The X Guide

Ayen thought of how he accidentally noticed the curse wavelength last time; he only needed to replicate the route using his guiding energy.

He did not want to do the same thing, though, which was to make his guiding energy overflow like last time. There was uncertainty there, so he used a more direct approach.

His brows furrowed slightly, but not even a few seconds later, Ayen’s brows relaxed. A refreshing stream seemed to surround his whole being.

It was as though every cell in his body had become alive, but it also gave a comfortable feeling. It was not like an adrenaline rush, but the effect was something similar.

The speed of his guiding energy also became smoother, and his wavelength seemed to be surrounded by mist.

There was no thinking anymore. It must be Khal’s doing, using the items.

Ayen relaxed. The impatience that slowly rose within him earlier vanished, and he tried every means to replicate the sensation of that one time.

He did not have any reference, only that one accidental time.

On the surface, Devion’s wavelength was clean; the impurities left were cleansed by him as he sought that cursed side. Just as he tried to explore more and possibly return to the start, the wavelength visibly trembled.

There was shaking, something intangible but clearly palpable. Ayen went to another path where it was happening.

Although he said ’path,’ there were not really visible paths, but more of how the wavelengths’ energy instinctively used them as routes when guiding.

Devion’s wavelength was already surrounded by the same mist as his, and he became more confident this time. Still, he tread carefully and went to that side; the trembling became more noticeable.

He soon paused. Ayen concentrated his energy and decisively went down the path. The wavelength shook; Ayen’s expression twisted slightly.

Soon, a bout of refreshing chill went to him, numbing him from the pain.

Ayen did not retreat; the black surface was now visible to him. There were white mists around it, which was the reason it was making a fuss and trembling.

Like a shackled beast, it flailed around, causing Devion’s wavelength to tremble.

This was it. The path where the curse wavelength resided. Ayen could not help but inwardly gasp when he finally ’saw’ it; this time, he could truly observe it.

Last time, he had to retreat due to pain after the curse counterattacked his intrusion.

He realized just how deep the curse had been eating into Devion’s core. Almost half of Devion’s wavelength was already under its influence, considering it had been inside Devion for a decade.

Ayen had noticed it before; the amount of time he needed to guide Devion was significantly lower than guiding Khal. So it was this reason.

He took a deep breath. He could not be sidetracked here.

Ayen paused first; he did not immediately surround it with guiding energy. He could tell that Dveion was also suppressing it completely.

The esper left its wavelength completely unguarded, a risky endeavor that would surely piss Khal off. However, he could also understand that Devion trusted the esper with his life and did this to aid Ayen.

He might already be delaying the curse in his subconscious, and most of what was left was its instinctive desire to corrupt and struggle to do so.

Ayen cleared his mind and took this slowly. They were racing against time, yes, but being hasty would do no good either.

The chill around him helped to stabilize his mind, so that Ayen only concentrates on this until he has become lost to it. When it seemed a lot of time had passed, but only a few minutes in reality, Ayen had successfully entered its range.

The shaking became so intense that Ayen frowned again from the pain throbbing in his head, but soon it disappeared again. He guessed Khal had activated another item to help.

He inwardly nodded and went inside it, disregarding the roar that suddenly went to his ear or perhaps mind. A slow voice, almost similar to Devion’s ringing in his ears.

"Why? You can’t help."

It said. Ayen did not even flinch. His emotions being numb for years helped in some way. This kind of word was not enough to dissuade him.

His indifference slowly seeped in again and went straight through that channel with guiding energy; the throbbing pain in his head sometimes made him frown, but would soon relax, repeating the process.

"Ayen..." Ayen almost paused at that, but he ignored it. "Ayen, please... I’m in pain." Devion’s voice began to ring in his ears as he traversed the curse wavelengths’ path.

"Ayen... Ayen... Ayen..."

Now, Ayen finally realized why this curse always pissed off Devion. He ignored this call and then... Everything went silent.

Right. Ayen could not even remember the time or his purpose there. He only felt his body floating somewhere or the impression.

It was strange that everything seemed to become black and white; a dull ache also surrounded him. Ayen floated for a moment before he instinctively let his body swim through that path, being dragged by the flow.

He set everything aside. He knew he had a purpose for why he was there, and Ayen only pushed through it.

The surroundings became darker and grimmer as he passed through the tunnel. One hour, two hours, or perhaps an eternity had passed. Ayen almost forgot his own existence.

Soon, he could not see anything anymore. The grime around felt sticky, wanting to seep into him as he passed through him. However, they could not. There seemed to be something in Ayen that protected him from being corrupted by these things.

When he was about to lose himself, suddenly he felt a pulling sensation. His body began to fall in some direction; as he could not see, he could only let this sensation drag him again somewhere.

There was a vivid sensation of falling from heights that Ayen thought he might die from descending, but there was also a sense of freedom that went along with it.

A few minutes later, the sensation disappeared, and Ayen felt a ground behind his back. His brows furrowed. Huh? What happened?

Memories slowly returned to Ayen. Slowly, he opened his eyes and blinked. A gloomy sky greeted him. Ayen did not get up, processing what was happening.

What was he doing earlier? Why was he in this place?

Right... Devion... Ayen muttered in his mind.

It was not just because he remembered him but because a familiar face obstructed his view of the sky. That arrogant grin when he first saw him adoring his angelic face.

"Huh? Are you here to die, beauty?"

Devion, a younger Devion, was in front of him.