"We can think of the ga as a simple exchange," Aurora said softly.
"You give gifts to others all the ti... so why not accept one in return? Maybe, it’ll be sothing that suits your taste?"
Hearing this and seeing the gift Minx, she internally was already looking through the box without even touching it.
’Oh?’ She thought inwardly seeing that she couldn’t pinpoint the item inside, which was sort of an anomaly in itself.
With Minx standing far beyond their powers, once again... she could see quite a lot, even the fact that these three won were currently acting.
However, she didn’t mind it... not one bit.
Minx continued along with the act, her small fra swaying gently on the swing as she reached out with curious, childlike eagerness.
She took the elegantly wrapped gift box from Aurora’s hands, her red eyes sparkling with feigned innocence.
"Ooh, a present? For ?" she giggled, shaking it lightly near her ear before tearing into the wrapping with small, excited fingers.
The box opened with a soft flash of white light — bright but harmless, like sunlight breaking through clouds.
When the light faded, a small toy appeared floating in front of her.
It was a perfectly detailed miniature figure of Ash — long black and red hair, reddish-purple eyes, the infinity earrings, even the exact casual confidence in his posture.
It was created with eerie precision, almost lifelike in its detail.
Aurora and the others still knew nothing about Minx.
They could have learned more, if only a certain group of spirits wasn’t being so unresponsive.
With Elysia, Creara, and Unara all silent, Aurora decided on a different approach—using Ash’s beauty as a weapon.
It was sothing they all knew could unlock greater power—and maybe even win a woman’s heart.
Minx’s eyes widened genuinely this ti.
’My Ash....’ She thought seeing the toy.
Her usual playful deanor cracked for a brief second as pure, obsessive delight flooded her expression.
She snatched the toy out of the air, hugging it tightly against her chest with both arms, her cheeks flushing a soft pink as she nuzzled it.
"Ah... he’s so handso..." she whispered under her breath, voice barely audible but filled with raw affection.
For a mont, she looked like a lovestruck girl who had just received her greatest treasure.
Then she quickly recovered, tilting her head cutely as if nothing had happened, though her fingers still clutched the toy possessively.
"Who is this man?" she asked, blinking up at Aurora with wide, innocent red eyes.
"He looks important. Is he your friend?"
Ellyn, standing slightly behind Aurora with her long black hair and soft pink eyes, chid in with a gentle but proud smile.
"That’s our father," she said warmly. "Ash Originat. He’s... well, he’s the most amazing person in all the Realities. Strong, kind, beautiful..... There’s no one like him."
Isis crossed her arms with a soft huff, her four black horns glinting in the light as she tried—and failed—to mask her fondness.
"Hmph. He’s not that amazing," she said, still feeling a certain way about not being able to see him the way she wanted.
It had been quite so ti since Isis was introduced to everyone, yet she still hadn’t had the chance to ’thank’ Ash, no matter how often she reminded Aurora.
"But... yeah. He’s pretty great."
Minx tilted her head again, still hugging the small Ash toy close as she continued the playful exchange.
The little ga unfolded effortlessly into a playful exchange of gifts — each appearing random at first glance, yet quietly revealing that the giver was anything but ordinary.
Aurora unwrapped a small, elegant music box, its hauntingly beautiful lody filling the air with a sound that seed to carry faint whispers of Ash’s presence without ever revealing him outright.
Then ca a delicate golden flute, said to play any song the heart could imagine, but what made it truly unforgettable was the unmistakable scent it carried... and it was Ash’s.
Minx, on the other hand, received items that were all distinctly Ash-like: a small pendant shaped like his infinity earring, a baggy shirt in black that felt warm to the touch, and a tiny crown that bore a striking resemblance to the one he had once worn as King of Velora.
With each new gift, Minx’s obsession grew more obvious.
She hugged them all tightly, her red eyes sparkling with unrestrained delight as she fawned over every detail.
"He’s so cool... look at this one! It even has his hair color perfectly..."
She was getting distracted, her focus shifting more and more toward the growing pile of Ash-thed treasures in her arms, her usual sharp awareness dulling slightly under the weight of her fixation.
During this ti, it beca painfully clear that this woman already knew Ash.
More than that, the gifts Aurora was giving weren’t just random acts of kindness.
As ntioned before, she intended to use her father’s beauty as a weapon, which ant... fostering affection.
And with Minx behaving the way she was now, the situation was only becoming more than just intriguing.
Aurora watched with a sly, knowing smile before finally speaking.
"Minx... would you like to travel with us? We could show you even more fascinating things."
Minx paused, still clutching her new collection of gifts, then nodded without much thought, her red eyes bright with excitent.
"Okay! That sounds fun."
The three won exchanged quick, satisfied but worried glances.
’Are you sure about this?’ Isis asked internally through their bonds.
Aurora’s voice flowed smoothly through their shared link, steady and unhurried.
’She’s far too intriguing to just walk away from. And if she’s got so kind of sche involving my daddy, I have to find out what it is.’
She lingered for a mont, a playful glint in her eye before giving a quick wink.
’And Pantheos is the safest place to get to the bottom of her.’
Ellyn’s softer presence joined the conversation.
’Though this is risky.... I agree, it’s better to keep her close.’
Aurora smiled outwardly at Minx, maintaining the friendly facade as she replied ntally.
’The plan is simple. Ellyn and I will distract her for a bit while Isis goes to fetch Unara or any of the three spirits.
Once we know who or what Minx really is, I’ll be able to go forth with my plan.’
Hearing this, the other two won felt a bit more at ease.
In Pantheos, they were essentially the creation gods, which ant they didn’t have much to worry about when it ca to whatever she might be hiding.
Still, they all understood the mystery of power and how unpredictable things could be. But in Aurora’s eyes, when it ca to a gift for Ash, any risk was worth taking.
Isis gave a small, reluctant nod, her brownish-gold slit eyes flicking over Minx once more.
’Fine. But if she tries anything... we must handle it.’
The three won maintained their warm, welcoming expressions as they began leading Minx away from the park, the little girl still happily clutching her collection of Ash-thed gifts, skipping lightly between them as if she were on a casual outing with new friends.
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