A heavy atmosphere dawn on them as the three walk through the hallway with slow steps.
Various thoughts swirled around their minds about the incident at the throne room before, it was a very rare occurrence for Rex to be this angry at them to the point that he doesn't even want to talk to them.
Gistella could feel her body feeling weak, she couldn't stand the tension in the throne room.
It reminded of her that time when she mistakenly exposes her Werewolf side to Rex's deceased foster mother, Mrs. Greene. He was really angry at that time, and there was no speck of mercy when he reaches that point.
"B- Both of you should've started with apologizing first..." Gistella suddenly said.
Evelyn raises her gaze when she heard this, she then tilted her head in skepticism, "But why...? He has gotten closer with Calidora lately, and I'm only trying to prove myself to him that I could do way better than her"
"I understand... but Rex always has a reason" Gistella replied hesitantly.
Albeit what she said was true, Evelyn was still confused, "I know that it's dangerous to be there when the Executor is there, but it's the First Breath, his power at most peaked at the seventh-rank realm. We could handle ourselves"
"Rex must've feared for both of your safety, we should try understan-"
"Fear for our safety? I get that, but it's too much to cramp us here inside the castle. We're also his pack members. It may not make sense for me to go out there, but Adhara is the Female Alpha, she should be let out often"
"Think about the consequences, Evelyn. I'm sure Rex already deliberated it"
"Even if I die, I know that I'm fighting for a better future. I don't mind dying, even i-"
"Stop it, Evelyn..."
While Evelyn and Gistella were stuck in a heated argument about the situation, Adhara suddenly intervenes with a whispering tone. It stopped their argument abruptly, and Evelyn's expression softened seeing her standing stiffly like this.
Reaching out her hand to Adhara's shoulder, Evelyn suddenly widened her eyes.
'Her body is shaking...'
Upon touching Adhara's stiff shoulder intending to ask if she was okay, Evelyn was surprised when she felt Adhara's body shaking. It was unlike her, she was usually steadfast and strong but now she in the verge of breaking down.
It was almost as if her sturdy mental wall is crumbling apart.
Judging from her expression and widened eyes, It was undeniably fear that causes this.
Evelyn finds this very uncharacteristic of Adhara as she has her upper body curved forward in a meek posture, looking down at the floor with beads of sweat covering not only her face but also her entire body.
Almost a natural reaction of fear that Evelyn has never seen before, this is the first time.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt"What's wrong, Adhara...? Why are you being like this?" Evelyn asked.
Her blazing red long hair falls down to the side as she lowers her face to look at Adhara's face. But then, a couple of tears rolled out of Adhara's eyes which once again catches Evelyn completely off guard.
Tick!
Tick!
The tears make a light ticking sound as it hits the floor's surface.
"Did you remember Rosie, Evelyn...?"
"Yes, she's the woman Rex tried to save but was too late"
"If you remember, then you must also know that Rex in a way cared for her, right...? Then have you ever wondered why Rex didn't turn her into a Werewolf and become one of the Silverstar Pack?"
Upon hearing this, Evelyn frowns as she never thought about that before.
Considering that Rex has the urge to save her from the Delarosa Family that kidnapped her despite risking his life in the process, then it's clear that she's not only a friend. Now that she thinks about it, she finds it very weird that Rosie didn't get turned into a Werewolf.
"Right before she got kidnapped, Rosie begged to be turned. I was there..."
"I saw everything that happened that night. Despite her begging desperately, Rex refused to turn her into a Werewolf simply because her motivation is not aligned with him. Rosie is close to him and me, but he refused her coldly, emotionless... almost like a robot"
As she said this, flashes of memories appear inside her mind, remembering that night.
It was then Adhara raises her face and showed her broken expression, tears rolled down her face which surprised Evelyn and Gistella greatly. Each of them has the impression that Adhara is a strong and sturdy individual, but this is beyond them.
"His eyes are cold, I still remember until now. His emotionless eyes"
Not wanting to see Adhara like this, Evelyn got closer and pulled Adhara into her embrace before she cries even louder, "Rex is being like that earlier! What would we do if he suddenly woke up and decided to abandon us?" she exclaimed in between sobs.
Despite trying to calm Adhara down, Evelyn's heart also clenched when she heard this.
'I- Is he really that mad at us...?'
~
Meanwhile, Emham Forest.
Since the evacuation process has been completed rather perfectly, with none of the people dying, the Hester and Burton Family's forces started to slowly retreat while still fending off the Awakened from the other 25 Golden Crest Families.
Their job here is done, and it's now for them to evacuate from this place.
Of course, the battle is bloody, both sides suffer a substantial loss because of the fight.
"Retreat to the portal! Make sure to keep your formation tight!"
"Retreat! Retreat!"
Lauren gave instruction to her trusted aid to bring her children into the portal first, their lives were more important than hers. But then, William refused, saying that he would be staying here and helping to fend off the Awakened.
Despite her command, he was stubborn and stayed behind.
Albeit that was the case, Lauren felt proud of him who has been a non-Awakened all this time. But the affinity orb from Rex gave him a chance, and he now started to shine like the sun in her dark life.
On the other hand, Dray also did the same, standing beside his father firmly.
Since the ninth-rank realm Awakened has been warded off by Calidora, both sides are more or less equal, and the fight is fierce. It was then, Calidora landed near the teleportation formation alongside Dealkandrax and the insectoid creature.
Boom!
It seems her task here is completed, she finished it flawlessly.
Not even a scratch can be seen on her ample skin, she was still brimming with power.
Seeing her landing beside the advanced teleportation formation in an overbearing manner, Liliya who was grievously injured and couldn't walk properly, trying to carry the unconscious Prof. K called out to her.
"Wait! Please, help me bring him into the portal" She pleaded with heavy breaths.
Upon hearing this, Calidora glanced at her briefly with a nonchalant gaze before she smiled, "I'm sorry, I got my hands full with these two ungrateful pets already. So you'll have to do it yourself, my job here is done"
"If you don't help me, I'll tell Rex about this" Liliya suddenly threatened.
Calidora who was about to enter the portal leading to the Cluster Domain suddenly stopped, her eyes slightly widened while still gazing at the portal. It was then, a mischievous smile appeared on her face, her vampiric fangs poked out.
"Oh...? What makes you think that threat will work on me?" Calidora asked playfully.
At first, Calidora doesn't view anything of Liliya who was the reason the reinforcement came to help Prof. K and Giana in the first place. But now that Liliya is threatening her, she started to become intrigued.
Putting on an unwavering expression, Liliya then replied, "Rex sent you here for me"
"If you don't help me bring Prof. K into the portal, then I would also not move from my spot and let those Awakened kill me. Then, you will be the one getting the blame for leaving me here" she added, trying to reason with Calidora.
Despite doing so, in truth, she was on the verge of collapsing from her injuries.
Her vision is already hazy, and her body is beginning to get weaker and weaker. It wouldn't take long before she would actually pass out, but she needs to hold on until Calidora at least agreed to help bring them back.
Laughing sweetly, Calidora's eyes glowed menacingly, "Well alright, then. I'll help you"
Slowly, the Awakened from the Burton and Hester Family entered the portal one by one as the others that were still outside covers them. Under the strategic and compact retreat, they didn't suffer too much while retreating.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmLauren and Daniel were the last to get out, they were the strongest so it's a must.
When the coast is clear and the two has their chances, they dashed into the portal and left the Emham Forest. It was then, the two realized that they were in a different place, another dimension of the Emham Forest.
Near another portal was Calidora who was looking at them with sharp eyes.
Smiling briefly, she then entered the portal leading to Dargena City. Following that, the portal that leads to Emham Forest started shaking before eventually, it completely disappears without a trace.
Gazing at each other briefly, the two felt nervous to enter the portal.
Despite already surpassing the limit of being able to go back again, they couldn't help but feel this way. After all, the city that they were about to enter is ruled by the one called Rex Silverstar who easily beats ninth-rank realm Awakened left and right.
Compared to them, Rex wouldn't find any hard to kill them if he wants to.
"My son trusted him so I'm convinced to be here, there's no turning back for me"
"I think you misunderstand, Sir Daniel. I also don't think I could turn back"
A moment later, Daniel and Lauren were informed that Rex has already done his speech but he will meet with them to discuss the future in person. It was unset when they would meet them, but it's not now.
Gelmar was the one that convey this to them, and they nodded in understanding.
Since Rex is now playing a big part in the world as the third neutral party that wanted to break the norm, it's hard to imagine him having free time to converse with them. Nonetheless, the two were glad that there doesn't seem to be anything wrong with the place.
Around midnight, Adhara and Evelyn couldn't find themselves to sleep.
Out of fear of the result of their actions, they were staying inside the bed chamber silently.
Due to that they decided to stay up and waited for Rex to get into bed where the two would then apologize sincerely. It's the best thing they could do right now, the uncertainty of what Rex is thinking is killing them right now.
But even when it was past midnight, Rex never came into the bed chamber.
Evelyn and Adhara wanted to use their energies to sense where Rex was, but they were afraid of doing that lest they would disturb Rex when he was doing something. But when another couple of hours passed, the two decided to search for him.
In the throne room, there was nobody there, and the lights were off.
Since Gelmar is standing outside of the castle's entrance at all times, the two decided to go over to him and asked him about Rex's whereabouts. It seems he was not in the castle, he was outside.
"Gelmar, did you know where Rex is?" Evelyn asked.
Upon hearing this, Gelmar smiled lightly, "Yes, he left a while ago with Calidora"
"Calidora...? When? And where to?" Evelyn instinctively asked again.
Bowing slightly towards the two, Gelmar then explained, "He just left. After talking with Lady Gistella, Lord Rex left with Calidora. He was dressed in his royal outfit without the cape, and if I had to say, there was something wrong with the way he walks. But as for where he was going, I must apologize in advance, but I can't tell the two of you"
Adhara quickly turns around and went back inside the castle when she heard this.
On the other hand, Evelyn was at a loss for words, she couldn't believe that Rex went out with Calidora when he promised her that he would mind the person he was spending his time with.
"Rex... just what is going on?"