Welcome to the Innocent World

"Maya?" I called out, stopping in my tracks.

She opened her eyes, her gaze locking into mine.

"Hey," she said, her voice calm but firm. "I want to talk to you, Austin."

Her words hung in the air, heavy with meaning.

I stood there, thinking what is it exactly that she must be wanting to talk to me about. Her eyes are scary as anything. The evening breeze tugged at her hair, making her look even more serene yet imposing.

"You want to talk to me?" I asked, forcing a casual smile.

"Yes," she replied, her voice firm.

"I see," I said, scratching the back of my head. "So, what is it, Maya, that you want to talk about?" I tried to sound as normal as possible, though her eyes were making it difficult.

She crossed her arms and tilted her head slightly, her expression unreadable. "I'll get straight to the point," she said, her tone unwavering. "Earlier today, in the afternoon, when you screamed… I saw something."

My heart skipped a beat, but I maintained my composure. "Something?" I echoed.

"A black aura," she said without hesitation. "It radiated from you for just a moment, but I saw it."

I felt my stomach drop. "Black aura?" I asked with a nervous chuckle. "You must have imagined it. Maybe the light from the stone played tricks on your eyes."

Maya didn't flinch, her expression as resolute as her voice. "I didn't imagine it. I know what I saw."

I sighed* looking away. My eyes wandered toward the horizon, where the sun was just a sliver against the skyline. The evening was slipping into night, and the air was turning colder.

"It's cold here," I said, rubbing my arms for effect. "If you're free and don't mind, we can talk at my place. It's warmer there."

Maya raised an eyebrow but then nodded, a faint blush coloring her cheeks. "Alright," she said. "Let's go."

---

As we walked side by side through the dimly lit streets, the silence between us was palpable. Maya wasn't one for idle chatter, and tonight seemed no different.

We passed a grocery store, and I stopped abruptly. "Hold on," I said, gesturing toward the store. "I need to pick up a few things."

She gave me a curious look. "Groceries? Why now?"

"I'd rather cook tonight," I said with a grin. "Ordering food all the time gets boring." Of course, the real reason was that I didn't want to risk using Epsilon's services and raising her suspicions further.

Maya shrugged and followed me into the store. As I scanned the aisles, tossing essentials into the cart, I decided to make conversation.

"Any favorite dish you like?" I asked casually, glancing at her.

She hesitated, then answered softly, "Spaghetti carbonara."

"Ah, good choice," I said, nodding approvingly. "Let me see what I've got at home for that."

Half of the ingredients were already in my kitchen, so I only grabbed the remaining ones. Maya helped carry a few items, her quiet demeanor making the task oddly comfortable.

---

When we arrived at my flat, I let out a subtle sigh of relief as I scanned the place. No sign of Beta. *Thank God,* I thought. *The last thing I need is her popping out of nowhere and jumping on my face*

Maya noticed my hesitation. "What's wrong?" she asked, tilting her head slightly.

"Nothing, nothing," I said quickly, waving her off.

She stepped inside, looking around. Her eyes took in the sleek atmosphere, the soft lighting, and the open layout of the living room. "Your place is nice," she said, her voice tinged with admiration. "Feels kind of luxurious."

I shrugged, brushing off the compliment. "It's nothing," I said, heading to the kitchen to put the groceries away.

As I grabbed a glass of water, she asked suddenly, "What does your father do? Your parents don't live with you?"

I froze for a fraction of a second, choking slightly on the water. "Uh, no," I said, clearing my throat. "They work abroad. My dad's in the export industry."

Maya's curious gaze lingered on me, but she didn't press further.

*Jeez, I have no idea who my parents are in this world,* I thought, my mind racing. *That was close.*

Your next chapter awaits on My Virtual Library Empire

---

While Maya settled on the couch, scrolling through her phone, I busied myself in the kitchen. Cooking gave me a chance to calm my nerves, and I focused on making the dish just right.

"Spaghetti carbonara coming right up," I said, glancing at her. "Hope it lives up to your expectations."

"I'm sure it will," she said, her tone soft but genuine.

Soon, the aroma of garlic, pancetta, and creamy sauce filled the air. I plated the food carefully, making sure it looked as good as it smelled.

We sat at the dining table, and I filled her glass with water before handing her the plate.

"Wow," she said, her eyes lighting up as she took her first bite. "This is amazing! You're such a great cook, Austin."

I chuckled, feeling a small sense of pride. "It's nothing. Just a hobby."

As we ate, her earlier words crept back into my mind. I couldn't ignore them any longer.

"About what you said earlier," I began, keeping my tone light. "You can see that aura all the time? In everyone? Or just me?"

Maya paused, her fork midway to her mouth. "Just sometimes," she admitted.

"That's a pretty rare ability," I said, leaning back in my chair. "Have you ever thought about joining the Knights? That kind of skill could be really useful."

She shook her head. "No. I'm not strong or anything. I can't wield a sword or fight. I just see things, that's all."

"There's a first time for everything," I said, trying to sound encouraging. "You'd learn with practice."

She gave me a faint smile but then said firmly, "I'm not interested. Maybe in the future, but not now."

Her tone shifted abruptly, growing sharp. She set her glass down and looked at it for a moment before speaking. "Don't try to change the subject," she said.

I blinked, caught off guard.

"Change subject? What do you mean?" I asked.@@novelbin@@

She looked up, her eyes locking onto mine. "So? Who are you? That wasn't a normal reaction earlier—not for someone who just saw a glowing stone."

Her words hung in the air like a blade poised to strike.

I swallowed hard, my mind racing for an answer.

*Ahh—Sheesh.* I sighed inwardly, knowing there was no easy way out of this. *I can't outrun this. She's stubborn as anything.*