Chapter 437 - 430. The Final Date
Zein barely left the end-zone for the first twenty-seven of his life, but he had visited two foreign countries in this past year.
What an abrupt development; just like everything else in his life.
From having a boyfriend to having a family; from being penniless to getting headaches from processing taxes and making a will; from not knowing who his parents were to burry them in the same urn...
Zein unconsciously smiled as he reminisced about the things that had happened in the past year. At around this time last year...ah, yes--he was preparing to leave the borderland unit; to go to Althrea at the end of the month. Yath was sulking, and the other guides were groaning because they wouldn’t have someone to cover for their outpost shift anymore. Ron was giving him a long instruction about how he could reach Althrea and what he must do and remember so he wouldn’t attract too much attention. Agni...well, the Captain was just enjoying the chaos as usual.
Soon, a year after he left, he’d return there with a whole troop. He could already imagine the Captain’s laugh and Ron’s rolling his eyes. Something about he came back too soon or whatever--even though Zein knew Ron wanted the project to be completed as soon as possible so the Captain could be freed from his punishment.
Hmm...it wasn’t too bad, going back.
Especially because instead of misery and sorrow, he came with hope and determination.
"You looked pleased," Bassena stroked the guide’s chin. "Are you excited because you’re going to the sea?"
Zein leaned his head back and closed his eyes. "No," he said. "I mean, that too--but for now, I’m just feeling pleased with the journey I made since I left the borderland."
"I’m included in that, right?"
Zein chuckled and shifted his head to lean on the esper’s shoulder. "How could you not?" he exhaled slowly. "You’re half the reason I left the borderland in the first place."