Chapter 68: Nevaris

Khal crossed his arms across his chest, staring at Ayen, who suddenly became like a whole new person.

Ayen himself had noticed the changes within him. Perhaps, he was never indifferent to begin with. He could only hide these emotions until Ayen had also forgotten how to manifest them.

And now that someone powerful enough to lend him a hand has arrived, these emotions freely surface without holding back any longer.

Ayen sighed and lowered his gaze; Khal stopped him from doing so. His eyes, filled with darkness, were so beautiful that even Khal was mesmerized by looking at them.

“I should tell you about them first. It’s not fair for me to seek your help without any details.” Ayen was so preoccupied with his emotions that he neglected this part.

Before he could do so, Khal spoke and stopped him.

“Are you telling me this of your own volition? Or because of the circumstance?”

Ayen paused, lifted his gaze, and met Khal’s eyes once more. Unlike earlier, his gaze had visibly softened, and it became the look that Ayen was familiar with.

Khal was also odd. He had the tendency to act as both a dangerous enemy and a more reliable ally at the same time.

The answer to those questions was not really important.

“Honestly? I never thought I’d share this with you this early.” Ayen was not one to share about his background or past, but this time, he felt it was necessary to do so.

“I know that while I’m your Guide, our relationship isn’t that deep.” They might have shared a kiss, but that was it. He was not really holding anything against them, and he never planned to do so. “But believe me when I say that I’ve never felt more comfortable in my life except when I’m with you two. You and Devion… I’m really glad that I’ve met you.”

Ayen’s sincerity might have pierced through the coldest of Khal’s heart, and the chill around them faded. Khal brushed through his hair again and sighed; his thoughts could not be seen through, but he looked frustrated.

“Hah,” Khal let out a sigh in defeat. “I’m sorry for being aggressive earlier. It’s just that… I always get sensitive if Devion’s involved.”

The ice around Ayen melted into the air. It should be noted that Ayen was still shivering and that his face had already gone pale, his lips almost chapped and blue.

Ayen’s will and emotions had truly reached the peak when his voice remained stable, and he had not shown any pain.

“Come here,” Khal softly said. He stood up and directly scooped up Ayen and embraced him. Strangely, his whole body emitted warmth, unlike the cold he spread earlier.

Khal sat at the table as he embraced Ayen, stroking his back and his arms, giving him body heat. The flow of Ayen’s blood slowly stabilized.

Ayen was completely wrapped in Khal’s embrace. He looked up and met Khal’s blue eyes; the sharpness in them was nowhere to be seen.

He was back to the Khal Ayen knew.

“Do you know that hiring me costs a fortune?” Khal gave a small smile; his other hand reached out and pinched Ayen’s chin. “But as a token of apology, you can use everything at my disposal to achieve your goal. Now, tell me the deal.”

Ayen knew the weight of these words. He had already realized that Khal held an unimaginable force consisting of high-ranking espers. He already knew three S-class espers.

He huddled closer to Khal’s embrace as he began his story.

Ayen was once part of the Nevaris Clan, a top elite clan in the current world. To be able to become an elite clan, they had to have a wide history of having S-class Espers or Guides emerging from them.

But if that was all, would every S-class esper and guide’s family be an elite clan as well? It was only the entry-level and simplest qualification out of all the criteria to become one.

They had to have the family genes to always awaken higher-rank espers; that was why they were called an elite clan. In the history since the dungeons emerged, the top elite clans were undoubtedly the ones that persisted until now.

Of course, as years passed, relying on direct family members was insufficient. And so, they also recruited higher-rank espers and guides under their wing. The organizations affiliated with them also prospered, just like the Adrift Organization where Ayen studied before.

The government, companies, and Elite Clans clearly defined the current power structure of humanity. With the clans more powerful in scale compared to the rest of them.

“I’m a direct descendant of the Nevaris Clan Leader.” Ayen felt bitter saying those words. “But I awakened as an E-class Guide, and you already know the rest.”

Ayen did not mention what he had struggled for throughout the years. They were all unnecessary to the mission. Khal only needed to know who he was dealing with.

“Take your time. I can wait, even if it takes years, Khal,” Ayen whispered, the darkness he kept at bay surfaced once more.

What he had the most of was time. He did not make any suggestions or anything; he was wholeheartedly trusting Khal with this.

Khal had kept his silence since earlier.

“Nevaris Clan…” Khal stared at Ayen intently.

The questions he had in mind were answered. They were the only ones capable of hiding Ayen’s records thoroughly with them and the ones that kept assigning an E-class Guide to dangerous zones.

Khal nodded. “I’ll take note of that. But you don’t need to wait years.”

“Huh?”

Khal leaned forward and whispered against Ayen’s ears.

“The air in the capital will change. Taking action against your former clan will be easier then.”

If it was before, Khal could not easily take action against a whole clan. He could do it with brute force, but complications of the aftermath would give him a headache.

More importantly, Devion might also be implicated.

However, a perfect opportunity suddenly fell into his lap.

Khal chuckled, seeing the confusion in Ayen’s eyes. Ayen showed emotions more and more.

“Elite Clans will take action against the government.”

Although it was long overdue, the impending clash was finally about to happen.

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