Alaric looked at Jane's face as it drew closer and closer to his, utterly confused.
Was this… her way of asking him to kiss her?
That wouldn't be right, after all, it was only their first meeting.
"You're too close, Miss."
Alaric leaned slightly back, increasing the distance between them.
"What's too close?" Jane asked almost unconsciously.
"Your face is too close!" answered Darcy, who had just picked up a book beside her and turned around, only to see the handsome guy she'd noticed earlier standing right in front of Jane.
And Jane, who had just said she wasn't interested, now tilted her face toward him as if she wanted to kiss him, without saying a word!
Darcy, still holding the book, was struck speechless.
She was the one who noticed this handsome guy first!
Jane had just declared she wasn't interested in love!
And now, what are you doing!?
"Ah! Sorry, sorry!!"
Darcy shouted loudly enough to finally snap Jane back to reality.
Then Jane, realizing what she was doing, recoiled in disbelief, blushed, and quickly apologized.
Although she hadn't actually done anything, the thought that she'd nearly tried to kiss a complete stranger was enough to drown her in shame.
What's wrong with me? I'm not some random woman!
She felt her face burn, her whole body aflame.
"It's alright." Alaric smiled faintly.
Only then did he notice something strange, ever since his body had been reborn, he seemed to radiate some kind of charisma.
People approached him easily and trusted him effortlessly.
Perhaps that was why, even without trying, he had unknowingly drawn Jane to him, who had only accidentally met his gaze.
And Jane was just a mortal, unknowingly caught in that mysterious influence.
"I'm sorry!" Jane lowered her head again and apologized.
"It's fine. Are you interested in astronomy?" Alaric asked, glancing at the book Darcy was holding in her arms.
"Yes, yes…" Jane was still so nervous she could barely speak properly.
"Jane's an excellent astronomer!" chimed in Darcy, watching Jane, who was usually confident and energetic, now looking like a baby ostrich burying its head in the sand before a handsome man.
"Very impressive."
"By the way, I'm Alaric," he said, extending his hand, introducing himself to Darcy.
"Darcy Lewis!" she replied cheerfully, shaking his hand.
"And I… my name is Jane… Foster. Hello… hello!" Jane said, extending her hand shyly and giving a small handshake, raising her head only to find him looking at her with a gentle smile.
"I know quite a bit about astronomy, mythology, and ancient stories. I also have some of my own research. If you ever have any questions, feel free to contact me anytime." Alaric pulled two business cards from his pocket and handed them to Jane and Darcy.
The card bore only one name, a phone number, and an address.
"Thank you! Definitely!" Jane nodded quickly, but still didn't dare look him in the eyes again.
"See you another time." Alaric turned and left.
...
"Ugh!"
As soon as she was sure Alaric had gone, Jane straightened up and covered her face with her hands.
She was so embarrassed! What a disgrace!
Jane, who had lived more than thirty years, had for the first time acted so impulsively and inappropriately toward a stranger!
"Oh God…" sighed Darcy, once again showing her disdain toward Jane.
"What's that supposed to mean!?" Jane looked at her angrily, still blushing.
"Nothing. Just saying how someone can say 'no' out loud while their body screams 'yes.' If he hadn't stopped you, you would've kissed him!"
"I didn't!!" Jane shouted, her face flushing again.
"It's just… his eyes! They drew me in! I don't know why, I just wanted to get closer… closer… to see them clearly!!" she protested loudly.
"Yeah, right, sure, you were totally mesmerized."
"Shut up!"
"And he's into astronomy too, you know? Totally a great match for you!" Darcy laughed and started running out.
"Stop it!!"
"The handsome guy left you his phone number! Don't forget to call him soon!"
"I told you to shut up!!"
One ran ahead, the other chased after her, and together they left the library, leaving behind rows of astonished onlookers.
...
After Alaric applied for a library card, he took more than a dozen thick books and returned straight to the temple.
As for the encounter with Jane and Darcy, it was a chance meeting, and Alaric had merely taken the opportunity to get acquainted.
As for what happened afterward, it wasn't easy for Alaric to say.
He didn't expect that the next day, when returning the books, he would meet Jane again in the library.
At first, he thought he wouldn't have many chances to get to know her, so he'd left an invitation.
Whether Jane would contact him, Alaric couldn't be sure.
But when he finished reading twelve books he'd borrowed in a single night and returned them the next day, he ran into Jane again, which surprised him quite a bit.
"Miss Foster?"
Alaric approached Jane from behind and greeted her.
"Hello, Mr. Alaric!" Jane turned around as soon as she heard the voice.
In truth, she didn't even know what was happening to her.
After returning home the previous night, her mind had been full of Alaric's face and those deep eyes.
She'd hesitated several times to call him but didn't know what to say.
She felt her concentration slipping from work, and her heart, once calm as a lake, now rippled with waves.
In that confusion, she went to the library the next morning, hoping to find peace and clear her mind.
Then, unexpectedly, Alaric appeared again.
"Did Miss Foster come to read?"
"Ahh… yes, yes!" Jane's heart grew more restless, as if a frightened deer were running wild in her chest.
This feeling, could it be, as Darcy would say, that she was in love?
"How about a cup of coffee?" Alaric offered.
"That… thank you!"
At that moment, Jane felt like a true lady, completely different from her usual work life.
In the café, they sat across from each other.
Alaric took the initiative and began a conversation about astronomy. Although he wasn't an expert in the field, he had recently read many books and was well-acquainted with basic theories.
"I'm currently working on a theory about wormholes. I'm trying to prove that traveling through them could allow movement through time and space."
"A very interesting topic. I believe you'll succeed."
"So, you think my research direction isn't wrong? Many people think I'm a weirdo."
Jane looked at him in surprise, as if she had found someone who truly understood her.
"Yes, I believe that even superheroes like Iron Man exist in this world, so why wouldn't wormholes be possible?"
Maybe what we're missing now is simply the chance to experience and see it for ourselves.
Alaric smiled and quietly added that such an opportunity might not be so far away.
"Yes, if only we could see it," said Jane with a faintly melancholic sigh.
"There's a chance."
...
They spent most of the day talking before parting ways.
Jane watched Alaric as he left, her heart filled with joy for some reason.
It even felt a little strange that she could talk for so long with someone she'd only met for the second time.
When she returned to the institute, Darcy immediately noticed Jane acting oddly and pulled her aside to question her.
The answer she got shocked her.
"Jane! You're in love! Oh my God!!"
"Professor Selvig's not feeling well! Jane's in love!!"
...
That evening, Alaric was sitting on the sofa reading a book when he suddenly heard a commotion from the street.
There was shouting about some kind of monster.
The noise went on too long, so Alaric finally decided to check what was happening.
He released his spiritual magic and covered all of New York with it.
Then he saw two massive men fighting in the middle of the street, knocking down multiple buildings in the process.
"Those two green creatures… Hulk?"