Chapter 109
He held himself back from interrupting or forcing her, understanding that the moment was a form of Aldraya's deepest observation, a concentration that could not be pushed and required space to unfold.
Though slightly frustrated by having to wait, Theo remained standing beside her, respecting that focus and stopping his steps so both of them stayed in a wordless harmony.
Aldraya stayed frozen in place, her eyes unmoving, completely absorbed by the arrangement of toys and imitation jewelry on display.
'This is beyond my understanding. I have mastered Flo Viva Mythology fully, I know every expression Aldraya Kansh Que has ever shown.
But this reaction is something entirely new.
A blend of joy, trauma, burning emotion, and silent tears in a single gaze.'
Fhhhh!
'Her eyes show something not recorded in the database, something alive yet undefined.
This is impossible, and I'm certain this is its first appearance.'
Theo stood a few steps behind Aldraya, his eyes observing the rigid stillness of her posture as she restrained all expression.
He knew that whatever happened, Aldraya's reaction would not change, a part of the nature that had been rooted in her for a long time, movements and responses always flat and unbroken.
Every motion of her hand, the angle of her head, and the position of her feet reflected an internal discipline that could not be shaken, something Theo recognized and understood yet still found sharply intriguing.
The bustle and objects around them seemed like a backdrop incapable of breaching that fortress of calm.
Theo realized that to understand Aldraya, he had to discard ordinary expectations of human emotion, for the girl existed as an entity that could not be measured by normal standards.
When Aldraya stared at the vendor's cart and its items across the street, Theo sensed an oddness that was difficult to explain.
His forehead furrowed automatically, his mind attempting to interpret the moment, comparing Aldraya's movements and focus to the countless scenarios he had experienced in Flo Viva Mythology.
There was something unusual there, a subtle shift implying that although she remained expressionless, a new behavioral layer was surfacing.
Theo tried to determine whether this was mere coincidence or something narratively and logically impossible to appear.
Everything happened so quickly, yet to Theo it felt like a focal point demanding analysis, as if the world around him tightened and left only Aldraya and that cart as the central subjects needing interpretation.
Seconds passed, and Theo continued observing Aldraya's retinas, attempting to read an expression that never fully appeared.
Within that seemingly flat gaze, a mixture of sensations lingered, impossible for him to categorize.
'Joy, trauma, emotion, a faint glow, and silent crying.'
All those emotions existed simultaneously, forming a confusing yet captivating unity, something Theo was certain he had never seen before in reality nor in any simulation of the game.
The awareness stirred both awe and shock within him, for despite Aldraya's unmoving stance, the radiance from her eyes conveyed a depth far more complex than any ordinary human reaction.
'Right now, I cannot simply take Aldraya away.
Her gaze shows something extremely rare, something I have never witnessed even after exploring Flo Viva Mythology and living as Eshura Birtash.
I need to understand this moment.'
"Alright, Aldraya. Is there something from that stall that caught your attention?"
Theo stood a few steps behind Aldraya.
His eyes followed every subtle movement of the girl, who remained calm and unchanged.
He realized that pulling Aldraya away was not an option, especially when such an unusual gaze signaled a focus too thick to penetrate.
In all his vast experience—including the era when he lived as Eshura Birtash in the world of Flo Viva Mythology—Theo rarely encountered moments where someone showed a level of interest so delicate yet wrapped in stillness and self-control.
Thus he decided to ask what had caught Aldraya's attention, positioning himself as both observer and companion who respected her space.
Aldraya's gaze then shifted toward a particular corner of the vendor's cart, toward a set of neatly arranged necklaces hanging in a row.
Her movement was only a gesture of pointing, without demand or insistence, indicating a clear preference without unnecessary words.
Theo noted the detail carefully, realizing how the choice reflected something within Aldraya herself.
An attraction to things simple yet unique, something she had never shown before.
Her gesture did not ask him to buy all the necklaces, merely signaling one specific set that drew her attention.
The necklace Aldraya chose had a distinct character.
Soft gold or light rose gold that looked warm and inexpensive, decorated with pastel colors—pink, pale yellow, or baby blue—forming small toy-like charms such as tiny stars, crescent moons, or miniature cute telephones.
The simplicity and slight childishness of the design created a charm of its own, revealing a side of Aldraya untouched by worldly experience and the trivial things considered normal by most people.
This choice revealed a blend of unique taste, restrained imagination, and the ability to appreciate small joys often overlooked.
By chance, the vendor still had the necklace Aldraya wanted, two pieces left out of twenty sold since morning, marking the perfection of a small moment that appeared unexpectedly.
'One of them will be my keepsake.'
Buuk - buuuk - buuuk!
"Ah… here it is, Aldraya. Look, I picked the exact one you wanted."
"…"
"Why so quiet? Isn't the necklace sweet enough to be called a toy?"
"I saw it."
"Alright. But you're not going to take it?"
"…"
"What's wrong with you?"
"Put it on me."
"Huh?!! You mean… that… you want me to put it on you?
I didn't mishear, right?!!"
"...."
Theo quickly walked back to Aldraya after buying two necklaces from the vendor's cart, one for her and one for himself, storing the second one reflexively without much thought.
Arriving before Aldraya, he handed her the chosen necklace, his eyes following every move she made as her right palm displayed the item.
The necklace was simple, a toy to most people, yet its warm colors and gentle shine made it look special in Theo's hands.
Aldraya remained calm, her face expressionless, yet subtly asserting full control over the situation.
She furrowed her left brow for a moment, a tiny movement that seemed insignificant, but enough for Theo to catch that rare minimal shift in expression.
Her steady gaze was now fixed on Theo's eyes, creating a moment where silence and observation became their form of communication.
Theo felt the soft pressure of her scrutiny, knowing that his next decision had to follow Aldraya's intent.
Without a complex command, Aldraya made her intention clear through the simplest motion, indicating that the necklace was meant to be worn around her neck.
"Put it on yourself. I have no obligation to fasten it for you.
Besides, you're still wearing your old necklace.
It's not my job to remove or replace it."
'Of course I refused.
Since long ago, both when I still played Flo Viva Mythology and after arriving in this world, I knew Aldraya was the type who hated moving her own hands.
But that doesn't mean I have to give in for something this trivial.'
Huuuuh!
To be continued…