Chapter 127
Theo observed the details closely, trying to understand why a wanderer as strange as Aldraya would go so far just to place herself in such a simple, bewildering position, as if sitting were a ritual that meant more than mere rest.
Erietta, who had tried to maintain her composure from the start, now appeared uneasy again.
Though she remained still, her gaze drifted between Theo and Aldraya, as if the two figures were opposing poles holding her small world together so it would not collapse.
She did not understand the hidden intent behind Aldraya's actions, nor the reason Theo seemed so calm in responding to them.
Her stomach felt heavy.
Not out of fear, but because of a mix of instinct, loyalty, and habit that kept her constantly ready to react.
Aldraya's presence—so close, yet showing no concrete threat—only intensified the tension.
In her silence, she felt as though she could hear the shrinking distance, a subtle pull urging her to remain alert.
Theo himself was not free from confusion.
Behind the calm he displayed, a stream of thoughts raced quickly, trying to form order out of actions that appeared illogical.
Aldraya's decision to sit without any clear reason, especially in a place they had just begun occupying together, created a small ripple in his understanding of the situation.
He sensed how Erietta stood behind him with quicker breaths, and that alone forced him to maintain control so the situation would not shift beyond the boundaries he had set.
His gaze returned to Aldraya, searching for something he might have missed—some subtle clue hidden beneath the woman's calm demeanor.
"Master, her words are clearly suspicious. Don't follow them."
"Trust me, you're safe."
Thud!
"Haaaah…."
Fiiih!
"I understand."
The thin mist that had been lingering in the air crept forward once more when Erietta decided to obey her master's instructions, even though the strange feeling in her chest had yet to fade.
She inhaled slowly, lowering herself to sit again in the spot she had previously abandoned, right at Theo's left side.
Her movements were careful, as though the ground itself were observing her every step.
The unease wrapping her thoughts formed a silent echo only she could hear, yet her discipline and trust in Theo held back every doubt from slipping out.
When she finally sat down, the world seemed to shrink into a small circle filled only by the three of them and the nameless shadows surrounding them.
Theo followed a few seconds later, lowering himself calmly onto the ground, its coldness seeping slowly into his palms.
From this new position, he became the center between two opposing currents—one was the stability he nurtured in Erietta, the other the serenity of Aldraya, which concealed a hidden turbulence.
His gaze stayed forward, yet his inner attention stretched toward both sides at once.
He sensed how their presence formed a fragile balance, a thin line that separated harmony from potential uproar.
His sitting posture appeared relaxed, but a quiet vigilance clung to each of his breaths.
Aldraya remained seated at Theo's right side, as if that spot had been meant for her from the beginning.
Her expression revealed no pressure at all, yet that calmness created more questions than answers.
Her movements were minimal, barely noticeable, like someone trying to merge with the surroundings.
She allowed her presence to speak through prolonged silence, offering an existence that did not disturb yet could never be ignored.
Her quiet formed a thin layer of uncertainty, creating a space that demanded deeper understanding from anyone brave enough to attempt exploring it.
"What exactly is the concept of freedom that I have yet to know?
And does it always align with one's beliefs, or could it be nothing more than an extreme illusion established through radical means?"
"Its application? Possibly, but understanding its essence isn't that simple.
Freedom isn't merely being able to do what you want.
Freedom means understanding the consequences of every choice and remaining responsible for them.
Without that, freedom is nothing but an empty, meaningless word."
"Master, in that case, what kinds of sword techniques should I learn to maximize power without causing excessive side effects, either to myself or to the surroundings?"
"First, master the control of your Core Flow to the point where every swing can be calculated.
Second, recognize your opponent's attack pattern before striking.
Third, never rely solely on strength—strategy and timing are just as important."
"Is this the meaning behind sacrifice, when someone seems to be born free from the start?
Isn't that like a flaw intentionally maintained?"
"In essence, sacrifice can be seen as a means to strengthen oneself.
However, its application cannot be the same for everyone.
Even if freedom feels like a right granted from the beginning, its value and meaning are shaped by the responsibility and choices you make."
Fiiih!
"Master, how does one face an opponent whose strength far exceeds ours, without losing focus and while ensuring one's own safety?"
"Focus on your advantages, not the opponent's weaknesses.
Use every opening, don't be reckless, and always have a backup plan.
Most importantly, never let fear take control of you."
"If someone follows rules without understanding the essence behind them, are they truly free in their actions?"
"Understanding the essence is the key, young master with no expression.
Without comprehension, rules become nothing but chains, not a path toward true freedom."
Huuuuh!
"I must go. There's something important at the academy I need to handle immediately."
The sun blazed at the zenith, burning the air that shimmered with heat, as the conversation between the three suddenly wandered into a realm none of them had ever imagined, unfolding beneath the crushing brightness.
Though the atmosphere had been thick with tension at first, it gradually softened as Erietta began to understand Aldraya's calm nature, which held no trace of aggression.
Theo became the axis of the slow-turning current between these two women from entirely different worlds, guiding the flow of conversation with measured patience.
Every time he finished answering Erietta's questions about technique and survival in battle, Aldraya followed with far more abstract inquiries, pulling the mood into deeper philosophical territory.
The interaction formed a strange rhythm, as if the world around them intentionally slowed the passage of time so their conversation could unfold without interruption.
In every shift between Erietta's practical questions and Aldraya's conceptual ones, it became clear how Theo navigated these two opposite poles.
He didn't merely answer—he weighed the weight behind every question.
There were moments when his gaze lowered to the ground before he delivered answers woven with understanding and empathy.
Erietta listened intently, hoping to grasp every grain of experience she believed could become the foundation of her strength.
Meanwhile Aldraya, with her steady posture and unreadable expression, listened as though observing a rare phenomenon worthy of mental record.
The two never exchanged words directly, yet through Theo, a strange but natural pattern emerged.
Time moved without sound, leaving the blazing heat of noon behind as the coolness of late afternoon began to claim the ground where they sat.
Theo felt an oddness in the rhythm of the encounter.
Not in a negative sense, but as if witnessing a fragment of life that would never occur a second time.
Erietta remained seated upright despite her growing fatigue, yet her interest in every explanation Theo offered kept her from uttering a single complaint.
To be continued…