Chapter 28 – Request for Help

"Do you feel confident enough to use Voracious Mode, Edgar? We could think of some ways to train it…" Abigail asked, her eyes closed as she relaxed into the massage.

"No. For now, all I can do is activate and deactivate it quickly. If it stays active for more than a second, I lose control," Edgar replied, his tone sharp and deliberate.

"I see… What a shame. The Voracious Mode within your core is so unique. It would be incredible to study it and uncover its secrets."

"You make it sound like you want to use me as a guinea pig," Edgar retorted.

"And you make it sound like you didn't already know that," Abigail teased with a sly grin. "Heh… If I could, you'd already be locked in my palace lab on Avior—Ahhh, Inessa, stop that!"

Her smugness dissolved as an invisible pressure tightened around her head.

"I didn't find that funny, Abigail. Even as a joke, it's distasteful," Inessa said coldly, withdrawing the aura she had used to discipline her companion.

"Yes, yes, I understand…" Abigail muttered, regaining her composure. "But it's good for him to remember that something like that isn't entirely out of the question—Mmmnh!"

Her words faltered again as another wave of aura coursed through her, forcing her to suppress a moan.

"So I should be cautious around you, huh?" Edgar teased, a wicked grin spreading across his face as he probed for another point to infiltrate his aura.

"You little—"

Click… thud.

The door opened and closed quickly. Aglaya stepped into the room, her expression neutral and her movements calculated as she approached the table where Inessa sat.

"Lady Inessa," Aglaya greeted her respectfully.

"So, Aglaya, who contacted our Auvox? Was it the girls?"

"Yes. But I think it's best that everyone hears the message." Aglaya produced a glossy black sphere from her pocket, clearing a corner of the table to place it. With a gentle infusion of aura, the sphere activated.

A voice emanated from within:

"Lady Inessa, we're in the Turt Desert, approximately 300 kilometers west of Nenvia, near the canyon. Hendrina successfully eliminated her target without assistance, but we were caught off guard by a Crotalus Desertignis of an unidentified level. It withstood three NoA7 bombs at close range with no visible damage, suggesting it is at least Level 4. The beast is pursuing us—perhaps viewing us as easy prey or due to accidental provocation. We are attempting to recharge the Command Wire, but it seems to be malfunctioning. We request assistance. We'll retreat and engage as necessary to buy time. Please, send help."

"I'm leaving," Edgar announced, standing abruptly and heading for the door.

"And where exactly do you think you're going?" Inessa's sharp tone halted him in his tracks as he passed the table. Her gaze was cold and unyielding.

"To the Turt Desert," Edgar replied without looking back, his voice firm as he continued toward the door.

In his mind, plans and strategies were already forming. He calculated the quickest route, while his concern for the girls' safety grew with each step.

Click… tak.

He reached for the door handle but froze when it refused to open.

Click… click… click…

He tried again, pulling harder, even bracing his feet against the door. But no matter what he did, it remained firmly shut.

Behind him, stifled giggles turned into outright laughter.

"Hahaha!"

"hmhm!"

Defeated, Edgar turned to see the three women grinning. Inessa and Abigail didn't bother hiding their amusement, while Aglaya struggled to maintain a straight face.

"Inessa, open the door, Pleeease" he said, his voice tired and laced with frustration.

"I don't think I understood where you're going, Edgar. Could you repeat that?" Inessa asked, not even glancing at him as she calmly spread butter on a piece of bread.

"…"

Frustrated, Edgar didn't respond immediately. He clenched his fists because he knew what would happen, Inessa would keep him here and wouldn't even let him go with her to help the girls.

Meanwhile, Inessa calmly continued to eat and enjoy her snack. Beside her, Abigail had gotten dressed again and was also enjoying her snack.

Seeing this scene only worsened Edgar's distress and clouded the rational thoughts he was having.He knew what was coming—Inessa's refusal to let him leave. He racked his brain for alternatives.

"Inessa, open the door!" He shouted angrily, at the same time unconsciously expelling an extremely powerful wave of aura that flooded the room and planted feelings of anger and frustration in the three women.

It was strong enough to test the limits of the aura containment and isolation spells that were placed in the room. They resisted the intensity of the aura very well without even letting a little leak out.

"QUIET."

Inessa's commanding voice sliced through the tension. With a flicker of her own aura, she dispersed Edgar's wave effortlessly.

However, even though he quickly neutralized the aura wave, the feelings contained within it still affected the three women. Hence, unlike before when they had cheerful expressions and tried to contain their laughter, now their expressions were serious and they avoided looking at him.

"Do you have any idea what you just did?" Inessa asked, her tone sharp as she rose from her chair to face him.

"…"Shame and guilt rooted Edgar to the spot. He opened his mouth to respond but found no words.

Seeing Edgar's expression and noticing how he was feeling about the Link between them, Inessa quickly gave up her words of reprimand and changed the subject. 

"The task was never going to be easy," Inessa continued. "They knew the risks. Hendrina completed her hunt—that's what matters. Now, I suggest you stay here, quiet and behaved." She was direct and unlikely to change her mind, with those words she wanted to end the matter.

"… But they asked for help…" Edgar's voice was barely above a whisper.

"You gave them Windor's Command Wire. He will intervene if their lives are truly at risk. Or do you not trust your own training expertise and Windor?"

"That's not the issue! Windor will act, but only at the last moment. What if they're injured? They might not survive until help arrives! I don't want any of them to be in the same situation as Marien…"

"And you think I want that?" Inessa snapped, her tone sharp.

"So-" He tried to continue, but before he had time to continue his reasoning, he was interrupted by Inessa.

"But don't get me wrong, Edgar. I know the danger they're in and I understand very well that they asked for help because they couldn't handle the imminent danger. But do you know why I'm not worried?"

"…"

"Lady Nala never leaves her students unsupervised."

___________________________

"Anya, I don't mean to be annoying or anything, but how long until the Command Wire is recharged?" Sonia asked.

"If you keep asking this every 30 seconds, it'll take even longer." Anya replied, her eyes closed and sitting on the floor while holding the Command Wire with both hands.

"I know, I know… But the damn snake hasn't given up on devouring us, Anya. The wretch is still standing there, it knows we're still here, I'm sure it's ready to attack as soon as the barrier is dispersed."

"I can't do anything. I'm already doing my best here, we can only hope that the protective barrier lasts long enough for help to arrive…"

"I don't want to be annoying and pessimistic this time, girls, but I don't think the barrier will last that long…"

This time it was Mahara who spoke, who was also sitting on the floor and taking care of Hendrina's wounds. She pointed to some parts of the dome-shaped barrier that stood over them, protecting and hiding them from the Crotalus Desertignis.

From the outside, the barrier and what was inside could not be seen by beings with senses below a certain level. As a barrier device given to them by Inessa, it required a level 6 beast to destroy it.

However, it was a time-limited device, and at this moment, the parts Mahara pointed to were beginning to grow visibly more turbulent. A clear sign that the barrier was beginning to dissipate.

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