Chapter 58: Changes (1)

They did not immediately go straight to the guiding session. Instead, Devion began to cook dishes for Ayen as though letting him be familiar with his cooking again.

There was no distance after a month of being away. Ayen realized once more how comfortable he was with them when they had only been together for not even a whole month.

And it was not like they knew a lot about each other; Ayen did not know Devion and Khal that much outside of what they had shown him. And likewise, they did not know Ayen.

Was he starting to get bothered with that? Ayen did not know if he was or if he was caught up in the moment once more.

“This is the contract.” Khal put the contract before Ayen.

And just like how Ayen had planned, he began to sign them without reading anything.

“Wait, aren’t you reading it at least?” Devion almost snatched the pen from Ayen’s fingers, stunned.

Khal merely watched him. He was staring at Ayen as though wanting to discern his intentions.

“No need. I’ll sign them,” Ayen nonchalantly answered.

Devion was completely dumbfounded, resisting his urge to stop Ayen again. He looked at Khal and poked him with his elbow.

“Are you not saying something?” he asked. Although he was still not convinced, Ayen listened more to Khal.

To his surprise, Khal did not do anything. He was only crossing his arms and watching Ayen sign his part.

Devion’s brows furrowed. He was confused as to why Khal seemed not to care. But that was… impossible.

Turning to him, Khal’s calm expression was quickly graced with a playful smile. He reached out and smoothed the crease in Devion’s brows.

“Ayen’s decisive. I won’t be able to stop him,” Khal simply replied. “Or, do you want me to?” He then asked seriously, staring right through Devion’s eyes.

Devion paused and stared back with that meaningful gaze. He opened his mouth, about to say something, but then he hesitated at the last minute.

If he said yes, he was aware that Khal would do it. That was exactly how he hesitated. For some reason, he did not like the idea of Khal stopping Ayen just because he asked him to and not on his own initiative.

Khal was always confusing, and Ayen mistook him for a calm fellow.

Devion shook his head and looked away. “No need. Ayen’s pretty stubborn.”

Since he looked away, he did not notice Khal’s eyes flicker as he watched him.

When Ayen lifted his gaze, he happened to witness this. Devion was looking at him, while Khal’s gaze was only on Devion. Ayen subconsciously gripped the pen tightly.

Could Khal also look at him the way he looked at Devion?

He swallowed the emerging thoughts and licked his lower lip.

“I’m done.” Ayen handed the contract to them.

While he needed a copy of his own, he felt it was not necessary.

“You really didn’t read anything,” Devion muttered, receiving the papers and looking at them.

“I told you. I don’t need to.”

“Really stubborn.”

Ayen blinked and glanced at Khal, who had not said much. He had noticed it. Unlike in the forbidden zone, where Khal exuded comfort and calmness, he looked rather reserved or guarded.

Perhaps because he was away from his home?

While Devion appeared the same.

“Oh, another thing.” Devion stopped Ayen’s train of thought and stood up. Ayen noticed Khal’s hands lifting and almost grabbing at Devion’s arm, but paused.

Devion went to the side. Khal watched his every move as though he could not let Devion’s figure get out of his sight. Ayen looked at Devion first, before his gaze was stuck watching Khal.

Suddenly, Khal’s head moved, and his eyes met Ayen’s. Ayen knew Khal had noticed Ayen watching him as he looked at Devion. He seemed not affected by it, of course.

Instead, he gently smiled at Ayen before he returned to watching Devion again.

Ayen bit his lips, and his head lowered. He looked at his bracelet, which had always calmed him, but strangely enough, it could not suppress the emotions that sprang out of nowhere.

The darkness from within him continues to grow.

Somehow, Khal’s gentle smile wasn’t enough.

“Here. The ring!”

At some point, Devion had already returned and showed off the ring. Ayen lifted his gaze; the darkness retreated once more. He stared blankly at Devion’s face, which had a smug smile curving on his lips, then at Khal, who was observing them.

Ayen thought of something, yet before he could dwell on it, Khal’s gaze suddenly bore on him. Startled, Ayen quickly averted his gaze as though he had already been caught without doing anything yet.

“Is that the artifact?” Ayen asked, hoarsely.

Devion nodded. “I already upgraded it. Give me your hand. I’ll put it on you.” He motioned.

Ayen lifted his right hand, and Devion held his hand. However, before Devion could put the ring on Ayen’s ring finger, Khal’s voice suddenly rang.

“I’ll do it.” Khal stood up and snatched the ring without letting Devion react. He still had that gentle smile on his face and looked at Ayen.

“You’re really putting the ring on a ring finger?” While he was smiling, Ayen noticed Khal’s gaze turned sharp.

Devion was taken aback and then reacted belatedly.

“So? There’s no meaning; where else should I put the ring?” Devion looked too honest.

Khal grinned and turned to Ayen. “Where do you think I should put this? This ring can fit on any finger.”

Their eyes met in midair.

He moistened his lips. “Pointed finger is fine.”

Khal’s gaze softened, and then he chuckled.

“Look, you can’t just put any ring on someone’s ring finger,” Khal said it jokingly, but Ayen had a hunch he was serious.

“Why?” Devion shrugged. He absolutely could not relate to why. Of course, there was always a romantic meaning, but that was not always the case.

Sometimes, Khal acted like a hopeless romantic.

“Just… don’t,” Khal simply answered.

Ayen pulled his hand away, and Khal let him.

He looked at his hand, specifically at his pointed finger. There was now a simple ring on it. Just like the bracelet, it looked plain without any designs.

“Do you like it?” Devion asked.

Ayen slowly nodded. He lifted his gaze and met his eyes.

“Thank you.”

This was genuine. Despite the conflicted emotions he had, the ring, which Devion paid close attention to for his safety, mattered a lot.

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