Victoria reluctantly let go, slowly retreating back into her seat. She crossed one leg over the other, settling into a more relaxed posture. There was a new softness to her expression—something caught between quiet relief and a rare glimpse of genuine cheer.
"So then… what's your story?"
She leaned forward slightly, elbows resting on the table, her eyes glimmering with curiosity.
"How'd you transfer to this world?"
She hesitated, then added quickly, a sheepish smile tugging at her lips:
"For me I just… well… slipped on a random soda bottle and…"
Her voice grew quieter, more embarrassed, as she twirled a lock of her silver hair between her fingers, gaze drifting downward to the grain of the wooden table.
"Died… hehe."
She gave an awkward laugh, the sound light and slightly self-deprecating.
Silas couldn't help the short chuckle that escaped his lips. He already knew Suzuki's backstory—had seen it unfold in the game like any other scripted cutscene—but hearing it from her, in person, gave it a strange kind of intimacy. It made her feel more real.
"Sounds stupid," he said with a crooked grin, watching her reaction, "It fits you, I guess—if this is your actual personality."
Victoria let out an audible "Huh?" Her brow furrowed as she straightened up in mock indignation, hands planted firmly on her waist. Her crimson eyes narrowed as her mouth tugged into a dramatic pout.
"Well, excuse me for not being as interesting as you apparently expected."
She huffed, but her tone was more playful than genuinely offended.
"Now it's your turn. Answer my question."
Her voice carried a tinge of irritation—sharp, but laced with teasing warmth.
Silas smirked, already imagining her reaction. He tilted his head, amusement flickering in his eyes. Should he be honest? Or embellish it for fun?
"Well…" he said slowly, drawing it out as if for dramatic effect. "To simplify… I was shot in the heart by an assassin while I was being hunted by about a hundred more."
He leaned back slightly, letting the absurdity of the statement hang in the air for a moment, his smirk deepening.
"Interesting, aye?"
Victoria's eyes widened like saucers, her inner NEET immediately activated by the sheer absurdity and drama of his response. Whatever noble façade she'd been wearing melted away, replaced by raw, unfiltered interest.
"Okay now I actually feel stupid…"
She blinked in disbelief, leaning closer.
"Why the hell did a hotshot like you get transferred into a romance novel?!"
She threw her arms up in exaggerated frustration, completely forgetting herself.
"You already lived a life that could be a novel just based on that summary!"
Silas shrugged, crossing one leg over the other as he reclined slightly in his chair. The golden sunlight outside the tall window began to dim, casting long shadows across the table. He glanced toward the descending sun, a flicker of melancholy brushing his features as he spoke.
"The universe works in mysterious ways, I guess…"
His tone was casual, almost dismissive, but his eyes stayed fixed on the horizon—as if searching for something just out of reach.
Victoria followed his gaze, noting how the light caught the edges of his profile. Then she stood, stretching slightly before turning her attention to the library around them. Students were beginning to gather their things, the soft murmur of voices and the closing of books slowly rising like the tide.
"It's getting late," she noted, brushing invisible dust from her skirt. "But I'm really glad I met you."
She turned back to him with a hopeful grin.
"What about an alliance?"
"Earth to Earth—how about it?"
She extended her hand, eyes bright with sincerity, her crimson gaze locking onto his.
Silas chuckled softly and rose, one hand pressing against the table with casual ease, his movements smooth and deliberate—reminiscent of someone who'd sealed far weightier pacts in another life.
"Got yourself a deal."
He replied coolly, shaking her hand. His grip was firm, practiced. The gesture carried a quiet gravitas, as if this was one of many such handshakes in his past—though perhaps the first that meant something personal.
Victoria laughed as she withdrew her hand, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear with a smirk.
"You act like a total edgelord. I guess it fits you."
She tilted her head slightly, the angle catching the last streaks of orange sunlight streaming through the stained-glass windows. The glow illuminated her face and hair with breathtaking clarity—soft highlights dancing across her features. In that moment, her beauty became undeniable, no longer background detail in Silas's mind but something seen.
He blinked.
"Huh…"
The sound slipped from his mouth unbidden, and Victoria's ears perked up instantly.
"Oh…?" she teased, her grin widening. "Seen this a couple times in other romance novels already."
She leaned in just a little, her voice lilting with amusement.
"Don't tell me you actually fell for my face?"
Her laughter was airy, genuine—brilliant in its simplicity. And to Silas, it felt like home. Not just the place they came from, but the feeling—the warmth of Earth, the casual teasing, the shared references, the comfort of being understood.
Her presence wasn't just familiar.
It was real.
And for the first time since waking up in this strange world, Silas didn't feel like he was acting.