Chapter 21: Chapter 21

"What are you talking about?" That sentence immediately made Simon and me turn to face Brenda, who was now standing at the doorway.

"Nothing, just a few issues about women," Simon clarified, while I simply walked back into the house. I didn't need to bother explaining everything to my dear sister.

"Since when have you two gotten close?" Brenda's question halted my steps.

"With whom?" I responded casually.

"You and Aurel. Don't even think about playing around. You know very well how things are with Rex. I don't want my relationship with Rex to get even more complicated because of you," Brenda stated, causing me to smirk.

"Well, it's you who's messing up your relationship. It has nothing to do with me or Aurel. But don't worry, I'll try not to hurt her," I replied. As usual, my answer would always make Brenda look annoyed. She was too involved in my personal affairs, and I was starting to grow weary of her pseudo-concern. I was about to approach Thunder when a shout came from the room Aurel was in. Without hesitation, I swiftly rushed upstairs, and so did the others.

The door that separated the room from the hallway shattered as I used my power without thinking, making Aurel look even more shocked. We were right at the doorway, witnessing a frightened Aurel. Without second thoughts, I pulled her close, wrapping my arms around her trembling body. Sweat glistened on her face, clearly showing her fear.

"I was so scared," she murmured, sounding like a little kitten's whimper, and I held her in my embrace.

"Everything's okay now. You're safe here," I assured her. I looked at Brenda and the others, who stared at us with puzzled expressions, but I didn't care.

"Leave us alone with Aurel," I sent a message via packlink, and they understood. Brenda gave me a raised eyebrow, but I didn't care if she bombarded me with a thousand questions. What mattered was calming Aurel down. They left, leaving us alone. I let go of the hug and looked at her pale face, wondering what had happened.

"What happened?" I asked, focusing on her quivering lips.

"They were going to kill me," Aurel answered, causing me to gaze at her with a questioning look. I then scanned the surroundings. I was sure I didn't sense any scent or aura of other creatures. Brenda had already set up the Regnum protection around our house.

"Who are they?" I asked, needing clarification.

"They were there. I clearly saw them killing that massive monster. I don't know what I did wrong. I saw that flash of light heading toward me," Aurel explained, and I could already imagine what had just happened.

"Did you have a bad dream?" Yes, that seemed to be the only explanation for all of Aurel's current fear. However, Aurel immediately shook her head.

"No, I'm sure this isn't a dream. It all felt so real."

"But you're in my house right now. Everything is safe," I reassured her. It seemed like that was when Aurel started to regain her senses. She looked around with a scrutinizing gaze, as if making sure she was still in our house.

"But Gray, I'm sure this isn't a dream. It feels so real. I could feel the cold air, the darkness, and suddenly a tall monster with its fangs appeared around me, and then everything... I saw it so vividly," Aurel stuttered, her voice shaky with fear as she recounted what had just happened. Of course, it was just a nightmare, but somehow what she was saying sounded plausible.

"It's alright, everything is fine now. You're in my house. Just calm down," I tried to comfort her, attempting to touch her shoulder gently to reassure her. I looked into her eyes, which still showed signs of trembling. Eventually, she weakly nodded. Her pale face prompted me to gently stroke it with my fingers. As she closed her eyes, I could sense her feeling the warmth flowing through my touch.

"I won't let any danger be near you," I said. I wasn't even sure why I said that to Aurel. It just came out without planning. When she nodded again, she hugged me tightly. Perhaps she would regret it once she snapped out of her fear. Just a few hours ago, I still remembered the rejecting look Aurel gave me. Of course, she would despise the man who insulted her on our first meeting. But this time, I just wanted to comfort her, to give her a sense of security by returning her hug, caressing her small back to help her feel calm. The terrifying trembling gradually faded, and after a few minutes of silence, Aurel started to loosen her grip, seemingly regaining her composure.

"I'm sorry," Aurel whispered, sounding like a whisper. This time, I didn't want her to pull away. I gently held her face, preventing her from averting her gaze.

"There's nothing to apologize for. You didn't do anything wrong. I promised to keep you away from danger. Do you trust me?" I asked, hoping she'd believe me. But she seemed hesitant, her head barely nodding.

"At least I won't be a danger to you," I continued, a bit awkwardly. Though it sounded silly, it was a good starting point to stay close to her until I convinced her of something else.

"Hasn't Rex come to pick me up yet?" That sentence ultimately ruined my mood. Hearing Rex's name completely shattered my emotional state.

"He still seems to be dealing with his problems. Would you like to stay here until Rex comes to get you?" I offered. I could see that she was uncomfortable staying in this unfamiliar place for too long.

"Do you need anything? Should I call Brenda?" I asked as I started to move away from her. I wanted to give her some space and time. However, as I tried to distance myself, she extended her hand and grabbed the edge of my jacket, making me look back at her.

"Are you still scared?" I inquired.

"Please stay with me a little longer," she pleaded. I responded with a smile, not needing to give her another answer.