“…Excuse me?”

Gakein was thoroughly flustered. He hadn’t even had an hour to recover from the shock of Yuder telling him, “Sir Zuckerman praised you,” before being hit with something equally startling again. Today was starting to feel very strange.

“So… just to clarify and make sure I’m not misunderstanding—you’re asking about a Second-Stage scent… correct?”

“Yes. That’s right. I’m not asking with any strange intent, so just tell me honestly what you sense.”

Even as he felt his confusion grow, Gakein obediently looked directly at Kishiar. The man leaning against the tree looked less like a real person and more like a figure from one of those idealized noble portraits.

To stand before a living, breathing person and feel like you were admiring a painting or statue—it was truly surreal. Gakein himself had been called handsome more times than he could count, but whenever he looked at Kishiar, he felt like his looks barely even qualified as "decent." Personally, it was a welcome change. It gave him a sense of freedom from all the unwanted gazes he usually received.

Had Yuder ever felt this kind of awe when looking at the Commander…?

'Ah—got distracted again.'

Snapping himself out of his trance, Gakein shook his head and blinked.

'The scent. Right, the scent…'

“I don’t detect anything at the moment. It seems you're managing it extremely well, sir…”

“Is that so?”

Kishiar raised an eyebrow.

'That wasn’t the answer he expected…?'

But Gakein was being honest. He couldn’t sense a single thing. If he hadn’t already known Kishiar was a Second-Stage Awakener, he might’ve doubted whether he had the trait at all.

“What about now?”

Kishiar asked again. Gakein opened his eyes wide and focused his entire awareness.

“You still can’t sense anything?”

“Wait—were you releasing it just now? I thought you were about to…”

“How about now?”

At this point, Gakein was sweating from how confusing the situation was.

'What the hell? I don’t feel anything… Did I mess something up? Or… is this a test?'

“I—I’m sorry. I don’t detect anything at all!”

Gakein bowed his head low, his face ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) burning red. After a pause, Kishiar smiled.

“I said I wasn’t testing you or trying to make you uncomfortable. But I understand your answer clearly now. Just as I expected.”

Just as expected? Then why ask such a cryptic question in the first place?

Suddenly, a memory flashed through Gakein’s mind.

Wait. Back in the South… didn’t Yuder ask me and Ever something similar?

At the time, Gakein had barely sensed anything from Yuder either. Not completely nothing like now, but still very faint.

Thoughts of Yuder and Kishiar started to drift and swirl through Gakein’s mind. The two of them were deeply connected. They were both Second-Stage Awakeners. Both incredibly powerful—beyond precedent.

'I don’t fully get it, but if what Kishiar just asked is somehow related to what Yuder asked back then…'

He’d nearly reached the right conclusion. But what filled his mind most of all was sincere concern for both Yuder and the Commander.

“Um, are you alright, sir?”

“Hm?”

“Yuder once asked me a very similar question. And back then, I couldn’t sense much from him either. For a Second-Stage Awakener’s scent to fade so much that it’s almost undetectable… are you asking me now because you’re worried it might be some illness? Or lingering effects from an injury?”

Kishiar’s eyes widened just a little. But to Gakein, even that tiny change felt alarming.

'Is it really true?!'

Second-Stage was a unique trait among Awakeners. And as special as it was, it came with a lot of unknowns. Just look at how chaotic things had been during the initial emergence—no established treatments, confusion around symptoms like heat cycles. Thankfully, those issues were mostly under control now, thanks to the very man standing in front of him.

But if there were some kind of illness that only affected Second-Stage Awakeners—and if both Yuder and the Commander had contracted it—then no book or medical record would be able to provide a cure.

'What do I do?'

In an instant, Gakein was overwhelmed by a crushing mix of anxiety and fear.

“I know it’s presumptuous, but if there’s anything I can do to help, please tell me! I’m not a particularly powerful Awakener, but I’m healthy, and I’ve never had any issues with my scent! I could be a test subject while you try to find a cure—!”

“Alright, alright. That’s enough. I’m already deeply touched by your concern for me and Yuder, so let’s stop there.”

Kishiar chuckled and waved a hand.

“There’s nothing wrong with either of us. There’s simply… been a change.”

“A change…?”

“Yes. I can’t clearly explain the nature of it yet, but I’m fairly sure it’s not life-threatening. So there’s no need to worry.”

“Ah… I—I’m so relieved…”

Gakein nearly collapsed with the sheer wave of relief. Kishiar reached out and patted his shoulder.

“I’ve been testing with other Second-Stage Awakeners too. But among all of them, you seemed the most suited for this question, so I took the opportunity. Sorry if I startled you.”

“No, not at all! Just knowing you’re healthy is more than enough for me.”

“Thank you. Let’s keep this conversation between us for now.”

“Understood!”

Gakein snapped a sharp salute, then quickly hurried off, pressing a hand to his chest.

Behind him, Kishiar called out with a laugh, “Don’t trip—go slowly,” his soft chuckle fading in the distance.

***

“Finally…”

Yuder stared into the massive pot in front of him.

It was filled with dry, grass-colored powder. He leaned in and sniffed—there was a proper bitter aroma.

He scooped some into a nearby cup, added water, and took a cautious sip. A faint, fragrant sweetness lingered on his tongue.

'It’s a little different from the reference sample I kept, but this is good enough.'

He’d tried to match the ingredients as closely as possible, but naturally, some ended up more or less than before. Still, it was never perfectly uniform even back in his hometown—this result passed the mark.

Now all that was left was packaging. That part would be easy with wind manipulation—he could finish in moments. Opening the door to retrieve the bottles, he spotted a tall shadow standing not far away.

“…Commander?”

“Came to get these, didn’t you?”

Kishiar was already holding the large box full of bottles that Yuder had been planning to bring in. Carrying it effortlessly in one hand, he stopped at the kitchen doorway and asked playfully,

“Want me to bring them in for you? Or should I just leave them here?”

“…Come in.”

“As you command.”

Stepping inside like he’d never seen the place before, Kishiar took a deep breath and smiled in delight.

“The whole kitchen smells like your tea.”

“I’ll open the windows once everything’s bottled.”

“Shame. Is this all you made today?”

The pot was large enough to hide Kishiar’s upper body. He looked over the contents with open delight.

“That’s a lot. More than enough to share with others—and still have plenty for me.”

“Don’t you still have some of the previous batch?”

“But a new one means a new flavor. May I have a cup?”

Yuder poured him a new one, heating the water just enough so steam gently rose. Kishiar’s eyes curved in a smile.

“Thank you.”

“When did you get here?”

“Not long ago. I just didn’t want to miss the chance to be the first to taste your new creation.”

“You could’ve just come in and waited.”

If he had, it would’ve made things slightly more tense… but not unwelcome. Kishiar only smiled in response. As he drank the tea with polite grace, Yuder waited for his judgment.

'I thought it was decent… but everyone’s taste is different.'

“Mmm!”

“What is it?”

Kishiar suddenly covered his mouth and made a noise.

'Did something get in it?'

Startled, Yuder stepped closer—only to be pulled into an embrace and kissed like a startled bird landing on his lips.

“It’s too good.”

Kishiar exhaled, murmuring sincerely.

“It definitely tastes different from before. Not even the gods have tasted something like this…”

“……”

For the first time in a while, Yuder was reminded just how much of a playful rogue this man could be.

'Ha… I can’t help but laugh.'

It was ridiculous—but somehow, reassuring. Yuder opened the box Kishiar had brought and uncapped all the bottles, using wind to divide the powder into them. Even as a miniature storm of powder spun through the kitchen, the space around Kishiar remained completely undisturbed and peaceful.

“So now it’s time to share, is it? I wonder who’ll be blessed enough to receive this divine gift.”