"It is to stand in front of him on that peak where nobody else could stand. It is to become his world, where he could only look at me."
As those words echoed, everyone held their breaths and looked at the girl whose eyes were on the boy before her.
She was looking at him in such a manner that everyone could feel that this girl loved the boy, and their eyes shone together brightly.
A hushed murmur spread among the onlookers, some casting admiring glances at Diana while others exchanged knowing smiles. It was a scene of raw emotion and vulnerability, a genuine display of affection that resonated deeply with those witnessing it.
The shop owner himself was moved, his eyes glistening with unshed tears. He cleared his throat, attempting to regain his composure.
"My dear, you truly have a heart that shines as bright as the sun. Your love is a testament to the power of connection."
The atmosphere was charged with a mix of emotions – admiration, awe, and a hint of excitement. It was clear that the crowd was waiting for Callius's response, eager to hear his thoughts on the matter.
However, Callius simply looked at Diana, his crimson gaze piercing through her. But Diana did not back either as she too looked into his eyes with her blue ones.
The crowd, sensing the gravity of the situation, began to cheer and encourage Callius with enthusiastic shouts. "Go on, lad!" "She's waiting for your answer!" "Don't keep her waiting!"
'Heh….Now you are even making crowd pressure me….But, dear little sister of mine, hadn't you noticed already that such things are meaningless for me.'
Callius thought, and just as he was about to speak and answer, suddenly Diana stood up.
"Let's go, dear. We have another place to go." And grabbed him by his hand and pulled him off before he could even answer.
Diana immediately read the room, and knowing Callius, she knew what kind of response he would have. And that was the best move she could make, grabbing him and getting away from the crowd.
"What a good couple…." The shop owner watched the departing figure of the two with a sad smile. "Couldn't you give me a little chance, Ashley…. Maybe we could have been like them." He muttered as his gaze wandered around the clouds. "It is too late now."
Just like that, the old man watched the clouds waiting for another time.
"You know me well," Callius said, looking at Diana, who was walking with his hands.
"I know you the best," Diana replied, her voice soft and filled with genuine affection. "There is no other person that knows you better than me."
"Really?" Callius's lips curled into a playful smile, challenging her assertion.
"Really." Diana's smile matched his, and she glanced at him with an air of confidence.
"Tell me more then," Callius urged, clearly wanting to challenge her sister.
Diana's eyes sparkled with mischief. "Well, let's see. Brother, you have a tendency to tap your fingers when you're deep in thought, as if you're playing out a complex strategy in your mind. And you're quite particular about your reading habits – you always mark the pages of books that contain particularly interesting or valuable information."
"Ho? Impressive." Callius commended.
Diana continued with a knowing grin. "And let's not forget how you can't resist fixing crooked picture frames, even when we're in someone else's home."
"You've been watching me quite closely, haven't you?"
"I have been," Diana answered while pushing her body to him, bringing her mouth to his ear. "Every little detail about you, I want to know every little detail about you." And whispered.
FLINCH
But it was not a simple whisper that she spoke. It was a whisper imbued with her mana, making Callius flinch in response as he almost succumbed to her hypnotic voice. If not for his incredibly sensitive senses, he would probably be affected by her [Spiritual Speech].
"Your mana control is improved. You can even mask your mana now," he complimented, implying that he was aware of the trick she had just used.
"I know, brother. But, it seems you are quite familiar with these types of things," Diana countered playfully, her tone holding a hint of teasing. Her blue eyes sparkled, but then a chill seemed to descend over her, and her gaze turned piercingly cold. "I wonder who was the one that did this first."
Callius met her gaze evenly, his own eyes holding a depth of understanding. "It was quite a crafty being," he divulged. "It followed me for one whole month, trying to get my attention. And in the end, it finally did."
Diana's intrigue was palpable. "Is that so? I wonder if I can see it again?" She asked innocently, but her eyes were not innocent at all. They contained the murderous aura only Callius could feel.
"You can't. It is no longer in this world," Callius replied, his tone somber.
A silence hung between them, weighted by the implications of their conversation. "There is only a handful of people in this world that got away with doing such a thing," Callius continued, turning his gaze to Diana, who wore a knowing smile. "So, rest assured, I don't let others do such a thing to me unless they are someone precious."
Diana's smile deepened, a mixture of amusement and affection. "So, I am precious to you?"
"You are," Callius affirmed without hesitation, his words genuine.
"Heh…" Diana's response carried a soft, pleased tone, her smile becoming a bit more mischievous. She recognized the sincerity in Callius's words, yet she was also keenly aware that this wasn't the right moment to press further.
As they strolled through the festival, Diana's eyes caught sight of a makeshift stage where a street play was about to begin. The vibrant costumes and lively atmosphere drew her attention, and she tugged gently on Callius's arm, a playful glint in her eyes.
"Brother, let's watch this play," she suggested, her voice full of excitement.
As Callius both had no reason and no right to refuse her for today, he agreed and allowed her to guide him forward.
They found a spot to stand among the onlookers, and soon, the performance began. The play was a romantic comedy featuring two characters entangled in a web of misunderstandings and humorous situations. The crowd erupted in laughter as the actors delivered their lines with exaggerated expressions and comedic timing.
However, neither Callius nor Diana looked personally amused. Both of them had a serious and stern look on their faces.
The comedic interactions between the characters, which were meant to provoke laughter, instead sparked a more analytical discussion between the two.
"Look at the timing of their delivery," Diana commented in a low voice, her eyes focused on the actors. "They're aiming for a punchline, but the buildup is somewhat lacking."
Callius nodded, his gaze fixed on the stage. "Indeed. The rhythm of their dialogues is a bit off. The pauses between lines are inconsistent, affecting the overall comedic impact."
They were both from a lineage of nobles.
Callius was the same. Before his soul became one, Callius was a boy who had no power to achieve things. So, he gave his attention to the art of war, ruling, and reading bodies. He tried to make himself better at other points.
Diana, too, was someone that was expected to inherit the household in the absence of Callius. Thus, she was someone that knew the art of talking and reading the middle of the lines. Also, making his hobbies hers was also something that she did.
Therefore, as the play progressed, they critiqued the character dynamics, the plot structure, and even the nuances of the actors' expressions. It was as though they had slipped into an academic mindset, dissecting the performance with a critical eye.
ραΠdαsΝοvel.cοm "Their portrayal of the secondary character's motivations lacks depth," Callius observed, his tone measured. "It's as if they're relying on stereotypes rather than delving into the character's psyche."
Diana's lips quirked in agreement. "Yes, and that diminishes the audience's ability to empathize with the character's decisions. It's a missed opportunity for emotional engagement."
Their conversation continued in hushed tones, each of their observations carrying a weight of knowledge and understanding. Despite being at a festival surrounded by light-hearted energy, Diana and Callius were immersed in a world of analysis and critique, seeing the performance through a lens that went beyond mere entertainment.
"People often overlook the importance of subtext in these kinds of plays," Callius remarked, his voice a blend of thoughtfulness and earnestness.
Diana nodded, her eyes never leaving the stage. "Absolutely. It's the subtle layers of meaning that add depth to performance and make it resonate with the audience on a profound level."
Their shared insights and opinions flowed effortlessly, showing how they suited each other. Even Callius, who wanted to control himself, was smiling at the effortless discussion he was making.
In this world, there were only two people that he could talk to with such a smile.
The first one was a girl who was ready to give him everything, and the second one was a girl who was ready to make the world his.
As the play reached its conclusion, the final scene prompted a moment of silence between them. Their critical analysis had evolved into a mutual contemplation of the broader implications of the performance.
"The resolution felt rushed," Diana mused, her voice carrying a hint of disappointment.
"Agreed. It's as if they prioritized a neat conclusion over a satisfying one," Callius added, his gaze thoughtful, but he felt satisfied.
The initial academic inside his heart was satisfied with the talk now as she looked at the girl.
"Come, brother. There is one place left we need to visit." Diana said as she wore a beautiful smile. Whether she forced her hobbies to be the same with him or her tastes to be the same with him didn't matter anymore.
Since, at that point, his tastes became hers.
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