They roamed the area, and stopped at a small shop tucked between a mana lamp vendor and a used-gear reseller.
The sign read “Thread & Fur”.
Inside, warm yellow light fell on shelves stacked with plush toys, hand-woven cushions, and trinkets that hummed gently when touched.
Leora walked ahead.
Isaac followed, still unsure what Emily would like.
He paused near the back wall.
His eyes landed on a large teddy bear sitting upright in a wooden crate.
Its fur was a soft, golden-white, with a chubby belly and stubby limbs.
A green ribbon was tied neatly under its neck. The bear’s round eyes had a slight droop, and its face was frozen in a grumpy frown.
Leora stepped beside him.
“That one.”
“This one?”
She nodded.
“It looks just like you when someone wakes you up early.”
“I don’t look like that.”
He frowned and looked at the bear again— Wait, how the hell did Leora know how he looked after waking up?
’It must be Professor Catherine. She used to enter my apartment with her master key whenever she felt like it.’
Isaac almost had a resigned expression.
Behind them, Professor Catherine stood silently with her arms crossed.
She looked like she was trying to remain composed.
But her lips twitched. Her eyes darted from the bear to Isaac, then back again, and her shoulders trembled slightly.
She looked away, barely containing her laughter.
“Is this bear enough?” Isaac muttered. “It feels too simple. Should I get something else with it?”
Leora turned, hands resting on her hips. “This is fine. Besides, Emily will like it more since it looks like you”
Isaac thought about it.
He could imagine Emily giggling and hugging the plushie while she slept.
They picked it up and headed to the front counter.
The shopkeeper, an older woman with thin-framed glasses, wrapped the bear in a soft sheet, tied the ribbon carefully, and placed it in Isaac’s arms.
It was lighter than it looked. Though maybe that was thanks to his stats.
Catherine followed them while looking at her device.
“I’ve got some business to check on. I’ll meet you two in an hour.”
She vanished down the street before Isaac could respond, and by how she walked quickly he guessed she needed to laugh somewhere in peace.
Left with Leora and a bear under one arm, Isaac exhaled and suggested, “Coffee?”
She didn’t argue.
They stopped at a nearby café with a shaded terrace. It was one of the better buildings in the area, clearly built for wealthy awakeners.
The drinks came quickly.
Leora sipped something floral, while Isaac settled for a light roast.
The table was quiet, and peaceful. The bear sat beside them on its own chair, its face still frowning at nothing in particular.
They wandered the market after that.
Isaac followed Leora’s gaze toward the small shop filled with sweets and frozen treats.
She said nothing, but her eyes lingered on the colorful display of ice cream behind the glass.
Isaac didn’t speak.
He turned, walked into the shop, and returned two minutes later with three cones—vanilla, blueberry, and mint chocolate.
He handed the vanilla to Leora.
“If you insist.” She took the cone. “Thank you.”
She smiled.
With the last cone in hand, Isaac turned towards the familiar figure he had spotted before he entered the shop.
Alice stood across the plaza with a small bag in her hands.
He walked over with Leora at his side. The teddy was still in his arm, slightly squished.
“You’re still here?” Isaac asked.
Alice looked up and gave a slight nod when she noticed them. “I was waiting for the retailers. They’re late.”
He handed her the mint chocolate cone.
She took it without a word. There was no hesitation in her movements. She took it like they’d done it hundreds of times.
“Long day?” Isaac asked, sensing her mood.
“Could be worse,” she replied, already biting into her ice cream.
Her eyes moved to the teddy bear, and her face didn’t change, but Isaac caught the flicker of amusement behind her voice.
“You having trouble sleeping lately, princess?”
“Excuse me?” Isaac asked exasperated. She was calling him names because he called her Mad Princess earlier this morning.
She gestured lightly toward the bear.
“Actually, you are right. But I think I can sleep better if I hold you instead.”
It slipped out before he realized it.
He froze. Then cleared his throat and looked away.
’What the hell was that? Is Professor Catherine rubbing off on me?’ He could almost hear Professor Catherine laughing in the distance.
Alice didn’t say anything, but she arched a brow.
The corners of her lips twitched once. She didn’t smile, but she didn’t say no either.
Isaac shook his head, moving on. “Where are the others?”
“In that shop,” Alice said, gesturing over her shoulder. “Clothing store.”
“And you’re out here by yourself?”
“I finished early.” She held up a paper bag.
Isaac nodded.
Alice’s eyes kept drifting back to the bear.
It was obvious that it was a gift. For a girl, at that.
She wondered who it was for.
It definitely wasn’t for her. He wouldn’t keep quiet about it if it was. Isaac wasn’t shy like that.
But the idea of him giving it to someone else made her chest tighten in a strange, unpleasant way.
She turned her eyes to the melting cone in her hand. Took another bite, and cleared her mind.
’No. That isn’t possible.’
She knew Isaac had never dated anyone at the academy, and there was no way he got a girlfriend in the short time he left the academy after graduation.
Meanwhile, Isaac was focused on the conversation happening inside the clothing shop.
The building was made of polished wood and canvas sheets. It was not soundproof by any means.
The interior wasn’t more than ten meters away, and with Isaac’s hearing, even whispers weren’t hard to catch.
Inside the shop, Selene’s voice rang clear through the thin wall.
“That bitch Alice… sticking to Isaac like a lost dog. You should’ve seen her trying to get him to pity her.”
Another voice snorted with laughter. “Didn’t you leave them alone for some time though? Why are you acting like you hated it?”
Isaac recognized her as Marien, one of the tester who came to his house.
“Of course I did. Isaac clearly wanted some quiet time with her. I gave him that. It’s things like this that build goodwill. He’ll think better of me, and in business, that’s all that matters.”
“Haha, you’re a sneaky bitch.”
“I prefer ’strategic,’” Selene replied. “Still better than Alice groveling at Isaac’s feet like some discarded pet.”
Another laugh from Marien.
Selene went on, “He probably has some leftover crush on her. You know how guys are. But once he gets a taste of her, he will get bored. Then, he will see she’ has no Talent, and he’ll toss her aside.”
“I’d pay to see that happen.” Marien’s voice was laced with amusement.
Isaac exhaled.
Alice didn’t hear a single word of it. Only Isaac did, thanks to having 100 in Constitution.
Despite what he heard, his face was calm.
But if anyone looked at him at the moment, they would flinch from fear.
“You remember Patrick?” he asked.
Alice tilted her head, then nodded. “Of course. Why?”
“I’m surprised you remember. He wasn’t exactly memorable.”
“He insulted you,” she said. “He said you were cursed for what happened at your orphanage. Of course, I haven’t forgotten him, or forgiven him for that.”
“Right. That’s the one. And then you broke his nose.” Isaac gave a small laugh.
Alice smiled faintly. “He deserved worse.”
“He was the son of a high-ranking Awakener. If I’d punched him, it would’ve caused a whole mess. I’m still thankful to you for it. You always help me when my hands are tied.”
“Because that’s what friends do,” she said. “They cover each other’s backs.”
Isaac nodded slowly.
“Right. That’s why I brought him up.”
Alice’s expression changed. She understood something was off.
But Isaac didn’t elaborate.
He turned back and entered the shop.