Chapter 107: I said, stop

Zephyr’s patience was rapidly wearing thin.

There was nothing remotely pleasant about the experience. Despite the waves of pleasure surging through him because of the damn hundred percent compatibility he shared with every Guide, the unfamiliar guiding wavelength only made him increasingly uncomfortable, leaving him feeling almost nauseated. His fingers twitched with irritation as he fought against the heaviness weighing down his eyelids, eventually managing to force them open with considerable effort.

"Stop."

The single stern word emerged in a quiet, hoarse voice, yet the displeasure behind it was unmistakable. It carried through the entire guiding room, bringing the young Guide’s movements to an abrupt halt.

The Guide lifted his head, confusion written across his face.

"Eh?"

He was still reeling from the sensation coursing through his entire body.

Zephyr’s brows furrowed tightly.

With his mana in chaos, he couldn’t use his psychokinesis skill to locate the person beside him, leaving him with little choice but to rely on physical contact. When the Guide continued rubbing his hand and arm, Zephyr gathered what little strength he had left and pushed his hands away.

"I said, stop."

The Guide, Soyun, startled, finally snapped out of his daze. Realizing what he had been doing, he hurriedly withdrew his hands, his face flushing an even deeper shade of red.

He stared at Zephyr’s irritated face in dismay, his fingers curling awkwardly in his lap.

"S-Sorry! I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable!"

Zephyr offered no response. He simply closed his eyes again, his expression making it abundantly clear that he had neither the energy nor the inclination to entertain any further conversation. The young Guide hesitated before settling beside him, falling into an uncomfortable silence as his heart continued to pound.

For a while, neither of them spoke.

Soyun stole a tentative glance at Zephyr’s unapproachable expression, hesitating before finally gathering the courage to ask.

"Would you prefer someone else to guide you?"

Zephyr didn’t answer. Instead, after several more minutes of silence, he slowly pushed himself upright, forcing his exhausted body to cooperate despite the dizziness that washed over him.

Soyun’s eyes widened.

"Careful!"

He immediately reached out to help, only to stop short when Zephyr raised a hand, firmly refusing his assistance.

Although Zephyr was still feeling weak, he had managed to gather enough strength to move on his own. He took a moment to steady himself before turning his attention toward the only person in the room. The Guide had irritated him, but Zephyr suppressed his annoyance and asked calmly.

"Where is this?"

The response came almost immediately.

"The Association’s guiding room."

Zephyr rubbed his temples and rolled his shoulders, a dull headache beginning to settle in. So, they were safely back at the Association. The realization flickered through his mind as he turned his face toward the guide.

"Where is Cien?"

"C-Cien?"

"Lucien O’Connell."

"Oh!"

Soyun let out a small sound of recognition before shaking his head. Then, remembering that Zephyr couldn’t see him, he hurriedly explained.

"I don’t know where he is right now. I only know where the Espers who returned are. They’re all receiving medical treatment at the moment. As for the Guides, they weren’t seriously injured, so the last I heard, they had been sent back to their rooms to rest for a few days after receiving treatment."

Zephyr nodded and pushed himself up from the sofa, preparing to stand. He could sense someone hovering anxiously beside him, ready to offer assistance at the slightest movement. Unable to tolerate the unnecessary fuss, he rolled his eyes.

"I’m blind, not crippled."

Soyun froze, embarrassment flashing across his face as he immediately withdrew his hovering hands.

"S-Sorry."

It was only when Zephyr stood upright that Soyun truly realized how tall he was. The loose hospital gown did little to conceal his broad shoulders and lean physique, and the sight sent Soyun’s already racing heart into overdrive.

Soyun muttered quietly to himself.

’Thank goodness he can’t see me!’

He was certain he looked like an absolute mess. A quick glance at the mirror across the room only confirmed his suspicions: his face was flushed crimson, his eyes were slightly moist, and a faint, unmistakable bulge strained against his trousers.

How humiliating!

Never in his life had guiding someone affected him so intensely. His compatibility with most Espers had always been between twenty and thirty percent, reaching fifty percent at most, making the process relatively ordinary. But Zephyr was different. The moment his guiding wavelength entered the man’s body, the sensation overwhelmed him in a way he had never experienced before. Even now, the lingering effects were enough to leave him struggling to regain his composure.

Zephyr had no clue what the Guide was thinking. He simply stood still for a few moments, allowing his body to recover enough strength to use his mana again. Once he felt capable of using it to sense his surroundings, he headed straight for the room’s exit. However, the unusual silence around him prompted him to instinctively call out in a soft voice.

"Onicus?"

He received no answer.

Zephyr paused, a faintly puzzled expression crossing his face. When the little dragon still failed to respond, he opened the door and prepared to leave, a thought crossing his mind.

Had that dragon finally gone to rest in peace?

"Wait!"

Soyun’s voice rang out behind him, hurried and slightly breathless.

"Your condition still isn’t good! You need more guiding!"

Zephyr didn’t even bother turning around. He stepped out of the room, leaving only a few indifferent words in his wake.

"No need. I’m fine."

Soyun wanted to follow him, but after taking stock of his own condition, he ultimately decided against it. Instead, he bit his lower lip and sank onto the sofa where Zephyr had been resting, hoping to calm himself down.

Only after the door clicked shut did the flush finally begin to fade from Soyun’s face. His expression gradually shifted, the timid awkwardness giving way to a subtle hint of amusement.

Leaning back against the sofa with an air of casual confidence, Soyun crossed his legs and murmured to himself.

"Interesting. I like him."

His gaze drifted toward the closed door, and his lips curled into an amused smile.

"And he’s powerful, too. He’d make a fine addition to my collection of puppets. But..."

His eyes flashed crimson, narrowing dangerously.

"Who exactly is this person? He wasn’t part of the previous timeline."