To Wait

Theron waited for a few more minutes. However, time passed, and he still hadn't received any notification from the system.

'What's happening?' Theron silently asked as he dropped the crayons from his hand. He looked around and saw that everyone was busy with their own activities.

[I do not know, My Lord. There's nothing wrong with the system, so that means the task hasn't really been completed.]

'...'

Theron's forehead creased. He tilted his head to the side and stared at Elias intently.

'Was he just faking what he said earlier?' he curiously asked, slowly forming a conclusion in his head.

'But it doesn't seem like it,' Theron thought, shaking his head before placing his gaze back in front. He sighed deeply and rested his head on the table. He lost interest in drawing. 

Just then, Elias looked over and noticed Theron's dejected expression. He put down his pen and moved closer. "Theron, are you okay?" he asked softly, with genuine concern laced in his voice.

Theron lifted his head and met Elias's eyes. "Twi…wed," (Tired) he mumbled, trying his best to sit up straight. 

Theron's eyes intently starred in Elias's face. Since his first life, he was a good examiner of one's character. So now, he was curious why he couldn't figure out what was happening with the system. 

As Theron observed Elias's expression, he immediately knew that he was sincere with his actions. His observation just made him more confused. 

Charlize, who noticed the sudden shift of atmosphere, glanced over at Theron. She smiled brightly and waved her hands in front. 

"Hey, little brother, you seem a bit down. Is everything alright?" she asked, gently patting his back.

Elias nodded in agreement. "Yeah, we can take a break. Maybe we can play a different game? What do you like to do, Theron?"

Theron was initially interested at the suggestion but quickly realized he was already too tired to play. He looked at Charlize and Elias with a small smile. "T…i..red," he said, shaking his head gently.

Charlize frowned slightly, noticing her brother's tired voice. Usually, Theron was lively, so it bothered her.

"Maybe we should rest a bit, Elias. Theron looks really tired."

Elias nodded, understanding. "Yeah, rest sounds good. We can play later."

Allyza and Tyron, who noticed the interaction among the kids, stepped in. 

"I think that's a great idea, my child. It's been a long day for everyone. Why don't you all take a little break? We'll have some snacks ready for you before bed time." Allyza uttered with a big smile on her face as she stood up. 

Tyron quickly agreed to it. "Yes, let's have some quiet time. We can resume playing tomorrow morning after everyone has had a chance to rest for tonight."

Allyza picked up Theron gently. "Come on, my dear. Let's get you to your room to sleep."

Charlize and Elias, on the other hand, stood up. They softly bid goodbye to Theron before following Tyron to their respective rooms to rest. 

As Allyza carried Theron to his room, she whispered soothing words to him. "You did wonderfully today, Theron. Now it's time to rest, little one." she lightly chuckled as she scrunched Theron's little nose. 

Theron nodded sleepily, leaning his head against Allyza's shoulder. Once they reached his room, Allyza tucked him into bed, making sure he was comfortable. After that, she gently handed him his feeder's bottle. 

"Sleep well, my little one. The maids are just outside the room."

Theron watched his mother leave the room, closing the door softly behind her. He sighed deeply, feeling the comfort of his bed. However, his mind was still restless. He couldn't understand why the system hadn't recognized his friendship with Elias.

'What's wrong with the system?' he thought, staring up at the ceiling. 'Why didn't it complete the task?'

[I already know what's wrong, My Lord]

'What is it?' Curiosity immediately surfaced in his thoughts. 

[My Lord, the system requires a genuine bond of friendship. Perhaps Elias needs more time to feel truly connected with you.]

Theron furrowed his brow. 'But Elias was so friendly and said we were friends. What more does the system need?'

[The system measures true emotional connection, My Lord. It's not just about friendly words or initial impressions. Genuine friendship involves trust, shared experiences, and mutual understanding.]

[While Elias has shown kindness and friendliness, he is still new to this environment and to you. Adding to that, you also need to feel connected with him, My Lord.]

Theron sighed, feeling a bit frustrated. 'But I've been so nice to him. I thought that would be enough.' 

[My Lord, the system requires a genuine bond of friendship. Perhaps you or Elias needs more time to feel truly connected.]

Theron sighed again. He slowly nodded his head and started sucking his feeder bottle. 

'Oh well, I guess I'll just have to be patient and keep trying. Truth to be told, I want to make real friends, not just complete tasks.'