Chapter 35 - 035: No, system
Rylan looked at Anaria again, his eyes immediately moving over her face, arms, and shoulders as if searching for any sign of injury. "What happened to you?"
Anaria blinked at him. "Why are you looking at me like that?"
Kai stepped closer, his expression equally worried. "Did they hurt you?"
"No."
"Are you sure?"
Anaria stared between them. She had expected anger, complaints, maybe even questions about why she had disappeared. Instead, both of them looked as though they had been searching for her for days. "What the heck is happening to you two?"
Neither answered immediately.
For a moment, Anaria simply looked at them. Their faces were still tense, but the relief was obvious.
"I really don’t understand why you two look so worried," she said.
Kai frowned. "Because we couldn’t find you."
Rylan nodded. "We didn’t know where you were."
Anaria’s expression softened. "Well, I’m here now." She squeezed Rylan’s hand lightly before looking toward Kai. "And I’m perfectly fine."
Kai finally relaxed. "Good."
Anaria smiled faintly. "Then let’s stop standing here like this is a reunion ceremony."
"Gwadd, this feels awkward," Anaria murmured while staring down. "System," she called out.
[Yes Host]
"Why are they behaving abnormal?" Anaria asked while staring down to the ground as if her life depended on it.
[Host’s mates experienced heightened protective instincts during the search.]
Anaria frowned. "And?"
[Affection increased.]
Her eyes widened. "TF"
[Rylan: Affection 60%.]
[Kai: Affection 50%.]
Anaria stared at the notifications. "Sixty?"
Then another notification appeared.
[Mates affection has skyrocketed to a moderate amount]
Anaria blinked. "Interesting."
[Compatibility with existing mates is sufficient for gradual bond development.]
She stared at the message before muttering, "So disappearing really does have benefits."
The System gave no response.
Anaria quickly dismissed it and looked back at Rylan and Kai. "So, how did you even find me?"
Rylan’s expression softened slightly. "We searched almost all of Ravenfall."
Kai nodded. "We asked everyone we could find."
"And?"
Kai’s expression darkened. "Someone called you the witch healer."
Anaria’s face twitched. "Of course they did."
Rylan continued, "They told us you healed a wounded beastman. Then they said you were being kept inside the village leader’s residence."
Anaria sighed. "Kept is a strong word."
Kai looked at her. "We didn’t know that."
"We thought something had happened to you," Rylan added.
Anaria looked at them for a moment. "So that’s why you nearly started a war."
Kai glanced toward the guards. "They wouldn’t let us in."
"And they called us thieves," Rylan added.
Anaria looked toward the guards before shaking her head. "Who won’t," she said while pointing at them. "I mean, look at you guys."
A quiet hum came from behind her. Anaria turned and suddenly remembered Kenai. "Oh. I forgot about you."
Kenai raised an eyebrow.
Anaria gestured toward him. "Hmm guys, this is Kenai. He’s the village leader." Then she pointed toward Rylan and Kai. "And these are my mates."
The moment the two men looked at Kenai, the atmosphere changed.
Rylan’s expression became guarded while Kai’s eyes narrowed.
Neither said anything, but Anaria could already tell what they were thinking.
She immediately stepped between them. "Don’t."
Rylan looked at her. "But he kept you here."
"Of course, I know."
Kai folded his arms. "Why?"
"Because I was brought here after the villagers captured me." Anaria continued, "He didn’t torture me and he treated me nicely." She said while looking back at Kenai, who let out a little smile.
Rylan glanced at Kenai. "And you’re free now?"
Kenai nodded. "Yes."
Kai’s shoulders relaxed slightly. Rylan gave Kenai a cautious look before saying, "Thank you for taking care of our mate."
Kenai simply nodded.
Anaria sighed with relief. "Good... Now that everyone has stopped looking like they’re about to fight, can we please leave?"
Rylan reached for her hand. "Let’s go home."
Anaria smiled. Finally, she was going home. Rylan reached for Anaria’s hand, ready to lead her away. Anaria smiled and took it.
She had no idea how much she had missed being with them until that moment.
Kai moved to her other side. "Let’s go."
Anaria nodded.
But before they could take another step, the System appeared and chimed in Anaria’s mind.
[Warning.]
Anaria’s smile disappeared. "Not now."
[Husband Candidate No. 3 remains active.]
Anaria’s expression tightened. She glanced toward Kenai, who was still standing a short distance away. "I don’t care."
[Host cannot reject the candidate without penalty.]
Anaria rolled her eyes. "I already said I don’t want another husband."
[Rejection will reduce compatibility.]
"So?"
[Penalty will be applied if compatibility falls below the required level.]
Anaria frowned. She had finally found Rylan and Kai. She didn’t want another complication following her around.
"What if I leave anyway?"
The System remained silent for a moment.
[Host may leave.]
Anaria blinked. "Really?"
[However, consequences will follow.]
Her excitement immediately disappeared. "What kind of consequences?"
[Host will experience a penalty.]
Anaria sighed. "Fine. Punish me, I thought it’s something important."
Rylan looked at her strangely. "Anaria?"
She quickly shook her head. "Nothing."
Kai frowned. "Are you sure?"
"I’m fine."
She turned toward Kenai. "I’ve done what I needed to do here. I’m leaving with my mates."
Kenai remained quiet for a moment before looking at her. "Little fox, are you sure you’re alright?"
Anaria nodded. "Yes. I’m fine."
Kenai didn’t stop her. "Then you should go."
Anaria looked at him, slightly surprised by how easily he accepted it. "Thank you."
She turned back toward Rylan and Kai. "Let’s go." But before she could move, a strange sensation suddenly tightened inside her body. She froze and her smile disappeared. "Wait."
Rylan immediately looked at her. "What happened?"
Anaria’s hand went to her stomach. "I... don’t know."
Her vision suddenly blurred, which caused her to stumble.
"Anaria!" Rylan caught her before she could fall.
Kai immediately moved closer. "What happened to her?"
"I don’t know," Rylan answered, holding her tightly.
Anaria tried to open her eyes, but everything around her seemed to spin.
Then the System appeared.
[Penalty initialized.]
Her eyes widened. "You..."
The word barely left her mouth before her strength disappeared.
Rylan’s arms tightened around her. "Anaria!" And Kai’s expression changed instantly.
"What’s happening?" Kenai stepped forward.
"Move aside." Rylan immediately glared at him. "Don’t come near her."
Kenai stopped. "I am trying to help her."
Kai’s eyes turned burning red. "We don’t know what you did to her."
"I did nothing." Kenai’s voice remained calm, but his expression had become serious. "If she’s in danger, fighting won’t help her."
Rylan clenched his jaw but didn’t answer. Kenai turned toward the guards. "Bring the healer. Now."
The guards immediately rushed away.
Anaria could barely hear them. Her consciousness was fading, but the System’s voice remained clear inside her mind.
[Penalty successfully initialized.]
Anaria’s brows furrowed.
Then another notification appeared.
[Host has been temporarily shut out]
Her eyes widened slightly "What...?"
Before she could understand what it meant, everything went dark.
Rylan held her tightly against his chest.
"Anaria, wake up."
Kai knelt beside them, his face filled with worry.
Kenai stood nearby, staring at her with a troubled expression.
For the first time, none of them knew what was happening to her.