Ari

Chapter 70: A Guardian's Hunch

Dillon's POV

We were all busy making papers that will be used by Ari for writing the translated version of the encrypted words on the ancient stones. Meanwhile, I suddenly felt an intense sensation of fear and anxiety. However, the emotion I felt is not my own. I was taken aback by the overwhelming perturbation and Lowell suddenly fell on his knees while sweating profusely for some reason.

Tora arrived in the area with the stupid horse beastman so Lowell suddenly snapped and furiously approached the two.

I felt anxious and worried as I held on the table, trying not to drop to my knees like Lowell did. I tried to calm down, to not cause further commotion.

"Where is Ari?! Why did you leave her alone?!" Lowell growled at Tora in disappointment while gripping on her arms tightly, causing a commotion around.

Macan suddenly transformed in his aggressive form, tackling Lowell while roaring furiously.

Lowell dodged and transformed as well to fight with the mute tiger youngling.

Centaurus tried to stop the two of them, but he was too weak to do so and was thrown away in a distance. I couldn't move due to the pain in my chest.

"Daddy Wowew!!!" Gurion screamed in terror while trying to rush to the scene.

"Let's play far away Gurion, don't meddle on adults' affairs." Blake sighed in irritation while grabbing Gurion using his tail to prevent him from jumping in dangerously before pulling him away.

Lowell and Macan's fight was causing so much commotion, making the others to suddenly stop working as they tried to observe the situation.

"Stop this in an instant! What are you all doing in front of the villagers?! Lowell, why are you acting up? Tora... Where is Ari? Dillon, what's going on?" Orson roared furiously while breaking the two males apart with his huge bear form.

"S-She said she will just go to the storage room to store the finished writings and will go back to the central hall once done so

"S-Something might have h-happened to Ari, b-but no one is around her. W-we need to f-find her." I stuttered while clenching my hand on my chest due to the pain I am feeling.

My heart was pounding fast, causing me to tremble and sweat profusely. Lowell seemed to feel the same as he dropped down on the floor weeping in horror. It's too dangerous, we might accidentally go out of control if this sensation intensifies further.

"Start searching for my sister. I'll explain the situation to Jael. Lowell... Snap out of it and go! Hurry up!" Orson anxiously instructed while rushing to Jael, who was observing at a distance with his spouse and daughter.

I can feel Ari's emotion fluctuating like a storm. I can't transform right now because I might lose control the moment I do so. Lowell has also transformed back to his passive form to prevent further commotion.

We all separated ways trying to find Ari.

Lowell went ahead to the storage room that Tora mentioned and I went to the central hall, hoping she was already back there. We couldn't even sense her location because of Lowell's suppressant and the collar she is using.

Lowell was moving too fast from one place to another, calling out Ari's name. No one was answering. Tora did the same, running around the area and checking each room she might have been hiding.

I arrived at the central hall and saw no one around, even a single guard. I looked at every corner she might have been hiding in, but she wasn't around the hall.

Jael had to stop the paper production just to help us find Ari. Orson and the other villagers also joined in the search, but there was still no news about her location. No one seemed to see her as if she vanished into thin air like Lev. I was terrified and worried at the same time while Ari's emotion slowly got mixed up with mine.

I felt too anxious and almost lost my control as the beast in me kept creeping out once in a while due to the uncontrollable stress within my chest. It's the hunch of a guardian that makes me and Lowell feel Ari's emotion. She is still around, I can feel that she's just near us.

As I was walking while letting my feet be led by my hunch, I realized that I was standing in front of the door of the storage room. Even though Lowell and Tora went here first. I still felt that I needed to look inside and open a door.

Everything looked normal inside the room and the written papers were placed properly as if the person who last went in this room had long been gone. However, the only door in this room beside the room door is the closet beside the table where the papers are placed.

"Ari? Where are you? Are you here?" I called out despite the slim chance that someone would answer.

"D-Dillon...." A trembling and hoarse voice whispered with a trembling tone.

I gasped and hurriedly opened the door. I felt slightly relieved, but still terribly worried at the same time.

I was taken aback when I opened the door. She was weeping silently in horror. I can clearly see her pale face despite the mask she was wearing. She was extremely pale. Her gaze looked cloudy as if she had been in pain for a long time.

I panicked and asked her hastily why she was crying. I felt my heart ache seeing her gloomy and depressed. My heart is breaking every time her tears fall from her eyes. I tried to extend my hand, but I stopped in an instant after remembering her condition. I don't want to worsen her situation.

I asked her if she could stand up, but she said she couldn't.

I don't know what to do. I need help from others. I told her to wait for a little while because I will call the others.

However, when I turned around, she pulled my tail desperately. I was taken aback because of the tingling pain and embarrassment.

I asked her what was wrong, but she begged me to stay because she doesn't want to be alone.

My tail is quite sensitive to her touch. I sometimes wanted to cross the line and devour her alive, keeping her for myself only. However, she will extremely hate me if I do so. I have to snap out of it in an instant.

I took a deep breath while trying to calm myself before trying to transform into my aggressive form. I turned around while gently pulling my tail away, then rubbed my face on her cheeks to cheer her up. She hugged me with her trembling body while sobbing quietly.