“Cough, ha…”
Iberis gasped desperately for the breath clearing his blocked airway, soon breaking into a fit of coughing as if he had choked.
Lucas continued the kiss, undeterred by Iberis’s coughing. Simultaneously, he kept releasing mana, performing guiding.
Whoosh…
The golden mana flowing from his body quickly filled the living room. As the warm energy, like spring sunlight, spread in all directions, the ice crystals covering the sofa and table melted away.
“Ah…”
Iberis groaned at the warmth enveloping his goosebump-covered skin. In response, hot breath flowed into his mouth as if to comfort him. Along with sticky, sweet saliva.
Entrusting his body, trembling from pain and cold, to the mana that wrapped around him like a spring breeze, Iberis inhaled Lucas’s breath like a person who had found an oasis in the desert. Meanwhile, memories of the past continued to flood his mind endlessly.
‘Hello? How are you feeling?’
‘Hello… Thank you for saving me.’
15 years ago, the child who had lost consciousness due to mana overload opened his eyes again in a military hospital. The person who spoke to the awakened Iberis was the esper he had seen before fainting.
‘No, I didn’t do much. If anything, I should apologize to you. If we had arrived earlier…’
‘Where’s my mom?’
‘Ah, your mother… We’ve recovered her body. I’ll show you when you’re feeling better. Well, I need to confirm a few things… First, let me introduce myself. I’m Nadia Lowell Blake, an esper from the Defense Force. What’s your name, little one?’
‘…I don’t know.’
‘Huh?’
‘I can’t remember.’
‘Oh… You mean you can’t recall your name?’
‘Yes.’
‘Hmm, this is troublesome.’
Nadia was perplexed by the unexpected answer. While the child was unconscious, she had conducted an identity check. However, nothing came up. The house, engulfed in mana overload, was destroyed beyond recognition, leaving no clues behind.
‘Maybe something other than your name? No, judging by how you asked about your mom earlier, could it be partial memory loss?’
Nadia muttered, unclear whether it was a question or talking to herself. Then, noticing the child looking at her with an anxious face, she caught herself.
‘Ahem, it’s possible to have temporary memory loss after a big shock. Let’s have a doctor examine this.’
‘Will something bad happen if I can’t remember my name?’
‘Well, it’s a problem in some ways… We need to write a report about this incident, and it would be better to have a name to protect you in the future. Actually, while you were sleeping, we cleaned up the scene and inquired about your family, but we found out your mother didn’t register your birth. It seems she only visited unlicensed hospitals…’
The residents of the defense zone’s slums, usually called back alleys, were mostly illegal immigrants. The child’s mother was no exception. Someone without resident registration couldn’t have visited a military hospital.
‘We did get some information, including a name, through the private guiding center where your mother worked, but we couldn’t find anything about you.’
Nadia discovered through the private guiding center’s owner and employees that the child’s mother was a D-class guide named Hyun Eun-jeong, originally from South Korea. However, they couldn’t find any information about the child there either.
The center’s people knew Eun-jeong was a single mother but said they had never seen her son. It seemed she had hidden him thoroughly for his safety. It was a wise decision, as the slums were a lawless zone where the Defense Force’s power didn’t fully reach.
‘Your mother’s name is Eun-jeong, Hyun? In Korean style, it would be Hyun Eun-jeong…’
‘Hyun, Eun-jeong…’
The child mumbled his mother’s name in a small voice. Then he frowned as if his head hurt. In the end, young Iberis couldn’t remember his own name until he was discharged.
The attending physician diagnosed the child with partial memory loss due to awakening and mana overload aftereffects, as well as the shock of his mother’s death and his first battle.
“Hah, mm…”
Iberis furrowed his brow at the headache caused by the sudden rush of memories. As if wanting to forget the pain, he actively entangled his tongue with Lucas’s and gripped his shirt tightly. Only Lucas could save him now.
Lucas responded to Iberis while continuing the guiding. After breathing in mana and air a few more times, a lukewarm heat circulated in the cool mouth. The chilly breath and pain-filled groans gradually subsided.
Dangerous.
Lucas clenched his jaw hard after sucking in their mixed breath and saliva. He had given emergency treatment when Iberis suddenly complained of headache and breathing difficulties, but as Iberis stabilized, a different desire rose within him.
Damn it.
Lucas repeatedly swallowed, seized by intense hunger. It was already difficult to resist his desire for Iberis, but knowing they were Name matches and being excited by it, he felt like his reason might fly away if he relaxed even a little.
Impulses kept springing up: wanting to sink his teeth into that straight neck and chew gently, wanting to bite those soft lips like ripe fruit flesh and suck that moist tongue.
No.
Lucas took a deep breath, suppressing the lust that was rising regardless of the situation. He was still in the position of a sinner. He didn’t want to act like a beast in heat when Iberis hadn’t forgiven him yet.
Lucas let out a low curse and separated his body from Iberis. With a wet, sticky sound, their deeply entwined lips parted.
“Hoo, ah…”
Iberis breathed heavily, feeling the warmth move away from him. Through his hazy vision, he saw golden eyes mixed with worry and passion. This reminded him of someone who had the same eyes as Lucas. The doctor who had given him a new name when he had lost his original one.
‘Hello, my name is Armand Allis. I’ll be treating and guiding you from now on. Hmm, what should I call you? You said you can’t remember your name, right?’
‘Yes…’
‘What would you like me to call you?’
‘…I don’t know.’
‘That’s troublesome if you don’t know. Let’s see… Your eyes sparkle beautifully like frost flowers. Until you remember your real name, can I call you Iberis?’
‘Iberis? What’s that?’
‘It’s the name of a flower that resembles your eyes. How about it as a temporary name?’
‘…That’s fine.’
How did I not realize they were so alike? Iberis raised his hand with a dazed expression. As he caressed the eyes that held jewels as bright and clear as the morning sun, his chest felt heavy.
“Are you feeling better? Should I bring some medicine?”
Lucas suppressed his inner turmoil, closing his eyes tightly before opening them at the touch caressing his eyes. He carefully observed Iberis’s complexion and the movement of mana within his body.
“May I examine you?”
“Hah…”
Iberis flinched as a hand lightly pressed his neck. The hand moved down to his chest and stomach, finally touching his wrist.
“The mana seems to have calmed… How’s your headache?”
Lucas carefully asked, noticing the wrinkles between Iberis’s brows and the beads of sweat on his forehead. His complexion was still pale. Worried, Lucas unconsciously raised his hand.
Slap!
The attempt to wipe the sweat from Iberis’s face was blocked by a force pushing Lucas’s hand away.
“Ma-Major?”
Surprised by the unexpected rejection, Lucas stuttered involuntarily. For a moment, his heart sank and a chill ran down his spine.
“Ah.”
Iberis was also surprised by his own action. With a flustered face, he backed away and apologized as he stood up.
“S-sorry. I didn’t mean to do that.”
“…It’s alright. When you’re in pain, it’s natural to dislike being touched. Um, if you still have a headache, it might be better to take some painkillers. Should I get the medicine now…”
Lucas desperately suppressed his agitation and answered as calmly as possible.
“No, uh, it’s fine. I just want to rest.”
“Then, to the bedroom…”
“Wait, um. Can you let me be alone tonight?”
“Pardon?”
Iberis stepped back, avoiding Lucas who was trying to support him as if it was natural.
“I’m sorry, but… I want to be alone right now.”
“Major.”
Lucas’s face hardened after being rejected twice by Iberis. His heart raced, but for a different reason than before. Undisguisable fear appeared in his eyes, distorted with anxiety.
“Don’t make that face. I’m not rejecting you. Um, I’m flustered about learning your identity, and it would be a lie to say I’m not angry that you’ve been deceiving me all this time… But as I said before, I won’t hate or dislike you.”
“…”
“I just need some time. Time to sort out my memories and organize my feelings. But I don’t think I can do that with you around. So, let’s spend just this night separately.”
“…I understand.”
Lucas’s lips moved as if to say something, but then he sighed with a resigned expression. This was a consequence of his actions, so he had to endure at least this much.
“Thank you for understanding. It’s fortunate we have multiple bedrooms.”
“I’m sorry. Because of me…”
Lucas’s face darkened as his words trailed off. Although this was something they had to go through eventually, being rejected by Iberis made him incredibly anxious.
“It’s not your fault. I’m confused in many ways, but thanks to you, I’ve regained my memories. Well then… Good night.”
Iberis awkwardly said goodnight and retreated to the bedroom as if escaping. He closed the door, deliberately ignoring the gaze on his back.
