[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-x-guide":3,"chapter-the-x-guide-the-x-guide-chapter-65":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","The X Guide",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":20,"prevChapterSlug":21,"totalChapters":22,"novelImage":23},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":16,"volume":17,"translator":18,"content_hash":19},1198810,1545,"Chapter 65: Feelings (3)","the-x-guide-chapter-65",65,"\u003Cp>When Ayen woke up the next day, he found out that he was already lying on a bed. He swept his eyes around and thought that one of the two must have carried him to sleep comfortably in a room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ayen sat up slowly, stretching his limbs as he did so. He then inhaled and exhaled multiple times.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So, it was not just an illusion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He felt so refreshed, as though all his accumulated fatigue had been swept away. Could the guiding session have also benefited him in just how Espers’ mana toxins were relieved?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this point, Ayen was convinced that it might be the case. There was no need to doubt anymore.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This got him thinking; maybe next time they should try to do a guiding session in the bedroom instead. Ayen had only realized that they always did guiding sessions in the living room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was no particular reason other than it was the place Ayen felt more comfortable being alone with the two espers. He felt like a bedroom was more intimate in comparison.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He lingered for a while, thinking of what happened last night. Ayen subconsciously bit his lips, and it almost made him hiss. He touched his lips.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were still a bit sore.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thinking so, Ayen could not help but put his head in his forehead and brush his bangs, trying to hide the embarrassment that suddenly rose within him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although Ayen was the one who initiated the kiss, he admitted that the desire bubbling within him that time was aided by the effect of the guiding connection they had.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still, while he felt embarrassed inside, he did not regret it. It was his first kiss, and he was glad he experienced it with them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once he had recovered from the memories of last night, Ayen had decided to wash up and look for the two espers. Looking around, he actually saw a change of clothes specifically left for him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ayen went to the bathroom; it was bigger than the bathroom in the dorm. He stripped most of his clothes and was about to take a shower when he saw the reflection of his body, specifically around his collarbones and neck.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ayen touched them and trailed his fingers over the marks; some were shallow, while most of them had a deeper shade. He even traces a bite mark.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Who bit him? Devion? Perhaps it was his doing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking at the marks, Ayen suddenly did not feel bad for leaving those marks on the two. Compared to what he had done, the marks were far more intense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, Ayen was very inexperienced in this area, and to be able to leave shallow marks was already an achievement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ayen was thankful that it was cold, and wearing thick coats to cover the body was perfectly justified.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not long after, he was done washing up. His hair was still wet, but no more droplets were trailing down on it. Ayen always used a hairdryer to quickly dry his hair, but he had not seen one in the room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Combing his hair to the side, including his bangs, made his whole face appear without any obstruction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Whoa, the prettiest guide I’ve known is awake.\" An enthusiastic greeting welcomed Ayen just as he went downstairs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was a grin on his face, and Ayen noticed that his whole demeanor was also more tame than he always appeared. Devion’s face had always been majestic; he always had this angelic charm on him, and now even his impression seemed to exude that way too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For once, Ayen found it hard to dissuade Devion when he looked like that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You too. You looked handsome.\" Ayen did not know if he was bad with compliments because the smile on Devion’s lips faded slightly, and he stared at Devion in disbelief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ayen blinked at him and sat across from him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Is something wrong?\" Ayen had to ask since Devion was only staring at him and not saying anything.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, a laugh rang. When Ayen looked up, Khal’s sharp and intimidating appearance showed itself. He was holding a huge plate and set it in the center of the table.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ayen had not looked at what it was; he was most occupied by observing Khal’s appearance or if there was any difference with him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You complimented him,\" Khal smiled and spoke. \"Devion’s shock.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ayen actually figured it out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You can’t blame me. This is the first time Ayen complimented me.\" Deviond defended himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Khal did not respond, but he chuckled, earning a glare from Devion again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ayen still observed them; this was something he had long been used to, but somehow it was also different. What exactly was it?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The changes with Khal were not as obvious. Ayen felt like he was still the same. And yet, he had the inkling he also changed somehow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ayen was also more perceptive and could see Khal’s attention on Devion was definitely more than just being a partner in bed. He glanced at Devion, his eyes narrowing slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, Devion was the one he could not discern the intentions of. Ayen realized that while Devion seemed simple on the surface, he was more complicated compared to Khal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looked innocent and dense even, but... It seemed out of place somehow. Ayen snapped in his thoughts; he had not realized that the two were now watching him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Let’s eat.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ayen was sure something changed, but also a lot remained.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For one, the two remained a mystery, and Ayen was the same. He suddenly became curious: who were Khal and Devion, really? Then again, something definitely changed; Ayen was not sure what, but it was there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He only needed to grasp that, and when he did, the conversation with Khal took place.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ayen had already noticed Khal saw him as the guide worth protecting, since he was valuable. He was more familiar with Khal’s actions than Devion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was because he grew up in such a household where everyone cherished those who were useful and regarded as worthless those who weren’t.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Khal exuded dominance, despite his smile. And Ayen also felt it was strange how Khal’s voice was so soothing, something that invokes someone’s trust.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then again, perhaps that was also part of becoming a dominant figure: the ability to coax anyone he thought useful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ayen was aware that, for people like Khal, you need to prove you’re useful to not be discarded. Ayen was not just useful; he was unique in this case.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he could take advantage of that, he did not mind making a deal with the devil called Khal.\u003C\u002Fp>",1107,"2026-06-03T13:50:14.134Z","2026-06-03T13:50:15.217Z",1,"novelbin.me","4ac4bc30d0244c53e77f56a592de18f35488fcc3fbf8f9080b0ac168752a98f3","the-x-guide-chapter-66","the-x-guide-chapter-64",255,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-x-guide-cover.jpg"]