Caroline looked up, a hint of puzzlement in her beautiful two-colored pupils.
(Stalked? Us?)
"That's right."
Jared sat on the other bed, looking over at Caroline, who was lazily resting on the soft bed. This was the room next to Tawana's, and after signing that weird contract that turned to ashes in the fire, the two of them were given the right to live here. However, it was obvious that the designers didn't expect a man and a woman to live in this room, just as the designers of the buildings in the seventies didn't know that something called air conditioning would become popular twenty years later. So the room is very simple: a closet, a bed, a chair - oh, and a window.
However, they didn't feel any embarrassment, after all, they had been together for a long time, and in that kind of dangerous moment, they didn't need to care about the defense of men and women at all. In order to be able to escape or avoid being tracked down at any time, sharing the same bed and even taking a bath together had become a very customary thing for the two of them. After all, they had to save time to run away from the endless, unavailable pursuit, instead of enjoying their lives. So for both of them, although they don't need to live that kind of life on the run anymore, the habits that were formed after a long period of tension are not that easy to change.
"That's right. I don't know exactly what the other side's coming for. It could be because we taught that brat a lesson, or it could be the group that killed Mr. Florence, or maybe there are other possibilities.... There are just too many of them, and I think it would be best for us to take care of Tawana's safety. If we can't even protect her, then we won't have the face to see Mr. Florence."
（Do you think it's possible that someone else connected with Mr. Merchant? (Do you think it's possible that someone else who is related to Mr. Merchant sent someone to spy on him after he lost the news about him? After all, Mr. Merchant is a traveling merchant, so it's not unusual for him to have met someone somewhere, or to have someone close to him.)
Caroline offered her suspicions, and that was one of the possibilities Jared was considering.
"Never mind that. Anyway, we have nothing better to do than take care of Tawana."
With that, Jared stood up and walked over to Caroline's side. The slouching young lady did not move, and even when Jared leaned over and pressed his hands on the bed beside her, she did not change the expression on her face.
"Putting that aside, when are we getting married?"
(What do you say?)
Caroline's expression fell to a smug smirk as she looked over at Jared.
（If it's okay, it's okay now, right?)
"Since we're an unmarried couple, let's at least have a wedding date."
Jared said in an obviously joking tone, but Caroline looked half-serious.
（Anyway, I've entrusted you with my body. You can do whatever you want.)
Caroline placed her right hand gently on her chest, a slight red color appeared on her white and flawless cheeks. Her long hair was like gold under the sunlight, and the curves of her breasts were slightly undulating, representing the owner's life and vitality. Gazed at by those eyes of different colors, Jared had no reason to feel bad. Had the joke gone too far? He tried to look away from Caroline, but was surprised at how difficult it was to do so.
"... I thought you'd take the initiative, Missy."
Jared coughed, trying to open up this somewhat bizarre situation.
（It's a woman's pride to wait for a man to take the initiative. Or am I so unattractive that I have to attack you?)
"This ..."
Before Jared could find the right words to say, the door was thrown open with a bang, and Tawana came rushing in.
"Brother Jared, Sister Caroline, come on, we need to ..."
Tawana didn't finish her sentence, and when she saw Jared and Caroline, who was being pinned to the bed by Jared - or at least it seemed that way - she immediately blushed bright red, turned around and scurried away. It seemed that some misunderstandings, or not so much misunderstandings, had been given the right soil to grow, and could take root at any time. Jared sighed helplessly and straightened up. He couldn't deny that Caroline was a beautiful young woman, but their relationship wasn't that simple. Friends, they knew each other better than friends, even couples in love didn't know each other as well as they did, but this relationship of survival, built from near life-and-death battles and near-endless escapes, was a strange one at the moment. They used to be inseparable, dependent on each other. And is it now? What would their relationship look like in the ordinary world?
Jared didn't think too much about it, after all, they were in another world now, a world where no matter when they went to sleep they didn't have to watch out for loaded soldiers or Special Forces or helicopters or whatever weapons would attack and kill them indiscriminately.
So he's had time to think about it.
Standing in front of the square, Tawana's face was still red, obviously the scene just now was a bit too exciting for a girl. Jared and Caroline stood on either side of her, and like the three of them, there were quite a few other people gathered here as well. But one thing was the same, they were all magical envoys and guardians. In fact, only moments ago Tawana had received a magical order for all the newly contracted Enchanters and Guardians to come here and take a test.
"All you have to do is enter this portal and pass the test."
Ms. Williams, in her gold-rimmed glasses,had a voice as cold as a winter stream, a serious expression, and a gold pocket watch in her hand.
"This is a test of the synergistic relationship between magical envoys and contracted guardians, as I think you understand, gentlemen."
Her gaze didn't go to the Guardians standing behind her, but rather swept the magical envoys in front of her, most of whom were women .
"A messenger who communicates with the spirits of magic needs to have good judgment. Since you have judged that the one who stands behind you and guards you is the one you trust most. Then this is an opportunity to test your judgment, and if you fail. I'm sorry to say that your judgment is not good enough to allow the Spirit of Magic to trust you further, and the loser will not be allowed to continue studying at the academy."
Ms. Wilhelm's words caused a small commotion, and the expressions of the fledgling magical ambassadors became obviously nervous and uneasy. They had originally thought that the guardians were just there to protect them, but now it seemed that things weren't that simple. It sounded more like a gamble on the judgment of the magicians, and what they lost was the chance to study at the best magic academy in the continent.
The crowd hesitated .
（Tawana, are you scared?)
Noticing Tawana's pale face, Caroline asked with concern. Jared, on the other hand, was looking at the white teleportation spell in front of him, as if trying to see something in it.
"Sister Caroline, I ..."
It was clear that Tawana had no self-confidence, either in them or in herself.
But the lady didn't finish her sentence.
"Of course, we are not so unkind. If you don't want to be disqualified, you can, as long as you immediately break the contract with the guardian behind you, then you don't have to take this test."
At Ms. William's words, the crowd, which had been silent, once again erupted. Jared and Caroline looked at each other and shook their heads. Obviously, this was a ploy to get to the heart of the matter. If it was what she said, then this test wasn't going to be easy to pass. For those who were more prudent, they would naturally choose not to take the test for the time being. But that would mean breaking the contract with your guardian. It wasn't just a matter of hiring mercenaries or warriors, according to Tawana, Guardians were the closest companions of the Magical Ambassadors, not just human shields for guards.
It's a dilemma.
Gradually, many chose to leave. They didn't want to leave the academy, and they didn't feel confident in themselves. Jared had even seen some Guardians leave in anger after the Enchantress quit, apparently never to return to her. After all, it was a relationship of mutual trust, and destroying that relationship would be too easy right now.
（Tawana, what's your decision?)
Caroline and Jared watched Tawana, waiting for her decision.
Tawana raised her head, but then dropped it as if electrified before looking into the eyes of both men.
"I ... I ..."
"It's your decision."
Jared looked at Tawana's bowed head and spoke slowly.
"We won't have a problem with that ..."
"..."
Tawana was silent as she slowly raised her head again and looked towards the teleportation spell. Her hands rubbed the corners of her coat uneasily, for a 14 year old girl, it was too difficult to find a balance between the harsh reality and romantic dreams, moreover, it was still a gamble that she had staked everything on. Jared waited for Tawana's answer while staring at the teleportation spell in front of him. It was a large, white, triangular slab of stone, and three men wrapped in white robes stood at their respective corners, slender staffs in their hands, waiting motionlessly. The surrounding noise and quarrels seemed to have nothing to do with them. Jared scrutinized the slab, and for no apparent reason, felt a strange difference. Before he could find out where it came from, Tawana raised her head and walked toward the magical portal.
Upon arriving at the teleportation array, Ms. Wilhelm eyed Tawana with some surprise, and then, after asking her name, said to her gravely.
"Tawana Kanarot. You were just promoted to Magic Envoy last year, correct."
"Yes, ma'am. ..."
"It's a little early for a quiz, don't you think?"
"..."
Tawana turned to look at Jared, then at Caroline, then shook her head gently.
"It's a decision I've made, Ms. Williams."
She replied softly, and Ms. Williams nodded understandingly before she raised her glasses again.
"In light of your courage, I would like to inform you that this test will include Ms. Kelly Vitale, do you still stand by your decision?"
"... that Vito family?!"
Tawana asked back, her eyes wide with surprise and a little uneasy. Ms. Williams, on the other hand, nodded calmly.
"Are you sure you want to participate?"
Ms. Williams then repeated her question.
"... Yes..."
Tawana nodded after a moment of silence.
"Then, may you be favored by the spirit of magic."
Ms. Williams laughed bitterly, then stepped aside and gestured for the three to stand on the teleportation spell. After walking onto this thing, Jared's inner sense of uneasiness grew stronger and stronger, but he couldn't show it. After all, he had no idea where it was coming from, but he realized that Caroline seemed to be bothered by the same thing, and in a rare moment, she kept turning the umbrella in her hand, seemingly feeling much the same way as she did.
"Brother, sister, don't worry."
Sensing the change in their mood, Tawana whispered reassuringly.
"This teleportation spell is safe, I've used it before ..."
Before she could finish her sentence, the wizards standing in the triangle began a low chanting sound. Jared felt as if his body was suddenly being pulled upward and pressed downward by unseen hands. Then, a white, flawless light enveloped them and they disappeared into the center of the teleportation spell.