CHAPTER 187: THE ONLY ONE I CAN TRUST

Raphael set what was left of his strawberry lassi glass down and muttered. "I... I’m sorry about the mess."

Hermes leaned forward, adjusting his glasses. "Raphael, it’s alright. Really. Accidents happen. There’s no need to stress over a drink."

Somner’s eyes narrowed sharply as he leaned closer. "Accidents happen? He just caused his drink to spontaneously combust!"

Ymir gave a measured glance toward Raphael, his voice cold but not unkind. "He’s correct. What happened?"

Aphrodite added, quietly composed and keeping his hands folded on the table. "It has to do with the name, doesn’t it?."

Magni just blinked, still engrossed in eating. "Did the mention of the name brought a curse upon you, Brother Raphael?"

Raphael, still curling his arms around himself, lowered his gaze. "I did not intend for this to happen... My apologies."

Hermes felt a tightening in his chest, a familiar weight that he recognized all too well. He already had a sense of what had triggered this reaction, and his heart went out to Raphael in that moment.

"It’s alright, Raphael. Just... breathe."

The waiters returned, cleaning the spilled lassi efficiently, and Raphael reached into his pocket, handing them a thick stack of bills worth $500.

One of the waiters shook his head politely. "Sir, this is far more than necessary. We cannot accept—"

"Consider it as compensation for the mess and the disturbance to your other patrons." Raphael said with a faint, almost apologetic smile. "Please accept it. I simply want to make sure everyone is taken care of."

Hermes sighed quietly and stood, brushing imaginary crumbs off his sleeve. "I should go check on Raphael. Excuse me.."

Shani’s gaze followed him, steady and piercing, though his grin was soft. "Of course, Hermes. Go ahead and check on your friend. I will keep an eye on things here."

As Hermes and Raphael stepped outside, Somner leaned toward Shani with a mischievous glint in his eyes.

"So... do you have pictures of university student Hermes?"

Ymir’s lips twitched in a half-smile, but his tone was dry. "And why would you need that?"

Then, he cleared his throat and said in a quiet tone to Shani. "But... do you?"

Aphrodite quietly nodded, tilting his head. "I’m interested too. I’m Hermes’ childhood friend, but I never saw him in his teenage and young adult years."

Shani just chuckled, and pulled out his phone. "Just don’t tell him I showed you this...."

Magni, on the other hand, was already distracted by the students playing frisbee in the nearby park. "I thought they only threw those discus to dogs! Do they also catch it with their teeth!?"

***

Hermes spotted Raphael a short distance away, walking with his head down, shoulders slightly hunched, and arms wrapped around himself. He looked almost like a frightened child trying to vanish into his own skin.

"Raphael?" Hermes called softly, stepping closer.

There was no response.

He tried again, louder this time, "Raphael, it’s me."

Still no reaction.

Hermes hesitated before finally reaching out to touch Raphael’s shoulder. The moment his fingers made contact, Raphael groaned sharply, a sound of real pain that echoed faintly across the quiet park.

Hermes froze. This was the first time he had seen Raphael show visible pain since they had met, and it cut him deep. The blessing of endurance that the Reverend had given Raphael, combined with his mental fortitude and trained stoicism, usually masked every trace of vulnerability.

Yet in that instant, all Hermes could see was the child hidden within, the frightened being who had endured horrors beyond imagination.

"Do you know who Dr. Atum Khemia is?" Hermes asked, his voice low and careful.

Raphael nodded slowly, his eyes closed for a moment as if recalling the weight of the memory.

Hermes’ chest tightened further, because he already knew who it was. "The Scientist."

Raphael’s pained expression confirmed it. The man who had dissected Raphael and treated him like an object, coldly observing and experimenting without any empathy.

The image of him in thick clothing, covered head to toe, with those thick goggles, filled even Hermes with dread. That clinical, detached demeanor made him seem more like a nightmare than a human being.

"You don’t have to come with us to the botanical garden," Hermes said gently, his hand lingering lightly on Raphael’s arm. "He’s part of the Thirteen Stripes, and I don’t want you to risk yourself. You can stay behind. You don’t need to put yourself through that again."

Raphael shook his head slowly, the movement deliberate and resolute.

"I must be there. He is part of the Thirteen Stripes, yes, but he works for his own interests, driven by curiosity. If we want to obtain the knowledge we need, I have to be present. Otherwise, he will not believe you. He trusts evidence and observation more than words from any enemy."

Hermes exhaled, still worried, but he nodded. "Alright. I understand."

Raphael nodded once, the resolve in his expression firm and unwavering.

They returned to the restaurant where Shani and the others had been waiting.

"We need to meet Dr. Khemia."

Shani tilted his head. "Oh? Why?"

"... We just need to talk to him about something."

Shani’s eyes, reddish-brown and shining with intensity, bore into Hermes. He always felt like those eyes could see straight through any attempt to hide the truth.

Then, his lips curved into a faint smile. "Have you ever wondered why I chose to be your friend?"

Hermes blinked, surprised by the sudden question. "Wait... what?"

The others leaned in, curious.

Shani chuckled softly, though his gaze remained focused.

"When I first saw you sitting alone in the library, I realized something. You would rather be by yourself, than pretend to be something else just to get people to like you."

He had an expression as if he was recalling the memory fondly.

"Lawyers are trained to read body language, to detect deceit, but you... you couldn’t conceal anything even if you tried. You wore your heart on your sleeve, and I knew..."

He looked at Hermes directly with those red-brown eyes, and Hermes thought he saw rings of stardust on them. Turning softly.

"I knew you were the only man I can always trust."

Hermes felt a lump in his throat. "I... I never knew you saw me like that."

Shani placed a hand firmly but gently on his shoulder. "I did. That is why I sat next to you, Hermes. But I’m also a bit nosy, so you will have to provide an explanation someday, ok? Haha!"

Hermes allowed a small smile. "I promise. Once it’s safe, I will explain everything."

Shani nodded approvingly. "Now, Dr. Khemia usually spends his afternoons in the botanical garden within the library archives from 2 PM to 7 PM."

"Alright, we still have a lot of time—"

"But to access the archives, you need a faculty member to accompany you."

The group suddenly went quiet.

Shani sensed their apprehension and reassured them. "I’ll remain outside the garden. But my ears are pretty sharp. If anything happens, I can’t possibly stay put."

Hermes nodded, grateful. "Thank you, Shani.."

The team spent the next hour preparing. Raphael picked up the Pleroman plant from his apartment and placed it and its vase inside a box, then pushed it around in a trolley as if it was just a delivery for the school.

Magni, as usual, got distracted, admiring the campus architecture and the way the sunlight glinted off glass panels.

"Brother Modi! Look at the design of the building! Look at the way the garden is laid out! Such beauty! Such a feast for the senses!"

Ymir pinched the bridge of his nose. "Focus. We’re not here to admire architecture or the scenery."

Somner muttered under his breath, still sulking about Raphael’s earlier mishap. "I wish I studied in the same university as Master. He was so cute—

Aphrodite covered his mouth right before Hermes could hear him.

At exactly 2 PM, Hermes led the team to the library archives. Shani walked slightly behind, keeping a discreet watch on the entrance.

Hermes looked briefly at Raphael. "Ready?"

Raphael’s calm demeanor belied the tension in his shoulders, but his eyes reflected determination.

"As I’ll ever be."