Chapter 347
Aldraya would do it not as an act of bloodlust, but as a cleansing, a correction of a fundamental moral deviation.
It would be a bitter and immediate form of symbolic justice.
After all, she understood the reason behind Theo's order itself.
Ilux was the main protagonist of the game Flo Viva Mythology.
He was the axis upon which many narratives depended, a variable that could not simply be removed without unpredictable consequences that might damage a greater balance.
More than that, just like herself, Ilux was also a bearer of an Administrator Seed.
The two of them, within a certain grand design, were two sides of the same coin, chosen entities whose potential and destinies were intertwined.
Destroying him might mean damaging a pattern she herself did not yet fully understand.
However, this logical understanding did nothing to calm the turmoil within her.
On the contrary, as she thought it through, weighing every reason and prohibition, the urge to do the opposite only grew stronger.
The desire to sever Ilux's head, to permanently eliminate the threat she felt—not only to herself, but to all her siblings and the order she cherished—burned with terrifying intensity.
'I must prepare everything.'
The scene shifted to the late afternoon, a few minutes past four.
The afternoon sun began to lower itself, casting long, warm reddish-orange light through the dormitory window, painting patterns across the wooden floor and simple walls.
Time itself seemed to slow, fitting for contemplation and quiet preparation before a major action.
Inside Theo's room, the samurai was immersed in silence.
His body sat upright on the simple bed, legs crossed comfortably beneath his thighs, a posture known in certain traditions as Sukhasana, or the Easy Pose.
His back was straight, his hands resting loosely on his knees with palms facing upward.
His eyes were tightly closed, not from drowsiness, but from deep focus.
Each measured inhale and exhale of his breath became the only sound filling the room, aside from the soft ticking of the wall clock.
While his body remained perfectly still, his mind was exceedingly busy.
He reflected intensely, mapping out every possibility, every obstacle, and every requirement.
His primary focus was the infiltration mission they were about to carry out at Erietta's residence.
A mission that had to be flawless, because a single small mistake could spell disaster not only for them, but also for the unfortunate girl they intended to monitor.
'Arrive exactly as expected.'
Sitting calmly before him was a white-haired woman, her hair as pristine as the first untouched snow.
Her silhouette was backlit by the twilight streaming in through the window, creating a faint aura around her short hair.
She, too, sat atop Theo's bed, though closer to its edge.
Her legs, wrapped in school uniform socks, rested neatly on the clean wooden floor, while her hips settled casually yet gracefully on the surface of Theo's mattress.
Her posture was upright, as always, a blend of a student's discipline and an innate elegance that never faded.
In the girl's hands were several sheets of paper, held carefully.
Both hands were raised slightly higher than usual, bringing the pages to a level easy to read in the dimming afternoon light.
Her busy fingertips touched the edges of the paper with precision, holding them steady without bending or wrinkling them.
Yes, that girl was Aldraya.
Exactly as Theo had requested during their brief meeting in the corridor several hours earlier, she had kept her promise.
The moment the academy's dismissal bell rang and classes ended, she immediately made her way to Theo's dormitory without delay.
Upon her arrival, Theo was already waiting and promptly let her in, ignoring unnecessary formalities.
Without much conversation, Theo gestured toward his bed as a place for her to sit, a sign of trust and comfort he rarely granted.
Before Aldraya could ask anything, several sheets of paper were handed to her.
'I have outlined various options.'
Naturally, the sheets Theo provided were far from blank.
Every square centimeter of their surface was filled with neat yet hurried handwriting, flow diagrams, and numbered bullet points.
What lay before her was a strategic canvas.
Various possible options and choices were clearly written, each branching out like a complex decision tree.
Every option was accompanied by a brief analysis of its advantages and disadvantages, and more importantly, the potential consequences should that choice be taken.
They ranged from infiltration timing, methods of entry into the estate, cover identities to be used, to contingency scenarios in case something went awry.
Among the scribbles were also notes highlighting the increasingly pressing time factor.
Theo had firmly marked a non-negotiable deadline.
They had only a few days left, perhaps no more than the fingers on one hand, before Erietta would be forcibly taken by her family.
The Bathee family—the family that had adopted and raised her, shaping her into one of the shining stars of the Star Academy—was now turning into a prison that would carry her away for dark reasons.
That limited time added extra pressure to every option listed on the paper.
There was no room for trial and error, no chance for a second attempt.
Every step had to be right on the first try.
"Basic medical supplies. Bandages, antiseptics, general antidotes."
"But a specific antidote for 'Night Coral Flower.' The Bathee family is known to possess collections of rare poisonous plants."
"Long-range communication devices. Disguised as jewelry."
"Agreed. It's far better that we don't get separated without a communication line in unfamiliar territory."
"Regarding post-departure infiltration attire, I propose a maid's uniform for you and a gardener's outfit for me. That gives us reasons to be in almost all areas."
"Objection. Those outfits restrict movement too much. I propose disguises as assistants and guards sent to review food supplies for the students and Bathee family members.
Naturally, that grants us access to certain corridors and rooms, as well as more flexible clothing for combat."
"Your point is solid, Aldraya. Approved."
The focus returned to Theo.
Within the room now increasingly bathed in golden twilight, he was fully immersed in the discussion of mission inventory.
Every item to be carried during the infiltration of the Bathee family residence was debated carefully, weighed in terms of utility, concealment risk, and potential usefulness in emergency scenarios.
After several exchanges with Aldraya, who sat opposite him with her own set of papers, Theo began to take action.
In his hand, he held a particular sheet he had not given to Aldraya.
This sheet served as his master list, where he crossed out, circled, or checked items that were ultimately agreed upon to be brought or left behind.
The pen in his hand moved decisively, crossing out the phrase "basic medical supplies" after they agreed on a more specific list that included an antidote for 'Night Coral Flower'.
He placed a bold checkmark beside "long-range communication devices disguised as jewelry," a consensus reached quickly.
However, when it came to the point about infiltration attire, a slight adjustment was made.
Theo's initial idea of maid and gardener uniforms was underlined, and beside it, in neater handwriting, he noted Aldraya's proposal.
Disguises as assistants and guards reviewing food supplies.
To be continued…