Isaac couldn’t help chuckling as he watched the scene unfold. Alice really was the biggest introvert he had ever known. She disliked meeting new people and preferred staying inside her small circle, but once someone managed to enter that circle, she accepted them wholeheartedly.
He could already tell that it wouldn’t take long before Alice became just as protective of Punpun as she was of others. The little bunny had already earned a place inside her heart without even realizing it.
As he continued watching them, Isaac noticed Alice occasionally stealing glances in his direction. The looks were brief and subtle enough that almost anyone else would have missed them.
For some reason, he felt like seeing Punpun had made her wonder what it would be like if they someday had a child of their own.
Isaac decided to act like he did not notice her glances.
...
Alice POV
Past, Today’s Early Morning
Alice finished checking the straps on her equipment before taking one last look around Emily’s city. She was preparing to leave for the wilderness in search of a dragon. Finding one would take time, but she was confident that if she searched long enough, she would eventually succeed.
She wasn’t traveling alone. Several members of the Ashfang Tribe, a group of human awakeners, and a few Eltari would accompany her during the expedition. The journey itself was also meant to teach the newer members how to survive outside the safety of civilization.
The group was a mixture of veterans and newcomers. Although Alice possessed overwhelming combat strength, she was still considered one of the newcomers when it came to surviving in the wilderness. The experienced members had also brought along their own trainees, intending to teach everyone while they traveled.
Alice did not let her pride become a hindrance by ignoring the advices of the veterans.
The wilderness was dangerous enough that even Overlords lost their lives there. The people standing before her had survived because they possessed knowledge that couldn’t simply be replaced with strength. Alice genuinely appreciated that they were willing to share their experience with her, and she listened carefully whenever they explained something.
She was checking her supplies one last time when her mana senses suddenly stirred. A familiar presence entered her range, carrying a mana signature she could recognize anywhere. It was a strange mixture of pure and charming mana blended together with something dark, depraved, and almost intoxicating.
Alice frowned as she looked toward the city streets.
"I forgot something. I’ll go grab it and come back in a few minutes," she told the others in a calm voice. "
None of the awakeners questioned her, and they simply nodded before continuing their own preparations.
Her figure blurred as she shot through the city at tremendous speed. She deliberately changed directions several times to make sure nobody followed her before finally stopping inside a deserted alley hidden between old buildings. The walls were covered in colorful graffiti.
Celia was already waiting there. She had her hands behind her back while casually looking at the graffiti and softly whistling to herself, looking as though she had simply wandered into the alley by accident.
"What are you doing here? And why are you letting your mana out and calling me like it’s some sort of shady meeting? You could’ve used the device to call me," Alice asked.
Celia turned around with a grin that immediately made Alice suspicious.
"Doesn’t this feel more exciting? Meeting in a dark alley like this, it’s like we are in a movie," she giggled.
Alice held back the urge to roll her eyes. She had already learned that whenever Celia wore that carefree smile, there was usually something troublesome hidden behind it.
"So? Why are you here?" Alice asked.
"Nothing, I had some free time since brother was meeting his guildmates before leaving, so I came here to meet you~" Celia replied with an innocent smile.
Alice simply stared at her without saying anything, making the younger woman’s smile gradually become more awkward.
Celia scratched her cheek and looked away for a moment.
"Well, yes, I did have something to talk about," she admitted.
Alice remained expressionless before giving a small nod. "Just say it."
"I... I was worried about Selene," Celia said. She looked uncertain about whether she should continue, but after taking a small breath, she forced herself to finish what she wanted to say.
"What do you mean? What’s is wrong with Selene?" Alice immediately asked as concern replaced the suspicion in her eyes.
"Well, you know..." Celia looked a bit embarrassed, awkward, and concerned at the same time as she added, "Isaac might be sleeping with her tonight."
Alice stared at her without blinking. She genuinely couldn’t understand why Celia sounded worried, because Isaac and Selene had already proposed to each other. Sleeping together was the most natural thing in the world for a couple who had accepted one another.
Seeing the confusion on Alice’s face, Celia let out a small sigh.
"Selene’s stats are too low, compared to Isaac. Moreover, his stats and powers are jumping too fast these past days. It’s definitely getting harder and harder for him to control them," she explained.
Alice’s eyes flickered with understanding as the meaning behind those words finally settled in. Isaac’s growth over the past several days had been nothing short of absurd, and his strength had reached a level where ordinary movements required constant control. If he accidentally used too much force, the damage could easily spread across an entire city block.
She understood that problem better than most people. Although she wasn’t near Isaac’s level yet, her own strength had also increased rapidly over the last few days. Half the reason she visited the gym every morning was simply to remind herself how much force everyday actions actually required.
Otherwise, she would end up crushing every cup she picked up or snapping every door handle she touched. Even something as simple as exhaling too loudly could destroy a wall if she stopped paying attention for a moment. Living with overwhelming strength required far more restraint than people realized.