Chapter 102
This chaos was so subtle yet suffocating, tearing apart the beauty that should have remained untouched, even causing a cluster of roses—which were the fragments born from various structured cosmic boxes akin to the systematics of Berkeley cardinals, even surpassing them—to wither and fall apart.
And naturally, this was only a fraction that did not even reach 0.00001% of the entire transition.
Because of that, every option was analyzed down to the smallest level, until he felt an invisible pressure from his own responsibility, for a single mistake could result in countless tragedies, changes that surpassed the imagination of most people and seeped deep into the roots of the world's structure he understood.
Even so, Theo continued to hold back his steps, hold back his words, hold back his breath.
He realized that every action he took now served as a safeguard for Aldraya.
That every question he posed was not meant to trap her, but to secure the path she would walk, keeping it balanced between the freedom she carried and the boundaries that shaped her.
He saw Aldraya not merely as someone who responded, but as a part of the structure he guarded with care.
Every small movement from the girl could be a sign of change, and he interpreted each one with near-obsessive precision, aware that the real world and the game world blended into a single thin line that could collapse if he acted carelessly.
Within this awareness, Theo drew a breath, reminding himself that he was not only writing the future, but holding off the tragedies from arriving too soon.
"Finally done."
Theo exhaled briefly, the movement quick yet heavy with the calm he had just released from his inner strain.
He brushed his left arm with his right hand, as if trying to move the remnants of tension clinging to his body into the surrounding air.
The door in front of them remained closed, but its presence felt like a threshold they had just crossed together, marking the end of reading the article that had been placed before them earlier.
Aldraya stood beside him, her posture steady even though her thoughts were likely far beyond what the eye could perceive, yet the aura of awareness clung to her without sound, without any clear gesture to decipher.
When the two stepped outside, their first step pierced through the narrow room previously filled with concentration and breath-holding thoughts.
The path before them slowly unfolded, granting space for air and mind to flow once more.
Each step reminded them that the interaction had ended for now, that the questions and the article which had weighed on Aldraya's mind and Theo's focus had now become a memory shared only by the two of them.
"How was it? Did this first trip move you even a little?"
"Not bad."
'Even though she was shaken for a moment, she still stands as she should, huh?Just like the rumors say, Aldraya Kansh Que.'
Theo lifted his hand slightly, the gesture gentle and more of a silent inquiry than a command, weighing whether the first of the four places they visited had any impact on Aldraya.
Theo's eyes traced the figure beside him, searching for even the smallest sign that the experience had rattled her, touched something he had long assumed hidden.
Aldraya remained expressionless, her body an extension of the space they had walked through.
There was no visible tone of emotion.
No movement that could betray her feelings.
Yet within that simplicity, a subtle message slipped through when she finally spoke words that sounded ordinary but carried weight, a sign Theo understood without forcing it.
Not bad.
The compliment arrived reluctantly, like someone who held firmly to their principles yet refused to conceal the truth they felt.
Theo grasped that although the words were simple, there was a faint trace indicating that the earlier journey had stirred the foundations Aldraya relied upon as her path in life, foundations built on faith, devotion, and betrayal.
To Theo, it was neither mockery nor sarcasm, but an honesty that refused to be pushed, an admission that surfaced without any desire to deceive or test.
He understood that the response, though flat, still radiated something pure, something he could read through experience and his sensitivity to unspoken nuances.
Aldraya's movements remained calm, almost indistinguishable from the space around her, yet Theo sensed the resonance of that honesty.
There was a delicate balance between the principles she upheld and her ability to assess an experience objectively.
To Theo, it was more than a brief answer.
It was a declaration of self that remained loyal to the life she had chosen, while opening a small gap for deeper understanding of how freedom and experience could intersect without destroying the foundations she had built.
"The next place suits your character very well, Aldraya.You always keep your distance and appear rigid in crowds, yet your charisma makes people hesitant.Imagine, at twelve years old you had already become a young instructor at the Star Academy.Four years have passed, and now at sixteen, your reputation remains unshaken."
"If that's what you call interesting, I don't mind.Just take me there."
Theo glanced at the figure beside him before deciding to continue, explaining that the next destination aligned closely with Aldraya's nature.
He instinctively considered the complex balance within the girl, the blend of stiffness and her tendency to avoid interacting with others, along with the authority and capability that had led to her being appointed a young teacher at twelve.
Four years of teaching at the Star Academy had built a firm foundation within her, forming discipline as well as a natural distance from the outside world.
Theo understood that these traits were not obstacles, but bridges that could make the next experience more meaningful, especially if aligned with how Aldraya viewed the world and herself.
Aldraya listened with her usual blank gaze, yet her minimal gestures and manner of speech signaled agreement.
Even if she did not fully grasp what Theo meant by interesting, there was a faint hint of curiosity within her, a subtle push that made her choose to accept.
More than simply agreeing, Aldraya seemed to wait—calmly yet clearly—hoping Theo would take her there soon.
She was not in a hurry, but there was a quiet signal that the coming experience might stir the worldview she had long preserved.
Theo sensed it, and without further delay, they stepped forward, heading toward the promised journey.
The second destination unveiled a breathtaking sight.
The tall observatory pierced through the clouds, rising so high it felt as though the sky could be touched with one's fingertips.
Each step brought them closer to a space where horizon and height merged, creating a sensation that bordered on magical.
The air there felt thin yet crisp, brushing against the skin and touching the senses in a way difficult to describe.
Theo watched as Aldraya paused for a moment, adjusting to the height and the distance between earth and sky that felt so near, realizing that this place could bring forth something rarely seen from the girl: a pure curiosity and the softest anticipation.
"Where exactly are you taking me, Theo?"
"To the presentation room.
We will listen to a short lesson about the solar system and everything surrounding it.
But before that, I leave the choice of where we sit to you, Aldraya."
Fhhhh!
To be continued…