Rin’s relieved sigh was cute in Shelly’s eyes. Plus, he was touching her and making a request of her. This was all a win in Shelly’s book.

She had every intention of helping Rin even if he had not asked for her help. After all, she did not want Rin to get hurt or die. But having him ask her for help was also cute, and Shelly wanted to see more.

Not only that, she wanted to be the only one to see this expression on Rin’s face as well.

’I want Rin to rely on me more. In fact, I want him to rely only on me and not look at anyone else. I need to get more powerful to achieve that. Once I become untouchable, I will make sure Rin never needs to look at anyone else.’

Shelly’s eyes shined with desire and Rin pretended not to see it.

He was giving Shelly the benefit of the doubt that she did not deserve. But that was fine for now. They were in a dangerous situation, so Shelly could forgive Rin’s shyness for the time being.

The monster had started to stir behind the ice once more, and it finally broke through not too long after. It immediately headed toward Albus, and Shelly had half a mind to let it grab him.

But Rin was looking at her with an expectant expression, and Shelly did not want to disappoint him.

She moved to stop the monster, but Serena was faster and decided to freeze the monster’s arm. She was displaying a new power she had never shown before, and Shelly noticed how Rin was looking at her.

’I don’t like that look in Rin’s eyes. The only one he needs to look at is me.’

Shelly realized that now was not the time to be having these complicated feelings. But she could not help herself.

She wanted to sabotage Serena so that she would be the only one Rin was counting on.

And she did just that.

Shelly rushed toward the monster with her sword and put pressure on her surroundings as she ran past Serena.

Serena gasped at the sudden increase in pressure and her concentration broke. It was enough for the monster to break past her defenses and try to hurt her. But Shelly intercepted the attack and immediately noticed the relieved expression on Rin’s face. 𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢

It made Shelly glad to know that she was the reason behind Rin’s relief, and she turned around to mock Serena.

"You should be a little more careful while dealing with monsters. They are not easy to handle. And if you need help, you should ask for it."

Shelly made sure her smile remained on her face, but she was not fooling Serena.

The older female was not a naive fool who did not understand what was going on. She immediately noticed what Shelly was doing, but she had no way to prove it to the others.

So Serena gritted her teeth and followed Shelly’s lead. But she also kept looking for an opening Shelly would not notice.

’I am not going to allow anyone else to put on a performance more impressive than mine. I will make sure Rin’s eyes stay on me this whole time.’

__________

’Darn it! What is Shelly doing? That sudden rise in pressure was deliberate, right? Is she trying to make me lose focus? What is her deal?’

Serena questioned as she gritted her teeth and heard the barely concealed insult Shelly threw her way.

But as much as Serena wanted to tear her a new one, she knew that now was not the time. Moreover, Shelly was right to criticize Serena for losing focus while fighting the enemy...even if it had been because of her.

’None of these people care for you, my dear! All they want to do is use you. There is no need for you to suffer like this. So come with mommy and forget all about this suffering.’

Serena gritted her teeth as soon as her mother’s voice started whispering in her head.

It was already hard for her to concentrate because of Shelly, and now her mother had decided to join in on bullying her. This experience was turning more and more miserable by the second.

Serena was so distracted by all this that she did not even notice when the monster broke past their defenses and headed toward her.

"What the-!"

She reacted as soon as she saw how close the monster’s attack was. But Serena somehow managed to dodge it with only minor injuries.

The reason she was able to do that was because Teressa used her skill at the last second to slow the monster down. But it was still suspicious how it had managed to break through the defenses in the first place.

"I am sorry! I did not mean to let my guard down. But the monster somehow made it across without me noticing."

Shelly apologized from where she was fighting the monster, and her expression looked guilty. She even sounded sorry for allowing the monster to get to Serena. But Serena had a feeling it was all an act on her part.

’Don’t fall for their tricks, Serena. None of these people care for you. The only one who cares for you is this poor old mother of yours.’

’So stop resisting and come back to me. Allow the monster to pierce your heart and then return to my side. I will make sure-’

"Ugh, this is too much. I cannot allow myself to get distracted."

For the first time, Serena openly rebelled against the voice in her head. It felt nice to do that and the voice fell quiet.

It allowed Serena enough time to concentrate, and she froze the monster’s arm the second it escaped Teressa’s powers.

Serena suddenly felt liberated, but the voice in her head came back even louder this time.

’You are my daughter and I refuse to lose you. I won’t allow it! Won’t allow it! Won’t allow it!’

It was a constant chatter in Serena’s mind and she flinched. She wanted peace and quiet, and she suddenly recalled the medicine Rin had given her.

She wanted to take that medicine and make the world go quiet around her once more. But it was not the time to take it.

’Serena, you will return to me. That is your fate as my daughter and I won’t allow anything else.’

Her mother’s ghost yelled, but Serena ignored it. For now, all she wanted to focus on was finishing this fight and finding time to take that medicine that made her mind go numb.