The X Guide

Unlike Devion, there was a huge difference between the Khal he knew and the person standing in front of them. It was not about appearance but his expression.

While Khal was not one to always smile or show exaggerated expressions, he rarely put a cold expression on the surface. Yet, Khal seemed to be colder when he was younger, making him appear far more daunting than his future counterpart.

Seeing him, Devion grimaced, not hiding his displeasure in the slightest.

Ayen had seen him use this kind of expression too, but he could tell they were not really sincere. However, at this moment, Devion was not acting.

It reminded him again that Devion and Khal used to have a rival relationship before they became together. Although it was only one-sided on Devion’s part.

Khal’s eyes swept over them before his gaze landed firmly on Ayen; those blue eyes bore indifferently on him for a few seconds before he shifted and glanced again at Devion.

"Who is that?" Khal’s deep voice rang, sounding like an interrogation for some reason.

Devion frowned but did not argue.

"Someone I picked up," he said.

"Don’t mess around." Khal’s tone had a trace of chill, eyeing Ayen’s hand in Devion’s pants.

"Heh. Who said I’m messing around?" He looked at Ayen. "Agree to my words, and I’ll let you stay with me." Devion grinned at Ayen, disregarding Khal’s presence, as though to spite him.

Ayen could only watch them, unable to say anything. He was still feeling Khal’s cold gaze on him, making it harder to breathe.

Khal’s brows furrowed.

"This isn’t the time to be playing around, Devion."

Devion rolled his eyes. "Mind your own business, Khal. I can protect him." Turning to Ayen again. "So, what do you think, beauty?"

He nodded at Devion’s words, not looking at Khal’s side. It was as though they were back in square one. He knew it was not ’his’ Khal, but that gaze reminded him of that one encounter where he met the ’real’ Khal outside the gentle facade.

Ayen had already melted the cold surface, and now, he was back to experiencing it again. Just as he was becoming lost in his thoughts, something inside him seemed to nudge him and made him snap out of his thoughts.

He took a deep breath and looked up at Devion.

"Okay... but," Ayen’s tone softened, being reminded of something again. "I have a name, and it’s... Ayen."

Just like their first meeting.

Devion’s brows moved, and his lips cracked a wide grin. Ayen also felt Khal’s eyes on him.

"Ayen, huh..." He offered a hand, which Ayen accepted without a second thought. "Don’t leave my side. If you do, I won’t look for you." Devion stressed this, and he nodded.

His eyes unconsciously went to Khal’s side, who was watching them. This time, not dissuading Devion. When their eyes met, Khal frowned slightly but soon shifted his gaze again.

"Let’s go," Khal coldly said as he motioned to the ice platform with his chin.

"Always act like a damn leader, I see." Even though he said that, he lifted Ayen by the waist, and soon they were already at the top of the ice platform, beside Khal.

"I am the leader of this mission, Devion," Khal emphasized each word.

Devion crossed his arms to his chest, not responding. With this, Ayen confirmed that Khal was telling the truth.

Inwardly, Ayen was amused. Seeing them like this... to the days he had not witnessed, he found it was not a bad encounter at all.

Throughout the journey, Ayen fell silent; the two were not bothering him either. He finally managed to become lost in his thoughts and ponder what was happening.

Was he in the past? But, if he did, why was he in his adult form? And his clothes were the same. Maybe it was an illusion conjured by the curse? It was something that seemed closer to the truth.

Just as Ayen thought of this, he felt that sudden tug again inside of him. Ayen lowered his head, hiding his expression. What was that?

He felt warmth inside of him, something that also snapped his thoughts earlier.

What was this?

Ayen closed his eyes and decided to investigate. Everything that was like an anomaly, he had to check immediately. He was in a situation where he could not miss any clues.

It did not take long for Ayen to ’discover’ it. Ayen’s wavelength was still shrouded by the mist, meaning it continued to be protected at this time.

But what caught his attention was a shimmering gem that was being nurtured inside his wavelength. If he could recall... It was the realm core that suddenly merged with him.

It was emitting light as it spun, and the warmth precisely came from it. Ayen observed it, and slowly he realized what it was used for!

If he recalled, the monster said to Khal and Devion that its core would be able to help them, but did not elaborate or genuinely did not know how. Then, for some reason, it took residency inside Ayen.

Since, they did not know what it was, they could only set it aside and monitor Ayen’s condition. Ayen almost forgot it too, as it was not doing anything harmful to him and could be easily ignored.

Ayen found out how he could help him. As the core continued to spin and give him warmth, Ayen felt his mind increasingly clear. It was keeping his consciousness awake.

He took a deep breath, feeling a kind of apprehension.

So, if the core were not here... Ayen might become lost in this world, unable to remember who he was or his purpose.

When Ayen opened his eyes and his eyes landed on Devion and Khal, Ayen let the warmth inside his heart spread to his whole being. Soon, his consciousness saw through the real state of this world and where he was.

Ah, it was an illusion.

But it was not real either.

Devion’s subconscious.

Ayen was inside Devion’s subconscious, where it stored his memories, and also where... his mental state and curse corruption, intertwined in a decade-long battle.