The X Guide-Chapter 111: Finding Khal (1)

Once they had recovered, they sat close to each other and continued talking about their plans.

"We need to find Khal first." This was something they both agreed on. It was more important before they solved whatever situation they were in.

"Can you move freely now?" Ayen inquired, worried about this curse messing with them.

"I can. I’m calmer now."

After Ayen found him, suppressing the curse became a bit easier. Of course, they still needed to get out of this place. The restriction of his abilities would distract him soon enough.

The main problem was where they should start. Devion had a problem with his curse, so he did not manage to set off quickly to find Khal or Ayen, but what about Khal?

He might be wandering now to find them, or he was stuck with something as well. His abilities should be restricted too.

"We can observe everyone in this place first," Devion suggested.

In fact, they had no other choice but to observe others. Of course, they could make a big commotion, but without sufficient information about this place, acting low-profile was the better option.

Having decided that, the two quickly take action. They left the private guiding room and went to the lobby. Their appearance startled the people lingering there.

Devion and Ayen ignored their reactions and swept their eyes to scrutinize everyone, but soon they exchanged glances and shook their heads.

The others found their actions puzzling, but no one asked them. Both were A-class, and within the hierarchy, most lower-level espers or guides feared interacting with them lest they accidentally offend them.

Aurelle’s identity as a young master from a clan was also a big reason for this. Ayen was reminded yet again how ordinary people viewed clans.

Devion was generally more talkative than Ayen. However, that was only when they were alone. He noticed that Devion suddenly became aloof when in front of others.

It was strange. Since Devion was also playful when they first met, and Ayen was also a stranger. Still, Ayen would not dwell on that in this situation.

And in turn, Khal was the one accommodating others. He was not here, so someone had to speak up.

"Are all the espers and guides here?" Ayen asked at the reception.

He decided to take that position this time. After all, Devion’s energy could not be spent on meaningless conversations when he already had to suppress his curse.

The receptionist and the others looked at Ayen, wondering why he was suddenly asking about that. Still, the woman in charge at the reception answered his question.

"Not all. Some are still receiving guiding, others are asleep, and most of them are fighting on the front lines."

Ayen nodded and looked at Devion. Devion crossed his arms to his chest and glanced at the others, and inquired. "Did someone leave suspiciously?"

The receptionist flinched at the gaze. She frowned, not understanding his question. "What do you mean, Sir?"

Devion did not really have a temper as bad as Khal’s. At least he was patient enough to explain.

"Asking you questions or observing everyone intensely."

Basically, what they were doing right now.

She could not understand it still, but she tried to remember if anyone matched such descriptions. She soon shook her head.

"I don’t think so, sir." She turned to others as though asking for help. "What about you guys? Did you notice someone leaving suspiciously?"

The others quickly shook their heads. It was so fast that Ayen was suspicious whether they truly tried to remember their recent encounters.

Devion and Ayen did not persist. Their description was indeed vague.

"If you encounter someone like what we described, don’t forget to inform us." Devion left it with that, and after getting her nod, he led Ayen outside.

There was no need to ask for permission. No one stopped them either.

"Where do you think he is? " Devion asked Ayen, looking around. There were so many people. Testing each of them was not realistic unless they wanted to expose something was wrong with them.

"Institute building?" Ayen made a guess.

Most government espers were actually affiliated with the institute. They were only staying at the association for the obvious reasons.

They both thought that while Khal could be anyone, he should still be an esper. After all, his own existence alone could not be handled by an ordinary person.

Devion alone was suffering with a lot of restrictions, and it was already the body of an A-class esper.

Unless this place was impressive enough to bypass that common sense.

"Let’s go." Devion nodded, and with Ayen by his side, the two walked together to the institute at the same pace.

Most of the people on the streets did not show the slightest concern. The crisis was imminent, and no one seemed to care. Or they trusted the espers to protect them.

Ayen saw the same scene in that yellow zone. This was how the citizens of the red zone differed from those of the yellow and much less green zones.

Years of peace had faded the survival instinct in them. Maybe it was still there, but most of them were accustomed to being protected.

"Everyone here will die," Ayen suddenly blurted out. Devion turned to him, then shifted to others.

"That’s their fate." Devion did not think they were here to change the past.

How could it be easy to change the past? Even a mana disturbance source related to time would not be able to do that.

It was the same reason Devion did not have such urgency despite knowing that this abandoned would be destroyed in a few days or a month.

He was accustomed to countless deaths at this point.

"I realized Khal’s correct." Ayen let his eyes wander, observing the seemingly peaceful town.

The corner of Devion’s lips hooked up.

"He’s always cryptic, but his plans rarely fail." Devion had known Khal for almost half his life, but sometimes he was stumped by Khal’s thoughts.

His actions, intentions, and desires... all of them. It never failed to surprise him.