NOVPUB
Chapter 58: Stay At Home (I)
The night was alive with the sound of raindrops tapping against the rooftops, a steady rhythm that threatened to turn into a full-blown storm at any moment.
Sneaking off had been easy — getting back in without waking anyone was the real challenge.
His room was upstairs, and Elisse was inside, likely asleep.
The entire building had settled into a heavy silence, the kind that only came when exhaustion claimed its occupants.
If he was lucky, no one would notice his absence or the fact that he was returning at such a ridiculous hour.
Taking a deep breath, Zayn focused his soul energy down to the soles of his feet.
It was a technique he had been experimenting with on the carriage, but now was the perfect time to refine it.
He pressed a foot against the wooden wall, feeling the energy spread and adhere like an invisible force latching onto the surface.
He wanted to get the perfect leverage to leap onto the window sill and drag himself inside from there.
The drizzle picked up in intensity, and just as he was about to pull his leg back, he realized something — his foot wouldn’t budge.
"...Oh, so I can be Spiderman now?" he muttered under his breath, half amused, half annoyed.
He placed his second foot against the wall, this time carefully controlling the flow of soul energy.
A little too much and he’d damage whatever the wall was made of.
Too little, and he’d slip.
He adjusted it, experimenting with just the right amount, until he was able to stand completely vertical against the wall.
A smirk tugged at his lips.
’This could be useful.’
Step by step, he scaled the building, testing his newfound ability. With each movement, his confidence grew.
The rain continued to fall, dampening his clothes, but he barely noticed. All his focus was on maintaining balance and control.
When he reached the window of his room, he peered inside. The soft glow of a candle, now reduced to a flickering ember, cast a warm hue over the space.
His bed was occupied — not by him, but by Elisse.
She was curled up under the blanket, hugging his pillow tightly, her breathing soft and steady. The sight made him pause for a second.
’Was she waiting for me?’
Shaking his head, he quietly pried the window open and slipped inside. His boots made the faintest sound against the wooden floor, but Elisse didn’t stir.
He took a moment to remove his armor and dagger, setting them aside.
The weight lifted from his body was a relief, but what really caught his attention was the way Elisse clung to the pillow as if it were some kind of lifeline.
Zayn ran a hand through his damp hair, contemplating whether or not he should wake her. Instead, he reached out and gently pulled the pillow from her grasp.
She let out a small, sleepy hum in protest.
Then, in a movement so natural it almost startled him, she reached out and wrapped her arms around him instead.
Zayn froze.
Her warmth seeped into him, her face pressed lightly against his chest as she murmured his name in her sleep.
He let out a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding.
"What am I supposed to do with you?"
For a brief moment, he considered slipping away.
But the warmth was... nice.
Letting out a quiet chuckle, he gave in and settled into bed beside her.
Elisse instinctively snuggled closer, sighing in contentment.
...
Zayn woke up to the sound of rain tapping softly against the window, the storm from last night still lingering over Timberstead.
He groaned, blinking the sleep from his eyes as he reached for something — only to grasp at empty sheets.
His brows furrowed as he lifted his head.
Elisse wasn’t there.
Hell, she wasn’t even in the room.
That was odd. He distinctly remembered her clinging onto him last night like some kind of oversized plush toy.
Yet now, the bed was empty, and the warmth that had been there was gone.
He sat up, stretching his arms with a yawn, his joints cracking as he shook off the last remnants of sleep.
A cold breeze suddenly swept through the room, making him shiver slightly. His gaze drifted to the window — it had been left open just enough for the chilly air to sneak in.
He exhaled, running a hand through his messy hair.
’Figures. She probably left it open on purpose just to annoy me.’
A knock on the door snapped him out of his thoughts.
The door creaked open, and Elisse stepped in.
Zayn blinked.
She was dressed in casual clothes, a simple tunic that clung just enough to remind him of how well-endowed she was.
Her blonde hair, still slightly damp, framed her face, and her cheeks had a faint pink tint to them — whether from the cold or something else, he couldn’t tell.
"Finally awake, huh?" she said, closing the door behind her.
Zayn rubbed the back of his neck. "Yeah... didn’t think I’d sleep in this much."
"You almost missed breakfast," she quipped, walking over to his desk and setting down a steaming hot plate.
The rich aroma of something slightly spicy and herbal filled the air. His gaze flickered to the cup beside the plate, a translucent liquid swirling within.
It had an oddly radiant hue, as though tiny golden specks floated in it.
A small system tab appeared above the cup.
[Dragonhurst Tea]
His eyes narrowed slightly.
’That definitely doesn’t sound like regular tea.’
His gaze shifted to the side. A plate of bread sat beside it. Another system tab appeared.
[Butter Bread]
At least that was normal.
Zayn raised an eyebrow. "Tea, huh?"
Elisse, who had been watching him, crossed her arms and smirked. "Go on, try it."
He gave her a skeptical look. "You sure this isn’t poisoned?"
She rolled her eyes. "Oh please. If I wanted to kill you, I’d do it in your sleep."
"...Comforting."
Still, he reached for the cup, lifting it up to his lips. The warmth seeped into his fingers as he took a careful sip.
The taste hit him instantly.
