"Never mind," he said as he walked toward the door.
He leaned closer and whispered something to the knight, who nodded silently. A moment later, Avelvion called for her to follow him. The two of them made their way toward the basement, with Olivia taking the lead. She raised a finger to her lips, signaling him to stay quiet to avoid drawing attention.
When they arrived, Olivia pushed the basement door open slowly. A long creak echoed through the silence as the door gave way. Avelvion looked at her, stunned, while their footsteps echoed against the old wooden stairs as they descended.
Olivia glanced around. Nothing had changed. The damp scent of soil and rotting grass still clung heavily to the air, thick and suffocating.
Avelvion froze, his expression tightening as he took in the filthy underground. This place was far from the world he was used to.
"Ugh… what is this smell?" he muttered,
quickly covering his nose with his robe as the stench crept into his senses. His eyes shifted toward Olivia, but she looked completely unbothered, as if this place was nothing to her.
Without hesitation, Olivia walked straight toward the room and pushed the door open. The moment it opened, her eyes sparkled with relief as she looked at the boy lying inside.
Avelvion followed behind her, his gaze scanning the boy's thin figure while he shut the door firmly to block the smell from spreading further. Olivia frowned slightly at his action, her brows knitting together as if silently questioning him, but she quickly shook her head and returned her attention to the boy.
A small smile formed on her lips as she watched him sleeping peacefully.
"He's adorable, right?" she said softly, her eyes never leaving him. Avelvion let out a short chuckle, his lips curling into a smirk.
"Are you blind?" he replied, clearly annoyed.
Olivia rolled her eyes and ignored him. She stepped closer and slowly sat down in front of the boy, resting her chin on her hands as she observed him carefully his face, his lips, and finally his eyes.
Wow… his eyelashes are so long.
Suddenly, Avelvion hit her shoulder. Olivia flinched and turned sharply toward him.
"Ow...shit, you little brat," she muttered while rubbing her shoulder.
Avelvion froze in shock, clearly not expecting that kind of response. Sweat formed on his forehead as Olivia glared at him. Before he could react, she smacked him back.
Avelvion forced a smile, but inside, panic was already creeping in.
Why did I even follow her here?
Regret was the only word in his mind. He quickly stood up and began running around the room to avoid her, but it was useless. Their footsteps echoed loudly as they chased each other, their movements filling the quiet basement with chaotic energy until suddenly, everything stopped.
The boy's fingers twitched.
Slowly, his eyes opened. He said nothing. He simply stared at them in silence, his gaze calm...too calm..as if he was trying to. understand what was happening.
Both Olivia and Avelvion froze.
The boy's eyes shifted toward Olivia, and for a brief moment, something in his gaze felt different.
Olivia immediately let go of Avelvion and rushed toward him.
"Are you hurt?" she asked, checking his arms and body carefully.
The boy remained silent. Then, he turned his gaze toward Avelvion.
OnAvelvion, still recovering from being hit, walked closer while glaring at Olivia before dropping himself at the corner and rubbing his neck. Olivia rolled her eyes again before turning back to the boy.
Suddenly, she remembered something and quickly reached into her pocket. She took out a biscuit and a bottle of water and handed them to him.
Without hesitation, she gently took his hand, just like before. The boy seemed to understand. He ate quietly and drank the water without a word. Olivia smiled happily, while Avelvion's expression darkened with annoyance.
As Olivia reached out to touch the boy's hair again, Avelvion suddenly felt it, a gaze. He slowly turned his head.
The boy was staring at him.
Not just staring, it felt like a warning.
Avelvion froze before quickly standing up and pointing at him.
"He glared at me!" he said, grabbing Olivia's hand.
Olivia frowned slightly. "What now?" she asked calmly
"He glared at me!" he repeated, his voice more insistent.
Olivia glanced at the boy, who was still eating peacefully.
"You must've seen it wrong," she said.
Avelvion shook his head. "I saw it. His eyes… he looked at me like that."
Olivia sighed. "I've been watching him the whole time. I didn't see anything."
Before Avelvion could argue further, a hand suddenly grabbed Olivia's wrist. She froze and slowly turned.
It was the boy.
He handed her the empty bottle. Olivia smiled softly and patted his head, but Avelvion's expression darkened instantly. Without warning, he pushed the boy.
The boy fell.
Avelvion smirked.
Olivia's eyes widened in shock as she quickly rushed forward, helping the boy up and brushing the dirt off his clothes and face. The boy said nothing. He simply stared at Avelvion.
His gaze..
Sharp.
Cold.
Olivia paused. Something about his eyes felt strange. Then she noticed a small wound on his elbow. She leaned closer and gently blew on his elbow, hope the pain will away..
Then ...
He looked up.
And their eyes met.
Olivia forgot how to breathe.
She had read about those eyes a hundred times. Silver hair that fell across his face like a curtain hiding the world away. Eyes that the novel described as sharp and cold and completely unreadable.
But the novel never described THIS.
The way he looked at her, not with coldness. Not with suspicion. But, like someone who had forgotten what it felt like to be seen.
This whole time.
I've been coming to the basement. Bringing food. Bringing medicine. Worrying.
And this whole time, it was him.
Her throat tightened
"Javien...?" she whispered.
His eyes widened. Just slightly. But enough.
She was sure now.
After everything ... after crossing worlds, after losing everything in her real life, after sneaking out night after night...
She had already found him.
She just hadn't known it was him.
Suddenly, her head began to spin. Her vision blurred, and her body felt unbearably heavy.
Not now…
she muttered weakly in her mind as she tried to stand, but something dragged her down. Pain throbbed through her head as she clutched it tightly.
Avelvion rushed toward her, calling her name again and again, but Olivia couldn't hear him anymore.
Javien remained still, frozen in place. His lips parted slightly, but no sound came out, as if something was stopping him.
Then
Olivia collapsed.
Silence filled the room.
Javien stared at her without moving.
His eyes….
Darkened.