Chapter 108
The old town streets, with every corner calling to be explored, became a stage for them to move together, assessing the surroundings as well as each other without the need for long words.
Their footsteps fell into rhythm, yet Theo noticed a delicate balance constantly being maintained to keep the interaction flowing smoothly, allowing the moment to remain light despite the intensity behind every glance and gesture.
After twenty minutes of walking through alleys and squares filled with the shadows of history, Theo decided to end their journey through the old town.
He felt satisfied with the pace of their date, observing Aldraya who remained calm and captivating in her composure, while also noting that all his actions today had not triggered any wild scenarios or anomalies within the Flo Viva Mythology world he knew.
The old town they left behind still radiated its eternal aura, yet for Theo, his focus had now shifted to the conclusion of the moments they had shared, a quiet closure after an interaction full of nuance and subtle tension.
"So, Aldraya, how will you return to the dorm?"
"I could arrive at the Academy in the blink of an eye, but appearing so suddenly would raise questions."
"So I will call a taxi to maintain appearances."
"A wise and unobtrusive choice."
"And you? What will you do next?
Will you look for a girlfriend, spend time at a club, or—as usual—follow Ilux Rediona in secret?"
"You even remember my habits. Impressive enough."
"That does not change the fact that it is a vile habit."
"Yes, I am indeed vile, and I accept it fully."
At the exit, the atmosphere of the old town began to fade, though the bustle remained as a slowly shifting backdrop around them.
Theo watched Aldraya, trying to understand the girl's rhythm while assessing her movements and the possible steps she might take next.
Aldraya stood firm, her posture still, as though her body could resist every distraction rising from the crowd. Theo observed how every movement she made was efficient, unhurried, marking every potential risk to remain safe and in control.
He realized that beneath that calmness was something more than indifference or coldness, but a form of self-mastery rarely seen, evaluating her surroundings with high accuracy without appearing rushed or anxious.
Then Theo asked.
Aldraya seemed to measure the distance and the crowd, each step she chose minimizing unnecessary interactions.
In response to Theo's question, Aldraya revealed a paradox.
Her power could carry her across space in less than a second, freezing time in a single step.
Yet, it was within the crowd that she understood—every miracle she displayed was a magnet of attention she had to consider carefully.
This mechanism, though to most people would seem like bending time and space, to Theo displayed a precision and logic almost mathematical, a capability to map her own movements amid what seemed like chaos.
Every step Aldraya took was a statement.
She walked steadily, ignoring everything around her, saying that what mattered was practical action, not feelings or lengthy words.
The entire process displayed an almost astonishing level of control, making Theo admire how the girl faced the world around her without letting anything break the balance she built.
When Aldraya turned the question back to Theo, a subtle awareness emerged.
Not merely as an observer but also as a judge.
She took note of Theo's routines and tendencies, highlighting the same patterns he repeated every day, from simple habits to more intimate and personal choices.
Theo recognized this observation with a mix of admiration and amusement, realizing that Aldraya's meticulousness toward him marked deep understanding of others, while also showing clear boundaries against things she considered disgusting or improper.
Theo was forced to laugh at himself in the presence of Aldraya's silence, unshaken by his own distasteful remarks.
He remembered.
'In the eyes of anyone attentive enough, he was indeed worthy of being judged disgusting.'
"Walking like a statue, yet still trying to look graceful.
Have you never heard a line of poetry like that?"
"Perhaps? And as far as records go, that is far more graceful than someone whose every step scatters nonsense into the air."
"At least I move, not like you who stands stiff like a plank on the roadside."
"Stiff so as not to be swept away by the foolishness around me, please keep that in mind.Naturally, something as vile as this seems like something you do all the time."
"I already told you, I only let you feel superior while I remain uninterested."
"You are uninterested? Then why does every word you speak pierce like a cold dagger?"
"Because a cold dagger is more useful than a mouth that talks too much."
At first, nothing special happened between them.
The two figures continued walking along the increasingly quiet street, accompanied by occasional exchanges of sharp yet strangely intimate jabs.
Sometimes Theo initiated with a light remark about Aldraya's stiffness, which was swiftly countered with a biting comment about Theo's vile tendencies.
After that, silence would return for a moment, as though both sides were collecting new ammunition, before Aldraya launched the next strike with a piercing observation about Theo's lifestyle, which he would promptly counter with quick yet effective sharpness.
Their journey's rhythm was not only governed by footsteps but also by this unique pattern of dialogue.
Every quiet pause after an insult was not a sign of coldness, but a breathing space filled with subtle tension, where each party processed the words received and constructed the proper response.
Theo, with all his knowledge of this world, found a certain comfort in this sarcastic exchange.
It was an unexpected interaction, far from the scripted scenarios he knew, yet it felt vividly alive and human.
For Theo, each of Aldraya's replies was new data, a piece of a puzzle revealing the complexity of her character.
The insults, though harsh on the surface, became channels of honest communication without the weight of formality.
Behind each sarcastic word lay careful observation and deep understanding of each other's habits.
They were not exchanging empty remarks; every jab reflected genuine attention, though delivered with a sharp edge.
And in the silence, Theo smiled.
"Come on, Aldraya, let's continue. I'll walk you so you won't be troubled."
Fhhhh!
"Aldraya? Hey, are you okay? Why did you suddenly stop like that?"
"...."
In the southernmost part of the old town, the atmosphere shifted as they passed through an open area that suddenly revealed a merchant with a wooden cart full of colorful items.
The array of toys displayed were not mere children's trinkets, but replicas of precious objects arranged neatly, each category occupying its own space.
Bracelets that sparkled, though clearly not real gold, were lined up evenly, reflecting the late-afternoon sunlight slipping through the gaps between old buildings.
Luxurious ribbons with striking colors and soft textures seemed to challenge anyone to mistake them for genuine accessories, though to the knowledgeable eye they were merely imitations.
Every item appeared placed with visual consideration and clear categorization, giving the impression that the merchant was not merely selling toys, but offering an experience of choosing, comparing, and evaluating carefully—as though each category told a different story about value, imitation, and false aesthetics.
Theo walked without paying attention to the cart or the merchant across the path, his eyes fixed on the route ahead.
The woman arranging the fake jewelry on her cart, with her fair skin and clothing that followed youth trends while retaining her identity as a seller, moved gracefully among the stacks of items.
Yet her beauty did not attract Theo's attention in the slightest; his stride remained steady, his mind focused solely on ensuring Aldraya could reach the taxi safely.
He meant well, choosing to escort the girl without slowing down to glance at distractions on the roadside.
But when Theo tried to nudge Aldraya to keep walking, the girl's body suddenly froze.
Aldraya's eyes remained fixed, staring at the merchant's cart with an intensity strangely at odds with her usually cold and indifferent demeanor.
She did not turn, did not move, did not utter a single word, merely stood in place like a statue, as though the entire world around her vanished and only the items on display remained.
Her legs were firm and straight, her arms at her sides, yet every muscle seemed to restrain motion, emphasizing that her attention was anchored to the fake jewelry.
Theo observed the shift in Aldraya's behavior carefully, realizing there was something different in the way she looked at the merchandise, something she rarely showed toward things around her.
To be continued…