[Affinity Alert]↓

[End Simulation]

[YES?]

Killian stared at the notification glaring in his face. He forced himself off the ground. "I am fine. I was hoping that you..."

He paused, and rephrased the words he wanted to say. "I was hoping that you were okay. What happened to you?"

He looked over Theodore’s frame. There was no sign that he had been wet so it was unlikely he fell or drowned.

He was also sure Theodore hadn’t secretly followed him as he kept tendrils on check while coming to that spot. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

"How did you find us?"

"I heard loud sounds." Theodore pointed at the human-rabbit, then at the battered vines covering the crate. "And did you fight with her? What did all that? Were there beasts here?"

Killian turned to the girl, then towards every other thing. The tendrils had returned to hiding and there were only signs of battle; broken rocks, bloodstains, and craters.

But no sight of fallen soldiers. Because they had been eaten.

"I was overpowered by all seven beasts who probably ran away because they heard you coming." Killian knew how vague he sounded but that was the same game Theodore played.

He dusted his clothes. "I fainted due to tiredness and would’ve died if you didn’t show up. Thanks, Theodore. I knew I could count on you."

Theodore stared at him, frozen, confusion etched on his face. "I-I didn’t do anything though. I didn’t even see them—"

"You don’t have to be so humble. Just as I’d expect from the Director’s son." Killian rolled his shoulders. "We should leave here now. Since it’s the last simulation, we can leave now."

"You don’t want to finish it?"

Killian tapped the ’yes’ button, while strolling to the ground. He patted her head gently, before returning her to the inventory. Their surroundings slowly changed form, returning them back to the simulation room they had started.

"Next time." Killian said coldly, walking out of the room. He checked his alerts on the way.

’Almost 90% capacity in one realm. I have a hunch that 100% isn’t the limit.’

"A good hunch."

A small smile crept to Killian’s face on hearing him. He checked the notifications that came when he woke up.

[Benefits Available!]↓

He tapped the drop-down and saw one more line, disappointing him. A new title that he couldn’t convert to WCoins.

’A mana restoration vial would’ve been better.’

He checked the other one, and his eyes widened slightly.

[Affinity Alert!]

[Affinity: 65%]

Killian stood at the spot, his jaw slightly falling. Affinities didn’t increase drastically over training or simulations. He remembered the words the Void said while in space.

"Did I pass some kind of test?"

If other Void Users abandoned their element after getting in there and realising that their element might not be what they think, then a person who stayed would grow their affinity to the Void as the connection deepened.

Killian brushed his nose lightly. Not only has his fear been removed but his main element would use less mana overall. "That is fair."

"Again, are you talking to me?" Theodore asked the second time. He faced Killian with folded arms.

Killian waved nonchalantly. He was glad he didn’t have to deal with him anymore and in the end, he got good results.

He just needed to tell his older sister, who had been too busy, about his increased affinity. ’At least she didn’t have to carry me out of the simulation room this time.’

He strolled out from the room just as notifications flooded into his phone. He dug his hand into his pocket and brought it to his face.

Theodore came in front of him, holding his phone towards him. "Can I get your number for another training?"

Killian’s eyes remained on his phone screen. His breathing had stopped. His right thumb slowly tapped his phone screen, twice, and the message he received expanded.

[Big Sis✧]

’Young Master, this is the servant in charge of Lady Quara. She has been involved in a ghastly accident in a C-tier realm and is currently missing. You were her emergency contact.’

For a second, nothing registered in his head. His thumb reached for the AI-Summarise feature before it hit him. His thumb hung mid-air as his chest tightened.

"Hey, Killian?"

Killian’s head shot up, staring blankly at Theodore. His grip tightened around his phone as his eyes returned to the screen.

Theodore’s annoyed expression softened. "What’s wrong? Are you ignoring me—"

Killian barged out of the simulation room, heading to the exit.

"Hey, Killian! What’s wrong?"

The door slammed behind Killian as he quickened his pace. His hand shook so he forced them into his pockets, maintaining his stride.

It had never happened that Quara had been too busy for the past few days, only to be declared missing in a mission.

"And a ghastly accident?" With the most ridiculous part being.... "... because of a C-tier realm. Impossible!"

He tried to call her line but there was no reply. A faint crack formed at the edge of his screen from his grip.

"Status." He immediately sent her a message via WLog. He didn’t wait for a message and fastened his pace.

Someone opened the door too quickly, and slammed his right shoulder. He stepped back once, then rushed through the opened door, ignoring their apology and the pain from the hit.

His eyes quickly glanced at his WLog screen. Still no reply.

His pace broke into a run. He reached her office within the next minute and scrolled through his old messages to find the text of her password.

He got in and checked her last saved mission on her laptop. It was classified, and needed a specific password to reopen.

His jaw tightened as he slammed the table. "What the hell is happening? How can a C-tier realm have beasts strong enough to injure her like that! And how come no one helped her!"

Big injuries were common in the worlds of Wardens, but such was emergency backup. She had been there for others. Why wasn’t anyone there for her?

His grip tightened so much that his palm bruised.

Anything that hurt his sister ghastly had to be far stronger than her. Monsters like that should be in A-tier realm or B-tier realms with High Stakes. Not a C-tier realm.

"Unless..." he gritted his teeth.