Chapter 2

Aidon sat on the edge of a quartz fountain, its clear water catching the last rays of the setting sun. The sky above stretched into hues of purple and gold, and the gentle breeze carried the scents of the market, but Aidon barely noticed. His fingers absentmindedly fiddled with the golden carrots as he took slow, deliberate bites. Each crunch was a simple act, but his mind was far from the meal. He chewed mechanically, his thoughts drifting back to the encounter in the shop.

What just happened? The question replayed in his mind like an echo. It was so random, so unexpected. One moment, he was just browsing, and then—there she was. The woman with dark purple hair that shimmered like silk in the sunlight. He could still picture the way her ruby-star eyes had held his gaze, the soft curve of her lips as she smiled. His chest tightened, but the sensation wasn't entirely unpleasant. It was unsettling, yes, but there was something about it—something in the way she made him feel exposed, as though his usual mask had cracked. He shook his head, trying to shake off the strange feeling, and took another bite of the golden carrot. The taste was fine—luxurious even—but it wasn't the food that occupied his mind.

Aidon sighed, closing his eyes as the night sky began to darken, casting long shadows over the city. He should have at least gotten her name. But now, it seemed like a small detail compared to the weight of everything else. Why had he bolted so quickly? Why had he let her slip away like that?

Footsteps broke the silence. Aidon's eyes snapped open, and without thinking, his reflexes kicked in. His hand shot out, grabbing the neck of the invisible intruder before he could even register who it was. He slammed the person against the edge of the fountain with a practiced ease, his grip tightening around the neck until the body beneath him wavered.

The intruder waved their arms frantically, trying to get free, but it was too late. Aidon was already pressing the figure against the stone edge, eyes narrowing. A faint choking sound came from the intruder, and suddenly, the milk bottle appeared in their hands.

The moment the bottle was drained, the figure shimmered, revealing itself to be none other than Jade, a long-time acquaintance of Aidon. Aidon's grip loosened, but he didn't let go.

"Didn't even hear you coming, Jade," Aidon muttered, his tone cold, though there was no real malice in it.

Jade, with his signature pink goggles perched atop his head, grinned, unphased by the sudden attack. He let out a breath, chuckling under his breath. "Getting rusty, huh? What happened to the great Aidon I used to know?"

Aidon didn't respond immediately, his gaze still fixed on the horizon, the purple sky deepening as the sun dipped lower. His thoughts were far away, drifting back to the woman in the store, her ruby-star eyes still haunting his mind.

Jade, sensing the shift, raised an eyebrow, but continued. "Anyway, I was just about to find you. Got some updates on the construction progress."

Aidon's focus shifted, and he turned his head slightly, raising an eyebrow. "How's the construction going?" His voice was calm, but there was a hint of curiosity beneath his usual indifference.

Jade gave a small nod, the grin still wide across his face. "It's going great, honestly. The crew's been working nonstop, and everything's running like clockwork. You were right—your plan was genius. The foundation's set, the walls are rising, and we've already started working on the more intricate mechanisms." He leaned against the fountain, clearly pleased with the progress. "At this rate, we'll be ahead of schedule."

Aidon's lips twitched just the slightest bit, though it was impossible to tell if it was from satisfaction or something else. "Good. Keep me updated. I want daily reports on any changes."

"No problem," Jade said, his grin widening. "You know I'm on it. I'll get you the rundown as soon as I can, just like we agreed."

Aidon nodded again, the faintest of expressions crossing his face. "Keep it steady. No mistakes."

Jade straightened up, clapping his hands together. "You got it, boss. We won't let you down." He paused for a moment, eyeing Aidon closely. "You sure everything's alright, though? You seem a little... distracted."

Aidon's eyes flicked briefly to Jade's face, his expression unreadable. "I'm fine," he said, voice even. "Just... thinking about something."

Jade raised his hands defensively, giving a teasing grin. "Alright, alright. Just making sure. But hey, if you need anything, you know where to find me."

Aidon offered a silent nod, his gaze now fixed on the darkening sky.

"See you around, boss," Jade added, starting to walk away.

Aidon didn't bother with a verbal reply. He simply nodded, his gaze drifting back to the purple sky.

Jade gave a casual wave, disappearing into the distance as Aidon sat there, lost in thought again. The once golden sky had now turned to a deep violet, streaked with wisps of pink and orange as the final light of day faded. Aidon could still feel the lingering warmth of the sunset, but something—something else—was on his mind. He shook his head, trying to force the thoughts of the woman in the shop from his mind.

Tomorrow. He would figure it out tomorrow. There was nothing to do about it now. No need to dwell on something as trivial as a chance encounter. But for now, the quiet of the evening, the soft sounds of the city, and the cool breeze were enough to distract him... for a little while.

Aidon stood up from the fountain, dusting off his coat as he turned to leave. The streets ahead of him were empty, save for the faint sounds of the evening. The world, it seemed, had continued to move on, indifferent to the small moments that had managed to shift his usually unshakable composure.

Tomorrow. The thought repeated, but this time, there was a flicker of uncertainty in it.

What exactly would he do tomorrow?