AT THE SAME TIME
ISABELLA'S POINT OF VIEW:
I could feel the pressure building in my chest, the weight of their stares heavy on me. The numbers were still there, floating in my vision. Alastor, Adrian, Xavier... and Elera. The silent tension between us was suffocating, and before I could say a word, the system spoke again.
"New task: Isabella must go to the Eastern forest and collect the essence of the heartroot flower. Only then will her bond with the male leads be solidified." System said.
The cold, emotionless voice of the system sent a shiver down my spine. My heart dropped to my stomach as the words sank in. Go to the Eastern Forest? Collect something? When I was barely able to sit up without feeling dizzy? My body was weak, fragile. Before I could even attempt to protest, I heard the sound of angry voices.
"What the hell is the system thinking? She's in no condition to leave!" Xavier's voice was filled with sharp disbelief, the frustration in his tone clear.
"Are you kidding me? This is madness!" Alastor's usually composed demeanor was starting to crack, anger and concern flickering in his eyes. "She can barely stay awake for more than a few minutes, and it wants her to trek through dangerous forests?"
"This is... this is too much." Adrian's voice trembled with a mixture of fury and worry. He reached for my arm, his grip gentle but urgent. "Isabella, you can't go. You're not strong enough yet."
But before any of them could continue their protests, I felt my vision blur.
"Failure to comply will result in further consequences. The task is mandatory."System said.
I felt sick. The cruel tone of the system only made it worse. It wasn't just a request. It was a command, a demand I couldn't ignore. But I couldn't do it. Not like this. I opened my mouth to speak, to tell them I wasn't strong enough, but my throat felt dry, and my voice caught. I wasn't even sure I had the strength to walk, let alone make my way through the forest and complete some dangerous task for a system I didn't even understand.
The anger in the air was palpable. All three of the men were glaring at the space where the system's voice had come from. They were furious, protective, and desperate to keep me from going anywhere. But it didn't matter. The system had spoken.
"This is insane," he muttered, his voice dangerously low. "She's still recovering, and it expects her to do this?" He looked at me, his face etched with pain. "We can't let her go." Xavier said.
Elera, who had been silent, her presence felt but not spoken, spoke up, though her voice was laced with hesitation.
"But the system… we can't just ignore it. It has the power to do things we don't fully understand."Elera said.
I shook my head weakly, trying to keep the panic from rising in my chest. The last thing I wanted was to be forced into another task when I was already on the edge of collapse. But there was nothing I could do to fight it. The system's grip on this world was far too powerful.
"Please... I can't... I'm not ready." The words came out barely above a whisper, a tear threatening to slip from my eye.
The men were quiet for a long moment, the weight of the situation settling over us like a heavy fog. They all looked at each other, the frustration and helplessness clear in their eyes. They were powerless against the system, just like I was. Finally, it was Xavier who spoke again, his voice strained but determined.
"We won't let you go alone. Not like this."Xavier said.
"We'll find a way around it. We'll find a way to keep you safe."Alastor said.
"Just rest. We'll figure something out. You're not going anywhere, not while you're like this."Adrian said.
But the system's words echoed in my mind, and the fear it instilled in me was like a weight pressing against my chest. What would happen if I failed? What would happen if I couldn't complete the task? I closed my eyes, trying to find some semblance of peace in the chaos.
I couldn't believe this was happening. The system's demand echoed in my mind, the weight of it pressing down on me more heavily than anything else. I was too weak, too frail to even stand on my own, let alone face whatever the system wanted me to do. The thought of walking into that forest and completing some task was laughable at best. I could barely keep my eyes open.
But they didn't care. The system didn't care. Xavier was still arguing with the others, his voice filled with frustration. Alastor was pacing, his movements sharp with tension, while Adrian stood nearby, his expression dark and full of concern. They all wanted to protect me. They all wanted to stop me from leaving, from going anywhere while I was so fragile. But then Xavier's voice cut through the tension.
"We can't let her go alone." He said, his words laced with something fierce, protective. "She's not in any condition to do this. I won't let her face whatever the system has for her without us."
And just like that, the decision was made. Before I could protest, Xavier was already moving toward me, his arms reaching out.
"Come on, Isabella." He said softly, his voice comforting but laced with determination. "I'm not letting you go alone."
He knelt down in front of me, and before I could even think to stop him, he carefully lifted me onto his back. My body felt like dead weight as he adjusted me, and I couldn't help but wince from the soreness, the exhaustion that had been gnawing at me for days.
"Xavier, I... I don't want to be a burden." I whispered, my voice barely audible as I felt my body sink against his.
"You're not a burden." He replied firmly, adjusting his hold on me. His breath was steady, but I could feel the tension in his muscles as he lifted me with ease. "And you never will be. Rest, Isabella. We'll take care of you."
The others followed, but it was clear they were all just as unsettled as I was. Alastor's eyes kept darting to the surrounding forest, his hand resting on his sword, always alert. Adrian walked beside us, his face tight, eyes filled with concern but also resolve. I felt Xavier's back shift beneath me as he began to move, his pace sure and steady despite the weight of me on him. I wanted to tell him that I could walk, that I didn't need him to carry me, but the words never came.
I just closed my eyes, trying to calm my racing thoughts, but even then, I couldn't shake the dread gnawing at my insides. The system had made it clear I had no choice. And I had no idea what kind of consequences awaited me if I failed. But I knew one thing .I wasn't alone.
For the first time in days, I allowed myself to lean into Xavier's warmth, trusting that he, and the others would be there to help me through whatever came next.