Kaivan walked ahead, his grey hoodie swaying with his casual steps. His black hair shifted lightly with each movement. Felicia followed at a slower pace, uncertain, stealing glances every few seconds.
She inhaled deeply, straightened her posture, and quickened her steps. Her shoes clicked softly against the mall floor, blending with the faint background music.
"Kaivan," she called out at last, almost whispering. "That time… you said there was something important you wanted to talk about, right?"
Her long hair fell over part of her face. Her fingers curled against her chest, trying to calm the rapid thump of her heart. Her eyes met his, filled with hope and unease.
Kaivan flinched slightly, slowing down. He turned a little, eyebrow raised, then continued walking.
"Ah, right," he replied flatly. "I almost forgot."
Felicia's eyes widened. She hurried until she walked beside him, her head bowing as she gently bit her lip.
"So…" Her voice trembled. "What did you want to say?"
Kaivan kept walking, his gaze drifting over the storefronts. His hand brushed against the glass of one display, as though he was sifting through his own thoughts.
"It's about you," he finally said, lightly. "Turns out, you're a descendant of someone affected by the Tome of Omnivalor. And people like you… aren't the only ones. You're not alone."
The words left his mouth effortlessly, like a simple fact tossed into the air, oblivious to the storm rumbling quietly in Felicia's chest.
Felicia's steps faltered, then stopped completely. Her shoulders sank as she stood frozen in the middle of the corridor, letting the flow of people move around her like a river embracing a lone stone.
"Mm… that's it?" she whispered, her voice barely a thread.
Her grip on her bag tightened, fingers paling with strain. Her breath came shallow, her chest tight with a disappointment that had no name yet.
Meanwhile, Kaivan kept walking, unaware she was no longer beside him. He stopped in front of a gadget store and glanced back. "Looks like this is the place, Felicia."
Only when he turned further did he notice her standing several meters behind. His brows knitted.
"Felicia? Come on," he called, lightly.
Felicia drew a long breath. She forced a small smile onto her face, though her eyes remained hollow. Her steps were heavy as she approached him.
"Yeah," she murmured, her tone cool and faint like lingering mist.
They stood side by side, yet an unseen distance stretched between them, a space born from expectations slowly collapsing. Kaivan, whether oblivious or choosing not to see, looked calm. He didn't realize that behind Felicia's still expression, emotions were pulling in opposite directions.
They entered the store, rows of software neatly arranged. An elderly man behind the counter greeted them with a warm smile. Kaivan approached him.
"Sir, do you have OCR software and TTS software?"
The man shook his head gently. "For something that rare, try downstairs, son."
"Thank you."
Kaivan returned to Felicia, who remained silent. They began walking toward the escalator. Kaivan sank into his thoughts, trying to decipher what had shifted between them.
Suddenly, "Pak!"
A light smack landed on his shoulder. He turned, startled.
"Why did you hit me?" Kaivan asked, baffled.
Felicia shrugged and answered softly, "It's nothing." Her voice was flat, but beneath its coolness lay a disappointment she hadn't voiced. The slap wasn't the point, it was the overflow of a deeper bruise.
Kaivan stared at her, confused, then reached into his bag, ready to open the Tome Omnicent. But before the first page could turn, Felicia pulled the bag away.
"Don't use the Tome Omnicent," she said quickly. "Figure it out yourself."
Her steps drifted ahead, leaving Kaivan rooted in place. He had never guessed emotions without the book's help. For the first time, he was forced to pay attention… not as a researcher, but as a person.