

"You mean, yourself."

Ilya didn't reply, but that was answer enough. The man had almost verbally admitted to being a spy from a foreign country. Should he really trust Ezera with that information? Knowing the man's only goal was to protect his students and would do anything to reach that goal.

Then again, Ezera was exactly the same.

"In any case. We don't have much choice to progress in this investigation. I'll show you something else, next time. You better be prepared."

Ezera shouldn't reveal all his cards so easily. He should feel more suspicious, this was a spy with nigh foreign intentions, whom Ezera hadn't known very long. For all he knew, Ilya or whatever his real name was could be as trustworthy as the high priest Hortensius.

Ezera had tried, to be suspicious, cautious, he truly had. And it shouldn't have been so hard a state to maintain. Yet, as they grew into this easy camaradery, Ezera couldn't deny that all his suspicion had long turned into a strange sort of fascination. He could feel it mirrored in Ilya's gaze, even as they spoke now. The other man too, was far too revealing to someone he had just met less than a moon ago.

He looked into that aurora borealis gaze, that was also staring straight into his eyes unreadably, searching for that easy chemistry that had them becoming unlikely allies, partners in this stranger place.

Ezera snapped out of it.

"I will let you know when. For now I should leave. You should get some sleep."

Ilya stopped tending to his heavy hair lying across his shoulder, turning toward him with a disapproving glare.

"You shall rest, as well."

Ezera barked out a laugh.

"Sure, I should! Not sure it'll be happening, though. This night gave me a lot to think about."

Ilya's eyes narrowed thoughtfully. That was true. To think a nation was not only researching but using the energy of demons, the creatures they were supposedly trying to protect themselves from by summoning Heroes here... It was far too suspicious. How had it even happened?

"Still."

Ezera chuckled, fondly. That man was stubborn. He reminded him so much of his young students in that way.

"Yes, I'll try. Then I should be off. I have a cuddly child waiting for me to return. I'll see you soon!" He waved teasingly at the other as he made his way up the escape.

Ilya huffed in a manner Ezera almost could imagine as fond, turning away, but Ezera could still glimpse at the other's gaze following him, and... Oh! He thought excitedly, was that a tiny smile tugging at his lips? He smiled, a bubbly feeling in his chest like what his kids would make him feel. How could a grown adult look as cute as his teenagers?

Maybe Ezera had already spent too much time as a teacher, it was harmful to his mental sight.

In silence, he made his way back to his quarters, entering by the window. There, in his bed, was Ming, taken by a fitful sleep. As soon as he saw him, turning uncomfortably in his sleep, Ezera's good mood faded away.

He closed the window and walked closer, only caring to take of his boots before kneeling by the bed, taking Ming's hand in his owns. He sighed, thinking about him, then, with resignated tears that wouldn't be shed in his eyes.

What had his children done, to deserve such chaotic lives? Just when he thought they were finally doing better.

Even in sleep, Ming tugged at him, and Ezera slipped under the covers to embrace him properly. He smiled sadly, exhaustion finally winning over as his eyelids closed.

He would do anything to protect them. They deserved at least that from him. They were but children, after all. They thought they were so big, but in in eyes they were still so young.

I will protect you, at any cost. I swear it.

He hadn't felt so emotional in a while, he thought finally before falling under.

There's only one reason for which you are not with the rest of your friends right now. They have no way to know.

Silence.

You're still just a child, after all. For all it's worth, I'm sorry.

Silence.

A sigh.

You will start again. We will place you werever you wish. I will make sure to provide protection. This is the least I can do for you.

The boy's hollow eyes didn't move from looking at the moon, through the window. Not even when, in the following silence, he spoke.

I am not a child. Not anymore.

...

It's too late to treat me like one.