The door to a medium sized room suddenly opened, and a purple haired young girl stepped inside.
Sweeping her gaze across the room, Zoey's eyes instantly landed on a beautiful woman with similar purple hair seated in a chair at one side of the room.
As Zoey saw the expression on the woman's face, she couldn't help but feel confused. It was an odd and unusual look for her grandmother, especially since this was the first time they had met in over two years.
"I greet the Parag—" Zoey began speaking, but Seraphina immediately waved her hand dismissively, interrupting her.
"Oh, save the useless greetings, granddaughter," Seraphina said curtly.
'She's pissed.' Zoey's confusion deepened as she heard her grandmother address her that way. Anytime Seraphina called her "granddaughter" with that tone, it was a surefire sign she was 100% angry.
"You seem fine, though," Seraphina continued. "I was expecting your head to be cracked open or for you to be afflicted with some mental curse."
"Huh?" Zoey's brows furrowed. "Did something happen, Grand—auntie?"
Seraphina sighed and closed her eyes briefly before reopening them. "Why did you say no to him?" she asked.
Zoey's confusion only intensified. "To who?"
"Who else could I possibly be talking about?"
Zoey's eyes widened as she suddenly realized, and her expression shifted. Now she understood what this was about.
"Wait, that's the reason for all this?"
"Yes," Seraphina replied, "I just can't comprehend it. Why? Just why? Help me understand."
Zoey's tone suddenly turned colder. "You don't need to understand it."
"Hm?" Seraphina tilted her head slightly, her gaze narrowing.
"You don't have to understand why," Zoey said, standing straighter. "It's my life, and I make my own choices."
Zoey's earlier confusion had vanished, replaced by a more colder look. She had been uncertain about why Seraphina was angry, but now that she knew it was because she had rejected Atticus, she couldn't help but feel irritated.
This was exactly why her relationship with her mother, Celestia, had become so strained. Zoey hated when people tried to impose their will on her.
Seraphina studied Zoey in silence for a long moment.
"You like him, don't you?" she finally asked, her voice turning a bit softer.
Zoey's angry expression wavered, and she suddenly averted her gaze before muttering under her breath, "I don't know."
"Fine," Seraphina said with a shrug.
"Then I suppose you don't care about the flock of beautiful ladies trying to woo him back at the estate. It was so odd; I think I saw some of them going into his roo—"
Seraphina stopped mid sentence as she felt Zoey's icy glare land on her. It was as though she wanted to murder Seraphina no matter how impossible that sounded.
Seraphina sighed internally. 'Fucking kids. Always making things so complicated.' After calming herself down, she spoke in a more softer tone.
"Honey. I understand how you feel, and I promise I'm not trying to force you into making a decision. You're my granddaughter, and I will always love you. But stupidity shouldn't be encouraged, and I'm sorry to say, right now you're acting stupid."
Zoey's initial calm expression strained as frowned. No one liked being called stupid.
"It's the truth," Seraphina continued. "You clearly like this boy. He likes you too. So what exactly is the problem? Why are you making this so complicated?"
Seraphina asked however, Zoey remained completely silent, her fists clenched tightly at her sides. Even as the seconds dragged on, she refused to say a word.
Seraphina frowned, 'Am I missing something?' she wondered. This felt off. Zoey had always been smart and logical, and she rarely acted impulsively. But her behavior now was baffling.
It was clear that Zoey wasn't ready to talk. However, just as the silence stretched out, a petite voice sounded through the room.
"Alright, I can't take this anymore!"
A brilliant light flared from Zoey's chest, and in the next moment, the ethereal form of a small, petite figure appeared before her.
"You!" Lumindra pointed a tiny finger at Zoey. "You're acting stupid!"
"Lumi! What are you doing? Why did you come out?"
Ignoring her, Lumindra turned sharply toward Seraphina, who, despite the abruptness of the situation, respectfully bowed her head.
"I greet the great Enchanting Drake," Seraphina said solemnly.
Lumindra froze, and her smug expression softened into a satisfied smile. She straightened her figure before lifting her chin proudly.
"Hmph! At least someone knows greatness when they see it. I like that," she said with a haughty tone.
Although Seraphina was a paragon, lumindra was a Tier 7 spirit. To the Starhaven, they were akin to gods.
"Lumi! Stop it! Go back right now!"
Lumi cleared her throat akwardly. She had almost forgotten why she came out.
Lumindra waved her off with an impatient flick of her hand. "Don't interrupt me. I'm setting things straight." She shot Zoey a glare before turning her attention back to Seraphina.
"Here's the thing, you've got the right idea, but there's something you don't know. The reason she's acting this way is—"
"Lumi!"
"Shush!" Lumindra snapped. "This is important."
Seraphina's eyes narrowed slightly as she focused on Lumindra. Her curiosity was piqued, and she listened intently as the spirit began explaining the situation.
Ever since she was young, Zoey had dreamed of becoming strong enough to eradicate the Zorvans and raise humanity from being the lowest ranked race.
That ambition had been her entire life, and bonding with a Tier 7 spirit, a bond so rare it hadn't happened for generations, only reinforced her conviction. Her potential was limitless, and everyone knew it. Not even Seraphina had been able to bond with a Tier 7.
But then Atticus entered her life. He wasn't just strong; he was effortlessly achieving the very goals Zoey had set for herself before she could even began them.
Watching him win the Apex competition, she had felt happy for him, but bitter at the same time. That bitterness made her feel sick, ashamed.
Seraphina absorbed Lumindra's explanation without saying anything, her expression unreadable. After a while, she spoke.
"So, let me get this straight," Seraphina said slowly, locking eyes with Zoey. "You said no to him because… you're jealous?"
Zoey flinched, her face turning red again as she looked away. "It's not just that…" she mumbled weakly.
Seraphina let out a long, exasperated sigh and rubbed her temples. "Sweetheart," she said, "you're seriously complicating your life for no reason."