The Guide is Actually a Body-Switching Esper [BL]
Chapter 158: Trapped (2)

Chapter 158: Trapped (2)

Nyla paced back and forth, rubbing his chin until it started bleeding - the skin on her face was already badly damaged by the red corrosive sludge, after all, so not much was needed to completely tear off the skin. She didn’t even seem to notice though, too absorbed in her thoughts.

"I should do something, shouldn’t I?" she muttered. "He said they won’t stop me... And if I start, then other people will surely join..."

"We have the money, even if they try charging us, we can afford to pay. We can also sue them back for the damages..."

"But what will the parents say?"

Lane almost scoffed. Even now, when they were both about to turn thirty, Nyla still couldn’t make a decision on her own. It was always what their parents said. What their parents wanted. What their parents expected of her. Living her whole life by their design, all the way down to every single damn detail.

"...What do you think?"

And even when Lane was basically thrown out, she-

"Mr. Owens?"

"Huh?" Lane turned his head, suddenly pulled out of his thoughts.

"What do you think about it?"

"I don’t know," shrugging his shoulders, Lane let out something between a hiss from pain and an annoyed scoff. "How am I supposed to know what your parents would say?"

Well, he DID actually have some ideas, but ’Xavier’ shouldn’t have a clue.

"I... didn’t mean my parents. I asked about your opinion."

Lane’s... That is, ’Xavier’s’ opinion?

"Don’t you have a mind on your own?" Lane snapped.

"I..." Taken aback, Nyla couldn’t help but pause. Eventually, she admitted, "Perhaps I don’t."

At such a statement, Lane had no choice but to remain silent. Because there was simply not a single thought of what he could say in response in his head.

"Let’s just go get some guiding," he finally said.

Although guiding couldn’t heal him, not with the serious injuries he had, it would at least improve his state. And Nyla most certainly could use it as well.

"Ah, right! I’m so sorry, I was so distracted that it slipped my mind..." Nyla gasped, and immediately glanced around, rushing forward when she noticed some Guides.

She was still the same as always, Lane noted. Struggling to remain clear-headed in stressful, chaotic situations. It would be hard for her if she truly had to take over the Allen Guild one day.

The situation remained at a standstill - with just a bit of action when two T Rexes, and a group of new, smaller monsters resembling a disturbing mix of dinosaurs with kangaroos arrived - until sometime later, the rest of the people from the Arena finally finished their fights and came to the Gate.

"Nyla!"

Gracie called out as they spotted Nyla, sitting down by the remains of the wall in quite a sorry state. She rushed to her side...

"What happened to your face!" Gracie yelled at her niece. "How could you get injured so badly! What if it leaves a scar?!"

Lane subconsciously nodded his head. Yes, it would be quite a shame if Nyla’s face were to be ruined. With a proper healer though, she should recover just...

"Xavier."

All Lane’s thoughts had vanished in an instant, as he heard a much more pleasant voice than Gracie’s. The most pleasant voice.

Damien.

He lifted his eyes, and immediately exhaled with relief. Damien was alright. With his hair tousled, his uniform damaged, and a few red patches on his skin, but with no serious injuries. Lane knew the man would be fine, should be fine - he was powerful, after all! The only time Lane saw him seriously injured was when he jumped in to save ’Noah’ - but some unease still remained. Now that he saw him with his own eyes though, he could finally breathe out with relief.

The same couldn’t be said for Damien, unfortunately. His face grew pale, as he crouched in front of Lane. "What... What happened to you?" he muttered, his voice strained.

"Ah, well." Lane forced a smile. "I’m sorry... I was a bit reckless, and got hurt a bit... But I’m still alive, so no worries!"

Not reassured by his words at all, Damien looked him up and down, his expression turning more and more panicked with each second. "Where are the healers?"

"No one knows."

"Then why is the gate closed?"

"It’s broken, it seems, so they can’t-"

"WHAT?" All of a sudden, Gracie yelled so loudly, that Lane couldn’t help but pause mid-sentence. Instinctively. All while flinching.

The question wasn’t directed at him, of course, the woman was talking with Nyla. Or HAD BEEN, would be more accurate to say, because now, being yelled out, Nyla lowered her head, going completely silent.

Not that Gracie cared for her response. "How dare they keep us trapped here?" she ranted. "Why haven’t you done anything?!"

Nyla just curled up within herself, closing off.

It wasn’t like Gracie paid any attention to her anymore. She yelled at her, yes, but that was all. Her burning eyes were now directed at the Agency members, faint green flames flickering around her.

Lane almost felt bad for those Agency members now, watching as Gracie charged their way. This aunt of his had quite a temper. Her yelling was so loud now, that it attracted the attention of pretty much everyone gathered. Lane wouldn’t be surprised it could even awaken the dead.

With her intervention, the charge at the gate finally started. At first, it was just Gracie, but one by one, others started joining her. Now that someone took the lead, it wasn’t difficult to entice people to follow.

"You go to," Lane said to Damien, noticing how the man was hesitantly glancing between him and the gate. "The more people help, the better."

"But... I don’t want to leave you alone... Again."

"Don’t worry, Team Leader Lennox," Nyla cut in. "I’ll stay and watch over him. My ability is not the most useful here anyway."

Damien looked over at Lane, clenching his fist, clearly uneasy. He let him go alone earlier... And now what happened?

But then again, he wouldn’t go far. He could still keep an eye on Lane. And the faster they destroyed the gate, the faster they could get him some help...

So eventually, he stood up with a sigh. "Then... I’ll be right back."