Ayen was part of that traumatic incident, even though he technically saved her. The notion of her surviving alone already took root inside her mind.
This was something Ayen was also aware of. In any case, he saved her as a repayment for her efforts to befriend him. He did not think their relationship was deep enough to weather any storms, like in a drama, and so the strings could be cut anytime.
A few hours passed before Khal and Devion returned. Ayen remained in the room, and the two washed themselves first before entering the room where Keeran was.
"She's awake?" Khal asked, watching Keeran, who suddenly became pale at their appearance. It was obvious she was extremely nervous.
Devion's lack of interest was evident, but still stood by the side. Whenever he was silent, he looked even more intimidating than Khal.
Ayen nodded. "We can leave soon."
Devion glanced at him but did not say anything, merely nodding his head as well. Khal did the same. "That can be arranged. When do you want to depart?"
His tone, laced with politeness, was different from the casual ones that Ayen noticed. This also put a distance between them, and Ayen understood.
It seemed their talk yesterday mainly revolved around this. Ayen shelved his idea to try to guide them. If the two did not insist, why would he?
Ayen was never one to be too fixated on things.
"As soon as possible." Ayen looked back and forth between the two, "If that's fine with both of you." His tone was also as usual, but also polite to a degree that Devion's lips pressed into a thin line.
For Ayen, their schedule to leave was entirely up to Khal and Devion, as he and Keeran could not possibly tread this forbidden zone alone and had to be escorted out by them.
"Is that so?" Khal nodded briefly, then turned to the silent Devion beside him. "What do you think about escorting them out tomorrow?"
Their gazes turned towards Devion, who had his arms crossed, clearly not in the mood. Ayen did not know why he was noticing such things, but he could not help but do so.
Keeran was too nervous to even intervene and could only meekly watch as though her fate was decided by a word from the two espers.
"Sure, no problem." Devion shrugged as an answer.
It was quickly decided they would leave by daybreak. After that small conversation, the two left, and then the meal was delivered to the room by Khal.
Keeran was so flustered that she almost spilled the contents of the tray on the bed. Ayen helped her, and Khal left after that. Again, silence filled the room.
Time passed quickly, especially as nothing could be done but sleep. That night, Ayen once again fell into the same dream.
He did not know why he was feeling guilty about it. He did not have the responsibility to guide Devion and Khal. Why did the dream seem to paint him as the main culprit if the two suddenly lose control?
This was especially so when his role in the dream was like a bystander, as if to mock his decision.
This compatibility pull was truly messing with him. Maybe, the Guiding Strain would not be simple after all. He had to prepare for that.
After he left this place, the chances of them meeting again were close to zero. Their worlds were vastly different from each other, and crossing paths would be impossible.
Thinking of this, Ayen let the dream pass and woke up without the same melancholy as yesterday.
"Wear these." Devion gave the two guides a gas mask that encompassed their whole head until their neck and a suit to protect their whole body. "The miasma outside can evaporate even A-class Espers in minutes."
Keeran nearly shrieked; her face went pale at once. Devion glanced at her. "I'm not scaring you, and so make sure both of you wear them properly."
As soon as he said that, he left as though avoiding further questions or conversations.
"Ayen..." Keeran weakly whispered, "Is this really fine...?"
Ayen gave her a look. "What else? We can't stay here forever."
Ayen did not wait for her reaction and took the suit prepared for him, and went upstairs to the room where he had been staying to wear it.
When he was done, he did not linger in the room. After packing his items, which could not be said to be packing, as it was only his Guide Association uniform, the one he was wearing. And the other item was the blaster gun.
He did not know that this one was still in his possession; maybe Khal or Devion also brought it from the cave. Either way, this could make do as a weapon.
Ayen would be able to use it secretly outside. Fortunately, it was not a weapon that required strict regulations, unlike esper weapons.
After the preparation, they were led to the entrance. Keeran looked particularly nervous, and so Ayen had to let her hold his arm so as not to be left behind.
Khal and Devion did not look friendly; at the very least, they would not wait for them if they lagged so much behind. That was how they appeared to Ayen.
Ayen thought they would have to walk on foot and prepared himself for a long journey. Since forbidden zones were in ruins, the ground was not suitable for any type of transportation.
Yet once they were outside, he could not help but stare at the huge lizard waiting outside. It was even bigger than the place they were living in.
Keeran almost bolted and fled, if not for Ayen gripping her hand so she would not slip away. This was a dangerous place, and leaving the influence of the two espers meant a fate worse than death.
Her breathing became hurried; she could not even scream because of the mask. Ayen was also trying to calm down. This was a monster... and his nervousness was no less than Keeran's.
Devion patted the lizard and looked at them. "This is Liz. We'll use her as transportation."
Unlike them, Devion was standing without any sort of protection aside from his combat suit in the miasma. The lizard let out a sound that made them flinch; his grip in Keeran's hand tightened.
He could not even comment on that lazy name in his mind.
"Help them come up here," said Khal, who was standing at the Lizard's back, putting an improvised saddle for the two guides. Khal did not say anything more, and so Devion nodded.
Devion looked at the two, as though deciding which one to help first. In the end, he took Keeran, who now screams in fear, and carried her like a sack. He jumped, and before Ayen could even blink, Devion was already on the back of the lizard, putting Keeran down.
Ayen could not even have the time to be amazed when Khal was already standing in front of him again.