Chapter 25 – Between Genius and Chaos
Xavier sighed inwardly, the sound lost to the high arches of the corridor.
I should be used to him by now… ---
And yet…
I still can't believe it.
He glanced at the white-haired boy walking beside him. Ignes casually revealed secrets that only Pure Souls should know—truths that could tilt the world on its axis—but when it came to his own name, he was a locked vault.
He broke divine rules whenever he felt a moment of boredom, and yet, no punishment ever followed. It was as if the laws of the universe recognized him as something other.
It's like… ---
…he isn't bound by them at all.
Ignes suddenly stepped out of Xavier's protective embrace, the physical distance feeling momentarily cold.
Without hesitation, he grabbed Xavier's hand—his fingers cool and certain—and started walking.
"Let's go."
They moved toward the ballroom, located in the west wing of the temple grounds. Ignes walked with a strange, gliding grace, though he seemed to be navigating more by instinct than memory.
Xavier raised an eyebrow, matching the boy's quick pace. "…Do you even know where you're going?"
Ignes stopped. He turned on his heel and stared at Xavier with a look of mock offense.
"I'm directionless."
A pause.
"Not an idiot."
"I can use my brain to find my way toward a noise as loud as a banquet."
Xavier let out a quiet, genuine laugh. "Is that so?"
"Because I clearly remember a certain someone—who once forgot the way back home and had to call me to come pick him up in the middle of the night."
Ignes immediately frowned, his nose scrunching in a way that was far too human for a "Pure Soul." "Hey! That was different!"
"I stayed at home for two years. The path I took that day and the path back were structurally different to my eyes."
"If I had returned the same way I came… I wouldn't have gotten lost. It's a matter of spatial logic, Xavier."
Xavier smirked, his golden eyes dancing with amusement. "…Is this one of those genius diseases? The more outstanding someone is, the worse they are at normal things? Like walking in a straight line?"
Ignes rolled his eyes, turning back to the hallway. "I'm not like that. I just have too many personalities to keep track of."
A small pause.
"And I'm certainly not like those people who don't even know how to cook… or the ones who don't realize that most food needs heat to be edible."
Xavier tilted his head, catching the hint of a memory in Ignes's voice. "…Was that a friend of yours? You talk like you've dealt with someone like that personally."
Ignes thought for a moment, his gaze drifting. "…Kind of. I was his only friend. The way he talked… no one else could understand him. He spoke like he came from a world where people only use high-level scientific terms. He didn't understand normal language… or how ordinary people live."
Xavier looked at him quietly, his voice softening. "…Was he your only friend?"
Ignes paused. "…Yeah." Then he shook his head. "…No. I don't really know."
"I had a lot of friends. All the kids in my school… even the ones from the school next door. People like talking to me. They always have."
A faint, bittersweet smile appeared. "But I'm an introvert. I like being alone. I like the silence."
He sighed dramatically, the sound echoing in the empty hall. "But the world seems to be against me. It never leaves me alone."
Xavier chuckled. "Maybe the world is afraid. That if it leaves you alone, you'll create something that brings about humanity's end."
Ignes snorted. "You're overthinking. Even without my memories, I only gave the world harmless knowledge. Things that help people move forward… new ideas, new technology. Nothing dangerous."
Then suddenly—he stopped and looked up at Xavier.
"Enough about me. Let's talk about you. Last time I remember, you were complaining about—"
Before he could finish, they reached the massive, ornate doors of the ballroom.
Golden light spilled through the gaps in the wood. Music echoed faintly from inside—violins and laughter, the sounds of a victory celebration in full swing.
Ignes straightened his robes, his "gentle" mask sliding back into place. He smiled slightly.
"…Looks like we're late."