I Will Hold Your Hand Gently

Chapter 31: Hunter Gets Recruited

A few days before Hunter was recruited, he and Lucia decided to move in with Tanya to avoid drawing attention. At first, both Hunter and Lucia hesitated, they didn't want to impose on Tanya. Especially since Hunter was on the run and their presence might attract unwanted people. Tanya, however, was insistent. She assured them that her home, which an acquaintance had given, was far too large for her to manage alone. She genuinely wanted them to stay with her. 

"Please, don't worry about it," she said with a warm soft smile, "This place is way too big for just me, and I'd love to have you both here."

Hunter, feeling gratitude and bashfulness, stammered out his thanks. His cheeks flushed a deep red as he tried to tell Tanya how thankful he was to her. The awkwardness of the moment between the two was suffocating. Like two little kids who had a secret crush on each other, they couldn't speak or take a glance at one another.

Lucia, though still young, wasn't blind to the pink air between them. She observed the glances they gave each other, and couldn't help but sigh at these two. Even if she didn't fully grasp the complexities of adult romance, she found their clumsy attempts at interaction endearing yet slightly annoying. Since this was her brother's first love, she decided to give the two a break and help calm this pink tension.

"Nice to see all of the mushy stuff, but," Lucia said with a teasing smile, "I can't just stay here and not do anything. I want to help out or do some chores around here."

Tanya smiles warmly at Lucia, "That's very thoughtful of you, Lucia. I appreciate the offer to help out. It's kind of you to want to contribute, having you and Hunter here is even more enjoyable for me. There's always something to do around here, whether it's tending to the garden, cleaning the house, or helping with the herbs. I'd be more than happy to show you how things work."

"Helping with the herbs?" Lucia's voice quivered with excitement as her eyes darted over the assortment of plants spread across the countertop.

Her gaze was filled with wonder, fixating on the vibrant greens, purples, and browns.

"Are you interested?" Tanya asked, her tone light but perceptive.

Lucia hesitated, her mind drifting back to the recent incident. She remembered watching Tanya tend to Hunter's wound with meticulous care. She was intrigued by how someone who wasn't a Guide could heal an Esper. Naturally, the healing process wasn't as swift as it would have been with Guide's abilities, but the fact that a regular person could achieve such results with just herbs was still remarkable. It was as if Tanya wielded an ancient, almost magical knowledge that made Lucia's heart race with wonder.

Finally, Lucia nodded, her eyes still shining with newfound passion. She was eager to delve deeper into this world where nature's gifts could bring about such change without a Guide's abilities. Hunter felt happy that his little sister found interest in something else besides mastering her craft of stealing. Hunter dwells in his thoughts as Tanya gets busy teaching Lucia the basics of Herbalism. 

Hunter was on the same page as Lucia. His pride and sense of responsibility spurred him to seek a way to earn some money, alleviating at least the financial pressure on Tanya. With two additional people in the house, the cost of living had increased, and it was clear they couldn't rely on Tanya to cover everything.

Hunter knew he needed to find a job to lighten the financial load, but his options were limited. Having been a mercenary for as long as he could remember, he was unsure what other roles might suit his skill set. While Espers was in high demand, he needed to maintain a low profile to avoid unwanted attention. If Hunter were to suddenly take on a job that didn't align with the typical roles expected of an Esper of his caliber, it could easily raise suspicion. Every job was monitored by an Esper detection system, making any deviation from the norm particularly noticeable.