Christian felt embarrassed. What he didn't know, however, was that Anastasia felt embarrassed as well… just for an entirely different reason.
Did it really make sense for her special friend to possess a Living Fla that wasn't even ranked among the top hundred?
The very thought that she was helping him ta such an ordinary fla actually made her feel a little embarrassed on his behalf.
For a brief mont, Anastasia's attention drifted toward the Living Fla residing within her own body, and an absurd thought suddenly crossed her mind.
Should she simply give it to him instead?
But in the end, that was still impossible.
That fla was far too precious to her, and more importantly, Christian's current strength was nowhere near enough to withstand it, even with her assistance.
So naturally, the only option left was to find him another Living Fla… a better and worthy one.
Various nas and locations instantly flashed through Anastasia's mind as she silently began considering where she should search.
Clearly, she had already decided that Christian deserved sothing far superior.
And naturally, Christian knew nothing about any of this. What he noticed instead was how casually Anastasia handled the fla, completely different from the care she had shown earlier while dealing with the Vitalis Stone.
But before he could think too deeply about it, his attention was abruptly drawn elsewhere entirely.
For the first ti ever, Christian ca into direct contact with Anastasia's power.
Not through pressure.
Not through intimidation.
Not through a distant display.
But directly.
The mont her essence entered his body alongside the fla she was guiding, Christian's thoughts cam to an abrupt halt.
Back then, when she had first intimidated him with her power, he had already understood that Anastasia was unimaginably powerful.
Or at least… he had believed he understood.
Now, however, he realized he needed to completely reevaluate that impression.
That previous display?
She probably hadn't even used one percent of her power.
Christian still couldn't properly comprehend the level Anastasia stood on, nor the true scale of her strength.
But now, as her Essence flowed through his body, he finally felt like he had glimpsed sothing.
A tiny fragnt of it. A glimpse of a power so vast and overwhelming that even trying to asure it felt aningless.
He was still entranced by what he had felt, unconsciously admiring that overwhelming vastness, when Anastasia's soft voice suddenly pulled him back to reality.
"Done."
At the sa ti, she gently retracted her power from his body, and Christian's attention imdiately shifted inward toward the core within him.
Now, alongside his accumulated Essence, a small Living Fla quietly hovered at the center.
Orange in color, small in scale. At first glance, it looked insignificant.
But the mont he sensed it properly, Christian knew that couldn't have been further from the truth.
And honestly? He was more than satisfied.
He still needed to properly test its power later, but even without doing that, he could already reach one conclusion.
With the Iron Fla, his offensive power had increased by at least five tis compared to before.
So, between yesterday and today… just how much stronger had he beco?
Clenching his hand lightly as he felt the surge of power flowing through him, Christian suddenly felt a strong urge to go outside, find so Outsider, and test his newfound strength.
But in the end, he suppressed the impulse.
Instead, he simply pulled Anastasia closer and hugged her tightly.
He had already thanked her many tis today, but he still whispered it again, his voice low and sincere. "Thank you."
Anastasia stayed silent for a brief mont, simply leaning against him comfortably before she finally murmured, "You don't have to thank every single ti."
"But I want to." Christian's fingers gently played with a strand of her hair as he looked at her. "You keep giving so much… and I don't want to start taking that for granted."
"Well…" Anastasia slowly raised her head, her mismatched eyes eting his green ones directly. "You should get used to it."
The words were spoken casually. Yet beneath that casual tone was a quiet intensity that even Anastasia herself probably hadn't fully realized was there, and hearing them, Christian felt his heartbeat quicken slightly.
"You really are too good to ," he murmured softly.
Anastasia let out a small laugh. "That's right. I am."
Smug as she was, there was also a trace of satisfaction in her expression, Anastasia shifted even closer, resting her cheek against his chest while her fingers idly traced small circles against his side.
The two continued talking like that for a while. Light, lazy conversation mixed naturally with stretches of comfortable silence.
Christian asked ridiculous questions about other worlds, questions he clearly didn't actually care much about, and Anastasia answered them with dry humor, occasionally poking fun at his greed and ever-growing boldness.
At one point, he even told her a stupid story from his school days, only for her to tease him about how simple his tastes used to be.
It was pointless. Relaxing. Comfortable. And … it felt good.
But Christian knew he couldn't stay in that peaceful little bubble forever.
"I should go check on the others," he eventually said, though even then, he made no move to release her imdiately.
Anastasia remained in his arms for a few seconds longer before finally giving a slow nod against his chest.
"Go on then."
…
Christian had only just started walking through this unfamiliar house alone when a familiar scent suddenly caught his attention.
Following it almost instinctively, he eventually found himself standing near the kitchen.
The rhythmic clinking of utensils, the satisfying sizzle of at frying in oil, and that rich, savory sll hit him all at once. And there, standing in the middle of it all, was the person responsible.
Taking in the scene before him, Christian suddenly felt as if he had been pulled backward in ti.
Back before Anastasia. Back before Eva. Back before the Idle System had ever entered his life. Back when his whole world had consisted of only one person.
His older sister, Annabelle.
She was making homade hamburgers, one of his favorite als.
Standing alone in the kitchen while wearing an apron, she moved naturally between the stove and the counter as she prepared the food.
The scene felt oddly picturesque.
The only disappointing part…
Was that she was actually wearing clothes underneath the apron.
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