Chapter 162: ---

¬ HILN 

"I should have guessed the reaction would be more severe than usual," he muttered under his breath, turning away as he did so. 

I breathed an inward sigh and looked into the distance. There were three large sprawling cities as far as I could see and a lot of the structures shine golden under the sun. For a moment, I just stood there and stared and as if just remembering the portal we had crossed, I looked back to an empty desert plain. 

I faced Fashire. He squinted at the scenery, trying to adjust his sight. He gave up immediately, fishing the spectacles from the side pocket of his loose coat and wearing it. 

It was strange. I still had mixed feelings. I wanted to make peace as he was doing so but I still held a tiny bit of resentment. I couldn't help it. 

And he was still irritating. 

Sometimes…