Free Web NovelChapter 153: Danger [1]
Meanwhile, back at the apartment, Clara was busy taking care of the house chores. She moved from the kitchen to the living area, organizing the space after moving Ethea to her room, since she was fast asleep. To anyone looking in, she appeared entirely at rest, but she was actually deep within her own mind, engrossed in her cultivation.
Time passed in silence.
Suddenly, Ethea’s eyes snapped open.
An invisible and mystical aura rippled through the room. Tiny stars had filled her eyes, glittering in her pupils as her body slowly began to lift. She levitated a few centimeters above the wheelchair, suspended for a few seconds before gently falling back onto the seat. The stellar light in her eyes receded, her pupils slowly regaining their natural color and clarity.
’I... I’ve broken through,’ she thought, her lips curling up subconsciously.
The joy was instantaneous, but it lasted only a fraction of a second.
Without warning, her body and soul shook violently. An intense pain flared through her entire being, striking her mind and physical frame all at once. The sheer agony paralyzed her, locking her jaw so tightly that she couldn’t even manage a groan.
’W-W...t... is... hap...e..g?’ fгeewёbnoѵel.cσm
She could barely form the thought before darkness rushed in, cutting off her consciousness entirely.
With her body going completely limp, the sudden turbulence of her destabilized energy caused the wheelchair to lose balance.
The chair tipped over, crashing loudly against the floor.
The sound echoed through the apartment, instantly alerting Clara, who had just stepped out of the washroom. She immediately ran and entered the bedroom.
"!"
As soon as she took in the scene, Clara froze, her eyes widening in terror. She dropped what she was holding and ran into the room, screaming loudly.
"Ethea!"
───────
"Ethea!"
Soren’s eyes snapped open as he jolted upright.
He drew in a sharp, ragged breath, his lungs burning as if he had just surfaced from deep underwater. His heart hammered violently against his ribs. For a few frantic moments, the dream fractured and flashed through his mind in a chaotic blur: the familiar apartment, the warmth of the small black cat in his arms, and the weird glow of her purple eyes at the end.
Honestly, none of it made sense.
He had no idea how or what exactly happened, or why Raine had been able to speak, let alone how she knew things she shouldn’t. Yet, a deep, instinctual certainty settled in his chest. He believed her. Every single word. ƒreewebɳovel.com
"You are up?"
A familiar voice cut through his panic. Soren snapped his head toward the sound.
There, President was sitting in a chair by the side of the room, completely composed, quietly sipping a cup of warm tea.
Soren blinked, the immediate haze clearing just enough for him to realize he was lying on a bed in an unfamiliar room. He opened his mouth, wanting to ask where they were and what had happened, but Raine’s final, urgent warning suddenly echoed in his mind.
’Your wife. She is in danger.’
The words struck him like a physical blow, completely erasing any other questions he had. He threw the covers aside, his expression hardening as he prepared to move.
"Whoa, slow down there. You just woke up," the President said, lowering his teacup as he watched Soren scramble out of the bed.
"I’m sorry, sir, but I have to go," Soren said, his voice urgent as his foot hit the floor.
The President raised an eyebrow, adjusting his posture. "Go? What do you mean? We have important matters to discuss regarding—"
"I have to go." Soren interrupted. "My wife is in danger." He looked directly at the President, his expression completely serious, completely locking down any room for argument.
The President fell silent. The question of how Soren could possibly know such a thing, having only just opened his eyes after being unconscious for nearly half an hour, formed on the tip of his tongue, but he stopped himself.
Looking closely at Soren, he saw a stark shift in the young man’s demeanor. The raw emotions swirling in Soren’s eyes made it clear that he was entirely serious now. Furthermore, the slight naivety from before was gone, replaced by cold resolve.
"Alright," the President said, setting his cup down on the table. "We will talk later then."
"Thank you," Soren said hastily.
Without wasting another second, he turned and hurriedly left the room, the door clicking shut behind him.
The President stared at the empty doorway for a moment, shaking his head. He let out a quiet sigh, muttering to himself, "That kid never ceases to surprise me."
"However... This might be a good opportunity to tie him closer to us."
The President leaned back in his chair, tapping his fingers against the armrest. He had no way of knowing whether Soren’s sudden panic was a false alarm or a genuine crisis. But if the boy’s wife was really in danger, stepping in to lend a helping hand would leave the young hunter deeply indebted to the association.
He contemplated going himself to ensure everything went smoothly, but quickly dismissed the thought. He remembered his schedule; an important meeting with a high-profile figure was set for later, and he couldn’t afford to cancel it.
After a moment’s thought, he picked up his phone and dialed Administrator Veyra.
The line connected almost instantly.
"Send two free B-rank hunters to Hunter Soren’s residence," the President commanded, his tone shifting into his usual authoritative calm. "They are to watch from afar and act immediately if Soren or his family is in danger. If not, just return without alerting anyone."
"...Understood," Veyra’s crisp voice replied from the other end.
With that, he hung up his phone and set it on the table next to his tea. He looked back toward the empty doorway, a trace of concern crossing his features.
"I hope it’s not that serious."
However, just a few minutes later, his eyes widened as he sensed a sudden, massive spike of energy. The air pressure in the room plummeted instantly.
Swoosh!
President Craig disapparated from his spot and appeared outside the room in an instant.
"I just had to jinx it, damn it!"
