"Thank you for paying for my food also," Kael said, slightly bowing to Eryn. If the young man hadn't stepped in, he would have been stuck washing greasy bowls or going hungry for the night. "I am indebted to you. If there's anything I can do to repay your kindness, just tell me."
"I'm not the one who needs repaying," Eryn said, grinning. He rested an elbow on the table and looked at Kael with quiet amusement. "You handed the pouch over, did you not?"
Kael nodded slowly. "It wasn't right to take it back. Although…I did not chase them. So, whether they were being pursued or not, I'm not sure."
"They must have seen the symbol and known what it was. Afraid the temple will scorn them for stealing from a priest."
"Well, they could have used the money and thrown out the pouch, no? But instead, they used it entirely to buy your horse," Kael replied. Looking back on it, the money pouch he had still had more than twenty gold coins inside. Does a single horse cost that much?
Eryn let out a short laugh. He tapped on the table with his middle finger as he watched the priest with interest. "Maybe…they were afraid of angering Solvantar. So, they simply handed the whole thing. If I put it that way, now I feel robbed. Solvantar won't punish me for holding onto it, right?"
"Of course not," Kael replied with a smile. He shifted on his seat, smoothing the front of his robes, and then he stood. "Well, I should be going. I still need to find a suitable place to sleep for the night."
Eryn tilted his head. "Where would someone like you sleep?"
Kael blinked at the question. He took his small basket and answered, "Ah…I don't need much. Just a flat patch of ground beneath a tree, or an empty shack if I'm lucky. Somewhere quiet to offer a prayer and rest my legs."
For a moment, Eryn said nothing. Kael couldn't see his face because the young man's head was lowered. When Eryn looked up again, his gaze, which moments before had held a sheepish grin, now slightly darkened. His smile faded.
"That's what you call suitable?" Eryn asked, and the tapping of his finger on the table stopped.
Kael glanced around, puzzled. "It's more than enough…? I've actually slept in worse conditions." He wouldn't go into detail to save what remains of his dignity—well, not that he cared, but he once slept in a net trap in the forest. He was so exhausted that he couldn't be bothered to free himself from the animal trap that he had activated accidentally. When morning arrived, the hunters were flabbergasted to find a living human being in their trap.
Kael was busy reminiscing about those moments, so he did not notice Eryn's jaw twitching. When the sound of the chair scraping the floor broke Kael from his reverie, he noticed Eryn had already pushed himself off the table and approached him, commanding, "Follow me."
"What?" Kael asked, baffled.
"I said follow me," Eryn repeated. Kael stiffened. What happened? The friendly tone of the young man changed. Although it remained polite, Kael could tell that Eryn was bottling something inside. "You're not sleeping under a tree tonight."
Kael hesitated. The young man's tone was firm, but not forceful. A strange warmth stirred in his chest, something like unease wrapped in gratitude. He had only met this guy once, but somehow, he felt he could be trusted. Still, he asked softly, "Are you sure?"
Eryn turned to look back at him. He grinned, to Kael's relief, and then he answered jokingly, "No one's ever sure about me. Doesn't mean I'm wrong." And with that, he turned and walked out the diner's door without waiting for an answer.
Kael, after a pause, followed.
They passed several houses. Not long after, Eryn stopped in front of a two-story inn. He entered and headed straight to the second floor. Kael followed silently while looking around the place. The building had only two levels. For an inn, it seemed small, but the structure was better than the inns with higher levels they passed.
"You can stay here for the night," Eryn said. He motioned for Kael to come in. "I already paid for it."
The room was small but clean. There was only a bed, a nightstand with a small lamp above it, and a chair facing the window. There was no indication that this room had already been used.
So, Kael was truly confused. He turned to Eryn and asked, "How about you?"
"I can sleep outside," Eryn replied with a shrug. He walked to the window and untied the curtain, seemingly unbothered about his sleeping place for the night. After arranging the curtain, he turned to leave.
Kael's smile crooked. He panicked. "I will certainly feel bad about that. This is your room after all. If need be, I can sleep on the floor. Although the bed is narrow, the floor can fit another person."
"Well, that works. But is that okay?" Eryn asked.
Kael immediately nodded. "Absolutely."
When Eryn agreed, Kael quickly took out the spare cloak from his basket. With this cloak provided by the temple, he took off his own and laid it over the other one. He was about to lie on it when Eryn crouched next to him and helped him arrange his bedding.
"How could I let a priest sleep on the floor?" Eryn said. Before Kael could answer, the young man had occupied the cloak bedding already. He crossed his arms underneath his head as his pillow, and then he grinned at the dumbfounded priest. "You take the bed, good priest."
What else could Kael do if the guy was already lying on it? He heaved a low sigh and sat on the bed. Placing the basket on the nightstand, he removed his footwear but left the socks on, then he faced the window where he could see the night sky and uttered a silent prayer.
After that, he lay on the bed carefully. Despite his gentle movement, the wooden bed creaked. He peeked at Eryn, saw his closed eyes, and sighed in relief. But he sighed too quickly, because when he blinked, Eryn's dark-colored eyes were staring right back at him. Kael swallowed.
"Ah…did I wake you?" he asked with an awkward grin. It could be seen like he was staring at the man while he slept. He felt embarrassed. He opened his mouth again to explain, but then Eryn replied.
"No."
Kael nodded, unsure how to react to that short answer. He quickly lay on his back and stared at the ceiling. He forgot to explain, but Eryn did not seem like he misunderstood, so he just let it go. However, sleep eluded him. He also remembered something else. Therefore, he broke the silence once again.
"Are you asleep?"
There was no answer. Kael sighed in spite of himself. Just when he thought Eryn was deep in slumber, a heavy voice answered, "...not yet."
"I'm sorry for asking, but I think I haven't told you my name. Calling me 'good priest' all the time…although correct, makes me feel somewhat…burdened," Kael said. He rested his hands on his abdomen, one above the other.
Eryn replied, "Why does it make you feel that way? They're just mere words…" his voice trailed off. For a moment, there was silence, then he continued, "When said by other people, that is."
Kael was speechless. He knew what Eryn meant. Other people would not care about a name; they would only care about what a person can do. Calling someone 'good', 'benevolent', or 'kind' didn't matter. Sometimes, they were just mere words said with insincerity.
"You're not wrong. But it was said by you, so I feel a bit burdened because I know you're sincere." Kael cleared his throat. He whispered enough for the guy to hear, "I am…not really a good priest, you know…"
Not everyone was as brave and kind as him? Kael recalled those words. Words said with sincerity indeed, but also with ignorance. Eryn only met him that time, and he had already said that.
If only he knew the things I've done before…he wouldn't say that, Kael mumbled to himself.
"To someone, you may not. But to the kids you saved in the forest, you are. To me… I will still call you 'good priest' even if I know your name," Eryn said with a short laugh.
Kael widened his eyes. "Do you know my name?" he asked in wonder.
"The kids called your name before, did they not?"
"Ah…they did," Kael answered in a low voice. What made him feel disappointed? He rubbed his forehead and continued, "If you insist on calling me that way, then I shall begin calling you with the same intent. Perhaps, 'handsome lad' would be fitting…" his voice trailed off after he realized what he said.
Silence reigned in the room after that. After a moment, a soft chuckle erupted.
Kael covered his face with his hand, embarrassed and flustered. In his defense, there was nothing wrong with complimenting someone's face!
The laughter continued for a while. And then, once Eryn was satisfied, he mumbled with the trace of a playful grin, "If you insist…then I shall oblige you, good priest."
Kael scratched his cheek. "Just…call me by my name, please," he whispered. Just thinking about calling Eryn 'handsome lad' every time they meet slightly embarrassed him already. He was just teasing, but he ended up getting played instead.
Without hearing an answer, Kael stopped insisting. He closed his eyes and tried to sleep. But then, after a while, Eryn quietly replied, "You win…Priest Kael."
You can drop the priest…, Kael thought as his consciousness slowly drifted away into slumber.