The X Guide

Ayen had expected that the pain would be too much and braced himself for it. Khal and Devion would not react like that if they were not concerned about it.

Only when he finally went through the wavelength extraction did Ayen understand their worries.

If he thought the pain of the curse counterattacking him for guiding Devion was already so much for him to handle, then this was on another level.

Unlike with physical ones, there was no anesthesia to lessen the pain. Ayen felt it firsthand, vivid and blunt. Devion’s description was correct.

The feeling of your wavelength being extracted was like your soul was being pulled out. Ayen could not even think of anything else and focused his mind on enduring such excruciating pain.

Wavelengths were very sensitive, and they did not have a physical form in some sense. The way it had to be extracted was not something Ayen could comprehend, nor was he interested.

However, he knew that since it was a delicate area, the slow process made it more tiresome and painful. The devices, though they had undergone changes throughout the years, were still somewhat crude.

They could only contain the mana within and store it inside a capable storage, and the time before it dissipated was only a few days.

Since they were more or less energies that existed inside an esper or a guide, and without that support, they could only dissipate.

This was the reason Ayen needed to do this over and over again. The samples had to be processed, and they could not store them for the next tests.

Thinking of the days that he would be constantly under this same pain made Ayen a little afraid. However, as he said, it was not that he was not afraid but that he wanted to do this.

Even now, he did not feel any regret at all.

After an hour, or what felt like forever, the pain subsided slightly, and the feeling of his soul being pulled out of his body disappeared.

Ayen remained, closing his eyes, feeling weak. This was what they said that he would not want to be able to move or eat for a few days. Ayen wholeheartedly agreed with them. He wanted to just sleep.

However, he could not do so either. The pain was still vivid, and he was uncomfortable all over. His head seemed to be spinning, too.

As he tried to calm his nerves, Ayen felt fingers wiping the corner of his eyes. Ah, so he was crying. Ayen knew it was one of the two, but he could not open his eyes to look.

Based on the warmth, it must be Devion. Soon, he also felt the slightly cold palm in his hand and arm. Khal was massaging him. The chill from his palm somehow alleviated the soreness he was feeling.

Ayen let out a slight groan, both from satisfaction and a grunt of pain. He heard them sigh, but none said a word. Khal’s hand continued to massage him as Devion wiped his tears.

He was not feeling fine, really. Yet, his subconscious calmed down. Ayen was not alone during this painful experience... The two were with him.

Ayen was not suffering alone anymore, and that thought put him at ease. Despite the pain throughout his entire being and even within him, Ayen found himself finally relaxing and fell asleep.

It was a dreamless sleep, but not a good one either. Even in his sleep, the physical and emotional weakness of his whole being lingered.

Ayen was between a deep sleep and waking up. It was as though he wanted to sleep, but something prevented him from doing so. This constant surge of pain made him unsettled and disrupted his rest.

The nausea rose from within him; it was not merely just a feeling anymore. Suddenly, Ayen abruptly woke up. In doing so, he felt like his mind had blanked out for a moment, his head throbbed, and his vision spun.

He did not know how long he had been sleeping, nor did he care to ask. There was only one thing he wanted to do, and that was to vomit. Ayen looked around and saw the two were there with him, but Ayen wanted to get up to look for the washroom.

However, he did not have any strength. Even sitting already puts his body in great strain.

"I want..." Ayen swallowed, and his mouth watered, and the vomit seemed to be already rising in his throat.

"Here." Devion put a small bucket before Ayen. "You can vomit right here."

Ayen glanced at him, surprised.

"We’re prepared for it." Devion gave a smile, but it did not reach his eyes. Ayen knew why this was the case.

However, he could not observe further or glance at Khal on his other side. Ayen had no choice but to vomit right there and then. He did not feel embarrassed at all.

Ayen could become vulnerable in front of them, and he knew that they would take care of him. Ayen’s desire to be their center scratched the surface once more.

Khal’s arm rubbed Ayen’s back, giving a cooling sensation that made him at ease. Devion’s presence beside him was also a great help. Both the coolness and warmth they provided were what was giving Ayen strength at this moment.

He was dizzy, and his whole system was fucked up, but strangely, Ayen’s mind was clear. A little foggy, but it did not interfere with his thoughts.

The two gave him a glass of water, and Ayen rinsed his mouth before he lay back down on the bed. Khal went to throw up and clean Ayen’s vomit, as Devion was left behind to be with him.

Ayen now felt warmth in his palm, Devion letting the mana ease the soreness of his body just like what Khal did. As they had the highest compatibility, it worked this way.

Since Ayen’s wavelength was unstable after the extraction and had to ’heal’ on its own, his espers’ mana would help speed the process.

Devion sighed.

"I told you it’s going to be painful." His voice was hoarse, tightening his hold in Ayen’s hand.

Ayen wanted to clasp his hand too, but he was too weak to do so, and his eyes were too heavy to look at the esper. He sighed and opened his mouth, but only a groan left his lips.

"I know," Devion whispered and leaned until his lips met Ayen’s cheek. "Just rest. You don’t need to speak. We’ll be here."