NOVEL ONLINE FREE Chapter 25: Noah's decision
Chapter 25: Noah's decision
Noah returned to find Eleonora staring at him like an eager fan.
She sat on the ground, her legs squeezed together, panting while smiling at him.
She looked like a woman in heat, but Noah did not want to think that way yet.
This was only the first trial, where strength mattered the most, and it was not the place for such activities.
He had already left Athena breathless and powerless with kisses alone.
He was sure he could do the same with Eleonora if he added more physical pleasure, but he could not let her lose her strength here.
Athena chuckled. "I have watched thy battle from afar through my wolf and relayed all to Eleonora."
"I know," Noah nodded.
"Thou dost?" Athena asked. "I believed I was hidden well enough. It seems nothing escapes thy senses when thou art in Darkness' Apex."
"Noah!" Eleonora called. "I demand more of your abilities. How dare you show me so little? You meanie! I want more, more, more!"
"You look pretty satisfied already," Noah said, making Eleonora grin wider and giggle.
"More, more, more," Eleonora chanted, only to have her lips sealed by Noah, which she had planned all along.
After a brief rest, Noah built another camp in the treetops.
Seated on his orb web, the family discussed the monsters' sudden attack.
"If everything in these trials happens for a reason, maybe we were not attacked before because no one fought the monsters or ventured farther," Eleonora said.
"That is a good theory," Athena agreed.
Noah wanted their insights.
They had been in other trials and knew far more than he did, so he asked them to explain every detail.
Eleonora puffed out her chest and slipped into a teacher-like mode, ready to speak at length.
"There are ghouls and black bears. I suspect there is a water source somewhere in the forest, probably guarded by more groups. That means food and drinks are not truly limited. People have to fight for them. If the trial's people just hide in their mansion and rely on scarce supplies, they grow weaker and end up fighting monsters in their worst condition."
"Oh, that's a smart thought," Noah said. "Athena's wolf can't reach the mansion from here. We can either go deeper into the forest or check on them."
"What is thy decision?" Athena asked.
Eleonora agreed with her and left it to Noah.
He was the man who had saved them, the man they both deeply loved, so his choice mattered most.
Noah thought for a few moments and spoke. "Let's watch the mansion from a distance to see if anything changed. If not, we pack up and continue across the forest."
"Okay!" Eleonora exclaimed, while Athena simply nodded.
—
Midnight came.
Noah and his family returned to the mansion's garden.
Right at the border, things had changed.
Claw marks covered the area, and blood stained the ground, mixed with dried black blood.
Many black bears and ghouls had passed through here, beating on the mansion's doors and windows.
It was exactly as Athena had predicted, which made Noah uneasy for a moment.
They said mothers were always right, and it already applied to Athena.
He kept that to himself, but Eleonora's smirk told him she guessed his thoughts and agreed.
They exchanged a quick smile.
Unaware of the looks they gave each other, Athena said, "There is a big commotion, and we risk being involved if we linger. For now, let us assume no monsters came after us before because their focus lay on this mansion."
Eleonora nodded. "They really holed up and tried to endure this trial without actually overcoming it. Their meager supplies and lack of trust worked against them. Maybe some could not handle ghouls either. That's why teamwork matters. It's satisfying, to be honest. They joined forces to kick us out, yet they cannot unite to deal with a few ghouls and black bears."
She spat at the ground as though spitting on those inside.
Athena and Noah agreed with her.
They both looked to Noah again.
He did not hesitate this time, used to being the decision-maker.
"Leave them be," he said.
He would have cooperated if he had been stuck in the mansion with them.
Now, though, he could build his own safe zone in the forest and guard Eleonora and Athena without risking his life for those people.
It would be too much even for him and Athena to fight so many monsters at once.
Eleonora asked, "Does it feel wrong, Noah? I admit I hold a grudge against them for kicking us out and trying to hurt me. I do not feel guilty leaving them. I've been through worse, so I am mentally stronger. You, however, need my attention."
She cupped his cheeks and held his gaze.
Noah smiled. "They brought this on themselves. I punished those who hurt you, but I see no reason to help them further. Instead, I see a chance to explore the forest and find something that will make us stronger. I compare them to the people who saw me get bullied but never helped. They did not value us, so we should not value them. I already gave them enough chances."
Eleonora nodded.
Noah grinned. "I'd rather have two hot future wives who appreciate me."
"That's for sure," Eleonora said, her tails flapping.
Even Athena's wolf tail swayed side to side.
Noah smiled at them, then led them away from the mansion.
He took the main path into the forest, deciding to keep moving forward now that most monsters had gathered at the mansion.