Evolution begins with an ant colony

As they stepped out of the guild, Azara, curious, leaned closer to Akun, her yellow eyes sparkling with questions. "So, Master," she whispered, her voice barely a murmur over the noise of the street, "what exactly is the new course of action you mentioned?"

Akun looked around the bustling cityscape, his gaze sharp. "The Academy may be heavily guarded at the entrances," he replied, his voice low and measured, "but surely all sides can't be under constant vigilance. My plan is to fly over the academy walls, finding a section with fewer guards or a blind spot."

Experience tales with My Virtual Library Empire

Genreia, her brows furrowed in concern. "Fly in? Won't you be easily spotted?" she saked, her voice a low rumble.

Akun flashed a confident grin. "Not if I'm fast enough," he said, a mischievous glint in his eyes. As he leaned in slightly.

He continued walking, his keen eyes scanning their surroundings. A slight tense stiffness in Hestria's posture caught his attention. He turned to her, concern etched on his face.

"Hestria," he asked gently, "something seems to be bothering you. Is everything alright?"

Hestria, usually composed and poised, fidgeted with a loose strand of hair, her eyes averted. "It's nothing much," she mumbled, her voice barely above a whisper. "Just a little… on edge, I suppose."

Akun's brow furrowed slightly. "Is it Darius's warning about the disappearances?"

Hestria offered a hesitant nod, a flicker of fear momentarily clouding her usually calm expression.

Akun placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder, his touch firm yet gentle. "Relax, Hestria," he said, his voice calm and steady. "The disappearances are unsettling, yes, but I highly doubt anything like that would happen in broad daylight, right in the heart of the capital.

Besides," he added with a playful smile, "even if they did try something foolish, they'd be met with swift and… unpleasant consequences."

His words, imbued with a hint of danger, caused a blush to creep up Hestria's cheeks. She quickly looked away, the fleeting warmth in her gaze hinting at a hidden surge of emotions.

The group continued their walk, a comfortable silence settling between them. Suddenly, Chrono Nexus, who had been trailing behind with a thoughtful expression, halted in her tracks. Her brow furrowed.

"Darling," she called out urgently, causing everyone to stop and turn towards her.

Chrono struggled for a moment, a flicker of unease on her face. Finally, she forced a smile, a bit strained. "Something unexpected came up," she explained, her words lacking conviction. "Goddess duties, you could say."

Akun narrowed his eyes, suspicion flickering in their depths. "Duties of the goddess of time and knowledge, huh?" he mumbled, his voice laced with skepticism.

The goddess of time, so he believes, was only supposed to take direct action against something in the physical world when it was related to time travel, the fact she want to leave now basically meant something of that nature was happening somewhere.

Chrono, clearly struggling to maintain her facade, let out a nervous giggle. "Don't be so serious, darling," she said, waving her hand dismissively. "I'll be back in a jiffy, no need to look so serious."

She couldn't meet his gaze, her eyes flitting around like a trapped bird. Her discomfort was as transparent as glass to Akun. He knew she was hiding something, but what?

"Alright, alright," Akun finally conceded, a sigh escaping his lips. He trusted Chrono, but this sudden shift in behavior wormed its way into his mind. "Just be careful and be back soon."

A smile, this time more genuine, replaced Chrono's nervous facade. "Ok I will, don't miss me too much now," she chirped, before turning and disappearing as she stepped into a rift.

Akun watched her go, a knot of unease tightening in his gut. Chrono's behavior was uncharacteristic, and the timing made him all the more curious. He knew she wouldn't abandon them without a good reason, but what was it? Was it something to do with Aric? Or something more personal?

As Chrono Nexus vanished, Genreia, glancing at the intense look in Akun's eyes, sighed dramatically. Leaning closer to Akun, she muttered, "Well, that went well. Looks like we're back to being glorified escorts, following you around while you drag us into whatever trouble awaits."

Akun's brow furrowed in confusion. "What do you mean, Genreia?"

Tatillia, with her cheerful voice, chimed in with a playful smirk. "She means, Master, that when she signed up for this 'adventure' of yours, she was expecting a bit more… excitement."

Akun raised an eyebrow, a hint of amusement dancing in his eyes. "Exciting? How exactly?"

Genreia shrugged, a blush creeping across her face. "Exploring different lands," she listed, her voice dripping with sarcasm, "battling monstrous beasts, indulging in exotic cuisine, maybe even… some moments alone."

Akun chuckled, a warm sound that filled the air. "Don't get me wrong, I understand your expectations. All those things are part of why I wanted to venture out into the world. But since the encounter at the arena, my perspective has shifted. Something is happening, something big, and I can feel it in my bones. Finding Alric, uncovering the truth behind it all – that's become the primary objective.

Not to mention," he added, his gaze sweeping over his companions, "it seems fate has a way of throwing unexpected challenges our way."

Hestria, nodded in agreement. "It does sound logical. We wouldn't be here otherwise."

Akun turned back to Genreia, his expression softening. "Why the sudden curiosity, Genreia?"

Genreia hesitated, her eyes flickering away from his gaze. "Curiosity?" she scoffed, her voice feigning nonchalance. "I wasn't curious. I just… saw the look on your face when Chrono left. It was like you were preparing for war, not embarking on an adventure. I simply wanted to remind you, Master, that sometimes, even in the chaos, there's room for a little fun."

Akun gazed at her for a moment, a wry smile playing on his lips. "You might be right, Genreia," he conceded. "But fun can wait."