“Finally. We managed to get out of that hole.” Aurora looked back at the pair panting behind her.
Clove looked a little paler than Aurora would have liked her to be but Quince looked bad. His face was red and his breath labored.
“Was the climb that difficult for you? You should take care of yourself better.” Aurora neared Quince’s face to check up on him but he jumped back.
He quickly glanced at Clove before turning back toward Aurora.
“I’m alright. I’m just a little surprised that we did not run into any monsters on our way out. I thought I felt them crawling near us a few times.” Quince’s laughter was nervous and forced.
‘He is on to me.’ Aurora was sure of this fact now.
But she did not show that thought on her face. Aurora smiled her most disarming smile toward the pair.
“That was fortunate for us. I am glad that no one got hurt.” Aurora aimed her smile toward Clove.
Aurora felt Ava pick her head up from her rest and glance at the group. Then the snake went back to her rest.
“I guess it is time we part away. Hopefully, we will have more opportunities to work together in the future.” Aurora consoled the pair.
The pair watched her go with complicated expressions.
It was only after Aurora was gone did Quince risked taking a look at Clove.
“You don’t look happy to see her go. There is still time to capture her and get her back. I’m sure my father would be happy if we brought her back with us.” Quince suggested.
But even though he was suggesting that option, he knew that it would not be possible for him.
“Be serious. We currently don’t have enough power to drag her back with us. Didn’t you notice how the monsters were avoiding her while we walked toward the exit?” Clove asked.
Quince flinched as he remembered the glowing red eyes trailing their every moment. He had never felt this many monsters in such close vicinity.
“So it was not you who made them all back away?” Quince asked.
Clove shook her head.
“I might have been born with the Abyss’s blessing but I can’t access that power. No. Something else frightened those monsters. And I have a feeling that it was Aurora they were afraid of.” Clove concluded.
“What should we do now? Are we going to report her to the higher-ups? Clove? CLOVE?” Quince’s questions went unanswered as Clove turned around to leave.
An amused smile broke out on the female’s face as she heard the desperate cries of her childhood friend.
But the confused feeling of longing and grief inside Clove’s heart did not lessen. It was the same feeling she had felt when she had first met Aurora in the Abyss tower.
It felt like she knew Clove from somewhere but Clove could not tell from where. But Aurora made Clove’s loneliness go away.
So Clove was sure she would see Aurora again and soon enough.
“Master Quince, Mistress Clove. We finally managed to find you. Are you alright?” the worker that had come to receive the pair sounded relieved to see them.
Clove quickly schooled her features into her polite and gentle smile. Quince flinched once he joined Clove’s side.
“Did father send for you?” Quince asked. He was quick to pick up on the act.
“Yes. Master said to inform you that you need to head toward the first-floor trail room. The previous one will be over in a few hours. It would do you both good to have this cleared out of the way.” The guard informed.
Clove nodded her head and Quince quickly caught on to her wish.
“Of course. Lead the way.” The pair arrived at the test chamber entrance and Clove instantly felt Clove’s familiar presence.
Her eyes moved through the room-
-Only to see the elder being wrapped up in some unfamiliar redhead’s embrace. And Clove could swear that the red-head was taking advantage of Clove’s stunned face to take some liberties with her.
But Aurora pulled away soon enough and dragged the red-head out of the room.
The snake on Aurora’s shoulder met Clove’s eyes. Clove read the warning clear in them but she chose to ignore them.
She almost took a step toward the pair before she felt a hand on her shoulder stopped her in her tracks.
“Don’t cause any unnecessary trouble for us. We are in the public eye. Anything you do will be reported to the higher-ups.” Clove stopped.
She had to make a visible effort to stop herself from gritting her teeth but she somehow managed to do that.
For the rest of her trail, Clove had a fake smile plastered over her face but only Quince could tell.
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The journey through the trap had almost been nostalgic for Aurora. It had reminded her of the good old days.
And the dynamic of the trio had not changed much, even if she was no longer the same age as the other two.
Clove was still the sweet and caring girl she always has been. And Quince was still the problematic and jealous man he had always been.
“Is it necessary for you to go? It was fun being with you and I don’t want to part ways just yet. Can’t you stay with us any longer?” Aurora felt the pressure build up as Clove looked at her.
Aurora knew if she looked at Clove’s eyes, she would cave in. She had always been weak in front of her.
“I can’t. I have an academy of my own to operate and I am not that fond of the tower. I can’t reconsider, even if it is for you two. And I shall also take my leave.” Aurora quickly fled the scene.
She could feel confusion and betrayal coming from the pair. Aurora did not dwell much on these feelings as she fled.
“Those creatures were funny. But I would advise you to stay away from that girl. There is something not right about her.” Ava finally picked her head up for real.
She had been so quiet that Aurora even forgot her existence. But the spoke words finally snapped her out of her thoughts.
“I can’t afford to do that. That girl back there was Clove.” Aurora replied.
Ava instantly fell quiet, her brain deep in thought.
“Fine. I was just warning you for your sake. You are free to do what you want to. Also, you should hurry up. I can feel the energy from the floor trial gate. It is about to be over.” Aurora changed her direction as soon as she heard that.
Aurora had not even realized that two days had passed since she had left Rita. Aurora needed to get back and pick her up.
Ava helped Aurora get back without detection. Ava directed her toward the hidden doorways Aurora had not even known about.
And it was only because of Ava that Aurora managed to get back in time. Ava’s proud aura betrayed her aloof face.
“Rita. Come this way.” Aurora waved as she spotted Rita’s red hair. The teen looked dazed but her eyes held a real spark of power now. freeweb(n)ovel.com
Aurora did not get a chance to react as Rita blamed the other people and slammed into Aurora’s chest.
“Easy on the hug there. You are not as weak as you look.” Aurora scolded as she regained her balance. The arms around Aurora tightened just a bit.
And maybe it was Aurora’s imagination, but Rita looked older. Aurora was sure that Rita had not crossed her shoulder in height two days ago.
But now she looked almost as tall as Aurora.
And when Rita looked up, she looked older as well. She almost looked like the Rita from Aurora’s timeline.
“Did something happen in your trail? You look like you’ve aged. Were the two days really that tough for you?” Aurora questioned but she only felt the hold tighten around her middle.
But Aurora’s middle was not the only place she felt being squeezed. Something was lightly squeezing her right breast and fondling it.
Aurora tried to gain some distance from Rita but the younger held on to Aurora too tightly. The hold on her breast tightened as well.
Aurora felt the moan escape her. She could not stop the red from spreading across her face.
She quickly glanced across the room and spotted Quince’s platinum-white hair and flinched.
If he was here, then Clove must be here as well.
“Rita, we are leaving this place. We cannot afford to be caught here.” Aurora whispered.
Rita nodded. Her head did not pick itself up from Aurora’s chest even when she agreed.
Aurora quickly maneuvered the pair out of the room. She knew this would attract quite a few eyes but Aurora chanced that risk.
She felt Ava pick her weight up and give the surroundings a vigilant look.
In this manner, the trio made their way outside the trail hall. And landed head-first in the most basic trap on the first floor.
They walked into a cave without any exit.
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