A World Between Realms

Over protective brother?

As the selection process concluded, all the candidates, including Sophie's team and Ealdred's team, were instructed to travel back to the academy together. Upon boarding the designated carriage, Ealdred approached Sophie with a warm smile, "Sophie, how are you holding up?" he asked genuinely, ensuring she felt comfortable amidst the buzz of the selection process. He extended his congratulations, adding, "And well done today—I'm really impressed with how you've handled everything. It's great to see you stepping into this role.

As Ealdred and Sophie exchanged warm greetings and words of encouragement, their conversation was abruptly interrupted. Randall, seemingly eager to insert himself into the interaction, approached them with a broad, assertive smile.

"Congratulations to you too, Sophie," Randall chimed in, placing a slight emphasis on 'too' as if to remind them of his own presence and significance. "It seems like destiny keeps bringing us together, doesn't it?"

As the carriage began to roll towards the academy, Randall leaned towards Sophie with a hint of assertiveness in his tone. "It seems the moon goddess has her ways," he remarked, trying to catch Sophie's eye. "Now that we're going to live together with our team in one residence, it's like destiny is telling us we're meant to be together."

Ealdred, sitting nearby, overheard Randall's comment and felt a protective surge. He subtly positioned himself a bit closer to Sophie, providing her with silent support. His protective instincts were stirred not just by Randall's words but by the underlying implication that Sophie might need someone to intervene. Ealdred's view of Sophie was akin to that of a protective brother, and he felt a responsibility to ensure she felt comfortable.

As Ealdred subtly shifted closer to Sophie, offering her a protective presence, his friend Regan noticed the movement and sensed an opportunity to tease his friend. With a mischievous chuckle, Regan turned to Randall, his tone playful but with an undercurrent designed to provoke Ealdred.

"Oh, Randall, are you trying to impress Sophie?" Regan asked, a smirk playing on his lips. His question wasn't just aimed at clarifying Randall's intentions—it was also a jab at Ealdred, meant to ruffle his composure and see how he would react to the suggestion that his protective stance might be interpreted as something more.

Randall, picking up on Regan's teasing but interpreting it as a challenge, responded with a hint of seriousness that cut through the light-hearted mood. "Sophie is my mate," he stated firmly, his tone leaving little room for jest. Everyone in the carriage was aware that Randall was a realm crosser from the Animus realm, where he had been a wolf. This background lent a certain intensity to his emotions and instincts, which were deeply ingrained and persisted even though he had lost memories of his past life.

His declaration, rooted in the deep-seated beliefs of his former existence as a wolf, was more than a simple assertion—it was a claim shaped by the instincts of his species, which he felt compelled to express even in his human form. This belief in their destined connection, as interpreted through the lens of his realm's culture, made him adamant and unwavering in his conviction that Sophie was meant to be his partner, regardless of how it was perceived or received by those around him.

As Randall firmly declared Sophie as his mate, the tension in the carriage briefly spiked before Mia and Pita burst into laughter, breaking the seriousness of the moment. They were both well-acquainted with Randall's unwavering belief in his destined connection with Sophie and knew just how persistent he could be on the subject.

"Oh, don't get him started," Mia said between chuckles, her voice light and teasing, "or he will not stop going on about his conviction that Sophie is his mate."

Pita joined in, nodding in agreement, "Yeah, once Randall starts with his mate talk, there's no hitting pause. It's all part of his charm, right?" She winked at Sophie, trying to keep the mood light and friendly despite the awkward assertions.

Their laughter and comments helped to diffuse the situation, turning what could have been a more confrontational moment into one of  gentle ribbing, although it was clear they were also subtly signaling to Randall the limits of how far his declarations should go in their current setting.

Despite the laughter and teasing from Mia and Pita, Ealdred couldn't quite share in the joviality. His discomfort was evident; he sat a little straighter and his smile didn't quite reach his eyes. He watched the exchange closely, feeling a twinge of concern over Randall's persistent declarations toward Sophie. Ealdred's protective instincts, already on alert, heightened as he sensed the potential for the situation to make Sophie truly uncomfortable.

Though he tried to maintain his composure, his unease was palpable to those paying close attention. The playful atmosphere was tinged with a seriousness for him, as he pondered the implications of Randall's strong assertions and the effect they might have on Sophie. Ealdred was caught in a conflict between wanting to respect Sophie's ability to handle the situation herself and his instinct to step in and ensure her well-being was not compromised by unwanted advances. This internal struggle left him somewhat distant from the laughter, reflecting his deep-seated need to keep his team—especially Sophie—safe and at ease.

As the carriage pulled up to the academy and everyone began to disembark, the mood shifted from playful banter to the practical task of settling into their new living arrangements. Randall, however, seemed undeterred by the change in atmosphere or the subtle cues from his peers, choosing instead to continue following closely behind Sophie as they all made their way towards the designated residences.

Ealdred, noticing Randall's persistence, felt his discomfort grow. He remained vigilant, his gaze occasionally flickering towards Sophie and Randall, ready to intervene if necessary.

Regan, picking up on Ealdred's heightened concern, couldn't resist the opportunity to tease him further. As Sophie and Randall moved out of sight, possibly heading toward the same residence, Regan nudged Ealdred lightly with his elbow, a mischievous grin spreading across his face.

"Looks like you might have some competition there, eh?" Regan quipped, glancing in the direction Sophie and Randall had gone. "Maybe you should consider declaring your intentions too, before our lone wolf stakes his claim."

Ealdred gave Regan a sidelong look, half annoyed but recognizing the jest. "It's not about competition, Regan," Ealdred replied, his tone a mix of irritation and jest. "It's about making sure she doesn't feel pressured. But thanks for your concern," he added dryly, the last part tinged with sarcasm.

Regan chuckled, clapping Ealdred on the back as they walked. "I know, I know. Just looking out for you, mate. Let's go see this new setup and make sure everyone's settling in alright."

Ealdred nodded, appreciating Regan's attempt to lighten the mood, even if his protective instincts couldn't quite take the situation lightly.