The moment Linda collapsed, Rafael and Craig darted over, joining Laura and hovering anxiously around her. Craig suddenly slapped his forehead, flustered. “I’ve got medicine! Our teacher made it. Linda, take it now!”
He scrambled to dig it out.
Linda smiled. “Don’t worry, guys. I’m just tired. Just let me sit and catch my breath for a minute.”
Rafael was furious. “Your face is whiter than my clothes. Don’t tell me this is just being tired. Who looks like that when they’re just tired?”
Claudio didn’t say a word. He scanned the area, found a clean spot, then scooped Linda up and carried her over, helping her sit down by the tree.
Linda noticed his hands were shaking and asked, puzzled, “Are you hurt?”
Claudio shook his head.
With his physique, no regular person could ever hurt him. But for some reason, he couldn’t tap into his real power. If he could, he’d be long gone.
But because he couldn’t use it, he could only watch as she ended up at the front by herself.
Linda seemed to pick up on his thoughts, giving a nonchalant smile. “Don’t worry about it. Hasn’t it always been this way?”
Every time they were thrown into the immortal–demon warzone, she was always the one leading the charge because he asked her to.
Back then, she was under his command.
Even though that was not true anymore, old habits would die hard.”
Claudio pressed his lips together.
Claudio thought, ‘No, it’s different now!
Rafael was frantic. “Linda, just worry about yourself, okay? Why are you fussing over him? This isn’t the High Sanctum of Archmagi anymore.
“You’re one of us now, part of the First Unity Coven. Don’t try to act tough and take everything on yourself. If something comes up, we’ll handle it.
“If we can’t do it, our elders will step up. So quit pushing yourself, just take the medicine!”
Linda had no choice but to swallow the medicine they gave her.
Craig nodded in agreement for once. “He’s right. If you always have to be the one charging in, then what’s the point of having us around?”
Craig carefully wrapped Linda’s wrist, watching the blood flow nonstop. Craig’s heart twisted with worry and guilt. “I’ll find a way to make my Magical affinities actually do something.”
Rafael added, “I’m finally starting to get the hang of the Fulmen–Binding Rite. Our teacher said in a month or two, I’ll be ready for the first stage. Next time, I’ll be there for you.”
Laura had already summoned the Giantforce Sword back and was standing off to the side. Hearing the others, she wasn’t
Chapter 93
sure what she should be learning, so she just nodded enthusiastically. “Me too!
Linda smiled. “That’s wonderful”
Seeing her so innocent, Rafael couldn’t help but flick her forehead. “You’re such a dummy
As soon as Rafael did that, Laura and Craig both threw a punch at him. “Hey, what’s your problem!”
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Rafael tumbled a few times before finally stopping. He sat up, looking around in bewilderment, then wailed, “I just flicked her forehead. Why are you guys attacking me?”
Linda couldn’t help but giggle, the laughter just burst out of her.
Laura and Craig had been about to comfort Rafael, but when they saw Linda laughing, they changed their minds. “Serves you right,”
“Seriously, is now the time to mess with her?” Craig scolded.
Rafael crawled back over and peered at Linda’s forehead. “It’s not red, is it?”
Linda shook her head. “Nope.”
Rafael lifted his robe and rolled up his pant leg, looking all pitiful. “But I’m hurt.”
There was a scrape on his knee.
The four of them just stared at him, speechless.
They were all at a loss for words.
Rafael gave them all a wounded look, and finally Craig relented, reassuring him, “Alright, we’ll put some medicine on it when we get back.”
“Okay!” Rafael instantly perked up.
He was all sunshine again the moment he got a little attention, bouncing right back to his usual energetic self.
Linda smiled and said, “Rafael, can you give me a play–by–play of the fight up there? My neck’s getting sore from looking up.”
Rafael blinked, then quickly glanced up. “Laurence has him completely on the ropes. Damn, with one swing of his hoe, he sent him crashing down!”
Linda looked
up too.
She saw that Rex had already been knocked out of the sky.
There was never any doubt about the outcome. He never stood a chance.
Claudio gave them a look, then stood up and started to walk off. Craig was just about to ask where he was headed when Claudio came back, dragging Travis behind him, trussed up like a turkey.
Craig nodded. “Yeah, don’t forget to bring him along too.”
Rafael was fuming. “This punk. He’s the reason we’re in this mess.”
Meanwhile, Laurence had already subdued Rex. With everything under control, the group started getting ready to head back to the organization.
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Byron swooped down on his sword. When he saw Linda’s condition, his brows furrowed in concern.
“You…” Byron began, his tone both worried and a little stern.
Linda whispered, “Byron, please don’t tell our teacher.
Byron frowned. “You really think you can hide this from him?”
Without another word, Byron hoisted Linda onto his back. He might look intimidating, but his movements were gentle.
As he stood up, he gave each of the other three a playful knock on the head. Even Claudio wasn’t spared.
“Just wait till we get back, I’ll teach you all a lesson. You couldn’t even keep Linda safe, Byron scolded.
With that, Byron hoisted Linda onto his back and headed off, Laura following close behind.
Rafael and the others scrambled after them.
Once they were back at the First Unity Coven. Byron didn’t take Linda up to the Frost–Crowned Highlands. Instead, he brought her to Apprentices‘ Peak, straight to her old place.
“The Frost–Crowned Highlands are way too cold for you right now. Since you’ve burned through your mana, you’ll recover faster here,” Byron said, glancing at Linda, clearly wanting to say more but holding back.
Linda said, “Go ahead, say it.”
Seeing the others weren’t around, Byron spoke up honestly. “You knew it was risky, so why did you tell Craig to have me show up a few minutes late?
“Did you ever think about what would happen if Craig and I didn’t make it in time and something went wrong?”
Linda considered it seriously, then answered, “It wouldn’t have come to that.”
Byron paused.
Linda looked up and smiled. “I knew you guys were close by, and I knew the moment you heard anything, you’d head straight over.
“But I also knew you’d take what I said seriously, Byron. Even if you didn’t get why I asked, you wouldn’t jump in right away. and that’s exactly what you did.”
Not long after they followed Travis to the village, Laurence and Byron had already arrived.
“You…” Byron started, his voice trailing off.
Linda said, “I don’t know what they were after, and I don’t know if we caught everyone. But anyone who saw what I can do today will only come to one conclusion.”
Linda’s voice was steady and unwavering. “I’m the number one genius. I have the Innate Spiritbone and also the Celestial Affinity.”
Byron’s eyes widened in shock. “You….”
Linda’s voice was steady. “If anyone’s got a problem, they can take it up with me.”
Byron was silent for a long time, just staring at Linda. Finally, his voice came out rough. “Why do you always shoulder everything yourself?”
Linda answered softly, “Because there are people I want to look out for.”
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Suddenly, Byron gently placed his hand on her head, his gaze complicated, with a trace of concern. “Are you tired?”
Linda smiled. “Not when it’s for the ones I love.”
Linda murmured, “I love it here. Better me than everyone else being a target. Byron, this is just between us, okay? You have to keep it secret.”
It wasn’t just Laura. Craig and Rafael were anything but ordinary.
Linda knew that each of them possessed a Celestial Affinity, just like her.
Laura had the Innate Spiritbone. Rafael’s body was special in its own way. As for Craig, there was a lot more to him than just a mutated Wood Affinity.
They all had their own secrets.
But Linda didn’t care about their secrets.
All she cared about was them.
Byron’s eyes turned red–rimmed with emotion.
Linda smiled. “Byron, don’t worry. I know I’m not alone. I’ve got you, my teacher, and others.”
Linda said deliberately, “This time, I’m not alone.”
AD
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
