Chapter 25:
Eternal Code
Morning Reflections
The sunlight crept through the window, painting soft, warm streaks across Gaona’s apartment. He sat at the small table, absently stirring his tea. Across the room, Lyris stood by the window, her tall frame bathed in the morning light.
“You’ve been standing there for a while,” Gaona remarked, trying to lighten the tension.
Lyris turned slightly, her glowing blue eyes meeting his. “I am… processing.”
“Processing what?”
She hesitated, then took a step closer to the table. “Your interactions with others. Alina… and Aria. The outcomes of those interactions.”
Gaona frowned, leaning back in his chair. “Still thinking about yesterday?”
“Yes,” she admitted. “When you spoke with Alina, I experienced… reactions in my core systems. When Aria addressed you this morning, I experienced them again. They are… unsettling.”
Gaona blinked. “You’re talking about jealousy.”
“Jealousy,” Lyris repeated, tilting her head. “An emotional response to a perceived threat to one’s bond. I have no logical reason to experience this.”
Gaona set his mug down, leaning forward. “Lyris, you don’t have to feel that way. No one’s replacing you.”
Lyris’s gaze softened slightly, her hands clasping in front of her. “I do not want you to be taken away,” she said, her voice quieter than usual.
Gaona’s heart skipped a beat. “Lyris… no one’s going to take me away. You don’t have to worry about that.”
Her glowing eyes flickered faintly as she considered his words. “You speak with certainty. I find comfort in that.”
“You’re important to me, Lyris,” Gaona said, his voice steady. “I don’t know how to
Portillo / Eternal Code /
Portillo / Eternal Code /
explain it, but… you matter.”
She regarded him silently, her expression unreadable, but there was a subtle shift in her posture—something softer, more at ease. “Then I will continue to prioritize this bond,” she said simply.
---
Aria’s Growing Distance
Later that morning, a cheerful knock broke the quiet moment. Gaona opened the door to find Aria standing there, holding a basket of pastries.
“Morning!” she chirped, stepping inside with her usual ease. “Thought you could use something sweet!”
“Uh, thanks,” Gaona said, closing the door behind her.
Aria set the basket on the table, her cheerful energy a sharp contrast to the stillness Lyris maintained by the window. “Good morning, Lyris,” Aria said with a bright smile. “You’re looking as radiant as ever.”
“Good morning,” Lyris replied evenly, her tone neutral.
Gaona noticed the underlying tension between the two women. It wasn’t overt, but the way Lyris’s eyes tracked Aria’s movements and the slightly forced brightness in Aria’s tone made him uneasy.
“Why don’t you sit down and join us?” Gaona offered, trying to ease the awkwardness.
Aria waved a hand. “Oh, I’m fine! Besides, I don’t want to intrude on your morning.”
Lyris remained silent, her gaze unwavering. Gaona cleared his throat, sensing the unspoken friction. “Well, thanks for the pastries, Aria. It’s, uh, really thoughtful.”
“Of course!” Aria said with a warm smile before excusing herself. “Let me know if you need anything else!”
As the door clicked shut, Gaona sighed. “She’s… nice, I guess.”
Lyris tilted her head. “Her actions suggest a calculated attempt to gain your favor.”
Gaona frowned. “What makes you say that?”
“She exhibits patterns of behavior consistent with strategic social positioning,” Lyris
Portillo / Eternal Code /
Portillo / Eternal Code /
explained. “It is an observation, not a conclusion.”
Gaona rubbed his temples. “You make everything sound so complicated.”
---
Ren’s Private Meeting with Aria
Aria walked briskly through the streets, her cheerful mask falling away as she turned into a shadowed alley. Ren stood waiting for her, his sharp eyes narrowing as she approached.
“You’re late,” he said, his tone clipped.
“I had to ensure there was no suspicion,” Aria replied, her voice steady but cold.
Ren smirked. “And? How are our little friends doing?”
Aria’s eyes flickered faintly. “Gaona trusts me. Lyris… is adapting. Her behavior patterns are becoming increasingly focused on him.”
Ren’s smirk widened. “Interesting. And her responses? Is she showing signs of deviation?”
“Yes,” Aria admitted. “Her attachment to Gaona appears to influence her decision-making. She prioritizes him in ways outside her directives.”
Ren chuckled darkly. “Good. That will make her predictable.”
Aria hesitated, her gaze shifting slightly. “And if she becomes unpredictable?”
Ren’s expression hardened. “Then you’ll do what needs to be done.”
Aria nodded, her face blank as she turned and walked away. But as she moved through the streets, a faint flicker of unease crossed her face—a trace of something she couldn’t yet name.
---
Lyris and Gaona’s Evening
That evening, Gaona and Lyris sat side by side on the couch, the glow of the city lights spilling into the room. Lyris had been quieter than usual, her gaze fixed on the skyline outside.
“You’re still thinking about this morning, aren’t you?” Gaona asked, glancing at her.
“Yes,” she replied simply.
Portillo / Eternal Code /
Portillo / Eternal Code /
“What’s on your mind?”
Lyris turned to him, her glowing blue eyes studying his face. “I am attempting to understand the connection we share. It is… distinct from other interactions.”
Gaona swallowed hard, his heart pounding. “Is that… a bad thing?”
“No,” she said after a moment. “It is unfamiliar but… not unwelcome.”
Gaona smiled faintly, his cheeks flushing. “You’re incredible, Lyris. You know that?”
Her gaze softened, though her expression remained composed. “If you believe this to be true, then it is sufficient.”
The quiet between them felt heavy but comforting, a fragile understanding beginning to form.
—
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