Chapter 135
The writing in the yellow notebook grew faster, as though trying to chase the time that continued to move forward.
Theo recorded every small detail he witnessed.
The way Aldraya sat, her cold response to Ilux's apology, and the firmness in her posture that was almost inhuman.
All of these were pieces of a puzzle that would form a new reality.
He knew that once this conversation ended—once Aldraya stepped out of Ilux's room—the chain of fate would begin moving unstoppably.
The world of this game would enter its new phase, and Theo had to be prepared for the consequences.
'And this is the trigger. Ilux's foolish rambling about faith, devotion, and betrayal while handing over that romance book.'
Faaaah!
'That child thinks his words are mere filler, but for Aldraya, who is already fragile, it's the same as forcing her to reopen a wound that hasn't healed.'
Up in the cold heights, Theo wrote with frustration in his yellow notebook.
The event he had anticipated turned out to be far more painful than he expected.
From the window, he would later witness how Ilux suddenly handed Aldraya a pink-covered book, a romance book utterly unfitting for a moment like this.
But what struck deeper was Ilux's spontaneous ramble afterward.
With an unintentionally belittling tone, he mentioned that faith and crowns were mere illusions, and betrayal was an unavoidable law of nature.
Every word was like a hammer striking Aldraya's already fragile heart.
Theo still remembered the change in Aldraya that would follow, understanding that even though her expression stayed frozen, he could catch the faint tremble at the tips of her fingers that suddenly clenched.
Ilux's attempt to comfort her instead became a knife that twisted open old wounds within her mind.
She recalled promises that had been broken, trust that had been betrayed, and faith that had once stood firm now shattered into dust.
The romance book in Ilux's hands later felt like a bitter joke, as though love and betrayal were two sides of the same coin.
In silence, her heart grew heavier, and old wounds that had never fully healed were torn open once more.
Theo exhaled softly, realizing this was the key moment he had been waiting for.
When careless concern and poorly chosen words became the catalyst for Aldraya's dark transformation.
He knew that after tonight, Aldraya would no longer be the cold yet neutral instructor she used to be.
This overwhelming inner pressure would push her into a vortex of darkness, turning her into the mid-boss who would appear in episode nine.
A tragic change that could have been avoided if only Ilux had been more careful with his words.
"Teacher, please wait a moment. Don't leave yet.
There's something I want to give you, even though I know you always reject worldly gifts."
Buuuk–buuuk–buuuk!
Bruuuk!
"It's just books. A stack of notes and readings I've collected over these past few months.
As a keepsake from the student you've guided all this time."
From behind the thick cluster of leaves, Theo watched the shadow behind the curtain suddenly move.
Ilux, seemingly realizing that Aldraya truly intended to leave, lifted his hand as if asking her to wait.
The shadow hurriedly disappeared from behind the curtain, leaving Aldraya still seated stiffly in place.
After what felt like a long moment, Ilux returned with a tall stack of books in his arms.
Carefully, he set the books on the table and gently pushed them toward Aldraya's shadow.
His movements were full of respect, as if presenting something precious.
Theo could easily imagine Ilux explaining that these were the only keepsakes he could offer his personal teacher, especially since Aldraya was known to reject any form of luxurious or valuable gifts.
Those books, to Ilux, were likely the most valuable things he could share.
Aldraya's shadow remained still, seemingly staring at the stack of books.
Theo imagined the flat gaze of the silver-haired girl sweeping across the covers that might contain rare knowledge, personal notes, or deep literature.
Her rejection of gifts did not seem to apply to offerings of knowledge, or perhaps she recognized the sincerity behind them.
Still, there was no clear movement indicating acceptance or refusal from her shadow.
"Wouldn't this many books be too troublesome for you to take back to your hometown?"
"No. The quantity doesn't matter. But I need to ensure the contents are worth reading."
With deliberate movements, Aldraya's slender fingers began tracing the spines of the books one by one, like a curator evaluating ancient artifacts in a silent exhibition hall.
Each measured touch, each quiet glance at a dusty cover, was a ritual of verification—a way of filtering the meaning hidden behind the physical objects she planned to bring into her exile.
The dim light of the room illuminated her upright profile, creating the silhouette of a hermit examining sacred scripture, even though what she inspected were writings about faith and betrayal.
Behind her marble-like coldness, there might have been a question lingering—whether Ilux intentionally chose themes that struck deep into the soul, or whether this was all a cruel coincidence woven by fate.
From above, Theo watched the inspection with bated breath, his sharp eyes capturing micro-expressions that most observers would miss.
He saw how Aldraya's gaze lingered on a book with a blue-and-red cover discussing the philosophy of betrayal, as if the provocative title triggered bitter memories.
Books about faith and crowns were stacked separately—an unspoken categorization louder than any complaint.
Theo understood this was no longer merely about selecting readings; it was a silent confrontation with ghosts of the past resurrected by her own student's gifts.
Every book Aldraya picked up reopened a wound.
Every page she flipped was a reminder of convictions that had once collapsed.
"What do you mean by slipping a book like this among the rest?"
But when the inspection reached the last book, Aldraya's left brow faintly furrowed, creating a thin crease that disrupted the icy perfection of her face.
Her cold fingers lifted the book into the circle of light, as though displaying an artifact that did not belong.
Its fresh purple cover and the title Understanding the Meaning of Love Itself stood out awkwardly among the stack of philosophical treatises and serious writings on betrayal.
The gesture alone was a silent question—a demand for explanation delivered through body language sharper than words, challenging Ilux to break the tense silence that had suddenly fallen.
From his hiding place, Theo felt the tension creeping into the room like fog.
He saw how Aldraya held the romance book like a chemist handling an unknown substance, wary of the emotional explosion it might trigger.
Its presence among the other gifts felt like an incorrectly solved code—a joke that wasn't funny in a farewell scene already heavy with bitterness.
Theo could sense Ilux's perhaps sincere, clumsy intention to insert a bit of human warmth among such heavy topics, but for the fragile Aldraya, it could feel like mockery of her beliefs.
Aldraya's sharp, questioning gaze focused on Ilux's shadow behind the curtain, waiting for an explanation that might never truly satisfy.
To be continued…