[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-x-guide":3,"chapter-the-x-guide-the-x-guide-chapter-70":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},1198815,1545,"Chapter 70: Shadow (2)","the-x-guide-chapter-70",70,"\u003Cp>The shadow laughed, but there was an obvious displeasure in his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Devion grinned seeing that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although it was an affirmation, Devion had not formally told the shadow, ’Yes, you’re right. I’m crazy.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As long as Devion did not declare that, no claims from the shadow were acknowledged. This was a principle they had discovered after repeated failures.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What happened to those failures? That was not something Devion would remember specifically in this situation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He then returned his attention to what he was doing. He planned to create a homemade pizza. It had been a while since he had baked something for Khal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And Ayen had never tried it as well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since there was a critical season, Devion had not cooked a lot of complicated dishes. Although a pizza was not too complicated, they prefer easy dishes that can be cooked in under ten minutes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While he continued working on the pizza, he spoke once more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Khal surely has reasons for not letting me come. Is he tired of me? There are a lot of situations where he should give up. I don’t know why he’s so fixated with me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Devion had finally begun to grumble. Although the shadow was very problematic, Devion always rambled on about it, pissing it off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As it once said, it did not want to hear any drama.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The shadow sneered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"A fool. Khal’s a fool.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Devion paused and looked up; he glared at the shadow. Static began to flicker around him, and it made all the appliances become unstable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The shadow’s figure also became glitchy; despite this, it was not too intimidated, but it did fall silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Devion lowered his gaze and continued with what he was doing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I am the only one who can call Khal a fool.\" He then paused and thought about it. \"Also, Ayen’s qualified to do so.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>About Ayen, Devion was actually fond of him. It was not because he was their guide, but there was something about him that went perfectly with them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They had not known each other for long, and their feelings were not deep yet. So, the shadow had not targeted Ayen to actually shatter Devion’s mind barriers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Devion genuinely wanted to get to know him. Although he himself did not want to let Ayen know how messed up he truly was.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Heh. Sooner or later, he will be afraid of you.\" The shadow began again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This time, Devion was not easily swayed. He stopped talking with it and soon became immersed in what he was doing. He planned to make two pizzas with different flavors.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since they always packed a lot of ingredients whenever they traveled far, it was enough for Devion to experiment a bit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He did not even notice when the shadow had disappeared. The ringing in his ears had stopped, and Devion’s mind cleared; he was completely focused on cooking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As time passed, the door of the house was opened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Khal had returned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Devion was still busy in the kitchen; he was now grilling a beast’s meat. Some monster meat was edible and a delicacy, fetching a good price in the market.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And what he was grilling was a rare monster meat that could only be seen in their forbidden zone. Although it was weak, it thrived the most in miasma-infested areas. Strangely enough, the meat was not poisonous but instead had a medicinal effect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ayen should eat more of this. Thinking so, Devion did not notice when Khal had already walked towards him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Khal also did not disturb him; he lowered his presence and became one with his surroundings. He watched Devion, focused on cooking, and he sighed in relief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After settling Ayen in the association building and promising to fetch him later, Khal had quickly returned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He always got anxious whenever Devion was alone. Although the curse had not appeared as often as before, he always made sure Devion was preoccupied with something before he left.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing him cooking normally, Khal thought nothing had happened. However, his eyes suddenly became drawn to Devion’s right ear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instantly, Khal’s expression sank, and he frowned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was that blood? He could not care less anymore and went directly closer to Devion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Devion was startled at first but paused.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You’re back?\" Devion was confused. Did something happen? Khal’s expression was not right.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, his right ear was touched. Devion blinked, and he remembered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oh. Right, his ear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What happened?\" Khal carefully inspected the wound. It was not deep; the blood had mostly dried.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Devion, having wounds, was actually normal, since they often fought with monsters. Sometimes they get injured. The main issue was that... It was most likely self-harm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Khal’s jaw clenched, and he began to regret leaving Devion alone. Did that curse appear?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It’s fine.\" Devion saw the concern in those eyes. He patted Khal’s hand. \"It’s a small wound.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yes, it was small. But its reason was not.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Tell me, did that... appear?\" Khal stared straight into Devion’s eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Devion met his eyes. He would not lie regarding such matters, and so he nodded. Then, he averted his gaze and returned to the meat he was grilling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yeah, but it disappeared now.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Why?\" Khal paused, then took a deep breath. \"No, let me just, let’s clean your wound.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He did not need to know the reason.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’m cooking.\" Devion pursed his lips and lowered his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I know,\" Khal gently whispered. \"But we made an agreement. If it appears, you must call me. And you didn’t. As per the agreement, you have to listen to everything I say.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Devion sighed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He did not forget that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’m sorry.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the end, Devion could not help but apologize. He was actually guilty. Khal had done a lot to minimize the curse’s influence, but he just went and talked with it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No need to say sorry.\" Khal touched the injured ear carefully. \"Let’s clean this wound first.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since they had an agreement, Devion followed Khal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They fell silent as his wound was being treated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"How about Ayen?\" Devion asked. He wanted to start a conversation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He purposely did not mention the shadow again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"He’s back at the association,\" Khal answered, and then he continued. \"We’ll fetch him later.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Devion was taken aback.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Khal nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes, we, both of us.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Devion understood. Khal did not want to leave him alone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The guilt spread again, and Devion leaned and pressed his head in Khal’s abdomen as he wrapped his arm around Khal’s waist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Sorry. I broke my promise.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Khal was not really angry; in fact, he was more afraid than angry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Next time... Call me, if not me... Call Ayen.\" Khal touched Devion’s head and stroked his hair.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Devion nodded slowly, tightening his arms around Khal.\u003C\u002Fp>",1120,"2026-06-03T13:50:14.134Z","2026-06-03T13:50:15.217Z",1,"novelbin.me","bedc966175cd3a2083112822a3f12a8847a00691254b4f348afd572b71c098a2","the-x-guide-chapter-71","the-x-guide-chapter-69",255,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-x-guide-cover.jpg"]