CHAPTER 168: RELATIONSHIP

Rise continued, after a pause. Kamille’s expression also became more attentive.

"You want to eat?"

Kamille looked at the offered plate and did not refuse. Now, both of them were eating as though it were truly a place to enjoy a meal. They were like in their own world as they conversed in hushed tones, completely separated from the onlooker’s perception.

They did not seem to mind that almost everyone’s eyes and ears were on them and only continued to eat.

Thalia frowned slightly, watching the two. Somehow, she did not want to disturb them, and there was this lingering unease that warned her if she ever did.

For the first few minutes that they arrived in the room, which was supposed to be an interrogation room, no serious talk happened, and instead, both outsiders just ate and conversed with each other.

After getting their fill, Rise and Kamille finally took notice of Thalia again. Their expressions and movements were calm, with no sign of urgency.

The silver-haired man was once again the one who spoke first between the two.

Rise looked at Thalia and gave a small smile.

"Maybe, we’ll start with introducing ourselves first?" His voice was light and friendly. It was a kind that let everyone’s guard down.

Thalia did not show surprise this time. Her expression was composed and met Rise’s gaze. In the negotiation table, even if she was nervous inside, she could not let it show and affect this talk.

She did not put on airs, either, or talk in an interrogating tone.

"Well, then. I’m Thalia, as you’ve heard, the guild leader of the Evergreen Guild." She paused and observed the two outsiders. "I’m an Esper..." She did not continue, but her gaze did not leave the two.

It was like observing whether they would be surprised by the term. In her disappointment, their expression did not change.

Rise did not mind her checking him out, mostly used to such kind of stares and one that made sense in this situation. He only nodded and proceeded with their own introduction.

"You can call me Rise." Without any pondering about it, he chose to introduce himself truthfully.

He then looked at Kamille by his side and smiled, but the mischievous glint in his eyes that only Kamille could recognize at the moment.

"I’m a Guide. And this is my Esper, Kamille."

Rise’s voice did not even shake, and it sounded even cheerful while saying it. It felt excited even.

And truly he was. Rise was suddenly thankful that these guys did not know them, and so he could introduce them openly. Ever since, he wanted to shout to the whole world that only he could guide Kamille. Kamille was his Esper, and he was Kamille’s guide.

Rise met Kamille’s eyes. He grinned, and he winked. The latter only found it more amusing, a smile now tracing his lips.

Kamille turned to Thalia, who now failed to compose her expression, looking stunned.

He nodded and supported Rise. In this world, they could openly reveal this relationship.

"Rise’s my guide." It felt unnecessary to add, given that Rise was already introduced as such. However, Kamille did not think so.

He wanted to say the words himself as well. For a moment, an itch and ache simultaneously tinged inside his heart. It was like the moment he declared Rise as his guide, it satisfied something from within him, but at the same time, he provoked another.

This was not the time to ponder about these things, and Rise’s genuine smile preoccupied all of him more. Their hands also intertwined in a natural way without having to talk about it.

They did not put a plan or act because they did not need to. They were saying the truth and it was all they were. For the first time, bare for everyone could see.

"Oh, well..." Thalia, at a loss for words, did not know whether to reply or just watch the two. She felt like an outsider now.

Fortunately, Rise did not make it hard for her. She still held Thalia’s face and name, and so, gave her a privileged somewhat. Rise leaned against his guild leader’s chest, shameless enough to openly show his affection for everyone to see.

Kamille also let him be more comfortable, snaking his arm around Rise’s waist.

"This is our sincerity." Rise spoke more pleasantly this time, clearly in a good mood.

And in a way, this was true. Revealing their relationship, whether it was true or not, conveyed that they truly wanted to communicate. This was not only about them being lovers or not. In the world of espers and guides, being one’s espers or guides to each other was far heavier than just being called lovers.

No guides and espers would joke about this.

This stemmed from how espers saw the guides; they were not just merely there to nullify toxins or calm wavelength, they were a lifeline. And a bond between the two, it held more than love, but more so trust and survival.

Not yet sacred, but definitely significant.

And so, it helped lessen the pressure and tension between the two parties. Moreover, it also gave the connection with the outsiders. Where they came from, it seemed not to be different from their world.

The whole conversation, Rise let Kamille lead. In the first place, he was more used to listening than talking. He was never meant for leadership. He was the type who would likely flip the table in a negotiation if a condition he proposed did not pass.

"You were sucked inside a gate?" Thalia frowned, not exactly believing it.

Kamille nodded, not here to convince her, and still continued.

"It’s a mutated gate." He then recounted what happened, skipped those that had to be skipped, and changed some bits. Then he ended. "We’re trapped inside a blank domain, and when it disappeared, we met you."

That summed it up, mostly. No way Kamille would say what happened in that so-called blank domain he made up. Rise would likely do it, but not him.

Thalia blinked and then looked at the staff beside her, who looked unconvinced as well. She returned her gaze to the two.

Kamille and Rise did not say anything and waited. This was a reaction they expected. In fact, if he heard someone else say that to them in their world, he would be skeptical first.

But only skeptical, and would believe the idea. Since they could be connected to Zenos’ world through the gate, it was only possible that the other gates from other worlds could as well.

Gates... were unpredictable like the nobles that made them.