Chapter 107
The open space, the flowers, and the sunlight seemed to act as silent witnesses to the subtle yet undeniable power play between the two figures, where every step and movement of the hand conveyed messages without breaking the stillness.
In the midst of the captivating greenery, Theo felt frustration steadily piling up, yet accompanied by a faint sense of respect toward Aldraya's cleverness and composure.
The girl's eyes moved swiftly, calculating every distance and position, refusing to submit to anyone's will or yield to Theo's attempts to break through the wall of her demeanor.
Everything displayed by the flowers, leaves, and corners of the garden appeared like a performance without dramatic effect for Aldraya, and it was precisely there that Theo recognized a subtle art he rarely encountered.
He realized that behind her cold manner and indifference lay an extraordinary form of control over herself and over interactions that forced others to adjust.
Every movement Aldraya made was not just a response to the environment, but a reflection of someone who arranged herself with sharp precision, maintaining dominance over the space she chose and deciding who deserved her attention or mere dismissal.
Here lay Aldraya's hidden strength, the very thing that left Theo stunned even as he sometimes felt like bursting from the emotional tension that built up inside him.
Time passed, and the once pleasant garden turned into a psychological measuring ground where the two silently weighed and assessed each other.
Theo kept moving, observing every reaction Aldraya had toward the flowers he pointed at, the colors shifted by sunlight, and forms that appeared perfect yet still failed to catch her interest.
All details that would normally enchant an ordinary observer meant nothing to Aldraya, and it was precisely her indifference that fueled Theo's unbearable agitation.
He tried to understand the logic behind her behavior, yet also realized that no immediate answer existed.
Aldraya's resilience and calm created an aggravating bond, making each of Theo's steps feel like a calculated dance where emotion, caution, and curiosity intertwined.
There were no rough words exchanged, only a subtle rhythm between movement and stillness that spoke for them, weaving a quiet story in a garden filled with color and light.
Finally, after nearly an hour there, the two of them left the garden.
The atmosphere remained tense even as their steps carried them out of the greenery, leaving behind traces of unresolved friction and silent evaluation.
"Come on, Aldraya! We don't have much time, we need to get to the last place!"
Tsuuuf!
"Hold my hand!"
Puuuuk!
"Come with me now—walk quickly, there's no time to stop."
Buuuk - buuuk - buuuk!
"Don't worry, just follow my steps.
We can't waste any more time, every second matters!"
Theo shifted from walking to running, adrenaline burning through every muscle as if pushing him past the limits of normal movement.
Without thinking, his hand reached toward Aldraya, automatically seeking a presence that wasn't entirely invited, and before she could react, her left palm connected with his.
The touch was more than physical; it formed a rhythm and coordination that arose instantly, demanding Aldraya match Theo's increasing pace.
Each of Theo's steps pulsed with energy that forced Aldraya to adjust, requiring full concentration to avoid stumbling as they sped through open corridors that felt like an improvised training field.
Their steps moved together, quick and synchronized, with Theo leading through instinctive momentum that was hard to restrain.
Aldraya, usually calm and measured, now had to rebuild her entire balance, matching her strides with Theo while maintaining posture and enough distance not to fall.
Wind brushed their faces, Aldraya's hair and Theo's clothes lifting briefly, yet neither of them faltered.
Every second compressed into a single stream of unbroken movement, their physical interaction creating an unconscious coordination rarely experienced, as if two opposing energies were trying to merge without overpowering each other.
Theo felt his heartbeat race with the speed of his own steps, while Aldraya fought to keep panic at bay, maintaining her composure amid the forceful escalation.
Despite the urgency, there was an unspoken rhythm between them, a combination of Theo's drive and Aldraya's adaptive compliance.
No words were exchanged.
Only the contact of their hands served as the anchor and conduit for the rhythm born in an instant.
Flowers along the path and beams of light slipping through the trees flashed past them, unable to distract either of them.
Every small leap, every shift in footing, every pull of Theo's hand required instinct, full awareness, and swift adaptation from Aldraya.
She realized that even if unwilling, her body was forced to adjust, moving alongside Theo as though some natural rhythm guided their steps.
"Look at every carving here, Aldraya.
Every architectural detail ages gracefully, yet still loses to your cold tension."
"If this architecture ages gracefully, you age with the same nonsense you speak each time.
Don't you think so?"
"You stand like a statue in the middle of the street, nothing moves except your cynical stare.
And that's enough."
"Moving enough to avoid bumping into you, is that not an error?
Especially since it's more than what you can manage, given you can't focus on anything beyond your own mouth."
"Don't joke. I'm focused on reading every detail of this city—you're the one focused on glaring at every word that leaves my lips."
"I only observe those who can't control themselves when near me, more or less."
"Don't think you can intimidate me psychologically with that coldness of yours.
I'm used to dealing with people who… are cold as stone."
"Hesitant? More than that, you're just a pretentious human who claims to know everything, even in the midst of ruins far wiser than you."
"Good! I like the way you strike with your words, Aldraya.
It's very satisfying."
"…And I'm pleased by how you fail to affect me.
That's an even greater satisfaction."
They entered the old city where the architecture aged with grace, each brick and carving holding layers of history, hinting at stories from a past that never truly vanished.
The narrow stone paths echoed beneath their steps, while aged windows with wooden frames and fading tiled roofs suggested time that moved slowly yet inevitably.
Theo walked beside Aldraya, his eyes observing every detail forming the city's beauty—from carvings on ancient walls to the faint patterns on gate doors unnoticed by ordinary visitors.
Aldraya remained calm, her face expressionless, yet each movement she made subtly adapted to Theo's rhythm, as if she enjoyed the journey quietly, observing without the need to speak.
They walked through small alleys lined with tree shadows and soft afternoon light, exploring every corner of the old city without the intention to take pictures or leave digital traces, allowing the experience to be preserved solely through their own senses.
Their usual sharp arguments began to soften, though sparks of tension and an unspoken pull remained between them, hidden in faint smiles and measured gestures.
Theo occasionally made small remarks, trying to provoke a reaction, while Aldraya responded with calmness that forced Theo to sharpen his reading of her movements and silences.
To be continued…