Atticus's Odyssey: Reincarnated Into A Playground novel Chapter 1196

Night came quickly after that. The moods of the apexes had soured to the extent that even the drama on screen didn't seem watchable anymore.

It didn't help that the usually cold-faced Maera made a pained sound with practically every action. From walking to something as absurd as sitting down.

The apexes had all been legends during their time, strongest in their respective worlds. Maera was no different. But from her reactions, they could tell this pain was unlike anything they'd ever felt. Beyond death. Beyond birth.

The sun had fallen. The moon had ascended.

Lirae made her way out of the large building that belonged to the teenager who now ruled their world.

Atticus had originally built the house for himself and his closest family, but she and the apexes had basically claimed it as home.

Not that anyone minded. Anastasia, especially, had been very welcoming, more so to anyone who claimed to be Atticus' friend.

She knew her son. The fact that he even had friends had been cause for celebration.

'The air is nice,' Lirae thought as the cold night breeze graced her skin. Her mood had been sour all day. She needed air. Space. Time to think.

She walked out of the building and made her way around back.

'I wonder what he's doing,' she thought, only to shake her head a moment later. She already knew the answer.

'Training.' Lirae chuckled.

Sometimes, it was hard to understand Atticus. He had the power to wipe out the world in seconds. The power to demand anything, to control all.

If he wanted people to worship him, they would. No one would question it.

And yet, all he did, day in, day out, was train.

Right now, she had no doubt that was exactly what he was doing.

However, as she finally reached the back of the building, her steps froze.

'I stand corrected.' A small smile touched her lips.

Ahead, at the highest point of the hill, stood a lone figure bathed in silver moonlight. He looked nothing short of otherworldly.

Before she realized it, her feet had carried her forward, stopping a few meters from him.

There was silence.

One that startled Lirae. She'd never had trouble talking to anyone before. She could even charm men to their deaths if she wanted.

But now, standing in front of the teenager who ran the world… her mind drew blank.

Then, his voice broke the silence.

"Something on your mind?" Atticus asked, his eyes still fixed on the silver moon above, deep in thought.

Lirae snapped out of her reverie, clearing her throat.

"Aside from your jaw dropping appearance? Doubt that."

Atticus smiled but said nothing. Lirae stepped closer, finally standing beside him.

"I should be asking you that. You're the one staring silently at the moon in the dead of night."

Atticus didn't reply for several seconds.

"I'm just… wondering how all of this is possible."

"What is?"

"In my home world, we had a silver moon just like this. But our lives were… vastly different. I can't help but feel like the moon should at least have a different color."

Lirae gave him a strange look, then laughed. "Ah. I know what this is. It's one of those moments where your brain suddenly starts overthinking random nonsense."

She shook her head, chuckling. "You're lucky you're breathtaking. I've always believed beautiful people can't go mad."

Atticus released a soft chuckle.

Lirae raised a brow. "You know… you've been smiling a lot lately."

Atticus paused, "Hmm? I have?" He turned to look at her, and for a moment, her heart froze.

'Beautiful.'

That was the only word that came to her mind.

"Lirae?"