Ch5
As the last of the witch's ashes disappeared into the air, he let out a long breath. The tension in his shoulders began to ease, the adrenaline slowly fading from his veins. The eerie silence that followed their battle left the room feeling empty, but it was over. They had won.
He turned to Wendy, who was still catching her breath, her arms falling to her sides. "How are you?" he asked softly, his voice rough from the fight.
She looked up at him, her expression softening. "I'm fine, thanks to you." Then, to his surprise, she stepped forward and hugged him again. Her arms wrapped tightly around him, and he felt the warmth of her small frame pressed against his. The sudden closeness made his heart skip a beat, but he quickly hugged her back, trying to keep his cool.
"No problem," he said, his voice barely above a whisper, though his pulse was thundering in his ears. "Let's go home."
Wendy smiled as she pulled back, her face a mixture of exhaustion and relief. Together, they walked out of the witch's lair, the dark energy that had filled the place now gone. The air outside was cooler, fresh, as if the oppressive magic had finally lifted from the forest.
As they walked through the dense trees, heading back toward the path that would lead them to the guild, they started talking—about the mission, about their magic, and everything that had happened. The conversation was light at first, a way to shake off the heaviness of what they had just been through. But then Wendy turned to him, her eyes glimmering in the soft light filtering through the trees.
"You've gotten stronger lately," she said, her voice gentle but full of admiration.
His face instantly reddened, the compliment catching him off guard. He scratched the back of his head awkwardly, glancing away for a moment. "Thanks," he muttered, trying to sound casual despite the fluttering in his chest. "You're strong too. I mean, you're amazing out there."
She smiled, her expression soft and full of warmth. His heart raced, thudding hard against his ribs. They walked in silence for a few moments, the quiet between them now filled with something else—something heavier, more electric.
Swallowing the nervousness building inside him, he took a deep breath. His palms felt clammy, and his heart pounded even faster as he looked over at her. "Hey, um... do you maybe... want to go out for dinner sometime?" He blurted the words out before he could stop himself, his voice sounding more nervous than he had intended.
Wendy blinked, tilting her head slightly. "Like a date?"
He nodded, feeling the weight of his nerves settle in his stomach. "Y-Yeah. Like a date."
For a moment, she didn't say anything, and his heart felt like it might explode from the anticipation. But then, slowly, a smile spread across her face. "Sure," she said, her voice bright and genuine. "I'd like that."
Relief and excitement washed over him in waves, his body relaxing as the tension melted away. He couldn't help but smile back, feeling lighter than he had in a long time.
Together, they continued down the path, the dark forest behind them, the hopeful future ahead.