Chapter 30 - 29. Where Twilight Met
There were two seconds ticking by as they stared at each other wordlessly. Zein with widened eyes, and Bassena while blinking, trying to figure out the meaning behind those words.
He didn't take long, however, smirking after two seconds, and moved forward while grabbing into Zein, carrying the guide through the underground tunnel.
"Took you long enough," his soft laughter reverberating inside the close space. "Almost think you'll never remember,"
"I—you don't need to carry me," Zein grabbed the broad shoulder, glancing at the blocked pathway.
The water was sloshing back into the tunnel, and the level had been steadily rising, but not to the point where he couldn't thread by himself.
"And I told you I want to,"
Again, the esper cheerfully replied, as if he didn't just go through a battle with a giant Specter. The speed at which they traverse seemed to be increasing, and Zein could see that they actually running on top of the water.
Well, yeah, he couldn't do that.
"But you got the goo on me..."
Bassena blinked, just realizing the filthy state that had his face and clothes covered in a black viscous Specter essence. With the way he carried Zein right now—slung over his shoulder—the guide's midriff was getting smeared in the same substance.
"Ah, sorry about that..." Bassena replied, but hearing a quiet scoff from the guide, he broke into a grin. "But you really didn't recognize me just because I was covered in dirt and blood?"