The X Guide-Chapter 120: The Most Imperfect Anomaly (5)

Furthermore, it put Ayen in the body of Aurelle, someone with a good social standing and a doting mother. It was as though it knew that Ayen was special for the two strongest men it encountered since it was born.

"For now, it lacks the intention to harm us."

Devion set aside his prejudice and found that Khal’s words were reasonable. And it made him think of the fact that this body could hold on to the curse, not just because mainly of his will, but also that something else restricted it.

There was no way for an A-class esper to withstand the curse. They could only succumb to it. Despite Devion suppressing it, the changes in his physical body would be more or less detrimental to him.

"It seems it’s indeed possible. But, how can we talk to it?"

Did the anomaly have a physical body? Or could they talk to it right here?

Khal merely smiled as a response. He then pointed at the barrier. Devion glanced at the barrier, confused. Ayen did the same. He was even more perplexed.

Ayen stared at the barrier, which was almost transparent, but it occasionally flickered and solidified into a colorful wall.

"All we need to do is pass this barrier." Khal expected their surprise and unconvinced expression. He smirked and looked up.

The observer quickly retreated, averting its gaze.

Khal became even more convinced by this theory when they went and checked this boundary without being intercepted. Not even a monster stopped them on their way here.

The observer merely watched them, curious about what they were about to do. In fact, if they said they wanted to leave, Khal suspected that the observer would permit it without a second thought.

"Can we do that?" Devion asked this, but inwardly, he already trusted Khal’s words and was convinced that they could if he said so.

"Why not?" Khal heard Devion clicking his tongue and chuckled, much more freely this time. "We’re not natives of this world."

He only needed to say that, and the two quickly understood him. Would the others not see this barrier? That should be impossible unless they were programmed not to leave their place.

Ayen already saw this imperfection in the seemingly perfect world. Everyone was too peaceful. The situation back then might have been about the same, but it was impossible that none of the citizens were panicking.

They merely went on with their lives. The only active ones were the association and institute; even there, they were not particularly urgent.

Khal’s words already summarized it, and so none of them asked any further.

Ayen also had no opinion. If he were alone, he might have hesitated, but with the two by his side, he was more confident. They looked at the barrier, and with one glance at each other, they stepped beyond the boundary.

Ayen did not feel anything when he stepped out of the wall, as though the barrier was non-existent despite seeing it materialize.

There was no uncomfortable feeling either. He only felt a wind brush past him, and before he knew it, he was back in his original body.

He glanced at the two and confirmed they were the same. Devion squeezed his hand, and Khal winked at them. Devion cursed at him and called him a flirt, but Ayen could tell he liked it.

The corner of Ayen’s lips lifted as well, not a full smile but progress. His eyes expressed his emotions better, softening.

Ayen soon shifted his focus to their surroundings; his eyes swept around. The wind blew and brushed past him again, making his hair sway.

A hand reached out and fixed the strands to his side. It was Khal.

"Are you cold?" he softly asked.

Ayen shook his head.

"It’s relaxing."

Right. The ambience was extremely comfortable. The wind blew gently, swaying the plants and trees and scattering the leaves as they landed on the ground.

The water on the lake rippled as fish joyfully jumped and swam freely through it.

Devion also took a deep breath. He actually felt relaxed, and the uncomfortable feeling within him faded slightly.

"Who knew such a place existed beyond the wall?" Devion smiled. He was now looking forward to meeting that observer.

Now that he was back in his original body, there were no longer any restrictions, and his senses returned. He finally noticed the things he somehow overlooked.

Khal led them towards the table at the center of the lake. It was indeed so. The trees and plants with blooming flowers surrounded the path leading towards the platform at the center of the lake.

It was incredibly peaceful.

Ayen thought that if this was the observer’s subconscious, then it might be truly innocent. To have such a wonderful soul, even Ayen could not say he could compare.

He reached out and plucked a rose and noticed that it did not have thorns. Ayen stared at it and sat in the seat pulled to him by Devion.

"What’s so interesting about the rose?" Devion could not help but notice Ayen staring at the rose and asked. Khal also turned to him and listened.

Ayen pondered how to answer. What was really interesting about the rose? Was it because it did not have thorns?

"I don’t know," Ayen answered honestly. He also did not know, but he was fascinated by such a fact.

The rose not having thorns, and the place being so peaceful... It reflected such an innocent soul. He could not quite believe that he would encounter such a place. That it was a place conjured by an anomaly that could potentially wreak havoc in the world. 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

Calling this place a paradise was not far-fetched.

Perhaps it was particularly naive and ideal, and it did not suit someone like him. But...

"I like it. I like this place."

Ayen revealed his thoughts to his esper. If it were there, he knew, they would not ridicule him. He could be naive and idealistic.

He was not alone anymore.