That evening, I talked to Meradis about what had happened and asked if she knew anything about the race known as the Eucharists.
"Eucharists… according to the Queen's records, they are the crystallization of this world's heavens and earth. Only one is born every ten thousand years, so it can be said they are the rarest kind of beings. I never thought I'd encounter one here."
So it seems that even in the modern world, there are quite a few legends about the Eucharists…
"Eucharists are extremely rare, but at the same time, each Eucharist has their own fate to shoulder. It's a responsibility they cannot refuse. Only when a Eucharist completes their mission can the next one be born."
So there's even something like that…
I suddenly felt like deciding to teach Erin might've been a huge mistake, but I'd already said I would, so of course I will.
In that case, I should start thinking about how to teach her. She might end up shouldering the fate of the entire world someday.
But there's one thing I don't understand—if she's a Eucharist, shouldn't she be a different kind of creature? Why is she human?
"Do you know anything about that, Meradis?"
"As far as I recall, in order for a Eucharist to be capable of bearing their mission, they must undergo many trials in their previous life. And if a Eucharist fails, then a new one will be born to replace them."
"As for their form, this is where it gets interesting. 'Eucharist' doesn't refer to a specific appearance, but rather their unique ability—Eucharist! Only when the Eucharist fully awakens can they wield their true power. As for form, a Eucharist can take any shape."
"Since Erin was born as a human, you could say she's got it a bit easier than other beings. But her trials definitely won't be easy either."
Seriously…?
I wonder if there has ever been a Eucharist in the form of a spider?
"Well, even so, a Eucharist can change their form at will, so appearance isn't really something they care about."
Then I guess Erin will probably grow fond of this human form of hers. I like it too.
"There's quite a bit of information about the Eucharists in the Queen's books, so I'm guessing she must have met one before and learned their secrets."
"So how can one quickly awaken their Eucharist?" This is definitely the most important thing for Erin right now.
"I don't know. The books didn't mention that. But I suspect each Eucharist has their own path to awakening. Their Eucharist abilities might differ as well, not all the same."
Is that so…
If that's the case, then all I can do is teach the girl how to use the basic skills and raise her stats.
"There's something I want to ask." Meradis suddenly spoke.
She became so serious that I couldn't let my guard down. I stopped all my thoughts and focused on hearing her question.
"Can you… touch the girl?"
Huh?
That's all?
Why ask about this all of a sudden?
"Yes." I nodded.
It even feels amazing, honestly, though I doubt Meradis wants to hear that.
The next day, Meradis continued training Rian as usual, and I also began teaching Erin.
Based on what I already knew, it was clear Erin would be extremely talented in magic. Just looking at her stats and skills made that obvious. So I decided to start by teaching her how to sense mana and use magic.
To make it easier, I used telepathy and transmitted my voice directly into her mind. I explained the principles of magic to her once and told her to try it out.
"I did it!"
That fast!?
It hadn't even been a full minute.
I used Scan again and saw that her [Mana Sensing] skill had already leveled up.
She succeeded on the first try? And even leveled the skill already?
So this is a Eucharist, huh…? With this kind of monstrous speed, who could possibly compare?
Just yesterday I saw how much Rian had grown and thought he'd reached the peak, but now I have to redefine what the word "genius" even means.
"Well done." I offered some praise to encourage the girl.
"Yes!"
Erin looked up at me with sparkling eyes.
Huh?
Is there more?
"Aren't you going to pat my head? My big brother always did that."
Oh, that?
So a compliment isn't enough…? It's true that actual encouragement beyond just words can make children more excited, so I followed through and patted Erin on the head.
The girl happily enjoyed it, and as for me, I felt great stroking her head—it was like petting a little cat.
Suddenly, I felt a gaze directed this way. More specifically, at me. Judging from the direction, I didn't even need to turn around to know it was Meradis watching.
I figured she was just checking Erin's training progress, but strangely, her eyes lingered on me for quite a while, which made me a bit puzzled.
Today, I continued teaching Erin how to control mana. This time, she manipulated it smoothly, as if she'd been training for a long time. I'm more convinced than ever that at this rate, Erin will soon become one of the strongest beings in this world.
But at the same time, that also means the danger surrounding her will grow stronger as well.
While guiding Erin, I could still sense Meradis's gaze from afar. I didn't know why she was watching me so intently, but I had a gut feeling it wasn't just about observing Erin's training.
Could it be… she's suspicious about something?
Last night I asked her, but Meradis just said she was watching Erin. Still, she should know her gaze wouldn't slip past my senses, so why lie?
After the training session, Erin left first. I was about to leave too, but Meradis stopped me.
"Let's talk for a bit."
I looked at her and gave a slight nod.
Meradis crossed her arms and leaned against a nearby tree. The wind gently stirred her long golden hair, and her sharp eyes showed no intention of hiding her suspicion.
"You really don't have any problem touching the girl?"
I frowned. This was the second time Meradis had asked that.
"No." I answered plainly.
"So the girl is also an exception?" Meradis pressed on.
Hmm…
If we're going by the definition of 'exception' I used before, then yes. Erin is also an exception, just like Meradis.
It does feel a bit miraculous to have found two exceptions in such a short span of time. I remember in my past life I kept searching for someone I could touch normally, but no matter how hard I looked, I never found one.
"Why are you so concerned about this?" I asked in return.
Meradis didn't answer immediately. Her golden eyes stared at me as if trying to find something. Her hand was still holding mine, showing no intention of letting go.
"I was just thinking… whether I'm truly an 'exception' like you said… or if there might be others too."
How am I supposed to decide that…
It's not like I wanted to be like this either.
Strange…
Why is Meradis suddenly so concerned about this? Just because I can touch Erin doesn't mean I can't touch her anymore.
Look.
We're still holding hands right now. It still feels the same as when she first took my hand on the road, so why compare how it feels?
"Shiraori, give me an answer." Meradis said.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean… between me and Erin, maybe you have some sort of priority."
Priority?
I still feel like I'm treating everyone normally. Between me and Erin these past two days, I only patted her head because she wanted praise for doing well.
That can't be called special treatment or anything. If anything, Meradis is still the one I prioritize more.
While I was lost in thought, Meradis suddenly asked, "How does holding my hand feel compared to Erin's?"
I froze.
Huh?
Why compare?
But if I had to say, Erin gives a very soft feeling, maybe because she's still a child, but her hand is a bit too small to match mine. On the other hand, Meradis' hand wraps around mine, giving off a warm and secure feeling.
Both are wonderful in their own way, so how could I choose? This question… doesn't sound like simple curiosity anymore.
I looked straight at Meradis. She remained as calm as usual, but I could sense that the atmosphere between us had changed. Before I could answer, Meradis gave a slight smile, released my hand, and stepped back.
"Just kidding. Don't get too tense."
I frowned at her.
I'm not sure if she really was kidding.
Meradis folded her arms and tilted her head at me. "But if you ever do have an answer, I'd still like to hear it."
I sighed.
"I don't know," I answered honestly. "I've never compared the two of you, and I never thought I had to choose sides. I just feel happy being able to connect with more people."
Meradis nodded, seemingly satisfied with that answer.
"Good," She said. "Don't let yourself get caught up in pointless confusion."
I watched her back as she walked away, still feeling a bit uneasy inside.
Was she… jealous?
Oh no.
Seriously?
I thought that because her reaction reminded me of my own when she laughed and talked with Rian. Back then, she asked if I was jealous—and now she's exactly like that.
What should I do…
She's not really mad, right?
It's not like I knew ahead of time.
From the way she acted, it's not as bad as how I was the other day, so there's probably still a chance to make it up. But what kind of answer should I give her?
She said she was satisfied earlier, but if she looked jealous, was she really? Or just pretending?
This is the first time I've experienced something like this, and it's leaving me a bit confused.
Anyway, tonight's the chance to clear things up. I have to take it.
That night, I waited in the room.
When Meradis came in, I suddenly felt nervous. These past two days, I'd been sleeping in a cocoon, and I wasn't sure if Meradis had even slept at all, but first I needed to pull her into the cocoon with me—then I'd think about what to do next.
But how do I bring it up…?
Ah, just say it like she did the other day.
Okay, I can do this…
I can do this.
…
I can't do this.
Every time I tried to speak, my mind went blank. All the sentences I'd prepared vanished in an instant.
What do I do…
This is so frustrating.
I lost control of my emotions again, and the silk around me reacted to that, spreading wildly in all directions.
"Shiraori, Shiraori, are you okay?"
Only after a while did I finally hear Meradis' voice.
She's calling me—this is my chance.
"I—"
Before I could say anything more, the cocoon suddenly burst open and Meradis rushed in. She grabbed my shoulders tightly.
"What's wrong with you?"
"What do you mean?" I asked, confused by how agitated she was.
"Look around you."
Huh?
Only then did I notice the chaotic scene I'd created. My silk was flying all over the room. Looks like I really need to learn to manage my emotions better.
"Can you tell me what's going on?" Meradis asked gently, her tone so caring that I couldn't bring myself to refuse.
"It's just… I was a bit nervous." I replied.
"About what?"
"I… I wanted to ask if… since it's a little cold tonight, would you like to sleep inside the cocoon with me?"
Meradis' face showed surprise, then shifted to a radiant smile. As expected, beautiful people smile beautifully too.
"Of course."
She agreed.
Everything's okay.
I quickly cleaned up my silk and recreated the cocoon, but its size wasn't any different from before. It was made for one person, with just a little extra room.
I could've made a bigger one, but for some reason, I didn't want to.
"Come on… in."
I held out my hand to Meradis, and she grabbed it right away. However, once we were inside, I didn't know what else to say. I wanted to say something instead of just going straight to sleep, but what?
I'm not someone who talks much, and I don't know what topics people usually chat about.
Suddenly, Meradis hugged me from behind, wrapping her arms around my waist and holding tight. I froze on the spot. Even though I'd said I didn't mind physical contact with Meradis, this kind of action was too sudden.
Should I push her away…?
But if I did, it might ruin the mood.
Meradis also stayed silent.
Say something, please…!
Why are you hugging me without saying anything?
No.
I can't keep running away like this. I thought about it for a long time before making a bold move. I turned around to face her. Our eyes met and Meradis was the first to look flustered.
"Why are you hugging me?" I asked.
"Is that not okay?" she replied.
Well played.
She threw the question right back at me, and I didn't know how to answer. Saying I didn't want it would be a lie, but saying I did would require a reason.
Ugh, this is so complicated.
"Up to you."
I gave her full control.
Then I lowered my head and closed my eyes. Her arms suddenly tightened, pulling me even closer. I could feel our bodies touching over a much broader surface now—not just her arms around my waist.
"Let's sleep," I said.
"Yeah. Good night."