CHAPTER 227: CHAPTER 227 THE WITCHES’ REALM (3)

Children ran past with glittering ribbons tied to their wrists, and the buildings that looked simple yesterday now shimmered faintly in the light.

It was like the village had peeled off its dull skin overnight, revealing something deeper underneath. Still the same place, but it felt more... alive.

I kept glancing around, scanning every face, and every corner. I didn’t know what I was searching for exactly... maybe something familiar or a sign.

A clue that could lead me to Golden’s home. But all I saw were strangers smiling, laughing, sharing food from stalls that lined the street.

"Looking for something?" Rhydian asked as he fell into step beside me.

I gave him a faint smile. "I’m just curious. It’s a beautiful place, that’s all."

His gaze stayed on me for a second too long. "Yeah... it is."

We moved along, the group loosely sticking together, though we weren’t walking in any real formation.

Alaric had already wandered off toward a stand selling some kind of drink in glowing cups. Mr. Four Eyes stuck close behind him, pretending he wasn’t interested but asking a hundred questions anyway.

"Are you alright?" Damon’s voice came from behind me.

I turned. He stood behind me with his hand folded behind his back. His presence stood like a sore thumb in the midst of the crowd. His expression was cold and unreadable.

"Yeah," I said, brushing a strand of hair behind my ear. "I’m just... not used to all. It feels a little off."

His eyes narrowed slightly. "You think it’s all a facade?"

"I don’t know," I admitted. "It just feels like something is hiding under all this beauty."

He gave a slow nod, like he agreed but didn’t want to say it out loud. "Want to get away from the noise for a bit?"

I hesitated, then nodded.

We slipped away from the main road, following a narrow path that curved behind the buildings. The sounds of the festival faded slightly, replaced by quiet rustling leaves and distant humming.

There was a little garden behind the inn. Stone benches surrounded a small pond, and pale yellow flowers grew along the edge.

I sat down on the bench without thinking. Damon remained standing, his gaze scanning the area.

"You don’t have to act like you’re guarding me," I said quietly.

"I’m not," he replied. "I’m just used to being cautious."

A breeze ruffled my hair, and I hugged my arms around myself. "Do you think she was right?"

"Who?"

"The innkeeper. About the festival meaning old endings and new beginnings."

Damon sat beside me, not too close, but not far either. "I think it’s just a saying."

"But do you believe in new beginnings?"

He paused, taking his time to think. "There has to be an ending before a new beginning."

I nodded my head. "Hmm. I guess that is the normal way of life. Seasons have to end for another to begin."

I didn’t know what else to say. My fingers brushed over the black bracelet on my wrist. The same one that had made everything blurry the last time I touched it.

"What a unique bracelet," Damon whispered, his eyes fixated on my wrist.

"Yes, White gave it to me. Without him, I wouldn’t have known something like this existed." I smiled sadly.

Another silence settled between us. It wasn’t uncomfortable. His presence felt heavy beside me, not in a bad way, but it felt protective.

"Damon," I said suddenly, "back there... when you walked through the spell... why didn’t it hurt you?"

He looked straight ahead. "I don’t know."

"You said you’d rather die than leave me."

His jaw clenched slightly. "I meant it, and this is the second time you are asking me."

My chest tightened. I didn’t know what to say to that. I didn’t even know what I felt.

"Aeris..." Damon began. "Supposely someone you trusted and loved the most rejected you as his mate because he hates your kind, and couldn’t bring himself to betray his people that died because of your kind.

Not only did he reject you, but he let his kind hunt you... and sent you almost to your death.

If the same man comes for forgiveness and begs you to become his mate again. Would you accept?" His gaze lingered on my face.

Although he remained cold, his eyes had guilt and regret in them.

I cleared my throat, because I didn’t know how to respond to him. "If I were to be in her shoes... I don’t know if I can accept him back."

Damon didn’t react right away. He just stared at the pond, his hands resting on his knees. The silence between us grew heavy, like the question had pulled something hard into the open.

"But," I added quietly, "I also think... if he truly regrets it... if he’s trying to make it right... maybe it depends on how much pain he’s willing to bear to fix what he broke."

His head turned slightly, just enough for me to catch the flicker in his eyes.

"I don’t think apologies are enough," I continued, my voice low. "Sometimes, words are useless if the damage has already changed who you are. But if someone is willing to fight for you... even after you’ve been shattered by them... maybe that says something."

I didn’t know why I was saying all this. I didn’t even know who I was trying to comfort. Him... or myself.

"I see," he murmured.

He didn’t say anything else. But I could feel the change in him, like something inside him had finally breathed out for the first time in a long while.

The wind picked up, rippling the surface of the pond. A single leaf broke free from a nearby tree and floated down, spinning slowly until it landed beside my foot.

Damon leaned forward, his elbows resting on his knees. "Do you ever feel like... no matter how hard you try, you’re always too late?"

His question caught me off guard.

I swallowed. "All the time."