~Recap~

Well, of course not in a way which many might be thinking. But rather in a way of felicity. In a way of contentment and jollity. Yes, her heart was racing like crazy, the degree of jolly inside her was immeasurable. But of course, she wasn't going to show it off, let it out that easily.

Yes, it has been months and more and what not since Theo has been with her. They became forced companions by Theo's insistence. Soon they became friends after Azura's acceptance and even when now they're best friends, Azura always makes sure to not keep things easy for the poor man.

Not that Theo minded any of it. Not especially when he rooted for these challenges. If Azura was a challenger, he was a champion.

______

“My lady?”

Only after hearing Theo's voice, Azura realises that it was all not a dream which she was dreamily experiencing. It was all real and she better react like a real lady as said.

Azura instantly sprints her hand away, having a visible nervous expression which she manages to quickly change into a broad one. “Well, yes gentleman. And by the way, I am a lady, yes. But yours? Definitely no.” She exclaims while making faces to intimidate the man.

But it rather looked as if the said man was lavished by it. Which he actually was. “Yet.” Azura hears Theo whispering and her eyes once again were widened.

“What do you mean by yet?”

“Yet to go inside.” Theo swifts his statement. Well, he really didn't swift it as he never finished it in the first place. At least not verbally. Otherwise, it was way clear if what he meant by yet internally.

But after all, at last, the duo proceed to step further and Azura was having mixed feelings about this place. She was hoping that she didn't face anything she's been running and she herself had no idea as to why she was hoping that out of everything.

______

“This one and… Yep this one, these two frame arts were sculptured by my ancestors, my grandparents have forwarded this to us as they received the same from their elders.” Theo describes the magnificent figurines standing through the hallway of his house.

If Azura would be honest, she wouldn't address this as just a hallway of a house but rather as an exhibition, full of artefacts and artistics.

And although she wasn't a person who enjoyed exploring artistry and such, she was amazed by the scenario she was being given. She doesn't know how or why but, she sort of feels as if somewhat and somehow, these things were related to her. Something she could feel a bond, an attachment. A signal which couldn't figure but knew that it was right there. Right here.

Just like some very eventual ardour she gets whenever Frederick brought some odd pieces of gems which had her subtly shiver internally. And of course internally because she never let these out externally. At least, not yet.

“I literally have no words to describe the wonderment I mean, I never knew that exploring museums could be this brilliant. Well, yeah, I am kind of a nerd and all as everyone says and mostly I keep myself engaged with academics but, having a whole real life occurrence is just, wow.”

A session of laughter comes out of the man's mouth before he perks, “Did you just call this place a museum? Gosh, Azura. You're embarrassing me now as if I'm some researcher or loner something. It's just my home and now it has become a sweet home since now I got you here with me.”

Wasn't everything already enough to bless Azura that now even Theo had to have her flabbergasted.

Now Azura was thinking hard if how can she pull herself out of this situation. Just then, something so reasonable hits her mind and she immediately lets it out. ”Well, Theo.”

The said man looks at her in a questioning way. Azura answers the question with another question. “Talking of home, I just realised that we're already at your home but it doesn't feel like that as I can't see anyone else but you. Where are your parents? Your family?”

The question downs Theo's expression a little and Azura feels unsure if what it meant. Though, she proceeds to apologise nonetheless. “I am so sorry, I didn't know that your parents had passed away.”

“Oh, no, no. They are not.” Theo assures and the lady had an embarrassed face. “They're both fine. They are just not here in the states. You remember that I told you that I was from Arizona, they're there with a few siblings of mine.”

Wait, what?

“You have siblings? You never told me!” Azura screams incredibly and receives an apologetic reaction from the latter.

He soon then voices, “Well, you never asked. And, you'll never know a thing if you ask nothing. It isn't my fault that you're not as curious about me as I am about you like always.”

”Is that so? Then you should be happy now because I'm getting more than curious after all this.” The lady crosses her hands suggestively.

Theo flares a confident smile as he begins walking past Azura. “That's great to hear. And what else is great is that your excitement won't be wasted as there will actually be a lot of stuff that you might have not thought about even in your dreams.”

“Oh really? And what that could be?” Azura exclaims while following the man behind until they were soon inside another room.

As soon as Azura was there, she felt her legs losing their balance as she almost fell. Almost because she didn't entirely fall. Something barred her. But the question was, what was that thing?

“Ahh, ah!” Azura quickly lifts herself up and begins rushing away cluelessly. She collides with Theo.

“Azura, what's wrong? What happened?”

“I… I saw a wolf! Not even a wolf but, only its head. It was dismembered from its body!” The young woman shouts in fright.

Theo raises his eyebrow and says, “A wolf's head? You mean, like these?” Theo points towards the wall. Azura's soul had literally left her body.