The One and Only Guide - Chapter 25
“…The founding patriarch spent his life waiting for his Guide and died waiting. About a hundred years later, the second Guide appeared.”
“Again at the temple? The cave where you and I first met?”
“Yes.”
“How intriguing. It’s as if the goddess of the North truly rewarded the Duke who built the temple for her. So, what happened then?”
“The current Duke at that time realized that being in contact with the Guide alleviated his pain, regardless of the Guide’s will. He… confined the Guide in the castle.”
“Just like you did with me.”
“…I’m sorry.”
“Never mind. So, what happened to that second Guide?”
“She committed suicide.”
“..…”
“The Duke, having lost his Guide, went mad.”
Jian was at a loss for words. A Guide committing suicide? Why? Was it because of the exploitation of Guiding or being forced into unwanted Guiding contact?
If so, her choice to end her life was understandable. It was a story she did not want to delve into any further. The so-called hideous truth… There was indeed a reason the Duke hesitated to divulge the family’s dark secret.
As she remained silent, Axion continued.
“The third Guide to appear in the North… was my mother. She explained to me about Guides.”
Jian let out a short exclamation of realization. Now it all makes sense. The pieces of the mysterious secret were fitting together.
“So that’s how you knew right away that I was a Guide.”
“Yes, and Odergen has… monopolized Guides for hundreds of years, keeping their existence a strict secret. Because of this, my mother couldn’t take even a single step out of the North and passed away here.”
“Did your father confine her?”
“He didn’t confine her. She couldn’t leave the North, but as the Duchess, she was free to travel anywhere within our territories. She and my father weren’t on bad terms either. If they had been, I wouldn’t have been born. But now… both of them are gone.”
It was a series of heavy stories.As an outsider, it wasn’t the kind of story Jian wanted to hear.
However, as a Guide, Jian needed to know the secretive history between the Duke’s family and Guides. It was good that she had inquired ahead.
“I’ve listened well to your story. So, what are you planning to do with me?”
“…..What do you mean?”
“Like your father did, do you plan to keep me confined in this castle, unable to leave forever?”
Axion hesitated to answer.
Of course, he wished for it. If he could have her in his sight forever, he felt like he could do anything. He couldn’t understand the sudden blind devotion he felt for her, but by the time he came to his senses, his heart had already taken root deep within her, like a tree firmly grounded in the earth’s layers.
But he knew she would not welcome such feelings.
Indeed, Jian’s gaze bore no emotion as she looked at Axion, more daunting and painful than the claw of a monster tearing flesh and breaking bones.
Axion remained silent. There was no other response he could choose.
Meanwhile, Jian had made up her mind.
“I need to make sure if there truly are no other Guides here.”
“What do you mean, to make sure?”
“I can’t leave knowing there might be an Esper without a Guide. For the time being, I’ll impose on the Duke’s hospitality.”
Incredulity flickered in Axion’s eyes at her unbelievable statement. Knowing the truth and still choosing to stay at the castle? Really, would she do that?
“However, don’t even think of confining me here in the castle. Allow me to leave for the North whenever I wish. I trust you’re not planning to repeat the history of constraint and imprisonment with me.”
Axion hurriedly responded, “I will never confine you.”
“Good. Then, at least while I’m staying at the castle, I’ll be your dedicated Guide.”
“….Really?”
“Only until I confirm there’s another Guide here. It’s common sense in my world that if there’s an Esper, there should be a Guide. If another Guide appears, I’ll leave. Someone else will be here to guide you. Do we have an agreement?”
“I agree.”
“Then promise me. If another Guide appears, you’ll let me go back.”
“I promise.”
