am-books Chapter 74: We’re all alone
Chapter 74: We’re all alone
Chapter 74: We’re all aloneAlex leaned forward, his hazel eyes narrowing, a ripple of unease threading through him as the cafeteria’s vibrant hum, faded into the background.
Bastian’s puzzling observation about his emotions being faint lingered like a half-solved riddle, and Alex’s voice dropped, probing for clarity.
"What’s that mean?" he asked, his tone quieter,
He stretched the phrase , his tone laced with mischief that made their eyes narrow. "See you two later," he added, sauntering toward the exit, his swagger cutting through the crowd, leaving a trail of whispers in his wake.
"Later," Alex called, his smirk returning, his voice warm but tinged with amusement at Bastian’s dramatic exit.
Sylra merely scoffed, her eyes rolling as she stabbed a piece of fruit with her fork, her silence a sharp contrast to the cafeteria’s buzz—students laughing, trays clattering, the scent of herbed stew weaving through the air.
Alex felt the weight of Bastian’s words, his faint emotions, his mysterious origin, settling like a quiet shadow as he dug into his meal, the rich flavors of grains and berries grounding him, though his mind churned with questions.
*****
The school day dissolved into a blur of lectures, runes, and half-remembered notes, and Alex stood before the shimmering crystal gate of Elaris Hold, the evening sky a deep violet streaked with golden threads.
The botanical garden hummed softly, firefly-like glows winking among the vibrant blooms, their petals shimmering in the dusk, the glass-leaved tree casting faint sparkles across the mossy ground.
His teleportation from Starhaven had been seamless, the containment band on his wrist pulsing gently, anchoring him as the world blurred and reformed in a rush of light and air.
He pressed the gate’s button, its soft chime echoing through the quiet compound, his blonde hair stirring in the cool breeze as he waited, the day’s events swirling in his thoughts like leaves caught in a wind.
A moment later, a face peered through the gate’s narrow gap, pink curls bouncing, bold eyes glinting with a mix of surprise and amusement.
"Oh, it’s you," Inolda said, her voice carrying a playful lilt as she swung the gate open, its metallic hum blending with the garden’s earthy scent, crushed petals, damp moss, and a hint of her floral perfume.
Her posture was relaxed, almost dry, her presence a spark that jolted Alex’s senses, pulling him fully into the moment.
"Where’s Jusin and Griesla?" Alex asked, stepping inside, his voice casual but threaded with curiosity, his hazel eyes scanning the compound’s familiar paths, expecting their steady figures to emerge from the animal enclosures or the house’s warm glow.
Inolda shrugged, her pink curls swaying, her grin sly as she leaned against the gate, her eyes flicking over him with a teasing glint.
"At the supplies market," she said, her tone offhand, her bold demeanor softening slightly as she spoke. "Again."
Alex’s brows lifted, a flicker of confusion crossing his face, his mind flashing to Jusin’s tale of the market’s chaos, the spilled grain, the strutting fowl.
"Didn’t they get supplies yesterday?" he asked, his voice tinged with surprise, the memory vivid in the evening’s quiet.
Inolda’s shrug deepened, her expression shifting, a rare glimpse of emotion piercing her usual dry facade.
"People process emotions differently," she said, her voice quieter, almost reflective, her eyes meeting his with a steady, knowing look. "For them, the market’s a safe haven, a way to step back from the world and its problems."
Her words carried a weight, a truth that resonated, and Alex nodded, understanding settling in, the refuge they sought in routine, the escape from whatever burdens they carried.
The realization struck like a spark: he and Inolda were alone, the compound’s stillness amplifying the moment, the hum of the garden’s blooms and the distant clatter of settling poultry the only sounds.
A bold idea flared in his chest, his confidence surging, his charm kicking into gear. He leaned in, his voice dropping to a low, husky whisper, his breath brushing her ear, sending a shiver through the air. "We’re all alone now," he murmured, his hazel eyes locking onto hers, a teasing glint dancing in their depths.
"Know what that means?"