Extra To Protagonist-Chapter 91: Useful Friend

The ceiling in Merlin's room was cracked near the left corner. Not a wide split. Just one of those old fault lines that had never been fixed, probably because the dorm magic kept the structure together.

Elara stared at it for a while.

The silence pressed gently at the edges of the room, thicker now that he was asleep. Not heavy. Not cold. Just settled. Like dust that had finally stopped drifting.

She had never stayed in someone else's room like this. Not since her younger years. Not since the silence in her own home had made her want to slip outside and never come back.

This was different. There was quiet here too, but not the kind that hurt. Just quiet that wrapped itself around them like a pause.

Merlin slept like someone who didn't trust the sleep would last.

Even now, he wasn't fully still. His fingers twitched every few minutes, half-curled near the edge of the blanket like he expected something to wake him. Once, his brow furrowed. Brief. Gone. Then peace again. Or something close.

Elara shifted on the mattress, propping herself up slightly to watch him more clearly.

'You shouldn't need to look this tired. Not at your age. Not in a school like this where the worst thing we're supposed to worry about is a duel with other students.'

But Merlin had seen something.

Something he wouldn't name. Wouldn't explain.

And Elara was good at many things. Pressing wasn't one of them. She had learned early how useless it was to ask someone to open a wound just so you could look inside it.

So she watched.

Listened.

Stayed.

He had changed. She'd noticed it in the way he moved. The way he carried his sword now like it was a reminder instead of a weapon.

The pause in his steps. The way his gaze didn't follow noise anymore but watched corners instead.

'You walk like someone who's seen death. Not once. Not in theory. But in a hallway. In a silence. In a place no one else returned from.'

Her eyes drifted across the room again.

Desk, books, half-used ink bottle. No clutter, but not empty either. The kind of room that held purpose, not comfort. Which suited him.

She looked back at him.

His breathing had steadied again. Slower now. Deep.

'When did you start carrying that weight alone?'

She hated how familiar the thought was.

Merlin didn't talk about himself. Not really. She wasn't even sure when he started being part of their group, only that he had been, and then somehow stayed. Like a shadow that decided it was easier to walk beside people than behind them.

And now this.

This silence. This ache.

This edge in him that hadn't been there before.

She reached down and touched the edge of the blanket near his arm. Not him. Just the fabric. A small contact point. Nothing more.

Her fingers stayed there a moment longer.

Then she leaned back again. Closed her eyes. Didn't sleep. Just rested them.

'You're not fine. But you're breathing. And that's something. I'll take care of you Merlin..'

The ceiling crack stayed unmoving above her.

So did she.

—

The sky outside the window was still gray when he opened his eyes. Not quite morning. Not quite night. That washed-out, threadbare light that looked like it was borrowed from another place entirely.

Merlin didn't sit up. Just blinked once. Then again.

The room felt the same. Faint scent of cold tea in the corner. The scratch of linen sheets that hadn't been changed in too long.

His coat still half-folded over the chair. The weight of Keryx leaned against the bedframe like it had been guarding him all night.

And Elara.

Curled just beside him.

Still.

Breathing slow. Eyes closed.

Her hair was loose. Silver strands fanned across the blanket, catching what little light came through the window. One hand rested near her collarbone, fingers curled inward. Not clenched. Just soft.

She wasn't asleep. Not really. He could tell.

Elves didn't sleep like humans did. They drifted. Their minds stayed light. Quiet. But aware.

So it wasn't surprise that sank into his chest. It wasn't even curiosity.

'She stayed. Of course she stayed. I thought she would leave early."

That was who she was. No need to ask why. No need to make it into something more.

But it still did something to him.

He shifted his head slightly on the pillow. Just enough to watch her profile without moving too much.

Her expression was calm. No furrow in her brow. No mask.

'She doesn't let herself rest like this around others. Not really.'

The room was quiet. Birds hadn't started yet. No footsteps in the hallway. Just breath and fabric and that soft pressure of someone who chose to remain when they didn't have to.

He watched the rise and fall of her chest once. Then looked toward the window again.

His fingers twitched under the blanket.

The mana hadn't returned yet. Not even a flicker. But his limbs didn't ache quite as much. Not yet strength, but less of a hollow.

He didn't know if that meant anything.

He didn't want to think about it.

A shift beside him.

Elara exhaled. Then opened her eyes.

Not startled. Not sudden. Just clear. Focused.

She looked at him like she already knew he'd been watching. Like she'd been awake longer than him but hadn't moved because she didn't need to.

"You're up," she said softly.

He nodded once. "You didn't sleep deeply did you?"

"Not like you did."

She sat up slowly, legs swinging over the edge of the bed in one practiced motion. Her hair spilled down her back in waves, catching the light like frost caught on metal.

Merlin pushed himself upright, back stiff, shoulders tight.

Elara didn't look at him.

"I didn't wake you," she said. Not a question.

"No."

"Good."

A beat of silence passed between them. Not tense. Not uncomfortable. Just quiet.

Then she reached over and picked up the mug from the desk. Sniffed it. Made a face. Set it down again.

"You need to stop pretending that stuff counts as tea."

"It was warm."

"That's not a defense."

Merlin leaned forward slightly, elbows resting on his knees. His eyes were still adjusting to the light. Or maybe to the shape of the day itself.

Elara stood and stretched lightly, arms overhead. Her spine cracked once. She didn't apologize.

"We should head to class," she said.

He blinked. "I thought today was a free period."

"It is. But I know you. If I say that, you'll find a broom closet to collapse in for six hours and call it training."

He didn't deny it.

She turned toward him. Her expression softened.

"I'll wait outside."

He watched her cross the room and open the door without hurry. She didn't say anything else. She didn't need to.

The door clicked shut behind her.

Merlin exhaled.

He stared at the corner of the blanket where silver strands still lay curled.

'It's easier with her around. Not better. Just… easier to keep breathing.'

He pulled on his boots slowly. Not because he was tired.

Just because it gave him a few more seconds to feel like this morning didn't have to become something else yet.

Then he stood.

And followed.

—

The corridor outside Merlin's dorm still held the scent of damp stone and distant charcoal. Not unpleasant, just faint. A reminder of how old this wing was.

The eastern hall curved slightly, leading into one of the central crossing points where the marble gave way to polished gray tile. Just ahead, Elara waited.

She leaned back against the wall near the stairwell, arms folded. Her eyes flicked up when she heard him approach.

"Still upright," she said.

He nodded.

"Didn't collapse halfway?"

"No."

"You'll forgive me if I keep watching anyway."

She pushed off the wall with a light motion and fell into step beside him without needing direction.

The courtyard wasn't far. Past the old stair, across the open arch. The light had warmed since dawn, now a clean gold brushing the tops of hedges and columns.

Somewhere nearby, a group of students jogged in formation. Their boots hit the stone path in a rhythm that was a little too proud for the time of day.

They passed without comment.

At the far edge of the yard, Nathan sat sprawled across the back of a bench like he didn't believe in posture.

His jacket was unzipped halfway, shirt wrinkled from either sleep or negligence. Probably both.

He chewed on something that looked like it came from the commissary but had been mangled past identification.

Liliana was perched on the arm of the same bench, braiding a small strand of her hair with practiced fingers.

Her eyes darted between pages in a book propped up on her knees. Every so often she made a face, then scribbled something in the margin.

Adrian was nearby, balancing on the edge of a planter with one foot while pretending it was part of his routine. He didn't even look up until Elara and Merlin crossed into the square.

Seraphina stood slightly apart from them all, back straight, hands tucked behind her. She watched them come closer with the same unreadable expression she always wore. Not cold. Just… still.

Nathan spotted them first.

"Look who lives," he said, waving a half-eaten pastry like a flag. "We were about to start a manhunt."

"Speak for yourself," Liliana muttered. "I was about to bet on whether or not you were still asleep."

"I'm not that predictable," Merlin said.

Nathan squinted. "You are exactly that predictable. You disappear. Then when you show up again, your face says 'nothing happened' which always means something happened."

Elara crossed her arms. "He's fine."

Nathan tilted his head, clearly not convinced.

Merlin stopped just short of the bench and looked around at them all. The others hadn't moved much, but their attention was locked in. Watching. Measuring. Not with suspicion, but familiarity.

'They know me too well to ask directly. But not enough to stop wondering.' frёewebηovel.cѳm

Liliana set her book down.

"We were thinking of heading to the lower wing later. There's a new range setup Reinhardt mentioned. No mandatory class, but they're letting students try out the reshaped combat halls."

"I might pass," Merlin said.

"No surprise," Adrian called from the planter. "You've been avoiding blades like they're cursed."

Nathan looked between them. "What do you mean? He sparred the other day."

"With a longsword," Adrian pointed out. "Not his usual stick. Weirdest thing I've seen all month."

Merlin didn't respond.

Elara did.

"He's adapting."

"Which is code for?" Nathan asked.

She shrugged. "Training."

Merlin caught the look Nathan gave her. Not pressing. Just nudging. Testing the edges.

'He's not going to ask me. Well, at least not here. Not with the others watching.'

Seraphina finally spoke.

"There's something going on. Not just with Merlin. The Academy feels tense."

Everyone went quiet for a second. Not shocked. Just quiet.

Merlin glanced at her.