Clyde groggily wakes up to find himself in the bathtub, which is now almost empty of water. His friends are all gathered around him in various states of distress. Hayden is on his knees, listening intently to Clyde's heart with a worried expression on his face. Airi yells at Hayden, clearly upset and panicked. Meri is on the ground next to them, silently crying tears that stream down her face. Aithne is leaning against the wall in the corner, her hand pressed against her head as if trying to alleviate a pounding headache.

As Clyde's eyes flutter open, he meets Aithne's gaze. She looks down at him with worry etched deeply into her face. He manages to roll over onto his side, forcing Hayden to move, and begins coughing uncontrollably.

"My chest hurts," Clyde gasps out between coughs. "I think my ribs are broken."

Hayden's face breaks out into a relieved smile as he helps Clyde return to his back. "We thought we'd lost you," he says, slapping Clyde's back affectionately.

"I'm fine," Clyde says sarcastically, trying to downplay the seriousness of his pain. "Just a few cracked ribs, no big deal."

Airi turns away, wiping at her eyes as she struggles to hold back her tears. She takes a deep breath, trying to compose herself before quickly leaving.

Meri sobs uncontrollably, burying her face in Clyde's chest. He winces in pain, but gently pats her head, trying to comfort her. "It's okay," he reassures her. "I'm okay, Meri. This is nothing to worry about."

He looks over at Hayden, as he begins a healing incant. "Thanks, Hayden. I appreciate it."

"What class did you unlock?” Aithne calls over, now composed. “It’d better be worth it, considering the pain you’re in now.”

Clyde hesitates, forming his answer carefully with everyone present. "Warrior, but it's complicated. I need to talk to you about it."

Aithne nods. "Alright. Get healed and dry off," she says, standing up. "Meet me in my room once you're feeling better, and we can discuss this in more detail."

With that, she glides out of the room, turning her face away to wipe her smeared make-up discreetly.

“Wow…” Hayden says, shaking his head. “You really scared me- scared us all to death. I thought you were a goner. I started CPR as soon as you stopped breathing."

Clyde’s heart skips a beat. "I stopped breathing?" he croaked.

Hayden nods gravely. "It's very rare, but sometimes, if the baptism process takes too long, a person can stop breathing. I've never heard of anyone dying before… but if you hadn't taught me how to do CPR, that may have changed. I would have cast Resurrect, but then that would cause a mana cascade."

"I see," Clyde muttered under his breath. His eyes fall to the scant layer of water still left in the font, now devoid of its ghostly hue. "What's a mana cascade?"

"The potions we pour into the water, as well as the one you drank before your baptism, are essentially pure mana. If outside magic is used during the process, it can disrupt the flow of mana into your body from the water, which can be deadly. That's why we cannot use Resurrect during the baptism. You had one foot in the grave.”

Clyde looks back up at Hayden, a grateful expression on his face. "I'm glad you were here, Hayden. I have no doubt that you saved my life today. Truly, thank you so much.”

Hayden gives Clyde a sympathetic smile and pats his shoulder. "I'm just glad you're okay," he says. "But seriously, Clyde- doing CPR compressions for an hour with Catherine? That's insane. How did you manage to keep going?"

Clyde sits up, causing Meri to slide a bit as she clings tighter to him. "I thought about stopping so many times,” he sighed. “But I knew you and Mia would come. I couldn't give up."

Hayden gives him another pat on the shoulder. "You're a tough cookie, Clyde.” He pushes off from his knees to stand, and gives a chuckle. “I’ll go ahead and leave you two alone.” Giving Clyde a thumbs up before leaving.

Spoiler :

"Thanks, Hayden," Clyde says through a weak smile. Hayden nods as he turns to leave the room, bracing and rotating his arms to work off the CPR compressions.

Meri looks up at Clyde, her eyes filled with fear and concern. "You scared me so much," she says, her voice wavering. "I thought I was going to lose you."

Clyde gently pats her head. "I'm sorry, Meri,” Clyde says sincerely. “I shouldn't have taken so long... I'm sorry for worrying you.” He gives her a little squeeze before pulling back.

Meri shakes her head, refusing to leave the safety of Clyde's embrace. "I don't care," she says stubbornly. "Please, just let me hold you a moment longer."

Clyde smiles down at Meri. "Okay, okay," he says, indulging her desire to stay in the bath with him a little longer.

They sit there, Meri clinging to him the whole time, until his hair is dry and his clothes dry to a stiff dampness. Eventually, Meri falls asleep in his arms, all of her stress melting away as her grip loosens a bit. Clyde looks down at her, noticing that her eyeliner has smeared down her face from her tears and onto his robes.

Gently, he lifts her up and carries her back to her and Airi’s bedroom. He taps on the door with his foot, and Airi opens it swiftly, as if she were waiting for the knock. He carries Meri over to her bed and lays her down, pausing for a moment to admire her peaceful expression. But as he turns to leave, he meets Airi's glare.

"Get out, pervert," she says, her voice laced with anger.

Clyde takes a step back, holding up his hands in surrender. "Okay, okay," he says sluggishly, turning to leave.

Airi grabs his wrist, stopping him before he reaches the door. "Wait. We need to talk about what happened earlier," she says, her expression softening slightly.

Clyde, confused, turns to face her. "What are you talking about? You just told me to-"

Airi interrupts him by pushing him out, shutting the door in his face.

“...... UGH!” Clyde exclaims, throwing his hands in the air. He quickly takes his leave, wondering what could have prompted such a reaction from Airi.

"Damn, it would be nice not to have to worry about a leveling system,” Clyde mutters, as his mind wonders on the way to his room. “It's one of the reasons I dislike RPGs. Levels determine everything, and it’s beyond stupid. Just grind and overkill everything with stats. And don't even get me started on systems with inflated numbers. A character is level 1200? What the hell does that even mean? Might as well make them over 9000!” Clyde sniggers to himself. “It doesn't mean anything. Hear that, Ai? FUCK TROPES!"

Clyde reaches the door to his room, only opening it a smidge before hearing a voice.

"Wait."

He turns to see Airi standing in the hallway, slightly out of breath, almost as if she ran here.

"I want to talk with you," she says, her expression serious.

Spoiler :

Clyde shuts the door to his bedroom, crossing his arms in a standoffish manner. "About what?"

"I don't want you to take advantage of Meri's kindness,” Airi says, her voice low. “She's very sensitive, and she cares about you a lot. Don't hurt her."

Clyde turns to face her, his face scrunched in bewilderment. "Of course, why would I take advantage of her kindness? I care about Meri a lot, too. I would never do anything to hurt her."

Airi nods. "She's like Lady Raine, she sees Lord Raine when she looks at you."

Clyde sighs and turns away, a pained expression on his face. "I know. It seems like everyone here sees him instead of me. Aithne, Meri, Hayden, Allister… Even the other servants. It's like I'm a poor substitute for him.”

Airi takes a step closer, trying to reassure him. "That's not true. They all care about you and respect you."

Clyde shakes his head. "It's fine. I'm used to it now. For some reason, I have to live in his shadow. Even you are guilty of it, too. The first time you saw me, you went pale, like you were seeing a ghost.”

Clyde looks at her, his eyes narrowed. "And, your words have been nothing but harsh to me since I arrived. Not one thank you, or please, or even a kind hello. Why is that, Airi? Have I done something to make you angry?"

Airi stands in silence, clenching her fists. She bites her tongue, knowing that she was as guilty as the others.

Clyde's voice grows softer, but no less intense. "Everyday I'm here. I miss my family and my home. It's only been a short time, but I have no idea what they think happened to me. And tonight, I had a close brush with death. And yet, despite all that, you had the audacity to call me a pervert for simply bringing Meri to her bed. Why, Airi?" Clyde says, turning around to face her, disappointment painted on his face.

Clyde shakes his head at her. "I'm going to bed. Goodnight, Airi."

Airi stands there, fuming in silence, not meeting Clyde’s eyes. "Damn it, you're such a jerk," she finally hisses, before storming off.

Clyde stands in the doorway, holding onto the knob tightly. "My mother always said to treat others as you would want to be treated," he says quietly to himself, words that Airi could not hear.

He enters his room and shuts the door behind him, slowly disrobing in front of the mirror, tired and achy from the ordeal of the day. Just as his robes hit the floor, the door flies open, and Airi storms in.

"I HATED Raine! He was a prideful show-off," she shouts. “You are much better than him!”

As Clyde turns to face her, Airi’s face glows beet red. “N-Never mind, you are a pervert,” she whispers, before dashing out of the room.

Clyde calmly walks over to shut the door, raising his eyebrows in disbelief. "God, that girl is straight out of an ecchi anime.Total tsundere."

He pulls on fresh clothes lackadaisically and makes his way to Aithne's room. He knocks on the door softly.

"Come in," she calls from within.

Clyde enters to find Aithne in bed, reading a book by candlelight.

Is she reading smut? He can’t help but wonder.

Spoiler :

Aithne puts the book down on her lap and looks up at Clyde. "So, what is it that you needed to tell me alone, Clyde?"

"I've awakened both the Warrior and Mage classes."

Aithne's eyes widen in surprise. "That isn't possible," she gasps as she stands, knocking the book over.

Clyde’s eyes run up and down Aithne’s body as she bends over to pick up the book, he quickly pushes the immoral thoughts out of his head, focusing on the conversation at hand. "Yes, and I will be able to unlock every class eventually by going to different temples and being baptized there.”

Aithne stands up, the book slipping out of her hands. "What? Are you telling me that you'll be able to unlock every class?"

Clyde nods. "Yes, and I also have received a blessing. I'm not sure what it does yet, though."

Aithne bends down to pick up the book, her buttocks up in the air. Clyde’s eyes linger on it, examining her curves. An urge enters his body, his mind creating a devil persona on his shoulder.

She dropped the book twice, she wants you to slap it.

No, she doesn't.

You want to though, slap it.

No, I don’t.

She wants you to, otherwise she wouldn't be bending over for you so sexually.

Stop thinking, Clyde.

Look at the roundness, the skin. Look closely, you can see the outline of her panties.

He examines the lines of her dress. She doesn't have panties on.

Made you look. Quick, before it’s too late!

Aithne straightens up tossing the book onto the bed, and turns to Clyde. "Show me."

Clyde kills the devil on his shoulder, refocusing on Aithne. "Show you what?"

"Your blessing."

Clyde unbuttons his shirt, pulling it back to reveal a large mandala, with a slight blue glow. Aithne gasps in amazement as she looks at the symbol, not taking her eyes off him.

Clyde, feeling uncomfortable with the eye contact, allows his eyes to wander until they land on her chest. Her nightwear, tightly wrapped against her skin, makes the skin bulge around the edges of her clothes, highlighting her silhouette in the dimly lit room.

"Clyde, you are truly amazing. I can't believe you even received a blessing... You had me so worried, I thought I had lost you. And to top it off, you've unlocked two classes, and have the ability to unlock even more! I had no idea that this was even possible."

Clyde pauses for a moment, unsure of what to say. "I'm sorry. I took too long and scared you. I had no idea that it could be so dangerous."

"Can you be baptized in the Temple of Amare then?" Aithne asks.

Clyde nods. "Yes, outside of the excommunication. It seems like I will have to go to different temples each time."

“I see. I'll contact Perpetua about your blessing. She might be able to do something about the excommunication, since you have received a blessing now."

"There is a caveat, as well. I have a leveling system in place and can only switch classes once every 24 hours."

Aithne's gaze moves from the blessing to his eyes, unfazed by his statement. "I see." she pauses briefly, "You know, Clyde… Every night, when I drift into sleep, I think of you."

Clyde tries to take a step back, but Aithne grabs his hand to stop him.

"At first, I thought of Raine, but now I think about you. Before, I lusted after you. I wanted the warm embrace of my husband again, and my intentions were not kind; I thought I might be able to replace him with you. But now, I want you, Clyde." She tightly holds his hand. "But, who could ever love me- an ugly widow and a woman past her prime?"

"That's not true, you're very beautiful!" Clyde replies thoughtfully, falling for her bait.

Aithne keeps her gaze on Clyde, locking eyes with him. "Then prove it to me, Clyde. Show me that you care about me as more than just a master. Lie with me." She pulls him into her embrace.

Clyde puts his hands up, avoiding physical contact. "I'm sorry, Aithne, but I can't do that. It wouldn't be right."

Aithne's voice takes on a pleading tone. "What if I reminded you that you are my slave? That I own you, body and soul?"

"Lady Aithne, I don't think you're the kind of person who would say or do something like that.” Clyde says softly. “You have a good heart, and I know you would never try to force your feelings on someone."

Aithne tenses her shoulders bitterly. "You don't know anything!” she yells, her voice more desperate. “Do you have any idea how lonely I've been, how it felt to watch Hayden over you? I watched my husband die, and then I watched you die. Your heart stopped beating, Clyde. I can't ignore my feelings anymore. I can't just sit on them and do nothing while life is so fleeting."

“Even so,” Clyde says sincerely, “I don't believe that you would try to force yourself on anyone. That's not who you are."

"You're wrong, Clyde." She pauses, her eyes filled with yearning. "Kiss me."

Clyde remains silent and looks away from Aithne, unsure of how to respond.

"You are my slave.” Aithne's voice takes on a commanding tone. “Greater Slave Brand Activate. Kiss me!"

Clyde feels the mark on his back, which compels him to follow her command. A feeling of dread fills his stomach as he struggles against the foreign influence. Despite his reservations, his body begins to move uncontrollably toward Aithne.

As he approaches her, Clyde can feel the conflict within him intensifying. On one hand, his body is drawn to Aithne and the command of the brand. On the other hand, his own will resists the coercion and manipulation of the brand.

Aithne closes her eyes and puckers her lips, waiting for Clyde's kiss. He moves closer, his hands coming to rest on her shoulders. He hesitates for a moment, the internal struggle evident on his face. Finally, with great reluctance, he moves in to fulfill the command of the brand.