Miram's wink was playful, her smile captivating. "Don't worry, my Jyuran, I'll reach adulthood soon," she said in assurance.
Mike's mind reeled, struggling to comprehend the paradox. Miram was old enough to be his mother, yet she claimed to be on the cusp of adulthood.
"Who the hell is that?" Christina's irritated muttering pierced Mike's ears, shattering his thoughts. "Who's shamelessly flirting with you?"
Mike's eyes widened further, shock written across his features. "You can hear her?" he asked, amazed.
"Of course, I heard every word!" Christina snapped. "And it's unbearable." She shifted uncomfortably on the bed, tapping her feet against the floor.
"Then why can't I hear Rachael and Stefan's voices during our conversation?"
"Exactly! I can hear the person beside you, but why can't you hear Rachael and Stefan? What's wrong with this connection?"
"I can shed some light on that," Miram interjected. "You can choose to hear the voices of people around her, as well as block her from eavesdropping on conversations around you."
"Really?" Mike asked.
Miram nodded. "Yes, my Jyuran. The lav offers more than just audible conversations. It also enables telepathic communication."
Her smile was gone again, seriousness creeping into her tone. "However, engaging in telepathic conversations through the lav requires sufficient energy. It can be perilous if both users' locations are too vast; the energy drain will be substantial, and potentially lethal."
"To switch between hearing other voices around her or blocking them, focus on the lav during your conversation, then press and hold it for approximately five seconds."
"And if I wish to block her from hearing my conversations, what should I do?" Mike asked.
"Why would you want to block me?" Christina cut in, indignation in her voice.
"To protect you, Christina," Mike replied. "I don't want to put you in a situation where you'd risk your life trying to save me from danger. Your safety is paramount to me."
He stood up and nodded at the little witch. "Please teach me how to block her from hearing the voices of people around me," he implored.
"I'm the one who confessed my love to give him the strength to defeat Jran's soul," Christina's disgruntled muttering continued in the background, her tone growing increasingly bitter. "Now he's shutting me out? This is unbearable! After everything I've done for him—"
"I'm not interested in learning it anymore," Mike said hastily as Christina's complaints intensified. "I'd like things to remain as they are. Thanks anyway."
Miram, however, seemed unfazed by Mike's sudden change of mind. Though she couldn't hear Christina's voice, her eyes darted between Mike's eyes and a particular spot on his neck where his lav was situated.
"Simply double-tap and hold the lav for the same amount of time," she instructed. "This will create a shield, ensuring your discussions remain private. However, while doing that, make sure your intentions are clear. The lav would read your mind and process your will."
"He said he's no longer interested in learning about it!" Christina yelled. "Why the hell is this bitch still explaining it? Is she intentionally getting on my nerves?"
"Why are you getting so annoyed?" Stefan asked.
"Do I look annoyed?" Christina retorted.
"Of course you are; it's written all over your face," Stefan replied. "Did something happen between Mike and Djuma's daughter?"
"I don't know!" Christina yelled again. She stepped down from the bed and stomped toward the door, her hand grasping the handle.
Rachael, who had been quietly observing the exchange, finally spoke up, folding her hands as she stood up from the bed.
"Are you leaving already?" she asked, glaring at her.
Christina held the gaze for a long while before she finally sighed relentingly and retraced her steps, returning to the bed. She flopped down.
"Are you even sure you know what's wrong with you?" Rachael, aware of the underlying tensions, scoffed.
Christina rolled her eyes. "Whatever!" she hissed, turning away.
Rachael and Stefan smiled at each other, shaking their heads.
"She's lost it," Stefan muttered under his breath.
"I think so," Rachael replied.
"Shut the fuck up!" Christina shouted. "I can hear your annoying murmurings!"
Meanwhile, in the cave, Miram suddenly sprang to her feet, rushing toward the cave's entrance. Her eyes narrowed as she scanned the horizon. She turned to face Mike, her eyes glowing with a faint, ominous red light.
"We need to leave, my Jyuran," she urged as she swiftly grabbed one of the animal hide cloaks hung on the wall.
Mike's confusion deepened. "What's going on, Miram?"
"They've caught our scents, and they're closing in."
"Can't you just seal the entrance, like you did before?"
"That tactic only works against ordinary warriors. I sense Dahra's energy; whoever's coming will see through the mountain's concealment. I'm not strong enough to face someone with Dahra's gastra coursing through them."
"Dahra's gastra?"
"It's not Dahra himself. He wouldn't dare confront his father, let alone fight him. He must have empowered his minions to capture you."
"Shit! This is a disaster!"
Mike launched himself out of the cave, soaring above the mountain. As he hovered, he scanned the surroundings, but the dense blue fog obscured his vision.
"I can't see a damn thing!" he sniffed, his senses straining.
"You can see through it if you want to, you're the Jyuran!" Miram's soft reply came, amplified by Mike's super hearing.
Mike took a deep breath and refocused his energy. He closed his eyes and concentrated. When he flipped them open, his Jyuran supersight ignited, illuminating his gaze.
With newfound clarity, Mike pierced the fog, his vision zooming in as if through a telescope. Beyond the swirling mist, he spotted a colony of armed warriors, their wings beating relentlessly as they began to advance.
"They're almost here, we have to go – now!" he half-shouted urgently and flew back toward the cave.
"That was fast," Miram's voice came from behind.
Mike spun around, startled, as Miram stood behind him. He had assumed she was still inside the cave.
"Oh! You're here already; that was fast, too," he blurted, attempting to regain his composure.
Miram smiled in amusement. Without much effort she swung around and began to fly forward. Mike followed, his wings beating relentlessly against the dense fog.
Meanwhile, back in Rachael's room, Stefan noticed Christina's concerned expression. "What's the situation over there?" he asked.
"I think they are being chased by Dahra's minions," replied Christina.
"And where in the universe is Djuma?" cried Rachael, her pulse quickening and her heart racing.
"Right, he should have reached there by now. It's been almost nine hours," Stefan added.
"Tell Rachael not to worry about me; I can hear her concerns," Mike's voice suddenly came through Christina's lav. "I knew this would happen when I asked to learn how to block you off from hearing voices around me. I'll talk to you later."
The lav disconnected, leaving Christina frantic.
"Mike? Mike!? You can't disconnect now! We need to keep track of your situation! Mike!?" Christina called out repeatedly, but her pleas went unanswered.
Rachael's fear intensified. "Is something wrong with my brother?" she asked.
"I don't think so," Christina reassured. "He got worried when he heard you crying so he disconnected the lav."
"He can hear my voice?" Rachael asked.
"The witch taught him how to operate the lav further," Christina nodded. "You're such a crybaby. How can you cry knowing he has a powerful witch protecting him?"
Rachael swiftly wiped away her tears. "If the witch is strong enough to protect him, they should be preparing to fight, not fleeing," she countered.
"Still, he's the most powerful…" Christina's response was cut short as her phone rang, shrill in the tense atmosphere.
She glanced at the screen, her eyes flicking to the caller ID. Her expression changed, and she swiftly flipped the phone over.
She turned back to Rachael, forcing a smile. "Where was I?" she asked.
"The part where you're going to pick up your father's call instead of ignoring it," Rachael replied.
"How did you know it's my father calling?" Christina asked, her eyes flashing with surprise. "I didn't even save his number as Dad."
"How did you save it then?" Stefan inquired.
"It's Workaholic," Christina answered and turned back to Rachael. "How did you know without seeing my phone?"