The X Guide

Yet, he still found it uncomfortable. Mikhael’s reactions might not be too different from the madmen who were after Ayen. Devion looked particularly displeased.

He had seen such faces countless times. Although they were scared to express their excitement in front of him, Devion could tell that they were very intrigued.

If not for his prowess, Devion might never escape their laboratory.

Seeing Ayen in the same situation, he was highly offended. However, it was not him who outwardly expressed his dissatisfaction.

"I hope everyone isn’t forgetting your mission." Khal’s gaze swept coldly over the group. "Keep your excitement in check. We don’t want another incident like last time."

The others quickly stiffened, and Mikhael nodded, his face showing a solemn expression.

"We understood, leader."

This was an absolute rule.

Incident last time? Confusion filled Ayen’s gaze. He wanted to ask, but he thought that this place was not appropriate for that. He preferred asking about it once they were alone.

The excitement quickly died down after Khal’s reminders to them. For a moment, none of them said a word and only watched how the energy inside the cylinder was trying so hard to influence the cursed object above it.

The lingering curse, while not being purified by the light the energy emitted, obviously became affected and wanted to escape from inside the earring to no avail.

After a while, Mikhael took the earring, and the energy inside seemed to protest as they tried to chase the curse, but soon scattered again and began their repeated actions once more.

They had yet to discover how to use the energy efficiently, but it was proven that Ayen’s uniqueness truly could ’guide’ this curse. Judging by the curse reactions, they sensed danger when exposed to the energy.

How to utilize it? That they had yet to figure out. especially as Ayen needed an antidote... if possible, something they could supply in batches.

They could not just extract Ayen’s wavelength every week after he recovered, right? Anyone raising such a simple and crude idea might see their lives shriveling in a matter of seconds.

For now, it would be their highest priority project.

As they returned to the room, Ayen’s curiosity was finally answered.

"It happened when I was a laboratory resident a few years back," Devion answered for him. Khal held a serious expression.

It was an experience that ignited his anger every time he remembered. Khal was careful not to repeat that incident with Ayen.

"That was the time we saw how knowledge truly corrupted the researchers." Devion sighed as he recalled the incident.

Researchers were susceptible to such corruption. It was a kind of madness that they did not know the root. It could be influenced by the knowledge, their own madness, or simply by what they were researching.

"My case is also rare. I’m living with a curse and might be the only human still alive after being afflicted by it. As you know, I’m very attractive to researchers, especially to those fascinated by its mysterious origin."

Devion began to explain.

It was coupled that SS-class espers were originally attractive research material to begin with, and someone with a curse?

When Devion was undergoing a lot of tests in the laboratory, he always felt weak because so many samples needed to be extracted from him almost every month or every couple of weeks.

Khal was there with him almost every day, but there were a few times he needed to leave. This was a time when they had yet to fully seclude themselves from the world.

Occasionally, Khal had to accept missions that were passed from the Institute. Since Devion could not do his share, Khal had to do more.

A researcher, who was an assistant of the chief researcher then, became fascinated by curses. His behavior was fine; Devion could not sense any malicious intentions as well.

Perhaps because his senses were weaker than usual that time.

"He began to extract more samples from me to justify his own research. My condition has also worsened then. During my weakness, when I was already unconscious, he would sneakily take more."

He was an SS-class esper, but he was not an immortal. He could not magically recover after a loss of wavelength energy, which is essential to him.

This man’s madness, no one truly noticed. He was even a bit inconspicuous.

"I became suspicious," Khal spoke this time, his gaze sharp just by remembering it. "Devion’s not recovering even after a month, and his condition’s getting worse by the day. I knew it wasn’t normal."

Devion’s curse manifestation had gotten severe, as his body was weak and unstable to suppress the curse.

"I accepted a mission and told them I’d be gone for two weeks. But I didn’t leave. I wanted to know what was going on. That was when I witnessed it."

Khal’s jaw tightened as he took a deep breath. He did not describe it, but judging from his expression and Devion’s, it must be a brutal encounter. Ayen nodded and held his hand to calm him down.

"Since that day, I never left Devion’s side, and after a year without results, we decided to stop."

Devion rested an arm on Khal’s right shoulder. It was a form of assurance. These things were hard to share and recall, but for Ayen, it was becoming easier.

Ayen had now understood the extent of why they were very reluctant to let Ayen suffer because of this. And that the madness and allure of his uniqueness could corrupt even the most inconspicuous researcher there was.

"But... It won’t happen again." Ayen met their gazes, and the corner of his lips rose. "You’ll protect me."

There was a kind of confidence in both his voice and gaze that pulled the two in. They were not immune to it at all.

Devion sighed and leaned his head on Khal as if he had fainted.

"Really, why is Ayen so cute, Khal?" His voice was not really a whisper and was meant for Ayen to hear.

Ayen’s lips stretched.

Khal played along and also tilted his head, pressing with Devion’s. His demeanor now changing, the coldness was nowhere to be felt.

"Because he’s Ayen... our Ayen."

The smile on Ayen’s lips subconsciously widened as soon as he heard that, reaching the bottom of his eyes. He felt so pleased hearing that, satisfying his heart.

Devion grinned and winked at Ayen as he agreed.

"I like the sound of that."

Khal did not respond, but his expression alone was enough for Ayen’s cheek to hurt from smiling too much. This was a scene where he would never regret letting them change his monotonous world.

Ayen was discharged the next day. His next session would be in a month or two. Only after he had fully recovered would the two espers let the sample extraction commence once more.

For now, most of their work would focus on the results of what they already got from Ayen’s wavelength.

They planned to rest for now before that or return in the red zone again, but suddenly, a letter arrived from the SS-class special branch of the Institute.

The direct government mission requests were submitted to it before passing it to them. It had been a while since they got a request, especially in the three years they lived in the forbidden zone.

"What’s that?" Devion propped his chin on Khal’s shoulder as he leaned and read the official letter. "A mission?"

Khal nodded, reading the letter carefully.

Ayen also became curious, but he only leaned at the table, looking at the two espers. He had now recovered and did not need their support anymore.

"An official mission from the government?" Ayen guessed.

He had heard of this before. SS-class espers were not affiliated with the government, but they could directly accept official missions.

In the time he had been with the two, this was his first time witnessing this.

Ayen was even aware that their relationship with the government was not good.

Devion and Khal exchanged glances, and they both looked at Ayen.

"What is it?" Ayen asked, intrigued by their gazes.

"Well," Devion pointed at the mission. "It’s a mission related to your dream."

"My dream?" Ayen repeated before he paused. "You’re talking about that?"

Devion nodded. Khal folded the letter again and passed it to Ayen, who accepted.

"Let’s talk first." Khal motioned at the couch. The two nodded and followed him.

Ayen finished reading the letter and became lost in thought. Although the letter only mentioned Devion and Khal, it was intended to request their help regarding this alarming incident. Ayen, as their guide, needed to be with them.

The two espers would not leave him here. Especially so, as this incident was something he dreamed about.

"What do you think?" Khal looked at him. Devion was also waiting at the side.

"Will you accept this mission?" he asked first.

Both Devion and Khal nodded.

Based on the letter and also in their own investigation, the situation could be a national crisis if it were not stopped in time. Even if Ayen were not involved, they had to go.

This was their responsibility as SS-class espers.

"This will be our first official mission, then."

At his answer, the two chuckled and nodded. Somehow, they loved the sound of that very much.