The Wizard’s Gray Bear

“Surely… there isn’t an actual bear in this story, right?”

The kingdom’s grand sorcerer, Cedric, grows disillusioned with a world that treats magic as nothing more than a convenient tool and flees from his tower. While trying to hide deep in the woods, he loses his way—only to be approached by a mysterious man named Ruben. Mistaking Cedric for his long-lost “brother,” Ruben stubbornly drags him away, insisting on treating him as an Omega in need of care…
Though Ruben looks fierce and intimidating, he’s innocent and kind at heart. But Cedric can’t simply allow himself to be held captive forever!
He decides to play along until he finds a way to escape—but how will that plan turn out?

[Preview]

“Ngh…”

Truly, there wasn’t a single spot on his body that didn’t hurt. Even his insides ached. The pain was stranger and sharper for being felt in parts of his body that never should have hurt under normal circumstances, making it feel somehow worse. Tossing and turning as a fever kept him from sleeping, Cedric exhaled a long, heavy breath—huh, huh. The pain wasn’t tear-inducing, but every breath he took was uncomfortable and exhausting.
Lying on his side and facing the wall, he let out another groan as he turned over.

“Brother…”

From the corner of the room came a pitiful, whimpering voice—like that of a hungry puppy. Cedric tried to turn his head toward it but gave up halfway, lacking the strength, and only rolled his eyes in that direction.

“I told you to mind your own business.”
“Are you very sick?”
“How do I look to you?”
“Please don’t be in pain…”

Ruben, curled up in the corner, spoke in a voice that trembled as if he might cry at any moment.

There are limits even to giving both the illness and the cure. Ruben hadn’t yet realized that his excessive actions were precisely what had made Cedric collapse like this.
To him, Cedric’s sickness had come out of nowhere. He simply thought that his “brother” was too frail and had fallen ill because Ruben hadn’t taken proper care of him.

“I’m sick because of you, you fool.”
“Would you like some water? Wait just a moment.”

Before Cedric could stop him, Ruben hurriedly poured a cup of lukewarm water and held it out. Cedric didn’t particularly want to accept the man’s fussing, yet his lips were dry. So, glaring up at Ruben through half-lidded eyes, he reluctantly moistened his parched throat.