“I haven’t reached Exalted rank.”
Charlotte’s expression shifted rapidly.
Neo’s words seemed to bolster her thoughts.
Her gaze flickered with countless emotions—shock, disbelief, and finally acceptance.
She sighed before releasing Neo’s wrist.
“Congratulations, Neo Hargrave. Now you are one of the strongest warriors we have,” she said.
“Thank you,” Neo replied.
He didn’t bother explaining further.
He knew that no matter what he said, Charlotte wouldn’t believe him if he told her the truth—that he was Paragon, not Exalted.
Charlotte turned around.
“Follow me. The Sphinx told me you are going to take Elizabeth somewhere with you,” she said.
“….?”
“You don’t know about it?” Charlotte asked, noticing his expression of surprise.
“The Sphinx hasn’t revealed the complete details to me,” Neo replied.
“I see,” Charlotte nodded thoughtfully. “From what it told me, it will send you to some place to get the cure for Elizabeth.
“But that place is far.
“By the time you return with the cure, Elizabeth would no longer be with us.
“That’s why it wants you to take Elizabeth with you,” she explained.
“And you’re okay with it? What if I can’t get the cure and instead put Elizabeth in more danger?”
For one, everything seemed too convenient.
It was as if Sphinx had another goal for which it was sending Elizabeth with Neo.
‘Whatever task the Sphinx has for me seems to be dangerous.’
‘It’s counterproductive to take Elizabeth along given her condition.’
Charlotte’s steps slowed, and she turned to face him.
“I was worried before, but after seeing you now, I trust you.”
“….”
“You are an Exalted, and your track record speaks for itself. Above all, Elizabeth trusts you.”
Neo nodding with an imperceptible gaze.
He stepped through the portal, and he found himself in Elizabeth’s medical room.
The room was quiet, expect for the faint beeping of monitors and the soft whoosh of ventilators.
Elizabeth lay on the bed.
Her pale face was serene as if she lost in a fleeting dream.
“Go on. Use your Shadow Space,” Charlotte said.
Despite her words, Neo noticed the way her arms clutched tightly around herself.
Her knuckles whitened, and her gaze lingered on Elizabeth.
It was clear she was deeply worried about leaving Elizabeth in his care.
Neo turned to Charlotte before he used his Shadow Space to bring Elizabeth along.
“What about Amelia?”
Charlotte stiffened.
She looked to the side.
“I will tell her I’ve sent Elizabeth to a healer.”
“So we’re planning to lie to Amelia?”
“Yes, because….”
Charlotte’s words trailed off, and her lips were pressed into a thin line.
Her expression revealed everything.
“Is she angry with me?” Neo asked.
“Angry would be putting it very nicely. After you visited Elizabeth last time, Amelia ordered the guards to not let you in again,” Charlotte sighed
Neo didn’t know what kind of expression to make at the revelation.
He made his decision after thinking carefully.
“I will talk with Amelia and ask for her permission.”
“She hates you, boy. I doubt she will leave her mother in your care.”
“It’s better than lying to her and….”
Neo’s gaze shifted toward the mermaid plushie resting beside Elizabeth’s bed.
He had left it there.
If Amelia truly hated him, she would’ve thrown the plushie out without a second thought.
“I think she will be okay with leaving Elizabeth in my care.”
“Fine.”
Charlotte left the room after making sure of Neo’s decision.
Neo was left alone, surrounded by the soft hum of medical equipment.
He glanced back at Elizabeth.
“…”
He stepped out of the room and leaned against the wall, waiting.
It didn’t take long for Amelia to arrive.
Her footsteps were hurried.
She froze for a moment when she noticed him.
Recovering her composure, she brushed past him without a word and entered into Elizabeth’s room.
“Okay, maybe it won’t be as easy as I thought it would be,” he muttered with a bitter smile.
Time dragged on as Neo waited outside.
The hallways remained eerily quiet, the stillness broken only by the occasional soft whirring of distant machines.
Hours passed.
Finally, at 4 in the morning, the door to Elizabeth’s room opened slightly.
Amelia stepped out.
She closed the door behind her gently, ensuring not to disturb her mother.
“Why aren’t you leaving?” she asked in a voice low but sharp.
“I had something to talk to you about,” Neo replied.
Amelia stared at him for several long seconds before gesturing toward the hallway. Explore more stories with My Virtual Library Empire
“Let’s talk somewhere else. I don’t want to disturb Mom.”
Neo nodded and followed her silently.
They made their way to the cafeteria inside the building.
Amelia stopped at a table by the window, and they both sat down.
The view outside revealed a faint orange hue bleeding into the dark sky as the sun began to rise.
Neo’s gaze flicked to Amelia as she sat stiffly across from him.
‘Did she bring me here because she thought I was hungry?’ he wondered, reading her Intent.
He wasn’t trying to peek into her thoughts—he respected her privacy—but a glance at her Intent gave him a general sense of her emotions, even if he didn’t want to.
They ate in silence, the clinking of utensils the only sound between them.
Amelia poked at her food absentmindedly.
Finally, she broke the silence.
“How are you?”
“….?”
“Never mind. It’s nothing,” Amelia said quickly, looking away.
Neo could sense her inner turmoil.
She was struggling between her anger at him and the lingering concern she felt.
He had returned from the Shadow Trial only a few days ago, only to disappear again.
His sudden absence had worried his friends—and Amelia.
Her stone-cold expression – something she copied from Elizabeth – was her attempt at the hiding the softer emotions beneath it.
The realization made Neo smile faintly.
Amelia’s sharp eyes immediately caught it.
“Why are you smiling? Is there something funny?”
“…No,” Neo said under her glare.
Silence settled between the two.
Amelia’s gaze remained fixed on her plate as she continued to poke at the remnants of her food.
Neo, meanwhile, ate in silence.
It wasn’t until he finished his meal that Amelia opened her mouth.
“What did you want to talk about?” she asked.
“Are you going to listen to me finally?”
“Do I have a choice?” Amelia shot back with a glare.
She crossed her arms, and leaned back slightly.
“Sean told me how you stupidly sat outside Professor Daniel’s office for years, waiting for him to help you in awakening your Time element.
“I bet you’d do something similar until I listened to you.”
“I found a clue to heal Elizabeth, and—”
“No.” Amelia cut him off. “I don’t want your help to heal Mom.”
“At least listen to what I have to say.”
“What will that do?”
Amelia’s voice rose slightly.
“I can’t trust you anymore. You’re the reason why Mom is like that. Because you decided to do something on your own and used Mom for it…”
Her hands clenched into fists.
Her chest rose and fell as she tried to steady her breathing, clearly holding herself back from shouting at him.
Neo’s gaze softened.
“Amelia, I know I’ve made a mistake. It’s something that cannot be forgiven. But please, give me another chance.”
Neo cared about both Elizabeth and Amelia.
That was why he was trying to save Elizabeth and why he didn’t take her away without Amelia’s permission.
“I want to correct my mistakes.”