Chapter 66: Feelings (4)

Ayen decided to work, and Khal volunteered to accompany him to the association building. Devion was about to protest, but was persuaded by Khal that only Ayen needed one person to escort him.

He had noticed then that Khal wanted to talk with him alone, and Ayen also happened to have something to discuss with him. It seemed that what Khal wanted to say was somewhat related to what he had in his mind.

Instead of directly making their way to the Guide Association building, they made a detour and entered an old tavern. The place was quiet, somewhat unusual for a morning when it should be brimming with customers.

Khal brought Ayen to the table at the corner; even if there weren’t any customers, he still chose such a secluded area. Ayen realized that Khal had vacated the place in advance.

He did not question it, and he calmly followed Khal.

Once they were both seated, Khal did not immediately say anything; he watched Ayen for a moment. Then he placed his right hand on the table, tapping his fingers rhythmically.

Ayen glanced at it before shifting to Khal’s face.

“You have something to talk about… without Devion.” Ayen took the initiative to start the conversation.

His mind had already formulated something when Khal led him to this tavern. Ayen finally realized what was different with Khal; he now openly showed this side of himself to Ayen.

He was not appearing too polite any longer. In a way, Ayen welcomed this change with his whole heart.

Khal met Ayen’s gaze; he stared intently. He put his other hand on the table and clasped his hands together.

“I always knew you were intriguing.” Khal smiled, but it did not reach his eyes; he eyed Ayen with the look of a predator, ready to devour its prey.

Ayen had felt it before, and now he confirmed it even more.

Instead of being intimidated, Ayen’s shoulders relaxed as he leaned back on the chair. He bravely met those terrifying pairs of blue eyes, hinting at a menacing glow.

“Should I feel fortunate?” Ayen asked; there was not a trace of malicious intentions in his voice as though he was merely asking.

Ayen’s eyes managed to see the marks he left behind on Khal’s collarbones, since the esper had not made an effort to cover himself from the cold.

It was strange how the last night they were kissing each other’s faces, and now they were talking like this.

Khal’s brow shot up, the glow in his eyes turned sharp, but the smile on his lips widened until he chuckled.

“Don’t get me wrong. I find you more fascinating each time, Ayen.” Khal said those words sincerely.

Ayen seemed not to care about living in this world, always appearing listless, but he did his best to survive such a crisis and even asked them for help.

It was contradictory. Even now, Khal had not seen a light in those beautiful but indifferent eyes. Still, what he did last night was also somewhat of a surprise.

For him, Ayen was indeed very interesting. Not just because Ayen was his Guide, but more so for who he was.

“I didn’t lie when I said I won’t force you with anything. You can terminate your contract with just a word, that remains.” Khal’s expression turned serious, and he cut to the chase and continued.

“But the situation changed slightly. I know you sensed the state of our wavelengths, Ayen.”

Ayen nodded at that. He realized that was what he wanted to talk about last night, but he forgot it in the end. His mind was occupied by the sudden desire that ignited between the three of them.

“This makes it easier, then.” Khal nodded and looked Ayen in the eye. “Devion and I can’t be apart from you for too long. I guess… two months? Maybe in two months, without a guiding session with you, the mana toxins in our bodies will explode, and then we’ll lose control.”

Khal’s words were grave, but his voice remained stable, as though what he was talking about was a simple event when it was a great calamity about to happen.

“The duration can even be cut short if we’re fighting intensely every day. This is a change that none of us had expected, and the plans need to adapt accordingly.” Khal’s serious expression shows how determined he was.

Ayen did not interrupt him; he was only listening intently, without a change in his expression. There was no panic, anger, or anything.

This made Khal, who was about to continue endlessly, pause. He sighed and leaned his back on the chair, his expression softening slightly.

“We can’t let you go outside anymore.” Khal’s voice lingered in Ayen’s ears, and despite such words, his heart had merely fluttered in a way the darkness inside of him began to thump once more.

Khal had not noticed this and continued.

“You can choose. To return with us willingly, or let me reassign you somewhere near the forbidden zone.”

Khal had thought of a lot of scenarios. It dominated by forcing Ayen to return, but Devion would not like that, and Khal himself refused to do it. That was merely a worst-case scenario he had in mind.

Then the idea about Ayen being reassigned to somewhere near had come to mind. Ayen did not want them to meddle with his affairs, and that included his job, but Khal could not compromise with this.

This red zone was too far from them, and with the chaos about to start in the capital, they would not be able to travel peacefully without rats following them everywhere.

So, that leaves Ayen the choice of not being isolated with them and still continuing his job at the association. The two of them could visit more frequently once the distance was shortened.

Ayen fell into silence; Khal let him think about it. Even so, Ayen did not have much choice in the end.

Khal had thought Ayen would look unwilling or feel betrayed. He even expected to be cursed at, regardless of whether Ayen was capable of doing so.

To his surprise, Ayen looked calm.

Khal stared at him, confused. Was his approach so easily received? But Ayen did not look to be such a pushover.

“Before I say my choice, can you answer my doubts first?” Ayen held his ground. “Why did you specifically not let Devion hear our conversation?”

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