Chapter 286
'I anticipated the possibility of change, yet reality said otherwise.
In less than five minutes of conversation—joking, laughing—they agreed to choose the Flying Saucer ride.
Everything proceeded exactly along the predetermined narrative path.'
In his mind, Theo had briefly been shrouded by a suspicion.
He remembered well the nature of the world they inhabited, a reality influenced by the narrative of Flo Viva Mythology, mutable and unstable.
There was a possibility, however small, that the basic scenario flow had shifted.
Perhaps Erietta and Ilux, driven by an unexpected impulse or a change in mood, would deviate from expectations.
Perhaps they would avoid adrenaline-inducing rides and choose something calmer, disrupting his predictions and observation positioning.
That thought had made him slightly tense, preparing himself for rapid adjustments.
However, direct observation over the next few minutes painted a different picture.
From a distance, he watched the discussion between Ilux and Erietta.
The conversation flowed smoothly, punctuated by jokes and small bursts of laughter whose echoes he could sometimes catch even from afar.
They appeared natural, deeply engaged with one another, the atmosphere between them warm and pleasant.
What finally made Theo exhale in relief—and even smile faintly without realizing it—was the conclusion of that brief discussion.
It turned out that the conversation, lasting less than five minutes, resulted in no meaningful change to the core plan.
There was no dramatic deviation from the scenario he had read.
Erietta and Ilux, after exchanging looks and perhaps a bit of playful debate, seemed to reach an agreement.
With synchronized movements, they turned and began heading toward a queue.
Their destination was an iconic attraction, one that had likely already been written into Theo's mental itinerary.
The Flying Saucer ride.
An attraction well-suited for a relaxed yet enjoyable atmosphere, not overly extreme, but still offering a sense of shared adventure.
"It looks like we'll be queuing for a while, Aldraya. Would you like something to drink?"
Fhooooh!
"I can get it—mineral water, juice, anything to ease the thirst."
The queue in front of the Flying Saucer ride stretched like a sluggish serpent, winding and advancing only a few inches every several minutes.
From their slightly concealed observation spot, Theo could see Erietta and Ilux standing at the very back of the line.
They did not seem bothered by the wait, instead using the time to keep chatting, occasionally pointing toward the ride or something around them.
Meanwhile, Theo and Aldraya remained in the same position, not moving so as not to lose the trail.
The increasingly hot midday air and the dense crowd began to feel stifling.
Amid that monotonous yet vigilance-demanding observation, Theo did not forget the presence beside him.
Aldraya stood calmly, almost motionless, her eyes perhaps also watching the targets or simply staring ahead.
Theo realized that this long wait was not only a burden for him, but for Aldraya as well.
Thirst had begun to make itself known, his own throat already dry.
He turned his head slightly toward Aldraya, briefly breaking his observational focus.
Lowering his voice so as not to draw attention, he spoke.
The question was practical, born of basic concern and their shared physical needs.
He asked whether Aldraya wanted a drink, something to ease the thirst they were surely beginning to feel.
Behind the question lay an honest acknowledgment of their situation.
He mentioned that the queue Erietta and Ilux faced could not possibly be resolved with a mere "abracadabra," a metaphor for the fact that they would still be waiting quite a while.
Taking a brief pause to moisten their throats was therefore not a luxury, but a strategic necessity to remain alert and avoid exhaustion before the main part of the mission truly began inside the ride.
"No, thank you."
Without hesitation or visible consideration, Aldraya's response came immediately and firmly.
Her head shook once, a brief but confident motion.
The gesture was decisive, leaving little room for negotiation or further questioning.
Her flat expression did not change, no furrowed brow or tongue movement to signal dryness.
She remained standing in the same posture, calm and controlled, as if physical needs like thirst were variables she could simply disable at will.
Nguuuk!
"Aldraya, that sound just now… was your throat asking for a drink?"
"I—"
Nguuuuk!!
"…"
Theo's initial resolve to maintain his position as an observer reignited, glowing like embers in unshakable dedication.
The entrance tickets had been exchanged, the targets were within sight, and every second of observation was a valuable narrative fragment to be recorded in his worn yellow notebook.
The drink stall at the corner, with its empty counter and lack of a queue, was merely a minor distraction in his operational field, a worldly temptation easily cast aside.
His focus remained locked on the two figures in the distance, on Erietta's laughter that occasionally shattered like crystal amid the roar of the rides, on Ilux's relaxed yet attentive body language.
The biting midday heat and the tickle of thirst in his throat he regarded as mere physical background, noise to be overridden by the discipline of a true observer.
However, nature has its own way of reminding one of the most fundamental needs.
From beside him, within Aldraya's usually flawless silence, a sound emerged.
It was not the machinery of a ride, not children's screams, not the whisper of wind.
It was a subtle sound, almost like air hissing through cracks in the earth, yet coming from a very nearby source.
The sound drifted through the dense air between them, shattering Theo's hardened concentration.
As he turned his head, a question formed on his lips, but before Aldraya could speak, a clearer visual cue caught his attention.
Aldraya, ever the statue of composure, suddenly made a startling movement.
Her upright head, silver hair reflecting the light, dipped quickly downward, as if she were trying to hide her face behind that silvery curtain.
Her narrow shoulders lifted slightly, an unusually defensive gesture.
The ensuing silence lasted only a moment.
Then, from behind that humility—or perhaps unspoken embarrassment—the sound returned.
Clearer this time, more honest.
A small rumble from within, an organic protest from a body that had long ignored the call of thirst.
The sound could no longer be denied or misinterpreted.
It was the universal language of an empty stomach and a dry throat, refusing to be silenced by politeness or mission discipline.
It hung in the air between them, an admission more eloquent than a thousand words.
"I understand you don't want to be left alone observing them—and that isn't even your main reason for coming.
But Aldraya, you are occupying a human body now, not a divine form.
You need to drink. There are limits that must be respected."
Theo let out a short breath, an exhale that sounded like air surrendering to gravity.
His voice followed, flowing gently yet cutting straight to the core of the issue.
He expressed his deep understanding that Aldraya's reluctance to be left alone was not merely about fear of losing the mission's trail or boredom from waiting.
To be continued…