Chapter 72: Crying Heaven

"Come on, Alice-san, do something! Heal her!"

Maximus's voice rose in urgency, but Alice stood there, frozen in place like a deer caught in headlights.

Her eyes were wide with shock, her brain seemingly unable to process the situation unfolding before her.

It was as if she believed the dark elf was about to die right then and there.

"Yeah, Alice-san, work your magic, now!"

Lloyd chimed in, his voice tinged with urgency as he cast a nervous glance over his shoulder.

His hands shook as he struggled to maintain his composure.

Sure, he'd faced off against a monster before, but seeing a human—or rather, another species—on the brink of death was a whole different ball game.

And it was a game he definitely didn't want to play.

His mind raced as he frantically searched for an exit button, that magical escape hatch that would whisk him away from this nightmare.

But, like always, there was no such thing.

In a desperate bid to maintain his sanity, he reminded himself that this was all just a game, a twisted simulation he was trapped in.

Maximus and Sable?

They were nothing more than NPCs, lines of code with no real existence outside of this virtual hell.

Seeing the dazed expression on Alice's face, Kaisen rode up beside her and grabbed her shoulder, giving her a vigorous shake.

"Alice-san, snap out of it! She's not dead yet. Come on, heal her. Alice-san?"

"It's...It's..."

But before Alice could respond, Sable attempted to speak again, her voice choked with fear as if she were struggling to get the words out.

"Alice-san!"

Feeling frustrated that his shaking wasn't getting through to Alice, Kaisen knew he had to try something else—and fast.

With Sable's life hanging in the balance, he couldn't afford to waste any more time.

Taking a deep breath, he braced himself and did something risky—a trick he hoped would snap Alice out of her daze.

It was a move that could either hit or miss, but he was willing to take the chance for the greater good.

After all, he had so much left to do with Sable, and he couldn't let her die now.

Leaning in close, Kaisen whispered.

"Dayummm... look at that woman."

"Come on, honey, what is it?"

Maximus urged gently, his hand resting reassuringly on Sable's shoulder.

The rest of the party members fell silent, their eyes fixed expectantly on Sable as they waited for her to speak.

With a deep breath, she parted her lips, the words hanging in the air, waiting to be spoken.

"It's...it's...it's raining, honey. Shouldn't we find a place to stay for the rain to pass."

Sable finally spoke, her voice laced with mischief as she flashed a wide grin and tilted her head cutely.

The words hung in the air for a moment before the realization dawned on the rest of the party.

Everyone's jaws dropped to the ground, even Kaisen's.

Was that the reason Sable had been panicking?

Because of the rain?

Seriously?

She had nearly given them all a heart attack, and when she finally spoke up about the rain, it felt like the entire atmosphere had shifted.

It was as if they had all been on the edge of a cliff, only to find out it was just a small bump in the road.

'Goddamn...this bitch is playing with us.'

Kaisen grumbled as he looked at the sensual face smiling innocently.

"What the fuck, honey?! You scared—"

Maximus began, his voice rising in frustration, but Sable cut him off mid-sentence.

"Lesson one of today: Do not panic in crucial moments. Always stay calm and composed. If one of your companions is in trouble, you do not panic, understood? We will talk more once we find a shelter."

With that, Sable spurred her horse into motion, galloping away in search of a place to take refuge from the rain.

Maximus watched his fiancée ride off with disbelief etched on his face, mirroring the sentiments of the rest of the group.

They all stood there, bewildered and somewhat traumatized by the rollercoaster of emotions they had just experienced.

"I swear to Lady Second, that woman's gonna be the death of me."

Maximus muttered under his breath as he spurred his horse into motion, following after Sable.

Kaisen watched Sable ride off with a smirk playing on his lips.

Not only was she smoking hot, but she also had a wicked sense of humor.

He liked that.

'I should punish her properly.'