As soon as Anos realized what was happening, he shot to his feet, urgency coursing through him. "Alia, I need to take care of sothing important. I'll catch up with you tomorrow." Without waiting for her response, he dashed out of the interdiate class, his mind racing with the implications of Wyatt's conversation with Sofia.
"Unbelievable!" Alia muttered, frustration evident in her voice as she clenched her fists. The way Anos had a talent for evading any serious conversation irked her. She couldn't shake off the feeling that he was always a step ahead, leaving her in a whirlwind of annoyance and curiosity.
anwhile, Anos hurried down the polished hallway toward Sofia's office, each step echoing in the silence. He was determined to set things right before Wyatt crossed any lines that could lead to misunderstandings with Sofia. The last thing he needed was for Wyatt to annoy her with his unsolicited attention; Sofia had enough to deal with, and Anos didn't want to add to her stress.
As Anos stepped into the office, he couldn't help but notice Wyatt's deanor as he engaged in conversation with Sofia. There was sothing off about the way Wyatt leaned in, his eyes glinting with a mix of enthusiasm and a hint of sothing more inappropriate. It was uncomfortable to witness; Anos could see the subtle way Wyatt's gaze flickered down toward Sofia's chest when he thought she wasn't looking, his expression shifting to one of unmistakable desire.
Sofia maintained her professionalism, but Anos could sense her discomfort. He felt a surge of protective instinct wash over him. The way Wyatt was acting was unacceptable, and Anos felt an urgent need to intervene.
"Anos?" Wyatt said, adjusting his glasses in a way that felt almost theatrical. There was a mix of surprise and irritation in his tone, as if he couldn't quite believe Anos had the audacity to interrupt. What's he doing here? Shouldn't he be in class?
Anos managed a sheepish grin, trying to diffuse the tension with a casual air. "Oh, I just realized I needed to speak with Miss Sofia about sothing urgent," he said, forcing a relaxed tone. "I didn't expect to find you here, Mr. Wyatt."
Sofia's expression shifted as if Anos's arrival had thrown her a lifeline. She turned to Wyatt, her tone turning serious and authoritative. "Actually, Mr. Wyatt, Anos and I need to discuss a few matters in private. If you wouldn't mind, I'd prefer to speak with him alone."
Wyatt hesitated for a mont, clearly reluctant but recognizing Sofia's authority. The tension between them was palpable, and he seed to sense that it would be unwise to overstay his welco. "Certainly," he replied, rising from his chair. As he walked past Anos, he gave him a supportive pat on the shoulder and said, "Anos, you've got a bright future ahead.
"Thank you, Mr. Wyatt,"Anos said.
---
After Mr. Wyatt left, Sofia fixed her gaze on Anos, her expression a mix of frustration and curiosity. "Alright, Anos, what ss have you created for this ti?"
Anos, adopting an innocent look, replied, "How was I supposed to know Mr. Wyatt was one of your admirers? I only found out and rushed over to warn you!"
Sofia rubbed her temples in exasperation, exhaling softly. "That's just it. Wyatt has been pestering since my beginner class days. Every ti he gets a chance to talk to , it feels like he's fishing for complints or sothing. And you—" she gestured at him, frustration evident in her voice, "you just handed him the perfect excuse to engage with !"
Anos shrugged, a hint of a smirk playing at the corners of his mouth. "I didn't an to create a distraction, but I do have a solution that could keep you safe from his advances, as well as from all the other admirers knocking at your door."
Sofia raised an eyebrow, her interest piqued. "Oh? And what's your brilliant plan?"
Anos leaned back slightly, the corners of his mouth twitching upwards. "It's quite simple, really. Just declare to everyone that you have a boyfriend—, in particular! That way, all your suitors will back off, and I'll handle any stragglers who dare to approach you."
"Are you serious?" Sofia glared at him, incredulous. "Do you know what kind of scandal that would cause? A teacher-student relationship? I'd be dragged through the mud!"
"Co on, it's not that bad! Think of it as a temporary asure," Anos countered, undeterred. "If they believe you're taken, they'll think twice about bothering you."
Sofia shook her head vigorously, clearly dismissing the idea. "No way! That's not happening. You don't seem to grasp the repercussions of such a declaration."
Anos shrugged, his playful deanor unwavering. "Suit yourself. But I'm out of here. I have better things to do than babysit your admirers."
"Wait a minute!" Sofia called after him, her tone shifting from annoyance to concern. "You ntioned you ventured into the Beast Domain alone, right?"
Anos nodded, his expression growing serious. "Yes, but I didn't go too far into the Beast Domain. Why do you ask?"
Sofia took a deep breath, her deanor shifting to one of seriousness as she fixed her gaze on Anos. "Anos, I need a favor from you. My ti at the academy is quite limited these days," she stated, her voice steady but laced with urgency. She reached for a letter on her desk, the parchnt slightly crumpled from being hastily written, and tossed it to him with purpose. "Deliver this to Matthew at the Bounty Hunter Guild. They're dispatching a strong team to Chillwater Valley tonight, and I need you to accompany them. Once you arrive, keep an eye out for Chillwater Shards. If you co across any, I would greatly appreciate it if you could collect a few for ."
Anos blinked, montarily caught off guard by the request. "If you're aware of their mission and know the team mbers, can't you just ask them for assistance? Why do you need to go?" His tone reflected his confusion, wondering why she would send him on such an errand.
Sofia let out a frustrated sigh, rubbing her temples in a gesture of exasperation. "You don't quite get it, do you? If I ask them directly for help, I'd owe them a favor in return. It complicates things. But if you go along, they'll be assisting you instead, and I can simply treat them to a al as a gesture of thanks later. It's all about maintaining the balance in our relationships."
Anos smirked knowingly, a teasing glint in his eye. "Ah, so you have another admirer in this mix, huh? This is quite the network of suitors you've cultivated."
Sofia shot him a pointed look, her cheeks tinged with a slight blush of annoyance. "It's not that straightforward. There's a serious threat nearby—a high-grade demonic beast known as the Flaborn Lion has been spotted close to Flower City. I'm genuinely concerned for your safety. I can arrange for so offensive spirit weapons for you to use over the next couple of days to ensure you're better protected. I absolutely don't want you getting hurt."
Anos's expression softened as he absorbed her concern. "So, it's really about keeping us safe." He nodded thoughtfully, realizing the stakes involved. "Alright, but what's in it for ? You know how I can be."
Your adventure continues at empire
Sofia anticipated his response and smiled mischievously, her eyes glinting with mischief. "If you handle this task effectively, I'll reward you with a Profound Rank sword skill. How does that sound?"
Anos's eyes lit up in excitent, the prospect of such a coveted skill igniting a spark within him. "A Profound Rank sword skill? Those are worth at least ten million! You're quite generous, Babe!"
"Just don't let that excitent go to your head," she cautioned, a playful smirk on her lips. "And for the record, can we drop that ridiculous nickna? It's not cute."
Anos chuckled, brushing off her irritation with a grin. "Okay, but seriously, who are you really? An ordinary instructor wouldn't have access to an Eight-Star Yellow Rank Spirit Weapon or a Profound Rank Sword Skill. There's got to be more to your story than ets the eye."
Sofia t his gaze with an air of confidence, her expression steady. "I never claid to be just an ordinary instructor. As for my true identity, perhaps one day you'll uncover it. But for now, let's focus on this task. I'm giving you a day off to prepare, so make sure you handle it properly."
"Understood! But I've read that Chillwater Shards aren't exceptionally rare. Given that Chillwater Valley is only about 20 kiloters from Flower City, I worry that others might have already claid them. Finding even a few could be quite the challenge."
Sofia nodded thoughtfully, acknowledging his concerns. "I'm aware of that, but the team is going deeper into the valley. Just keep an eye on them and don't overexert yourself. Follow their orders and stay alert; I can't afford to have you causing any trouble! And please, steer clear of the extre cold."
Her concern was palpable, and it was evident that she cared deeply for his well-being. Sofia had witnessed Anos's knack for attracting trouble, and the thought of him getting into a dangerous situation made her uneasy. "I promise to behave," Anos said, adopting a mock-serious tone to ease her worries.
Sofia let out an exasperated sigh, a mix of affection and frustration in her gaze. "If you create any issues for during this mission, you can forget about that Profound Rank sword skill!"
"Alright, alright! No trouble, I promise," Anos replied, a playful grin on his face. He understood the value of the reward and felt a surge of gratitude for her support and concern, even if she often masked it behind her strong exterior.
"They'll be leaving at 8 PM tonight and should arrive by 9 PM. Make sure to inform your sister about this. If you don't, I'll handle it myself. There shouldn't be any danger; that team is quite competent, and Chillwater Valley isn't too perilous for them. But if sothing unexpected occurs…"
Sofia's voice trailed off, her brow furrowing slightly as she contemplated the potential dangers. It was clear that she was genuinely worried about what could go wrong, and the weight of her concern hung heavily in the air between them. The tension in the room was palpable.
.....
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