The belfort family
David's eyes widened a little, gasping in surprise at what he heard.
Noticing the double meaning in what she had said, Lara's face turned a deep shade of red as she struggled to even meet the boy's gaze. Finally, she shouted a denial, then hastily tried to clarify what she meant.
"Sorry, I didn't explain myself properly. I-I just wanted you to hold my hand," she said, averting her eyes timidly. "I'm sorry for the strange request, I just..." She trailed off, too embarrassed to continue.
Still unsure of what she meant, Davi smiled and gently patted her head.
"Don't worry, it's all right." He stepped forward, standing in front of her. With a soft gesture, he took her hand and intertwined her fingers with his, projecting calm and reassurance. His warm smile was friendly, as though he wanted to ease any discomfort she might feel.
"Thank you," Lara said, her cheeks flushed as she breathed heavily, causing her ample chest to rise and fall.
The gentle warmth of the boy's touch spread through Lara, surprising her. She didn't feel even the slightest trace of fear. Actually, it was almost as though all her fears had vanished as she gazed into his handsome eyes.
For some reason he really is an exception… Lara thought, confirming her suspicions. She didn't feel uncomfortable being touched by him. More than that, it was almost as if… Her face turned a deep crimson as she quickly pushed away the thoughts forming in her mind.
Meanwhile, Davi was struggling to understand the girl's mind, which was definitely not an easy task.
Anyway, after confirming that touching him wouldn't cause her any discomfort, she asked if he could still summon the bird from earlier.
The answer, of course, was no. He avoided going into details about his ability, as he didn't want to create misunderstandings.
They talked for a few moments, analyzing the situation they found themselves in. Lara formally introduced herself to the boy and admitted that she didn't know Aden. She explained that he had suddenly appeared and saved her.
Anyway, they needed to leave the area as quickly as possible. As monsters could attack them at any moment, their best option was to find a castle or some other safe shelter. Since it didn't seem like Aden would wake up anytime soon, the only solution was for Davi to carry both of them.
The problem was that his stats had returned to being low. Even so, he picked up Aden, carrying him in a princess hold. Then he helped Lara to climb his back, so she could cling to him and also be carried.
As much as Davi wanted to focus solely on the task at hand, it was impossible not to notice the two massive melons pressed firmly against his back. With every step he took, it felt like Lara was unintentionally massaging his back with them.
In truth, this might have been one of the best things that had ever happened to Davi… if not for the weight. Walking while carrying two people was no easy feat.
Meanwhile, Lara found herself surprisingly comfortable. The boy's scent enveloped her, a pleasant and soothing aroma that seemed to calm her nerves. No matter how much she wanted to deny it, the truth was that being close to him made her feel safe and comfortable.
It was strange, but her instincts told her he was the right person to trust.
Anyway, she pushed these thoughts aside, and began explaining how she had ended up in her current situation.
It all started because one of the childs of the Belfort family was after her.
The moment she arrived in the area, she was confronted by two of his henchmen. Although she managed to defeat the first one, she ended up being poisoned.
She tried to escape and was lucky enough to run into Aden. However, as time passed, the poison made her movements slower and more difficult until they were eventually ambushed.
"The truth is, they won't stop coming after me. I don't think he'll ever give up," she said, her tone filled with resignation and sadness. "I'm sorry for getting you involved in this."
Hearing that name mentioned yet again, Davi finally decided to ask what had been on his mind:
"Who exactly are these Belforts?"
"You don't know who they are?" Lara exclaimed, her tone laced with surprise. But given that Davi came from the countryside, it wasn't unusual for him to be unfamiliar with such information. "They're one of the three most prestigious families at the Enki Academy."
She went on to explain that, while the three families didn't hold any official positions, classes had a genetic component. The most powerful students from the first generation at Enki were the founders of these families.
Over time, these families evolved into clans, establishing deep roots within Enki. They also formed connections with other powerful individuals and families, gradually absorbing them into their sphere of influence.
In fact, one major reason why the second trial was always held in three separate regions was these families. Their relationship was far from friendly, but they maintained a tacit agreement not to interfere with one another. To preserve this fragile peace, the examiners made efforts to avoid encounters between their members.
By the way, the Darnells were part of this trio. They were renowned for possessing the greatest firepower and for producing the best mages. Currently, their leader, Ember's father, was regarded as the second-strongest individual in Enki.
Then there were the Darnells' eternal rivals: the Adasi family. The Adasi were arguably the most important of the trio. Although their abilities were not usually flashy, they had a uniquely powerful class: Tiamat.
The name of this class reportedly referred to a deity from ancient mythology. It wasn't the only known class with a mythological name. In fact, there was a category for such classes, known as Mythic Classes. These were exceedingly rare and extraordinarily powerful.
However, the ones responsible for the headaches Davi and Lara were currently enduring were the Belforts.
Unlike the other two families, the Belforts didn't boast a combat-oriented class that stood out. Instead, they compensated with some of the most powerful buff abilities known.
Due to this, their mode of operation was distinct. Ever since they arrived in the city, the Belforts had been expanding their influence, forging strong relationships with anyone they deemed useful.
In addition, the Belforts had a sharp business acumen and quickly began amassing wealth. This, combined with their ability to turn mediocre fighters into exceptional ones, allowed them to establish a rift exploration company. Before long, their company became the largest in the city by a significant margin.
Their main professional hunting team was second only to a few elite teams worldwide, including the 12 squads representing the 12 academies. In short, the Belforts were incredibly wealthy, influential, and powerful.
This year, Luis Belfort and his cousin Sophia Belfort were participating in the trial. Each of them had assembled a personal "mini-army" composed of talented youths from across the globe who were also taking the test. True to family tradition, they planned to compete in the second phase, which involved a simulated war.
What truly mattered, however, was that Luis had decided he wanted Lara for himself. The boy had no intention of considering her feelings on the matter.
To ensure this, Luis manipulated the arrangements so that, despite choosing a different testing area, Lara ended up in the same location as him. Inside the rift, essentially no laws existed. It was nearly impossible to prove anything that happened within it, meaning Luis could do whatever he pleased to her without consequence.
As soon as she arrived, Lara had been attacked by his henchmen.
"I know I should've given up when I had the chance," she admitted in a soft, almost defeated voice. "But I can't. I can't abandon her…" Her words were more directed at herself than anyone else. Tears began to pool in her eyes as she thought about the situation.
It was frustrating and terrifying, but she knew she would never forgive herself if she gave up now. She had to make it to the S rank to help that person.
"I'm sorry for dragging you into this," she said once again as they approached the castle. "You shouldn't stay near me. If you keep trying to help, you'll—"
"I already told you, I can't abandon a friend of Ember's. And don't worry, I'm sure I can handle it," Davi replied, exuding a confidence he didn't even know he had.
After the recent victories in the first phase, Davi had grown a bit more reckless and confident. Despite his limitations, his new class allowed him to fight, and he wasn't about to waste that opportunity.
"Thank you," Lara said softly, her voice tender as she hugged him tightly, the embrace warm and affectionate.
Davi certainly enjoyed the hug. It was unintentionally sensual, even though Lara herself seemed oblivious to it.
"One more thing, I've regained most of my mobility," she said as she let go and stepped down.
Although she had some trouble standing, she managed to take a step forward, arguing that she could walk on her own now.
However, Davi, noticing her unsteady movements, insisted on carrying her the rest of the way. After some back-and-forth, Lara reluctantly agreed.
Pushing his tired body to its limit, Davi continued to press on until they finally found a castle. The moment he stepped inside, he let out a relieved sigh, knowing they were relatively safe.
But the relief brought his adrenaline crash, and suddenly his vision darkened. The exhaustion he had been suppressing hit him all at once. With the last of his strength, he gently laid Aden's body on the floor before collapsing himself.
"Are you okay?" Lara immediately reacted, her voice laced with worry as she noticed him fall.
Her movements were still sluggish, but she had nearly regained full mobility. She quickly knelt beside Davi and inspected his body, noticing blood stains seeping through his clothes.
Some of the wounds he had closed with
Lara carefully removed his shirt to get a better look. Small cuts covered various parts of his body, but two stood out: a deep gash near the base of his abdomen and another on his left arm.
Without hesitation, she began administering first aid with what little she had. Tearing strips from her own shirt, she crafted makeshift bandages, tying them tightly to staunch the bleeding from the deeper wounds. She also cleaned and sterilized the injuries as best she could.
She meticulously wiped away the dirt, sweat, and blood, checking his breathing to ensure it was steady. Her expression was tense but resolute.
A cold draft swept through the castle hall, causing her to shiver. The damp, chilly air was far from ideal for someone injured, especially without proper supplies.
Sighing, she dragged Aden to a nearby bed and briefly searched the castle for blankets but found none. Not wanting to waste any more time, she returned to Davi, knowing the cold could worsen his condition.
His clothes were filthy, soaked with sweat, mud, and blood. Dressing him in them again would undo all her efforts to clean his wounds.
After a moment of deliberation, Lara made her decision. The best solution she had was body heat.
She removed her own soiled pants, placed Davi on the bed, and lay beside him. Wrapping her arms around him, she pressed her warm body against his, doing her best to shield him from the cold.