Chapter 39 : A Moment of Peace
The town square had been transformed.
Lanterns of every shape and hue floated gently overhead like sleepy stars tethered to invisible threads. Children darted through the crowd with sticky candy in their hands, the scent of fried bread and spiced cider dancing through the air. Laughter echoed beneath the twilight sky, and for once, Elias didn't feel the ever-present weight pressing on his shoulders.
He and Rhea walked side by side, her small hand clutching the edge of his coat like a nervous child lost in a crowd. Which, to be fair, she technically was. But she didn't look it tonight.
Tonight, Rhea had made a surprising effort to blend in.
Her black curls had been brushed into something resembling tidiness, held back by a little violet ribbon (which she insisted she had stolen from a "mean" store dummy that "deserved it." Elias had not asked questions). She wore a simple cream dress that swayed gently as she walked, with subtle gold thread at the hem. Her red eyes, usually glowing with suspicion or pride, shimmered in awe.
Elias glanced down. "Doing okay?"
She nodded but didn't let go of his coat. "It's... loud."
"Too loud?"
"No. Just... real."
That caught him off guard. "Real?"
"Like I won't wake up and find myself sealed in the dark again."