Ayen set aside all his doubts and apprehensions first. The present was more important. The location was not too far, and Ayen easily led the two to where he had left Keeran.
It was not exactly well hidden, and they immediately saw her, who was still unconscious. The two looked at her, then at Ayen as if to say, You really left her like this?
Ayen averted his gaze, for once, and also realized how reckless that could be. However, he was also in a weakened state and would not be able to move carrying Keeran.
"I'm a Guide." Ayen did not know why he had to make an excuse, or probably he could not stand Devion's gaze and wanted to gauge those mocking eyes.
"Let me look first." Khal put an end to Devion's farce and squatted to check for Keeran's condition while the two stood aside.
They silently watched Khal, and soon he looked up to them. "She's only fainted from exhaustion and not in any danger."
At this, Ayen inwardly sighed in relief. His expression remained impassive throughout, as though he was not concerned with her condition.
"Is that your default expression?" Devion could not help but notice.
Ayen glanced to his side and answered in a usual nonchalant tone. "Does it matter?"
He did not have any intention to mock or cause displeasure; it was an actual question without malice. Devion could see that Ayen was only asking and did not care for the answer.
Khal and Devion glanced at each other, speechless. They were at a loss on how to treat this beautiful guide who stumbled at them fooling around.
Ayen ignored the way the two exchanged glances and returned the topic to the matter at hand.
"When will she wake up?"
"I don't know," Khal answered, earning another indifferent glance from Ayen. He shrugged and added. "I'm not a doctor. I'm only an expert with first aid."
"Expert..." Devion mocked at the side.
Ayen narrowed his eyes but did not speak. He also understood that the two were more combat espers than utility and did not pursue them further.
Unbeknownst to him, the two felt relieved seeing him silent. It was also weird. The two felt it was strange that they were intimidated by a glance from Ayen when they did not even feel scared battling strong monsters.
Devion scratched the back of his head and thought for a moment, staring at Ayen.
Maybe because of his face? He's beautiful... right up to his alley. His eyes shifted to Khal, who was doing the same thing, and soon their eyes met.
Both stared for a moment before simultaneously smirking as if reading each other's minds.
Again, Ayen ignored the two, not bothering to discern what was on their minds. He remembered what they came here for other than Keeran.
"The entrance's around here," Ayen murmured. He remembered not walking too far from it, so it should be around here.
He swept his eyes around, but there was no sign of an entrance. Since it was his first time entering the gate, he did not know what it was supposed to be like inside.
"It disappeared," Ayen stated more clearly after his realization. Since it was gone, he did not want to stress more about it. He sat beside Keeran and leaned his back against the wall.
Suddenly, exhaustion appeared in his whole being. Ayen shut his eyes and hunched in the corner like he always did. He used all the stamina he could muster, escaping that hellhole and with Keeran as a burden at that.
Ayen did not have a strong body or stamina to begin with, so it was sort of a burst of will to survive alone. And perhaps also determination and luck.
"Is it okay for you?"
Suddenly, a question rang, causing Ayen to open his eyes and look to the person who asked. The two espers were still standing. The one who asked was Khal.
Ayen frowned slightly, as if he could not understand.
Khal's calm voice reverberated again.
"The yellow zone's probably in shambles and your colleagues possibly all dead."
While the two did not believe this was the dungeon that became connected to the other side, as the monsters Ayen described clearly were not from here, the rank of monsters was not far off.
Ayen immediately understood. And yet, there was not a slight change in his expression. Did he feel bad? Ayen experienced the terror of the dungeon break.
Everyone was terrified and did not hope to die.
He heard the cries of the civilians when he and Keeran were escaping. Ayen ignored them even if Keeran was affected because he was powerless.
And he was selfish. Ayen could only focus on avenging himself and Keeran, no one else.
So, he mourned for them but felt no guilt. If he had not fought to survive, then he and Keeran would have been included in the tally of thousands of corpses at this moment.
This was how the world was, and everyone should have realized that by now. Perhaps, the next time, Ayen would not be so lucky to survive, but he would see to it until the end. He would not huddle and cry on the corner waiting to die a horrible death.
"Yes, probably," Ayen answered, no hint of emotion in his tone.
"Wow, so cold..." Devion acted like he was shivering. "Khal, are you sure he's not an esper of the same power type as yours?"
Khal had his brows furrowed, for once not acting with Devion. He only looked deeply at Ayen. It was as though he wanted to discern whether the emotions he was showing were true.
And the more he looked, the more he realized that Ayen was indeed like Devion said. He was cold and almost apathetic. Somehow, he became curious... How did Ayen become like this? Was he born this way or...
"Hey," Devion punched him in the side. "Why are you staring so much?"
Khal's lips twisted, and he glared at Devion, who whistled as he averted his gaze. He could only shake his head at Devion's antics.
Ayen had already closed his eyes and appeared to have fallen asleep.
"What should we do with these two?" Devion asked, poking Ayen's cheek lightly.
And the other did not have any reaction, so he was really asleep.
Realizing this, Devion stopped. "They are Guides, the forbidden zone is unsuitable for them."
Especially this forbidden zone. As the two were the only SS-class in the whole of humanity, the missions they were assigned were the more perilous.
And as ticking time bombs themselves, those old shits in the government preferred that they were away and probably wished they were killed in missions too.