Cease the Suffering - Etrian Odyssey II (BoyxBoy)

Chapter 22

AN: Thank you so much Irish_Moon_Dreamer and SakuraiYoake for commenting! And Ame_Tasogare for all those votes and comments for this story and “Saving the Healer”. I appreciate it so much! I hope you’ll enjoy reading this chapter as well.

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Chapter 22:

Another somewhat anxious night.

Hunting those monsters that were threatening to enter town took longer than expected. Sitting at the Inn, waiting for Axel and the others to return played havoc on his nerves. He tried to busy himself by doing a few errands or trying to speak with an uncharacteristic annoyed Binah in order to find out what she was trying to do. But that kinda fell flat as all she would say was; “Stupid monsters.”

And Macerio wasn’t much better. “I knew it wouldn’t work,” he muttered.

Perplexed and worried, Lynus had managed a few hours’ sleep, but it was restless at best.

He was intensely relieved to hear Axel staggering into their room in the middle of the night. He managed to make out Axel’s form in the darkness, watching as Axel shrugged off his armour and fell face first into bed. Axel muttered a quick; “I’m fine” before falling asleep.

Still, when morning broke a few hours later, Lynus slipped out of bed and carefully inspected Axel’s sleeping form. There were no obvious injuries, so once again, he left him be, sneaking out of the room in order not to wake him.

Lynus was currently sitting in the dining room, at a table at the back corner. He didn’t have to go to the hospital today. Unless something happened, he had the day to himself mostly. He just had to find something to do. Maybe he could finally research those stones Shen had gathered for him. He was too nervous to do so thoroughly yesterday.

Glancing up from his toast, Lynus caught sight of Macerio wandering into the room. He wasn’t wearing his hat, so his hair was slightly messy, giving the indication that he had just rolled out of bed himself. Out of habit, Lynus watched from a distance, ensuring that the way he moved showed no signs of any hidden illness.

Soon, a frown of disapproval tugged at Lynus’ lips when Macerio moved toward the breakfast buffet.

“Macerio.”

The named Gunner froze, immediately turning to look at him with an expression as if he had just been caught with his hand in the cookie-jar. “…Yeah?”

“Chocolate cake isn’t breakfast.”

“I already had breakfast,” Macerio stated in a small sense of defiance.

“Don’t try to pull that on me,” Lynus reprimanded, giving Macerio a critical quirk of his eyebrow. “I’ve been here all morning and this is the first time I’ve seen you.”

Macerio began to sweat. “Well, I…I snuck in behind your back.”

Lynus rolled his eyes toward the ceiling. “Not with those steel-cap boots,” he said. He then sighed and gave Macerio a softly pleading, but motherly stern expression. “Look, have some toast and eggs, or something, before having some cake. You don’t want to experience a stomach ache.”

“Yes, mum,” Macerio said, almost like a defiant juvenile, before sauntering off to do as he was told.

Lynus didn’t know whether Macerio said that unintentionally, or was simply being sarcastic, so he let it slide. Well, if he had to be the Guardian’s ‘mother’, then so be it. Someone needed to look after these busy explorers.

A smile soon returned to his lips when the familiar sight of Lirit happily walked into the room. His lute wasn’t with him, surprisingly. He made his way over to the buffet, stepping beside Macerio. Who of which must have immediately complained about Lynus’ mothering as a second later Lirit turned his head to look in Lynus’ direction. He smiled brightly in greeting before he grabbed a plate of food of his own.