CHILDLISH EXCITEMENT
Ashley walked passed and analyzed different master pieces of different artist from the past. Cole also walked side by side with her while watching the changes in her expressions as she admired every artwork she walked pass by.
They had planned to go to an art gallery but Ashley had changed her mind. He had expected her to choose luxury places like spas, malls and other things girls loved, but she chose to go to a museum.
"Cole look at that one, isn't it pretty" she said in excitement as she pointed to a wooden sculpture.
"Yes" he said plainly so as not to ruin her innocent smiles.
"Thank you for bringing me here, I love this place" she said trying to hold in her excitement.
He was starting to get bored but just held on for her. He couldn't imagine how a young girl in her teenage age would love such a place. He believed a museum was a place for nerds and oldies.
Ashely held a tiny note with her as she jotted everything she learnt from the tour guide.
"This is the sacred virgin of Tael" the tour guide said signifying to a golden statue of a young woman holding a bowl.
Ashely immediately jotted down something on her tiny note. It was obvious that this statue caught Cole's attention.
"She was considered as an intermediary between the real world and the supernatural world by the people of Tael" the tour guide continued.
"So…What was her story?" Ashely asked.
"Though she was a powerful being indeed she was just a tool in the hands of the sorcerers, her blood was used for atonement of sin committed by the Taelens" the tour guide started. "She was killed by the people when she lost her virginity, she was considered unclean by the sorcerers and sorceresses."
"That was bad, she wasn't even in control of her own life" Ashley said.
"And here is the Queen of Naslaf" the guide continued.
They walked right behind the guide as he explained and narrated the story behind every artwork.
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Ashely excitedly walked past the caged animals, dragging Cole along.
"Slow down" he said.
"I really want to see how a tiger looks like" she said controlling her excitement.
"Just calm down, we'll see it."
They had decided to go to a pet store for exotic animals. Ashely had always wanted to see a tiger and since Cole had given her the chance to choose another place to go she decided to go there. He was surprised at the weird places she chose to visit, truly she was different from other girls he had been with.
"Look at it! Look at it!" she said tugging on his clothes.
Cole tuned back into the present and he turned to the direction that she pointed out like a hyperactive child. There was a huge tiger laying gracefully in the beautifully designed cage with cute little cubs surrounding her.
"She has babies" She said.
Ashley watched in awe like a child who was fascinated by the scene. Indeed Cole enjoyed her reaction as this was not the usual timid and scared Ashely her saw regularly, it was her childish, innocent and curious form.
One tiger cub walked over to the edge of the cages where Ashely stood, it seemed harmless so she decided to pet it.
"Ashley, no it's dangerous" Cole said with caringly.
"No, it's not" Ashely said. "I'm sure it just wants a pat on the head"
Ashely passed her hands through the thick iron barriers and let them run through the thick shiny orange and black fur coat of the little animal. It purred as it seemed to like her. Ashley got up and was about to leave but it didn't like that. It whined and cried as she walked away but Ashley couldn't take it's cried and walked back to it.
As she kept playing with it through the thick iron bars. Cole walked to the manager and said something to him.
Soon the cage keeper walked in and brought out the cub to Ashley and placed them in a restricted area.
"Hold it, it's harmless" She said as she carried up to Cole.
At first he was hesitant but soon took it from her, he also seemed to enjoy playing with it.
It was getting a bit late so they had to leave. Ashley was getting attached to the cute thing but she couldn't stay with it all through.