The secret garden shimmered in the soft glow of the afternoon sun, every petal and leaf seemingly drenched in color. Delicate violet and pale blue flowers swayed gently in the breeze, sending their subtle fragrance curling through the air. Tiny streams trickled over smooth stones, the water catching glimmers of sunlight and sending dancing reflections across the moss-covered walls. Wads sat on a worn stone bench, notebook resting on his knees, pencil moving with quiet precision as he tried to capture the play of light and shadow among the flowers. He was so absorbed that he didn't notice the subtle movement behind a tall hedge.
A soft, deliberate voice broke the garden's tranquility. "Still stealing the beauty of this garden for yourself?" Wads startled slightly, looking up to see a figure leaning casually against a stone pillar, her long, wavy dark-blue hair cascading over her shoulders, catching the sunlight in soft waves. Her eyes, an indescribable indicolite hue, seemed to hold the weight of storms and oceans all at once, and her presence carried an unspoken authority that made even the gentle garden feel like a stage. She regarded him with a faint, amused smile, the sort of expression that suggested she could read both his thoughts and his intentions before he even formed them.
"I wouldn't call it stealing," Wads replied cautiously, setting his pencil down. "More like… borrowing it temporarily. You've seen me here before, haven't you?"
She tilted her head slightly, as if weighing her words. "Maybe. Or maybe I just have a knack for noticing things others overlook."
Wads studied her carefully. There was something elusive in her aura, something that hinted at power and refinement far beyond what the garden itself suggested. He gestured to the flowers around him. "You seem… comfortable here. You'll have to tell me your name."
After a brief pause, she let a soft laugh escape. "I suppose I can. Call me 'Rei'. Informal, but don't get used to it. Names can be dangerous."
"Rei, huh? Short and to the point. I like it," Wads said, intrigued, a small smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. "And you are?"
"I already told you. Rei." She stepped a little closer, letting the sunlight catch the subtle contours of her face. "For now, that will suffice."
Wads nodded, sensing the unspoken weight in her tone, but not intimidated—his curiosity overpowered caution. "I'm Wads, though you don't need the full name unless you want trouble." He leaned back on the bench, glancing at her with mild amusement, noting the effortless elegance in her posture and the sharp intelligence behind her eyes.
Rei's gaze flicked briefly to his notebook before returning to him. "You're precise… meticulous. I can tell a lot about someone from the way they draw."
"And what do you think of me, then?" Wads asked, raising an eyebrow.
She smirked faintly, the corner of her lips twitching with amusement. "That you're surprisingly… capable for someone who considers themselves average." Her voice had a teasing lilt, but there was also a genuine intrigue woven beneath it. "And stubborn. Very stubborn."
"I suppose that's fair," Wads replied, a subtle grin forming. "And you? What are you?" He gestured vaguely, trying not to reveal how much the grandeur of her presence unsettled him.
She laughed softly, the sound like chimes in the breeze. "I'm someone who enjoys observing. Someone who likes to see what others are capable of without interference. Call me an enthusiast of human behavior."
Wads tilted his head, impressed by the answer, though he noted the careful vagueness, the elegance in her phrasing. "Sounds… noble."
"Perhaps," she said, eyes twinkling with humor. "But don't let that fool you. Titles and appearances often hide more than they reveal."
The two fell into a comfortable silence, broken only by the gentle rustling of leaves and the babble of water over stone. Wads felt the weight of her gaze, not oppressive but intense, as if she were silently challenging him to match her thought for thought. He returned her scrutiny without hesitation, intrigued by the quiet authority she exuded.
"You come here often?" Rei asked finally, her voice soft but deliberate, measuring.
"Whenever I can," Wads admitted. "It's… peaceful. Inspiring. Easier to think here than anywhere else."
She nodded, stepping closer so that the sunlight caught her hair in deep, iridescent waves. "I can see why. And I can see why someone with your mind would… take note of everything. Very few people notice the small things here."
Wads' lips twitched in a small smile. "I notice a lot. But I like to think the details matter."
Rei's indicolite eyes softened for a fleeting moment, a spark of genuine amusement lighting them. "Good. You may just be more interesting than I first thought."
The garden fell quiet again, but the tension between them was no longer adversarial—it was a test, a subtle dance of wits, of intelligence measured against intelligence. Wads realized that while she was elegant and commanding, her amusement at him made the formidable aura she carried feel almost… accessible.
They continued to talk, each sentence layered with careful observation, each reply a challenge in subtlety and thought. Wads found himself pushed, intrigued, and for once, he enjoyed not fully knowing the outcome. Rei, for her part, watched him with interest, noting his ability to hold his ground, his curiosity, and the subtle cleverness behind every word he spoke.
By the time the sun dipped lower in the sky, casting long shadows across the garden, Wads felt a strange camaraderie with Rei—a silent acknowledgment that their minds were evenly matched, that this meeting in the hidden sanctuary of the garden was only the beginning of a complex and fascinating exchange.