Chapter 68 — Festival Wanderings
After the warmth of the bar, Blade and Liora stepped back into the snowy streets. The city glittered under silver lanterns, their reflections dancing off icy rooftops. The festival's music drifted through the air, mixing with the chatter of families and performers.
"Want to try the roasted chestnuts?" Liora asked, holding a small paper cup.
Blade nodded. "Sure." His fingers brushed the warm cup, and for some reason, he lingered near her side more than usual.
She laughed softly. "Careful, they're hot."
"I can handle it," he said, voice low but amused. He watched her as she carefully lifted a chestnut to her mouth, the glow of the lanterns catching the strands of her hair.
They wandered further, through stalls of trinkets and silver ornaments. Liora showed him simple games, playful challenges like tossing rings over bottles or striking small targets with tiny wooden hammers.
Blade tried one. Missed. Twice.
"Not bad for someone who spends half his time in virtual worlds," she teased, nudging him gently with her shoulder.
He smirked faintly, letting her bump him. "You're enjoying this more than I am."
"Am I?" she asked, pretending to think. "Maybe I am."
They walked side by side, sometimes brushing against each other accidentally—hands nearly touching, shoulders bumping—and Blade found himself leaning closer, feeling lighter than he had in years.
At one point, Liora tugged him toward a small ice sculpture display. The figures gleamed under lantern light, delicate and intricate. Blade's eyes lingered on her more than the sculptures.
"You know," Liora said softly, "I'm glad I found you. Again."
Blade's heart skipped. He swallowed. "…Me too."
They reached a bridge over the frozen river, lanterns floating up into the night sky. Blade stopped, letting the silver lights drift around them. The quiet, the snow, the glow—it felt like a different world, but also like the first moment of peace he'd known since being taken to Summerland.
Liora leaned slightly on the railing, and he mirrored her stance without thinking. They didn't need words for a long moment.
Finally, she spoke again, quieter this time. "Do you… want to meet my parents sometime? For real. Not the bar."
Blade's throat tightened slightly, and he nodded. "I… I'd like that."
She smiled, a small curve of her lips that warmed him from the inside. "Good. They'll like you."
As they walked back toward the festival crowds, Blade found himself asking questions about her life, laughing at her little jokes, noticing the subtle expressions she made. Each step with her felt lighter, and for the first time in thirteen years, the weight of the past didn't entirely crush him.
By the time they reached the center of the festival, the music swelled and lanterns floated higher. Blade's gaze stayed on her. One thought kept repeating, clear and simple: This is joy. This is life. And I want more of it.