The event was winding down, guests mingling in small clusters while the soft music played in the background. Nullen stood by the corner, a glass of wine in hand, eyes distant as he watched the crowd.
Mrs. Vir approached him, her expression warm. "Have you seen Iridea, son?" she asked, her eyes scanning the room.
"Yes, Mom," Nullen replied, his tone flat.
Mrs. Vir's eyes sparkled. "Such a beautiful girl," she said, a hint of admiration in her voice. "Are you two getting along?"
Nullen's jaw tightened, but he managed a half-hearted nod. "We are. She visits me at school." A half-truth, half-lie.
Mrs. Vir's smile widened, clearly pleased. "That's good to hear," she said, patting his arm gently. "It's important to nurture your connection."
Nullen only nodded and took another sip of his wine.
----
Later that night, Iridea lay across her bed, eyes fixed on the ceiling. The charity event replayed in her mind , the pin, glimmering against Nullen's collar, the swirling colors shifting like a mesmerizing dance.
It wasn't Nullen that held her interest.
It was the gem.
The way it glowed, even without absorbing emotions. The way it seemed to pulse with life, as if the colors themselves were breathing.
She sat up, her brows knitting together.
"Why did it glow like that?" she muttered, pushing her hair back. "It shouldn't be moving when it's not in use."
Her gaze drifted to her vanity, where her new Emotex Watch lay flat and lifeless. Inactive. Just like it was supposed to be.
But the pin she gave Nullen , it hadn't been inactive. It had been full of colors, swirling, shifting.
"Did my emotions… stay inside it?" she whispered, leaning forward, elbows on her knees. "Is that even possible?"
A chill ran down her spine.
She shook her head, dismissing the thought. Maybe she was overthinking it. Maybe the colors were just a fluke, a reflection of the lights at the event.
But the nagging curiosity refused to fade.
An idea formed, reckless and impulsive. If emotional echoes truly existed, then perhaps she could test it herself. But how?
She grabbed her phone and dialed the number of their family jeweler, Mr. Veyar.
---
The call connected quickly, and the jeweler's calm, familiar voice greeted her. "Good evening, young Solenne. How may I assist you?"
"Mr. Veyar," Iridea said, "I have something in mind. Can I disturb you for a moment?"
"Of course, Miss Solenne. What is it?"
Iridea hesitated. "I need a gem that can shatter easily. Something that can break with just a small pinch. But it shouldn't harm the user , instead, it should dissolve, turn to dust… like fairy dust."
The line went silent for a moment. Then Mr. Veyar cleared his throat. "A gem that evaporates upon shattering?"
"Yes," Iridea said, her tone firm. "Can you do it?"
Mr. Veyar's voice was careful, almost hesitant. "I can try, Miss Solenne. But you'd have to visit the shop to discuss the specifics. Shall I expect you this weekend?"
"Yes," Iridea said, a slow, deliberate smile forming on her lips. "I'll come by then."
"Understood. I will prepare," Mr. Veyar said. "Have a good night, Miss Solenne."
"You too," Iridea said, ending the call.
If her theory was correct, then this experiment would reveal much more than she anticipated. And if she was wrong… well, she'd deal with that when the time came..
----
The scent of polished wood and aged parchment hung in the air as Iridea stepped inside Veyar's Gem Shop. Glass cases lined the walls, filled with sparkling gems and intricate charms.
Behind the counter stood Mr. Veyar, a middle-aged man with neatly combed white hair and silver-rimmed glasses. He looked up as she entered, his expression warm yet cautious.
"Good morning, Miss Solenne," he greeted, nodding slightly.
"Morning, Mr. Veyar," Iridea said, her tone brisk. "You remember what we discussed?"
Mr. Veyar's brows knitted together, a crease forming between them. "I do. But Miss Solenne, a gem like that… it would be highly unstable."
"I don't care," Iridea said firmly, leaning closer. "Can you make it?"
Mr. Veyar adjusted his glasses, his jaw tightening. "Tell me exactly what you need, and I will do my best."
Iridea lowered her voice, her eyes darting around the empty shop. "I want a gem ,just a gem, not a charm. It needs to be fragile, so fragile that it can shatter with the slightest impact. And when it does, it should turn to dust, no traces left behind."
Mr. Veyar's expression darkened.
"Three sizes: 0.5 cm, 1 cm, and 1.5 cm. Small enough to hide, but big enough to notice," Iridea said. "And keep this between us, Mr. Veyar. No one needs to know."
The older man swallowed, his gaze flicking to the glass cases filled with charms and trinkets. "You're sure, Miss Solenne? A gem like that could be… dangerous."
"Relax," Iridea said, flashing him a tight, forced smile. "It's just a little experiment. Nothing serious."
Mr. Veyar sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Alright, but it will take time. A month and a half, at least."
"That's fine," Iridea said, straightening up. "Thank you, Mr. Veyar. And remember ,not a word to anyone."
"Yes, Miss Solenne," he said, but his tone was strained.
Iridea turned to leave, her heels clicking against the polished floor. As she approached the door, someone entered, brushing past her.
A tall man in a dark coat stepped inside, his collar pulled up and his expression blank. His eyes, however, were sharp, piercing, and as cold as ice.
Iridea paused, a shiver running down her spine. The air around him felt heavyand oppressive.
She turned, her eyes narrowing.
The man was now standing at the counter, his back to her. But even from behind, she could sense something dark and unsettling.
Mr. Veyar's expression shifted, his stiff posture easing into one of familiarity. "Dr. Xevin," he said, his tone cautious yet respectful. "What can I do for you today?"
Dr. Xevin, the head of the Lucents' Research Division, turned slightly, his cold eyes glancing at Iridea. For a brief moment, their gazes met, and a flicker of something dark danced in his eyes.
"Just checking in on a few orders," he said smoothly, his gaze shifting back to Mr. Veyar. "You know how it is."
Iridea's jaw tightened, the dark aura still clinging to her skin like a chill she couldn't shake off.
Without another word, she pushed open the door and stepped outside.
----
Dr. Xevin's gaze lingered on the door for a moment before he turned back to Mr. Veyar. "Who was that lady?" he asked, his tone casual.
Mr. Veyar glanced up from the charm he was packing, his fingers pausing briefly. "Oh, just one of my regulars," he said, forcing a light tone. "The young miss of the Solenne family."
Dr. Xevin's expression didn't change, but his eyes narrowed slightly. "The Solennes."
Mr. Veyar swallowed, his gaze dropping back to the charm. "Yes. Daughter of Evander Solenne and Calista Solenne," he said, carefully placing the charm into a velvet pouch. "Iridea Solenne."
Dr. Xevin hummed thoughtfully, his lips curving into a faint, unreadable smile. "I see."
Mr. Veyar didn't meet his gaze, focusing instead on neatly tying the pouch's strings. "Anything else I can help you with, Dr. Xevin?"
"Nothing more,Thank you" Dr. Xevin said, his eyes still fixed on the door through which Iridea had exited.