"Someone can," Aiden replied. "You do," he told Genevieve.
"Don't ruin our only chance to survive," she told him with furrowed brows. "You don't understand the threat we are facing."
"I was the one to warn you about it," Aiden rebuked. "We had a plan."
"It's not going to work."
"And that's why you lost my respect," Aiden said and pushed the Voidheart Sutra toward her. "You've given up without a fight."
"Miss Genevieve," the man interrupted. His aura seemed to end their conversation, and the two turned toward him. "Who is this clown?"
"No one," Genevieve said. "Leave now, Aiden — or else."
"Big man over there," Aiden ignored Genevieve. "You agree with me, right? We can defend ourselves without your help. You understand that your existence here is a mere exaggeration from our Guild Master."
"You have the mouth of an Aetherial, but the cultivation of… none, actually," the man answered with disdain. "I never thought the Fringes would be this uncivilized. It pains me that you lived with these people for so long, Miss Genevieve."
"How about we make a bet then?" Aiden proposed as he stepped forward. "If we can handle this problem ourselves, you will leave and never come back to Argan again — if not, well, you get this beauty for a prize."
"Miss Genevieve is no prize, brazen man," the prince spoke with a frown. He turned toward Genevieve, attempting to talk to her again. Aiden, however, jumped between them.
"Don't go straight to her, man. This is between us. Just tell me if you have the balls or not."
"The… balls?" the man looked at him with an incredulous look. "How dare you… spout such filth in front of me…" the man was enraged. "But I can see Miss Genevieve's reluctance when it comes to you — so I will agree to the bet on one condition."
"Anything."
"You never come anywhere near her if you lose," the man said with a smile. "Otherwise, I will kill you with a snap of my fingers."
"That sounds like a good deal," Aiden said before offering a handshake. "Let's seal the deal."
"…I'd rather not," the man looked at his hand and then began walking toward the balcony. "I will be staying here in the city until the disaster strikes — which should happen in three days. If you fail to stop it before then, then I win the wager."
The man then waved a hand and opened a giant portal before stepping through it and disappearing. Aiden could finally breathe easily and he turned toward Genevieve with a sigh.
"You really know how to pick them," he told her. "There's no need for thanks."
"Thanks?" she looked at him, shaking with anger. "You just made this harder than it needed to be. I had everything planned out, and—"
"Planned out?" Aiden asked. "You wanted to take the easy way out."
"Easy?" she said, fuming. "This would change my life forever. Do you know how difficult it was for me to cast aside my ambitions to save this city?"
"Then, why would you?" Aiden asked. "People are evacuating as we speak. If they are fast enough, they can outrun their deaths."
"It's just a matter of time," Genevieve said with a shake of her head.
"And the same applies for us — we just need enough time to uncover the hidden dungeon. We were ready and everything was planned."
"This will simply endanger people," Genevieve said. "We need—"
"You need to believe in yourself," Aiden said, interrupting her. "I'm not here to give you the courage you need, because you should already have it — I'm here to remind you."
Genevieve was silent. Her sky-colored eyes looked at him like he was something alien — a creature she has yet to understand.
"You could have saved yourself."
"And I should have, but the same goes for you."
"I have a duty to protect the people here."
"There are nobles, no? People who are just as strong as you."
"They would rather see the city burn and scavenge the remains than to endanger themselves," Genevieve said, almost spitting the words out.
Then, the two of them fell silent. Genevieve sighed and walked to a nearby leather chair and she allowed herself to sit. Aiden watched the fatigue seep out of her as he took a chair next to her.
"I know you're tired… but I need a way to come here without having to face a giant crowd of seekers," Aiden said. "It's getting annoying."
"You plan on making this a habit?" Genevieve asked with a frown.
"If we live," Aiden said with a shrug.
Genevieve smiled for the first time. "If we live," she repeated.
A knock came on the door. She allowed the visitor entry. Erebus came inside, looking around, and then turned back toward Genevieve.
"The seekers of this guild are concerned, and are awaiting your order," he said. "They have gathered outside waiting for you to make an announcement."
"It seems my enemies inside the guild have made their second move," Genevieve said as she rose with a smile. "But… we will use this against them."
"I guess the first move was the leaked news?" Aiden asked Erebus, who gave him a confirming nod. "Why don't we just eradicate them?"
"The highest-ranking seeker inside the Guild has a different faction," Erebus explained. "He had his eyes on the Guild for a long time, before our lady arrived."
"And now, he is using this disaster to force me out," Genevieve continued as she walked toward the balcony. One glance through the glass and she saw the crowds of people. "I planned on making the mission a private matter."
"You want to announce it?" Erebus asked, surprised.
"She wants to recruit all the seekers," Aiden said with a smile. "This is no longer about benefiting or strengthening our position. It's a chance for the guild to stand together and fight."
"You read my mind," Genevieve said with a smile as she turned toward them. "If they think that they can force me out, then I'll gladly do what they can never imagine — compromise."