Shadow Play

Estoria and the others arrived on time after days of traveling on the road. Estoria only wanted to lie down on a bed and sleep for three days straight, even though they stopped occasionally to rest. Traveling really wasn't for her, and she just wanted it to be over.

Eston and Asher also didn't seem too enthusiastic while traveling. Asher was quiet for once, and Eston only talked with Estoria about how cold it would be there, so they spent some peaceful and boring days on the road.

But! Estoria learned something useful from Eston, and that was mana search! All for what? Of course, so she could find Aluxio as soon as they arrive! And do what when she finds Aluxio? She didn't think that far ahead!!

Multiple carriages, all extravagant and grand, entered the gates one by one. The Theodreds were sure the richest in the kingdom, with multiple mansions prepared just for the guests, all part of their estate. It was basically like living in the backyard of the Theodreds, but the rooms were all five-star suites.

A hoard of servants came out to take everyone's luggage to their respective rooms in their respective mansions. The inside of the mansion was as expensive as the outside; even the doorknobs were made out of real gold! Estoria knew she was also pretty rich, but she still felt a bit jealous about it... Isabella sure lived the life of a princess, or maybe even better.

After the jealousy disappeared, she even thought to take some door knobs home for herself, but she restrained herself in front of others, acting like a real noble young lady. After the hallway cleared up, Estoria finally broke the act and headed for her room on the second floor.

"Why is your room so far away from mine?" Asher frowned, his forehead all wrinkly.

Estoria blinked a few times. "It's just some stairs; I'm like right up there, you know."

Asher opened his mouth to speak again, but in the end, he closed it and went inside his room.

Estoria couldn't pinpoint what it was, but Asher's behavior these days was somewhat strange. He seemed more closed off; Estoria even thought that Asher was going through puberty or something.

Estoria headed upstairs for her room, tired and sleepy. She didn't even eat anything and fell asleep as soon as she hit the bed.

After a full day of sleep and eating, she came back to her room to do the mana search. Estoria's field of search wasn't big enough yet, and she only detected everyone in the mansion and some new carriages coming closer... Estoria jumped up and went to the balcony in her night dress.

It was snowing outside, but Estoria didn't even notice it and half hung herself from the railing to look at the carriages that stopped right in front of their mansion.

From the front carriage, a head of pink appeared, and following that, a head of red exited the carriage. Estoria could feel her heartbeat rising, and her hands on the ice-cold railing were sweating nervously, but she didn't move her eyes from those pair of clear silver eyes that looked up at her.

Aluxio looked at Estoria for a moment and, acting like nothing was wrong, went ahead to settle in his room. It seems like they were both staying in the same mansion.

There were only the five of them staying here; it still felt empty and lifeless. Their rooms were all close to each other, at least.

Estoria slowly walked in the hallway. The room next to hers was where Tyrion was staying, and Aluxio got the room right next to Eston's room. She wanted to switch with Eston, to be honest, but she wasn't honest and didn't say anything about it.

Estoria followed Aluxio like an assassin, waiting for the right time. Aluxio had ignored her from start to finish, and the day ended just like that.

Estoria sat in a daze on her bed.

What went wrong? Is Aluxio having second thoughts about it? He didn't even greet her once maybe after spending some time alone, he realized...

A single tear dropped from her left eye, but her face remained the same, cold and expressionless. It was a chilling sight, even colder than the weather outside.

Estoria felt her chest warming up due to her emotions. She stood up and went onto her balcony; she stood there for a bit before coming down to lie down on the snow-covered floor.

Snow slowly piled up on her; her eyelashes trembled with the cold. Estoria closed her eyes and stayed still for a long, long time...

Aluxio was just about to hit the bed, tired from the rushed traveling, when he sensed Estoria move over to her balcony; he stopped in his tracks.

Estoria wasn't moving now; she was staying still for a while. Aluxio took a peek outside; it was dark outside with gentle and clear snow petals falling on the white ground.

A single look could tell it would be freezing outside, and Estoria was actually taking her time to enjoy the scenery in this weather?

Aluxio went out looking for Asher; he knocked on his bedroom door.

No response.

Aluxio spread his mana into the room through the door; there really was no one inside. Aluxio couldn't find Asher anywhere in the end, and he didn't want to go to Tyrion to look for Estoria either.

Aluxio went ahead himself; just when he was about to knock on her door and open it, Estoria came out of the snow and tucked herself in bed.

Aluxio sighed in relief and went back to his room that night.

Estoria went to sleep with wet clothes that night.