Chapter 56: The Deal Didn’t Go As Planned.
Ethan immediately turned his head toward Zane, his brows drawing together as he tried to process what he had just heard. "You have a better option?"
"Well, yes, kind of," Zane replied, his tone surprisingly casual considering the seriousness of the situation. "I won’t lay down some ridiculous requirement that you have to fulfil before I’ll help you, though. I’ll offer my help to save Rin’s life for free. However, I seriously hope you’ll consider accompanying me to the rift mission as well. The academy is already short on Guides, and having an extra hand would mean a whole lot."
Drey’s teeth clenched the moment he noticed Ethan actually seemed to be considering Zane’s words. A quiet, humourless chuckle escaped him before he turned his attention toward Zane.
"Since when did you suddenly become fit enough to go on a mission?" Drey asked pointedly. "And Ethan, don’t tell me you’re actually considering a stranger’s reassurance over mine."
Zane’s playful expression didn’t waver even slightly despite the jab Drey had thrown at him. Instead, he simply ignored the question and turned his attention toward Ethan.
"But we’re not strangers, are we?" he asked.
Ethan hesitated for a moment before reluctantly nodding in agreement.
Zane’s smile widened.
"In case you didn’t know, we’re close." He paused deliberately, his crimson eyes gleaming with amusement as he added, "Really closer than you think."
Ethan stared at him.
What the hell was that supposed to mean?
At this point, however, Ethan wasn’t even considering his options anymore. What was there left to consider? Neither of them was exactly someone he wanted to rely on, but if things came down to choosing between one of this two lunatics, he would rather take his chances with Zane.
At least Zane hadn’t shown any obvious hostility toward him since arriving at the academy, and despite his shameless teasing and irritating habit of calling him pretty boy, he had already helped Ethan once with Ronan’s investigation and had now stepped forward again without demanding anything in return.
Ethan was just about to give his answer when Drey’s voice cut through his thoughts.
"Even if you’re close, will you actually be able to cure him?" Drey asked, turning his attention toward Zane before looking back at Ethan. "I doubt that.
He paused before continuing, his voice becoming more serious.
"Ethan, agree to my conditions and I’ll have the Empire send its strongest healers and doctors for Rin. Once they arrive, they’ll be able to help the exhausted Guides recover more quickly and stabilize Rin’s condition. Afterward, once the Guides have recovered, he can be Guided properly."
Ethan’s expression tightened.
That sounded tempting.
Very tempting
It wasn’t a bad offer at all.
In fact, it was exactly the kind of solution he had been desperately looking for.
But before he could even think further, Zane spoke.
"See? That’s the difference between you and me." His voice was still calm, but there was suddenly a sharpness beneath the playful tone that made even Drey’s expression change. "While you value yourself over a life, I don’t."
Zane then looked directly at Ethan.
"I’ve already contacted the Empire’s healers, along with the military doctors and their specialised healers. They’re on their way here as we speak, and they should be arriving any moment now."
Ethan’s eyes widened slightly.
"You already contacted them?"
Zane nodded.
"So you don’t have to trade anything for Rin’s life."
A wave of relief washed through Ethan so suddenly that he almost felt weak with it.
Zane hadn’t even waited for Ethan to agree to anything before taking action
Ethan smiled. For once, he was genuinely grateful towards Zane.
Maybe Zane really was a bastard, but at least he was a bastard who seemed to have a heart.
Unlike Drey. Zane was definitely better.
Drey’s eyes had turned cold.
He couldn’t wrap his head around the fact that he had lost to Ethan again, and this time, it wasn’t because Ethan had rejected him or because of some argument between them.
It was because of Zane. The irritation burning in Drey’s eyes was impossible to miss, but he forced himself to remain composed.
"Ethan, I won’t force you," Drey said, his voice strangely calm as he turned away. "But if anything happens to me, then I hope you know it’s your fault."
Ethan’s eyes twitched.
What a fucking guilt-tripper.
Before he could respond, Zane stepped in.
"Ignore his words. Let’s go."
Ethan finally realized that Zane was still holding his hand.
He glanced down at their joined hands before looking back at him.
"Ummm... can you let go of my hand now?"
Zane blinked before looking down at their hands as though he had only just noticed that he was still holding onto Ethan.
With a grin, he released him.
Ethan cleared his throat before looking at him.
"Where did you go?" he asked. "I wanted to thank you for helping me out with the investigation situation, and now you’ve come through for me again."
He hesitated, clearly struggling with the words before finally forcing them out. "Although I still dislike you and that stupid playful grin of yours, thank you."
Zane stared at him for a moment.
Then he chuckled.
It seemed like it had taken Ethan an unreasonable amount of courage to say those words, and Zane apparently found that far more amusing than he should have.
He turned and began walking ahead, casually slipping his hands into his pockets.
"Thanks accepted, pretty boy."
Ethan immediately rolled his eyes. That stupid nickname again.
He really needed to get Zane to stop calling him that.
Yet, surprisingly, this time Ethan didn’t bother arguing.
They eventually made their way back toward their dorm room, and Ethan had barely stepped inside when Zane turned his gaze toward him.
"So, are you accompanying me or not?" Zane asked. "I’m not forcing you. I’m just asking."
Ethan stopped.
His expression immediately became complicated.
"If I accompany you, there’s Drey..."
He looked at Zane carefully.
"You do know I’ll eventually have to guide him, right?"