Chapter 199: Ch 199: B-Class Raid- Part 2
The final preparations for the B-class dungeon raid had been completed, and the gathered awakeners stood ready.
The hundred-person cap had been strictly enforced, yet the tension in the air suggested that many were dissatisfied with the number.
Murmurs of discontent rippled through the ranks, but no one dared to challenge the decision outright. The governnt had been firm—quality over quantity.
Selene’s gaze moved across the crowd, her eyes settling on a familiar group—the Vale family.
Ten of their mbers had been allowed entry, making up a significant portion of the force. Among them stood the twins, Nora and Noah.
Even from this distance, Selene could see Noah shifting uncomfortably, glancing in her direction as if debating whether or not to approach her.
His body language made it clear that he wanted to co over, but sothing—or rather, soone—held him back.
Nora.
’She looks like she’sin a bad condition. I don’t think I’ve ever seen Nora have such long bangs before. Should I go and ask her what happened?’
Ethan, standing beside her, picked up on Selene’s concern almost imdiately.
His sharp gaze followed hers, landing on Nora for a brief mont before he leaned slightly toward Selene and murmured.
"Do you want
to create an opportunity for you to speak with her?"
Selene hesitated. She wasn’t sure what she would even say to Nora.
Would the girl even listen?
But sothing in her gut told her that ignoring this feeling would be a mistake. Slowly, she nodded.
"Yes. Do it."
Ethan didn’t respond verbally, but the faint smirk on his lips suggested he already had a plan in mind.
_______
anwhile, in the Vale camp, Noah stood with his arms crossed, his expression tight with concern.
He had noticed the changes in Nora just as quickly as Selene had—maybe even before.
She had been like this for days, ever since their father had called her away for that mysterious ’mission.’
She refused to tell him anything about it, brushing off his questions with curt answers or outright silence.
Now, standing in the midst of their gathered forces, she looked worse than ever.
"No offense, Nora, but you look like hell. You should sit this one out."
Noah finally said, breaking the silence between them.
Nora’s head snapped toward him, her eyes narrowing.
"I’m fine. Don’t start with this again, Noah."
She snapped, her voice edged with irritation.
Noah didn’t back down.
"You don’t look fine. You’re exhausted."
His gaze softened, worry overtaking his frustration.
"I don’t know what happened, but if it’s bad enough that you’re losing sleep over it, you should talk to soone—"
"I said I’m fine."
Nora cut him off sharply, the tension in her voice more pronounced now.
Noah clenched his jaw.
"Nora—"
"I don’t need you babysitting ,"
She said, a hint of frustration creeping into her voice.
Noah sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose.
"I’m not babysitting you. I just—"
"I’m going for a walk."
Noah blinked.
"Wait, what?"
Nora turned on her heel and started walking away.
Noah instinctively moved to follow, but before he could take a single step, a wave of heat surged between them, cutting off his path.
A thin but intense line of fire burned in the air like a warning.
Noah stared at it, then at Nora’s retreating back.
He exhaled, his lips pressing into a thin line.
"Seriously?"
A mber of their team approached hesitantly.
"Uh... should we... do sothing?"
Noah forced himself to relax and shook his head.
"She’ll be back. She’s the responsible one between us."
He hoped he was right.
______
Selene watched as Nora disappeared beyond the camp’s periter.
"She’s heading out...I didn’t even get a chance to do anything yet,"
Ethan murmured beside her, his arms crossed as he observed the scene with a neutral expression.
Selene nodded.
"Now I just need to catch up to her."
Ethan gestured subtly, indicating that he would handle the situation on this end while she was gone.
With a grateful nod, Selene slipped away, trailing after Nora.
The forest surrounding the dungeon site was thick, the trees casting long shadows as the sun began its slow descent.
The deeper Selene went, the quieter it beca, until all she could hear was the distant rustling of leaves and the occasional snap of a twig beneath her boots.
She finally spotted Nora near a clearing, standing with her back to a large tree.
Her arms were crossed tightly over her chest, and she was breathing deeply as if trying to steady herself.
Selene hesitated for a mont before stepping into view.
"Nora."
Nora’s head jerked up, her bloodshot eyes locking onto Selene’s.
Selene took another step forward.
"What’s going on with you?"
Nora exhaled sharply, running a hand through her disheveled hair.
"You wouldn’t understand."
"Try ."
A dry, humorless laugh escaped Nora’s lips.
"This isn’t sothing I can just explain, Selene. It’s—"
She trailed off, shaking her head.
Selene studied her sister carefully.
"Does it have sothing to do with our father’s mission?"
Nora flinched. It was small, almost imperceptible, but Selene caught it.
Bingo.
"Nora, tell
the truth."
Nora hesitated, her fingers clenching at her arms. She looked torn, as if she wanted to say sothing but couldn’t bring herself to.
Selene took another step forward, lowering her voice.
"Whatever it is, you don’t have to deal with it alone."
Nora swallowed hard, looking away.
"It’s not that simple."
"It never is."
For a long mont, neither of them spoke. The wind rustled through the trees, filling the silence between them.
Finally, Nora exhaled.
"I...There are things happening behind the scenes. Things you don’t know about. Things I can’t talk about."
She seed to struggle with her next words.
Selene frowned.
"Can’t... or won’t?"
Nora’s jaw tightened.
"Both."
Selene’s concern deepened, but she could see that pressing further wouldn’t get her anywhere. At least not right now.
She sighed.
"Just... promise
you’ll be careful."
Nora gave a small nod.
"I’ll try."
It wasn’t much, but it was sothing.
Selene glanced back toward the camp.
"We should go. The raid’s about to start."
Nora hesitated for just a mont before nodding again.
"Yeah. Let’s go."
As the two of them walked back, Selene couldn’t shake the feeling that sothing bad was about to happen.
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