Chapter 29. Where Twilight Met

There were two seconds ticking by as they stared at each other wordlessly. Zein with widened eyes, and Bassena while blinking, trying to figure out the meaning behind those words.

He didn't take long, however, smirking after two seconds, and moved forward while grabbing into Zein, carrying the guide through the underground tunnel.

"Took you long enough," his soft laughter reverberating inside the close space. "Almost think you'll never remember,"

"I—you don't need to carry me," Zein grabbed the broad shoulder, glancing at the blocked pathway.

The water was sloshing back into the tunnel, and the level had been steadily rising, but not to the point where he couldn't thread by himself.

"And I told you I want to,"

Again, the esper cheerfully replied, as if he didn't just go through a battle with a giant Specter. The speed at which they traverse seemed to be increasing, and Zein could see that they actually running on top of the water.

Well, yeah, he couldn't do that.

"But you got the goo on me..."

Bassena blinked, just realizing the filthy state that had his face and clothes covered in a black viscous Specter essence. With the way he carried Zein right now—slung over his shoulder—the guide's midriff was getting smeared in the same substance.

"Ah, sorry about that..." Bassena replied, but hearing a quiet scoff from the guide, he broke into a grin. "But you really didn't recognize me just because I was covered in dirt and blood?"

Seeing that it was indeed impossible for him to follow the esper with his own feet, Zein accepted his fate of being carried and relaxed his body. He just grabbed the esper's shoulder for support before replying. "You know...if I take off these goggles right now, all I can see will be a pair of glowing eyes in the middle of the dark."

So how could Zein, a guide, without any dark-vision device, could see clearly inside a dim cave which atmosphere also got distorted by the closing of a high-class dungeon? He barely realized that the pair of amber eyes belonged to a human rather than a beast. He had to grope his way to put Bassena inside of him, and with the urgency of the situation, he had no leeway to carefully commit the esper's obscured face into memory.

"...understandable," Bassena said after a while, a lighthearted chuckle accompanying his word.

Zein paused for a while, staring at the slight tidal over the black water behind them. "Also, I've been erasing any memory around that time," he added in a small mutter.

"Because of your brothers?"

The hand grabbing the esper's shoulder was tightening up, and the relaxed body tensing up again, albeit slightly. "How do you—"

"Ah—we're out,"

Zein swallowed his question and turned his head, to the opening of the tunnel. Bassena put him down gently, but the firm hand still holding into Zein's waist.

It didn't matter, since their attention was fixated on other things.

It was like they came out to another world. Once they stepped out of the tunnel, there was a fortress. A fortress made of tall, sturdy, giant trees with branches forming a dome canopy so high Zein could barely see the top. This fortress enveloped a piece of land that felt as if it was coming out of a book.

Vibrant vegetation, in green and other colors; rich brown soil, moist and covered in healthy grass and moss. As they walked through the bushes and smaller trees, a glittering lake, with fresh water that reflected the greenery around it greeted them. At the other end of the lake was a waterfall, roaring softly and showering them with stray droplets.

Bassena looked down at his dirty hand, at Zein's fingers that clutched him tightly. The guide had taken off his goggles, and the blue eyes stared unblinking at the scenery. At the vibrant green bush and red and orange flowers. At the shimmering water, and white foam of the waterfall. Bassena could hear it clearly, the hard beating heart and the trembling lung.

Dark, thick eyelashes fluttered, and Zein inhaled deeply.

For the first time in his life, he laid his eyes on a large body of water, and saw something so...alive.

There were a lot of things Bassena wanted to say, and nothing he managed to utter. The place, an oasis in the middle of death, was beautiful. But it was no more beautiful than the shaking blue eyes, glazed with unshed tears, narrowed in such intricate tangle of sorrow and bliss that he forgot how to breathe momentarily. He wanted to wrap his arms around the trembling shoulder, and gazed deep into that sorrow.

He didn't do it. "You can see more. More of this; things that are prettier; things that you should see," he said, softly, sincerely.

Not because he wanted to make Zein come with him, but because he truly, truly wanted the guide to enjoy more of the things life could give. Things that had been robbed of him since he was born.

Because this man, which gave him his life four years ago, deserved everything good that he had been enjoying. And Bassena would make it happen, even if he had to be more forceful about it.

But he let the blue eyes soak in the miraculous scenery for now, wordlessly watching the sparkling wonder inside those orbs. His hand was still within the tight grip of the guide, and there was a part of him that wished the moment would last for eternity.

But of course, wish was meant to be shattered.

"Hey! It's really here! The shard is here!"

Their moment of bliss was broken by the excited shout from above. On the higher ground from where the waterfall coming, Han Shin's excited face peeked out from behind boulders and bushes. The healer was jumping up and down, waving his hand at them.

Bassena sighed inwardly and tugged on Zein's hand, carefully. He didn't need to, though, since the tenderness inside the blue eyes had vanished with the shout, and the guide had reverted back to his usual cold, nonchalant self.

"Shall we?" the esper asked, like a gentleman, although his hand already grabbing Zein's waist, and pulling the guide even closer.

"Sure..."

As soon as the word left out his mouth, they were scattered and reappeared on the boulder that could be seen from below, not far from where the other members had been gathering while staring at one point.

There, under the green and lush canopy of the giant trees, was another tree in the middle of another lake that reminded them of the Wood Specter. But where the Specter was sinister and rotten, this tree was beautiful and ethereal.

Mainly, it was thanks to the floating crystal that gave out a divine glow. Specks of light swirled around the tree like mystical fairy dust. Gurgling, invigorating water flew out between the tree's roots, supplying endless, pure water that gave life to the whole tree fortress.

"Take me there," Zein said under his breath, clutching tight on Bassena's clothes.

Without question, without delay, the esper took him across the body of water, right in front of the hovering crystal.

It was floating without any pedestal, as if it could be snatched by anyone. But when Bassena came close, he felt like he was being repelled by an invisible force. As soon as he let go of Zein, he was shoved back. His boots skidded across the tree root, and he would probably topple into the calm lake if it wasn't for his incredible balance.

Bassena heard shouts from the lakeside where the others were gathering, but his focus was solely on Zein. Unlike him, the guide was standing in front of the shard without difficulty. From where he stood, Bassena could see it even clearer; the bright glowing mark of five intertwined circles on the guide's nape.

The same number of circles that were present on the tracker artifact.

And the same symbol that was carved on the palm-size floating shard.

"Haa...what kind of..." Bassena almost wanted to laugh, as he watched Zein reach out his hands toward the shard.

They picked Zein, at the start, solely for Bassena's own selfishness. Although of course, he already knew how capable the guide was. But what was this...

He knew that the other expedition members also watched in bewilderment as the shard moved and gently laid on top of Zein's plan.

The mysterious shard of Setnath, which they weren't even sure really existed, had been repealing their advances ever since they arrive there. Not even the great Bassena Vaski could counter the invisible force that rejected their presence.

And yet this obscured guide, that had been holed up at the edge of the world and had never even laid his eyes on Towers or Temples, was embracing the shard as if it belong in his arms.

As if it belonged to him.

* * *

Zein walked along the natural stairs made of stones and wood that connected the ground where the shard was with the ground where they came from. A bunch of towels and a bag filled with a change of clothes were in his hand.

Now that they were inside this oasis, he did not need to be cautious of the miasma, so Zein shed his uniform, which coincidentally got smeared with the black substance from Bassena's clothes, and only wear his casual black shirt and pants.

It felt weird, but he never felt this safe and secure before. It must have been caused by the shard, which for some reason welcomed him. His pulsing mark was immediately calming after he touched the shard, and he had to receive inquisitive stares and incessant questioning from the other members, especially the researchers.

Unfortunately, Zein was as clueless as them. The only thing he could do was reveal the mark on his nape, but it brought more questions than answers.

Since there was nothing more they could do, the team decided to just rest first and think later. Without the need to conserve space since the whole area was a safe zone, they erected tents and Balduz even organized a proper kitchen.

Zein, meanwhile, bore the task to take care of their main gun.

Drenched in filth and whatnot, Bassena had been cleaning himself on the lower lake while the others building their camp. And Zein came down to deliver the towels and change of clothes that he currently held.

When he arrived on the lakeside, he was greeted by an aggressive splashing sound and annoyed grumbling. Obviously, it came from the firm, packed figure struggling with the filth covering his face and hair.

"Why is this so hard to come off—ugh—fucking tree blood!" the low, husky voice was bouncing off the stones surrounding the lake.

Under the tree fortress canopy, the shard on the upper ground acted as a source of light, so Zein could clearly see the ripple of back muscle and the movement of the wing bones to the firm upper arms. The pristine water glistened over bronze skin, reflecting the light from the shard.

It would be such a perfect picture if it wasn't for the incessant grumbling. "Why did a tree has blood anyway?"

Dropping the towels and bag into the grass, Zein seated himself on the edge of the lake while replying. "They don't," he lowered one of his feet into the water's surface, making a small ripple. "They have sap, that's why it's sticky."

With a splashing sound, Bassena turned his body, throwing his usual, casual smile at the guide. He dove and vanished into the depth of the lake, while Zein lifted his eyes to gaze at the tree canopy and the abundance of vegetation around them.

How ironic. The first, proper, vibrant nature he experienced was inside a Deathzone. So did the first large body of water—something that he had always wanted to witness with his own eyes.

There were flowers not far from where he sat, little petals of light red and bright orange peeking from green bushes. He had never seen a proper flower before. Only those dried to use for medicinal herbs. Not even the grass in the red-zone sprouting flowers.

Honestly, Zein didn't mind just spending his time here, inside the tree fortress. He inhaled the fresh air—sweeter than anything he ever tasted—and closed his eyes in bliss, drowning inside the taste of safety.

Zein only opened his eyes when he heard a soft splashing sound in front of him, and Bassena emerged from the water, completely clean now.

And completely wet.

He swiped his hair back and walked towards Zein, giving the guide a full front view of broad shoulder and firm chest, of perfectly sculpted abdominal muscle. The closer he was, the more Zein could see everything clearly. The defined muscles, the dripping water, and below.

Clearly, the water wasn't enough to obscure even his normal, blurry civilian eyes.

"I thought you're supposed to be a magician," Zein gave his honest thought, eyes still lingering down there even as Bassena arrived at the lakeside, stopping in front of him.

"I am," the esper answered with a smirk.

Zein tilted his head, eyes narrowed in deep contemplation. "Is it because you're a Saint Class?"

"Is there a law that stated a magician type should be weak and feeble?" the esper paused for a bit, and then added with palpable taunt. "Or poorly endowed?"

This one clearly wasn't any of those. If Zein had to give an honest assessment, he'd say the esper was too well-endowed, even. He had to question whether someone's power was proportional to their size.

Zein lifted his gaze finally, staring at the obviously satisfied expression on the esper's face. "But what are you using all that muscle for?"

Bassena chuckled and leaned forward, thigh grazing Zein's foot inside the water. "To seduce you?"

The firm, sturdy arms that had been used to hold Zein a few times already stretched out to grab the edge of the lake, caging the guide. The full frontal assault of the beautiful, bare figure adorned with glittering water was honestly more than enough to make anyone blush. Not to mention the charming smirk on a handsome visage, and blazing, fiery amber eyes filled with passion that stared straight into the other.

But Zein had been flirted upon since he was but a child and at this point, had grown immune to any kind of seduction. Even under the blazing heat of amber orbs and the glory of bronze-skinned perfectly-shaped adonis incarnation, Zein just used his arms to prop himself and leaned back, blue eyes looking like an appraiser rather than an admirer.

"What a useless objection," he commented nonchalantly.

Bassena shrugged, eyes narrowed and sharp. "But you looked," his voice low and sultry, almost like a whisper.

"I don't see a reason why I shouldn't, when it's on display," Zein replied mercilessly.

Bassena stared keenly at the guide, looking for any semblance of crack, any hint of blush. But there were none—the blue eyes stared at him openly, cool and steady. The pretty face was as impassive as ever, and Bassena felt it would be him that succumbed to fluster should he gaze at that beauty for too long.

As he shifted his gaze downward, he couldn't see any sign of excitement, and burst out laughing. "Damn, not even a flinch..."

"Try harder," Zein moved his feet inside the water, creating a ripple that clashed on the esper's bare body.

Bassena raised his brow and smirked. "So I'm allowed to try?" when Zein provided him with no reply, the esper added. "I remember you said there's no love—"

"I did," Zein replied with such conviction that Bassena knew the guide hadn't changed his mind about that.

But it also didn't seem like he banned any advances, so...

Bassena stared at the guide, water dripping off his bronze skin onto the older's lap. "What about lust, then?"

A warmth, a heat, radiated from the blazing amber to the cool blue, clashing sight blended into enchanting twilight. In a distance that could easily be breached stood a delicate, tempting line as crafty as sins.

In a voice as soft as a breath, Bassena asked firmly. "What about a kiss?"