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n“Let’s get you home now. I’m sure you’ve had enough of my company” Aurora did not like the look she was faced with when Rita looked back at her. It was a mischievous smile that did not bode well for anyone involved.

nIt caused Aurora to involuntarily take a step back as soon as she saw that smile but Rita had no intention of letting her go.

nFor every step Aurora took back, Rita took one forward toward her. It was an involuntary chase that did not end till Aurora’s back hit the tree. Rita was too close and her expression clearly told Aurora that she had a plan in her mind.

nAnd she was willing to bet anything that it did not involve going back to her home.

n“Are you that tired of me already? Didn’t you say you were going to take responsibility for me?” Rita asked with an impish grin. It was a direct contrast to the earlier timid nature she had shown. This felt more like the Rita Aurora had known in her time.

nSome kind of switch seemed to have been flipped inside the younger’s mind that caused her behavior to change. Aurora had not sensed any kind of external interference for this but you could never know.

nAfter all, the closest place to the abyss without stepping into it was the underground.

n“I’m not tired of you or anything but I don’t want you to force yourself as well. And I thought you wanted me to take you home?” Aurora asked, earning herself a pout from the younger. In a way, the pout was assurance that whatever had caused Rita to change had not managed to get her fully.

n‘Her older self would be so mortified to see this pout’ the thought was amusing but brief as it crossed Aurora’s mind.

n“Well, that is true but I don’t want to be locked up in my room just yet. Just let me spend a little more time out here. Ah, I know. Why don’t we take care of some business of yours?” Rita’s eyes were glowing as she asked that question.

nAurora knew she should not indulge Rita in this. It would build up bad habits and give the younger girl a wrong idea about Aurora.

nBut at the same time, was she really going to see Rita after this? Rita would be busy with the abyss while Aurora had an academy to handle. It won’t hurt to let Rita make a few more fun memories.

n“Fine. You can accompany me for now. But please, follow my words this time. We were lucky that Michell did not want to cause any trouble for us” Aurora almost pleaded. Rita’s expression spoke volumes about her thoughts on Michell but she held it on to herself.

nAurora took the small victory, hoping that it signaled the things that were to come. If only she knew what caused Rita’s behaviors to change so drastically in such a short amount of time.

n“I get it, alright. Stop lecturing me and lead the way” Aurora shook her head fondly as she was ordered around. She did not mind letting Rita have her way for now. And she did need to make a hasty call.

nNow that she had established the connection with the revolutionary and gained their forces and funding, she needed the task force. She would need at least a few experts on her side but she did not have the time to scout them all out.

nMoreover, Aurora knew the people she was going to target for certain positions but she had no way to get in contact with them on her own.

nBut the biggest problem of this all was the Rocx valley itself. As good as that place was, it was still uninhabitable. Aurora was counting on her goddess powers to help her make that palace useful.

nBut if it failed, she would need to make some house calls and call in some favors with other higher powers who may or may not remember her. There was no telling how her time-reversal had affected the other gods and goddesses.

nTwo things happened at the same time. Rita clasped Aurora’s arm, causing the elder to flinch just as a scream echoed through the park. It lasted only a second before it was muffled but it was enough to send chills down someone’s back.

nThe scream had been loud enough to cause Aurora’s ears to ring and the terrifying feelings reaching her also caused her to freeze. They felt cold and gripping to her and Aurora almost kneel from their intensity.

nAurora tried to send soothing feelings back as a means of help, but the panic and fear were too loud to allow her help. Aurora had no option but to focus and knock the source of that voice out.

nThe process came almost naturally to her but it took time to understand what her instincts wanted her to do.

n“Rita. stay here while I check it out” Aurora called as she reached for the younger one at her side. But Rita was not there. Aurora had not even felt the hand on her arm disappear and she quickly spread her senses for the younger.

nLogically, she knew that there was no way for Rita to get kidnapped right in front of her without Aurora feeling her emotions but her system was still trying to cope with the empathic shock it had felt.

nLuckily, Aurora was able to feel Rita’s aura and followed it. She found the younger kneeling in the tall bush, her attention focused on the clearing in front of her.

nA still-bleeding body lay there and Aurora felt Rita’s intention of jumping out and claiming the body back. It was only Aurora’s quick reflexes that managed to stop Rita from exposing herself.

n“Let me go. She’s my servant and I need to help her out. This treatment against her would not be tolerated” Rita sounded angry. She even looked angry and Aurora was not surprised to see this reaction.

nRita had always been attentive to her friends and those under her command. This made her a reliable leader that people wanted to follow and Aurora knew that it had sprouted from the fear of losing dear ones.

nRita might not have ever openly detailed her losses but it was quite clear that she had lost people.

n“She’ll be alright. Let me check her out” Aurora assured as she left the bush. She was a low-risk target when compared to Rita and there was no reason to attack her here. Worst comes to worst, they would try to take her alive to question her.

nOr so she thought. But the arrows aimed at her told a different story. The body had been a bait.

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