CHAPTER 448: ANXIETY AND VIAL

The night slowly crept in, and as hours passed, everyone’s concern grew.

Coco had a consistent routine and she was usually one of the first few to arrive home every evening, yet, as the minutes ticked by, there was still no sign of her return.

She remained to be the only one who had not returned from her work for the day and the absence weighed heavily on his mind causing Zaque to fidget nervously, his gaze shifting repeatedly towards the front door, as if expecting Coco to walk through it at any moment.

Heiren couldn’t help, but stare at the plates that he had set for Coco, their contents growing colder by the minute as time relentlessly passed.

It was well past the usual time for dinner and yet, there was no sign of her arrival.

Outside of the kitchen, Alhai leaned against the second floor railings, his gaze fixed on the front door below— he tried to maintain a stoic demeanor, but beneath the surface, his worry was overwhelming.

His expression might have seemed blank and neutral, but the slight crease in his eyebrow and the subtle tension in his body showed the concern that he held within.

He clenched his jaw, silently willing the door to open and for Coco to walk through, safely returning, but every passing minute heightened his anxiety, and Alhai tried his best to hide it, maintaining his usual aloof facade.

Quizen perched himself on the couch, his guitar resting comfortably on his lap. He glanced around the room, his gaze flickering between the hallway and the figure of Zaque standing in the middle of it.

Quizen felt concern gnawing at his gut as well, but he kept it hidden deep within.

He knew that voicing his worry might only add to the already growing tension in the air so he sat silently, his fingers idly strumming the guitar strings, finding some semblance of comfort in the familiar touch and sound.

The house was heavy with silent anxiety as the four of them waited anxiously in their own ways.

Zaque paced restlessly across the hall, unable to sit still for more than a few moments— Heiren sat in Coco’s usual seat by the dining table, his expression schooled into a mask of calmness, but his clenched and trembling fists showed his unease.

Alhai remained leaning against the railing, his gaze still fixed on the front door as if his unwavering stare could bring Coco back sooner.

Quizen, on the other hand, strummed his guitar quietly, his fingers finding comfort in the soothing rhythms.

Time ticked by slowly, each minute passing with an agonizing sluggishness as the four mediators waited in vain, their anticipation growing with each agonizing second that dragged along.

The house was eerily silent, save for the soft sounds of Quizen’s guitar and the occasional creaking of the floorboards as Zaque continued his restless pacing.

Near the city gates, Coco sat at a table in the guild’s cafeteria, an ice pack pressed against her cheek in an attempt to soothe the pain and swelling— frustration and annoyance were clearly etched on her face, her usual cheerful expression replaced by a frown.

The cafeteria was mostly empty, save for a few hunters, making Coco’s brooding figure stand out more pronouncedly.

She winced slightly as the coldness from the ice pack met her bruised cheek, the discomfort momentarily distracting her from her grumpy thoughts.

Neo sat beside Coco, an obvious worry clear in his expression as he shot glances in her direction.

He had tried to intervene earlier, attempting to stop Coco from fighting the troublesome group that had provoked her, but in the middle of the chaos, she had ended up taking a hit from one of them using a nearby chair, leaving her with a bruised cheek.

Neo’s gaze kept flicking to the ice pack she held against her face and frankly, he knew that Coco was strong, but he just found out that she could be reckless and impulsive.

Coco let out a loud sigh, frustration and annoyance seeping through the sound.

"How am I even supposed to make it home with this bruise on my face?" She complained, her irritation clear. "You know my husbands will freak out when they sees this, right? They’re going to be all over me, trying to figure out what happened, but I don’t want them to know."

She gingerly pulled the icepack away from the bruise on her cheek, wincing slightly at the still tender area.

Unexpectedly, Myra walked by and noticed Coco sitting in the cafeteria, and the moment she caught sight of Coco’s bruised face, a frown formed on her face.

She crossed the room to go to Coco’s spot almost immediately.

Myra’s eyes flicked from the bruise to Coco’s disgruntled expression as she halted in front of Coco, crossing her arms across her chest.

"Again with the trouble?" She inquired bluntly.

Coco’s face momentarily brightened as she recognized Myra, but her spirits sank again as the memory of her earlier encounter surfaced in her mind.

"Yeah.." She responded, grumbling. "You remember that group of guys who started trouble during the third stage of the examination? They picked another fight with me today."

Myra let out an exasperated sigh as she rummaged through her bag, her expression a mix of irritation and resignation.

"You’re so lucky I haven’t used this vial yet." She muttered, continuing to search through the contents of her bag, her movements becoming more erratic.

A glimmer of hope flickered in Coco’s eyes as she watched Myra’s search.

"You have some medicine?" Coco asked.

As if to answer her question, Myra thrusted something in front of Coco’s face which caused Coco’s previous annoyance to begin to fade.

"Thanks, Myra!" Coco acknowledged with relief and gratitude in her tone as she accepted the vial.

She glanced back up at Myra, blinking.

"But how exactly do I apply this?" Coco asked, holding up the vial and giving it a gentle shake.