There's No Love In the Deathzone (BL) novel Chapter 279

Chapter 279: Chapter 272. Reunion

"Bas, you really have to calm down!" Han Shin clutched Bassena’s dragon-leather coat and hissed, looking worriedly between his friend and the other people in that lobby.

"I can’t,"

The answer came through gritted teeth. This time, Bassena wasn’t throwing a tantrum and trashing the place. He was still sober enough to know he shouldn’t do that in someone else’s territory.

In fact, he was sitting still, fists clenching so hard on top of his lap. And Han Shin was touching his arm and shoulder, concentrating his mana on mental healing rather than physical ones.

But even then, waves and waves of harsh mana kept on emanating from the esper; a blast of energy that was filled with anxiety. And the heavy corrosion inside of him affected his mana, making it feel stifling and suffocating.

And that was being generous.

It was the lobby of the peak sanctuary, and while there were not as many people as in the other two lobbies, there were still clients and guides there. They knew the Serpent Lord, and at first, they did not question why he would be there. After all, it wasn’t rare for high-rank espers to get their cleansing in another Temple that wasn’t in their territory.

But the man--and the other espers that came with him--did not request for cleansing and only talked to the Temple Management. And then the Saintess came and talked to them for a little bit, definitely not enough for cleansing even though it was clear that Bassena Vaski needed it badly, with those thick dark circles beneath his eyes.

After that, they witnessed the Serpent Lord there, waiting for something or someone, for two days. And it was easy to see how the man cracked as the time passed. He didn’t sleep, he barely moved, just staring at the stairs that no one except the clients and the resident of the Temple could access. He was neither.

And then, finally, he cracked completely.

It started when he inquired, for the umpteenth time already, about something over and over again, desperation all over his face. They could even hear the word ’please’ thrown out repeatedly. But everyone who faced him all shook their head; the Saintess, the management, the templars. And with more of that shaking head, the esper’s mental fortitude broke further and further.

And now they were looking at him in fear. Especially the guides, who were scared of their wits even though the esper only sat there quietly with his clenched jaw and sunken eyes.

"Bas, you have to calm down if you want to stay here," Han Shin, once again, urged him.

"That’s right, Sir. I would have to force you out of the premises if you can’t keep your mana from leaking," one of the Templars, the one Han Shin recognized as the one who took Zein away approached them. His tone was certainly calm, but his eyes were tensing.

Han Shin turned to look at Bassena again, calling for the man gently. "Bas--"

"I can’t--" Bassena gritted his teeth and buried his face in his hands. "I can’t...you don’t understand! I have to see him!" he spoke through his teeth and looked up, staring at the Head Templar. "Please, Gods--I have to see him..."

"You will. Let’s just wait for him, okay?" the healer stroked Bassena’s back. "You can’t be thinking that Zein would leave you, right?"

"That’s not the problem!" Bassena raised his voice, prompting the people in the lobby to flinch at the spiking intensity of the mana leaking out of him.

"Bas--"

"You don’t--I don’t know...I don’t know if he’s...if he’s still there--" the voice grew hoarse and dwindled, until it tapered out into a choked whisper.

Han Shin frowned in both confusion and frustration. "What are you even--"

Before he could finish, Bassena suddenly looked up, amber eyes widened and sharp. He stood up abruptly, and the Templars--who had been on standby all this time--instinctively took a defensive stance and raised their weapons.

"No, no, no--wait!" Han Shin raised his arms and shook his head, telling the Templars that they had no intention to do anything bad.

But then, a soft voice called out to these guards from the stairs. "Let them in," the Saintess said, and without even waiting for confirmation or anything, Bassena walked as fast as he could--because they were not allowed to run inside the Temple.

"Saintess--"

"He’s awake," the Saintess, Irina, said. "If you would come to the guest room, I will inform him of your visit."

The blue eyes shifted toward the healer, who flinched in surprise. "I’m--I’m busy taking care of his mental condition, okay?!" Han Shin argued in defense. "And he refused the be cleansed!" _{freewebnσvel.cѳm}