Irina moved through the armory, her gaze animated as she pointed out various artifacts, each one possessing a unique power or history. She seemed completely engrossed, lost in her enthusiasm as she shared the Emberheart family's legacy with Astron. Her eyes sparkled with pride and excitement, her explanations becoming more detailed and vibrant with each piece. "This one here," she said, pointing to a dark, crimson blade hanging elegantly from the wall, "was wielded by my great-uncle during the Battle of Runes. It's said to channel the heat of molten lava, making it nearly impossible to parry." Astron nodded thoughtfully, his gaze studying the blade's fine craftsmanship and the intricate runes etched into its surface. "A weapon like this isn't just for attack—it's a statement," he murmured, meeting Irina's gaze with quiet admiration. "Your family's attention to detail is… impressive." A faint blush crept up Irina's cheeks, but she quickly masked it with a haughty grin. "Of course. It's Emberheart craftsmanship, after all," she replied, her tone playfully smug. Unbeknownst to her, Esme stood silently nearby, observing the two with a faint, knowing smile. Despite being sent by the Matriarch to oversee Astron's visit, Esme could see that her presence had faded into the background for Irina, who was entirely absorbed in sharing this part of her world with him. Her young charge had never been this animated while explaining anything before. Irina, meanwhile, continued to point out various pieces. "Now, this," she said, indicating an amulet embedded with a dark, glistening gemstone, "isn't just a simple accessory. It's one of the few defensive artifacts in the collection that manipulates heat into a barrier. Useful in close combat situations." Astron raised an eyebrow. "Heat manipulation into defense… that's more intricate than a typical shielding artifact." "Exactly," she said, a touch of pride in her voice. "Our ancestors believed that fire wasn't just for offense but could be mastered and harnessed to protect as well." "Were you there when your ancestors gathered this?" "I don't need to be there to understand what they were thinking." "Really?" "Humph. Just listen." With each artifact, Irina became more animated, almost forgetting herself entirely. For her, this moment was more than just showing off family heirlooms—it was a chance to share the legacy she held close to her heart with someone who respected its weight and significance. "So," she continued, holding up a small, intricately carved pendant, "this one—" She suddenly stopped, noticing Esme standing nearby with a bemused expression, her eyes flicking between Irina and Astron with a trace of knowing amusement. Irina blinked, realizing how deeply she'd been absorbed in showing Astron around. She coughed, shifting slightly, her earlier confidence replaced by a slight awkwardness as she glanced at Esme. 'Why am I even conscious of her? It is not like I am doing something wrong.' She reassured herself, shaking off the momentary self-awareness. With renewed focus, she continued showcasing the artifacts, her enthusiasm returning as she pointed out more treasures, each with its own story, legacy, or unique power. Finally, she turned to Astron, a spark of curiosity still bright in her gaze. "So… have you finally found what you wanted?" Astron met her gaze, nodding. "I have." "Oh?" Her interest piqued, she leaned in, eyes brightening with anticipation. "What is it?" Without a word, Astron moved forward, glancing back briefly to ensure she was following. Intrigued, Irina fell into step behind him, watching as he navigated past several rows of grand, fiery artifacts that had once belonged to her family's most renowned members. She wondered what had caught his attention and resisted the urge to guess, letting him lead the way. After a few more steps, they stopped in front of a small, inconspicuous section near the back. There, resting on a simple wooden stand, lay a slim bracelet. It had a delicate, unassuming design—nothing like the imposing weapons and enchanted amulets scattered throughout the armory. A small note underneath identified it as a rare-grade artifact that granted the wearer a modest boost to agility. Irina raised an eyebrow, a flicker of surprise crossing her face. 'This… isn't even one of the pieces I showed him.' It dawned on her that he must have noticed it on his own, reading the note without her assistance. She reached out, studying the bracelet more closely. The boost it offered was practical but modest, designed for speed rather than power or grandeur. 'Not exactly a mage's first choice,' she thought, noting why her family hadn't prioritized it. It wasn't tailored for their fiery specialty, and to most Emberhearts, agility alone was hardly noteworthy. "You chose this?" she asked, glancing at him with a raised eyebrow, genuine curiosity lacing her voice. It was indeed a weird choice. Her expression couldn't help but get twisted as she stared at the bracelet, a mixture of bewilderment and frustration flickering across her face. 'Of all the artifacts in the armory… he chose this?' she thought, almost insulted on behalf of the other artifacts. There were items in here that were centuries old, imbued with the fiery power of Emberheart legends—each crafted to be wielded with respect and to demonstrate the Emberheart's dominance over fire. And yet, here he was, gravitating toward something as modest as an agility bracelet. It was almost as if he were silently dismissing every other piece in the room, deeming them unworthy. 'What the heck? Isn't he basically saying, "You're all not worthy of me; this bracelet is enough"?' she fumed internally. The worst part was that Astron wasn't even someone who needed an agility boost. Speed had always been his strongest asset, from what she had observed. He had outmaneuvered countless opponents without breaking a sweat. 'What could he possibly be thinking?' She shot him a glare, trying to mask her growing irritation. But as she lifted her head, she saw him looking at her with that unmistakable glint in his eyes—amusement, plain as day. He was clearly enjoying her reaction, and the faintest hint of a curve tugged at the corner of his mouth as if this whole charade had been orchestrated just to see her struggle with his choice. "You think this is funny?" she snapped, her voice tinged with frustration. "I spent all this time guiding you through my family's prized armory, showing you our finest artifacts… and this is what you choose?" Astron's calm gaze met hers, and he tilted his head, the hint of amusement still lingering. "Why?" he retorted, his tone light yet pointed. "On what basis are you saying this was the wrong choice?" Irina's brows knit together, her frustration simmering as she took in his composed expression. She narrowed her eyes, feeling her patience wearing thin. "Are you really asking me that?" she replied, her tone laced with disbelief. She gestured around the room, her voice rising in frustration. "This armory is filled with artifacts crafted by generations of Emberhearts, each one a testament to our mastery over fire. There's power here, refinement, and tools that could enhance your magic or even add a unique edge to your abilities. And yet, you choose this…" She gestured to the modest bracelet with a look of near-incredulity. "This one artifact that barely scratches the surface of what's available!" Astron listened, his expression remaining steady as she laid out her reasoning. When she finally finished, he gave her a slow, thoughtful nod. "I understand," he said, his tone calm but with a glint of amusement still dancing in his eyes. "But, do you think I am a fool Irina?" "Yes," he replied simply, his gaze unwavering. He waited, clearly inviting her to explain herself. 'Fine,' she thought, crossing her arms and letting out an exasperated sigh before speaking. "All right, let's start with the obvious. You don't even need an agility boost, Astron. I've seen you in action. Speed is already your strongest trait! And here you are, picking the one thing that adds more speed, ignoring all the other options that could actually offer you something new." She gestured around the room, her voice rising in frustration. "This armory is filled with artifacts crafted by generations of Emberhearts, each one a testament to our mastery over fire. There's power here, refinement, and tools that could enhance your magic or even add a unique edge to your abilities. And yet, you choose this…" She gestured to the modest bracelet with a look of near-incredulity. "This one artifact that barely scratches the surface of what's available!" Astron listened, his expression remaining steady as she laid out her reasoning. When she finally finished, he gave her a slow, thoughtful nod. "I understand," he said, his tone calm but with a glint of amusement still dancing in his eyes. "But, do you think I am a fool Irina?" Astron leaned in, his face coming closer, his voice dropping to a low murmur that sent a shiver down Irina's spine. "Do you think I'm a fool, Irina?" he asked, his breath warm against her skin, his scent unexpectedly close. "Haven't I lost every time I made a quick judgment?" For a split second, her mind went blank, caught off guard by his sudden proximity. She felt her thoughts blur as her senses took in the warmth of his presence, his voice reverberating in a way that made her heart skip. But then, with a flash of clarity, she remembered Esme standing nearby, watching the exchange with silent amusement. 'No way am I letting him get away with this,' she thought, regaining her composure. She gave him a firm shove, pushing him back just enough to regain some distance, though the heat she felt rising to her ears betrayed her flustered state. With a glare that held both irritation and a hint of something she refused to acknowledge, she crossed her arms tightly over her chest. "Just… keep your distance," she muttered, glancing away to conceal the faint blush creeping up her cheeks. "So?" Astron's face remained calm, but Irina caught the faintest twitch at the corner of his lips, an almost smile threatening to break through his usually serious expression. He was trying to mask it, yet she could see it—a small victory for him, and somehow, it made her both irritated and amused. She scoffed, giving him a light but pointed smack on the chest. "What do you mean, 'So'? What?" He raised an eyebrow, his tone smooth. "So… what do you think? Do you think I'm a fool?" She narrowed her eyes at him, half-exasperated, half-relenting. "Of course, you're not a fool, Astron. Don't act like I'd actually think that." "Good," he replied, the almost-smile finally breaking through. His face relaxed, that slight smirk now fully visible, and she couldn't decide if she wanted to hit him again or laugh. "Then, shouldn't you trust my judgment?" "..." Irina's lips pressed into a thin line as his words sank in. Despite her irritation, she couldn't ignore the truth of his statement. 'Trust his judgment…' she thought, recalling that time they'd studied together with Sylvie. She remembered the moment Astron had pinpointed the location of the Phantom's Land, effortlessly spotting clues that had slipped past both her and Sylvie. His eyes, sharp and unyielding, seemed to catch details others missed, always seeing further than anyone expected. 'If he's chosen this bracelet, it can't just be for its agility boost,' she reasoned, feeling her frustration ease, replaced by grudging admiration. Astron wouldn't have made a choice based on something so trivial. There had to be something about the bracelet he'd noticed—something she hadn't. She studied him, her gaze softening. "Fine," she relented, a bit of her irritation fading. "I guess… I'll trust your judgment. But I'm curious—what did you see in that bracelet that I missed?" "You will see." In the end, she didn't get the answer. ŖâΝO͍ВÈṠ
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