Zoey let out a heavy sigh.
"Okay, oh mighty enchanting Drake, your presence alone fills the air with such warmth and wonder. Your wisdom surpasses that of ancient sages,"
Zoey began, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "I'm always in awe of your incredible abilities and your charming personality. You truly make the world a brighter place just by being you. Your ma-"
Before Zoey could continue, her words were drowned out by the infectious laughter of Lumindra.
"Ho Ho Ho, good girl, good girl," Lumindra chimed in, barely able to contain her laughter.
She covered her mouth with one hand, trying to mask the smug smile and crimson blush spreading across her face. It was obvious that she relished every bit of the exaggerated praise.
Waving her hands rapidly, Lumindra attempted to cool herself down. "Alright, alright, I know I'm great, but you didn't have to take it that far. You're making me embarrassed."
Zoey shot Lumindra an intense stare. If anyone could see her now, they would sense the simmering frustration beneath her composed exterior.
A slight push was all it would take for her to pounce on the petite figure of the giggling Lumindra before her.
Sensing Zoey's demeanor, Lumindra quickly composed herself and cleared her throat.
"What were you worried about again?" she shamelessly inquired.
Zoey shook her head. 'A thousand-year-old my ass,' she thought bitterly.
"You know what I'm talking about, everything. I literally just noticed him a few days ago, and since then we've exchanged how many? Ten words. And yet why the hell am I…" Zoey trailed off, frustration clear in her voice.
"Feeling this way?" Lumindra interjected, finishing Zoey's sentence.
Zoey nodded, her expression troubled.
"It's weird. Making my heart race just by seeing him and me blushing like a fool just because he held my hand? I don't like it, I don't like it one bit," Zoey admitted with a hint of frustration.
Lumindra giggled softly. "At least you're true to your feelings."
Lumindra had been with Zoey long before the latter even had any idea of her presence.
Spirits in Eldoralth chose whoever they would bond with as soon as that person was born. They would follow that individual unnoticed until after they awakened and became able to sense them.
This had been the case with Lumindra and Zoey. So it goes without saying that when Lumindra said she knew Zoey, no one should be able to argue otherwise.
Zoey was the type of girl who hated not being in control, especially if it was something as important as her feelings.
This was how she had always been, and it was exactly why her relationship with her mother, who was trying to make her do something she didn't want to do, was strained.
And what made it worse was it was her first time experiencing this roller coaster of emotions. It wasn't a surprise that she was getting overwhelmed.
Observing Zoey's current state of confusion, Lumindra smiled warmly. She fluttered towards Zoey's face and gently held her cheeks with her tiny fingers, attempting to squish them together.
"Listen, Zoey," Lumindra began, her voice soft yet earnest. "At this point, the best advice I can give you is to go with the flow. Your head can tell you lies, but your heart will always speak the truth. So ignore the lies and follow the truth instead."
"Follow the truth," Zoey repeated under her breath, her expression thoughtful.
Lumindra nodded fervently. "Don't worry, Zoey, I'll be here every step of the way," she assured, a warm smile gracing her face.
"Thanks, Lumi," Zoey murmured, returning the smile.
But before she could react further, Lumindra's form suddenly radiated intense light, her figure transforming back into the orb of light from earlier. In the blink of an eye, the orb swiftly shot into Zoey's chest.
Zoey turned her gaze towards the entrance of the space, and her eyes instantly landed on the form of a boy.
He was dressed impeccably in a sky-blue trench coat coupled with a dark blue inner cloth.
His white hair was plentiful and styled to flow backward, and his piercing blue eyes radiated an unmatched intensity that seemed to add to his overall appearance.
Atticus's form walked confidently through the entrance, and his gaze instantly landed on the breathtaking form of a purple-haired girl standing in the middle of the space.
The radiant sunlight bathed her form, making her flawless porcelain skin glow with an otherworldly radiance, accentuating her delicate features.
She had high cheekbones that gave her face a sculpted elegance, while her purple full lips were full and plush, reminiscent of delicate rose petals.
Her eyes, the color of amethysts, sparkled with intelligence and fierceness, framed by long, dark lashes that fluttered like butterfly wings.
Her nose was petite and perfectly proportioned, adding to the symmetry of her face. Cascading waves of purple hair framed her face, shimmering in the light like strands of spun amethyst. They fell in soft curls, reaching just below her waist.
She wore a fitted blouse in a deep shade of violet that hugged her torso, paired with tailored trousers in a complementary hue. Over her blouse, she donned a cropped jacket crafted from supple leather, its rich plum color adorned with intricate stitching and embossed patterns.
"Beautiful," Atticus whispered, his voice barely audible above the soft hum of the surrounding space.
His blue eyes locked onto Zoey's, and a warm smile graced his lips as he quickened his pace, closing the distance between them.
"I hope I didn't keep you waiting for too long?" Atticus said, his smile widening as he reached Zoey's side.
Zoey shook her head silently, her lips curving into a gentle smile as she extended her right hand towards him.
Atticus's heart skipped a beat as he gently clasped her hand, planting a soft kiss on her delicate skin.
Zoey withdrew her hand with surprising ease, her expression unreadable as she spoke, "You changed your clothes?"
Atticus's smile faltered slightly, but he recovered quickly, standing up straight and scratching his head awkwardly.
"Yeah, I was a bit swea-"
"You also had your bath," Zoey interrupted, her voice soft but firm.
Atticus's hand instinctively moved to scratch his head again, a nervous gesture betraying his attempt to appear composed.
"That's true, haha," he chuckled awkwardly. "I was meeting up with a beautiful girl, I wanted to look my best."
Zoey's eyes widened, a flicker of surprise crossing her features before she quickly masked it.
Her cheeks flushed a deep shade of crimson, and she bit her lower lip, desperately trying to quell the rising tide of embarrassment.
With a quick movement, she averted her gaze, not wanting Atticus to see her completely crimson cheeks.
"Beautiful girl," Zoey muttered softly, her voice barely above a whisper.