This is the last chapter of this Fanfic. In the end, many of the feelings I wanted to convey were not conveyed, however I am happy with the result. I hope you enjoyed what you read so far.

"Remember that you must not fall in love again. It would break the spell I have cast over you and pain would be inevitable."

Those were the witch's words. And Alisa kept them firmly in her mind and heart. It was with great relief that she did not see him at the port to say goodbye to her and Father Nathan as they left for the place where they had been relocated. The witch was not there either but Alisa could understand why; the other would never give in to the fact that she would miss her.

"But I'll probably miss her," Alisa thought. Of all the people she had met on the islands, the witch had been, without a doubt, her best friend. She was cruel, it was true, but that didn't mean she didn't care about anything, and Alisa had understood that when she accepted her last request.

Bluebell was a small village focused on raising animals of all kinds. It was not difficult to find cows grazing, sheep being sheared and horses running around on farms. Nathan and Alisa discovered that the church where they would be staying was larger than the old church where they lived on the islands, however it was much less decorated. Alisa had to hold back a laugh when she heard Father Nathan complain about not having thought to bring the statue of the goddess of the islands to that village.

"It's all right, isn't it?" She replied. "I'm sure that statue will always remind the people of the island that we were there," she said with a smile.

Alisa discovered that people in Bluebell were not very religious. She discovered that there used to be a tunnel that connected that village to the neighboring village and that, according to what she was told, the Goddess herself had blocked the passage of the tunnel since the two villages lived in disagreement. She just didn't understand what the disagreement was about. But it didn't take long for her to find out. Not many days after they moved in, they learned about the existence of a cooking tournament that took place practically every month and that the rivalry between the two villages was fierce.

"That explains a lot," she commented to Nathan as they ate breakfast that day. "And I wonder what they do with the leftover food?" she asked.

"I don't know. I'd like to go and find out, but I have to talk to the mayor to sort out some things about our stay. But why don't you take the opportunity and go watch the competition? I'm sure it won't do any good, but it won't do any harm either."

Alisa agreed and prepared to climb the mountain that separated the two villages to watch the competition.

Alisa was surprised to see that the mayor was eagerly awaiting the people who were coming to the competition and wondered how disappointed Father Nathan would be. She joined the small group of people from Bluebell who had gathered and began to observe the competitors. There were two tables, each with three dishes on display. Behind each dish was a person who Alisa assumed was responsible for preparing the dish. Her eyes stopped for a moment on one of the dishes that did not have its representative watching over it, so to speak, and she became curious. It was not long before they announced that the competition was about to begin and Alisa was surprised to notice that the person responsible for the dish, who belonged to the other village, was talking to a couple who lived in Bluebell. But she did not dwell on it too much and watched the competition unfold and the victory of the Bluebell team. There was a bit of animosity between the two mayors but it did not seem as bad as she had been led to believe. She took the opportunity to ask what would be done with the leftover food for one of the participants.

"We usually take it back home ourselves," a tall man told her. "But if you want to take it home, feel free. I own the café in Bluebell, so take it as a courtesy, and if you like it, feel free to come and visit us for a bite" the man said happily.

Alisa didn't hesitate and thanked him, taking the plate and carrying it back to the church.

It didn't take long for people to start showing up. Not that the church was very popular, but Alisa didn't mind. Until the day the boy who had caught her attention from the neighbor village showed up.

"Looks like this place is finally inhabited?" He said with a smile. "Hello, my name is Philip. And who are you?"

"My name is Alisa," she introduced herself with a formal bow.

He didn't show up at church very often, but when he did, he always brought some kind of food.

"Howard is a busy man so he can't come all the time. But I work on the farm, taking care of my crops. It's not a very hard job and it doesn't take up all my time. He asked me to keep an eye on you guys at the church"

It was summer and Alisa couldn't help but feel enchanted by the boy when he brought her favorite food, vanilla ice cream.

"It's my favorite," she whispered.

"Really?" he asked, surprised. "Then I'll bring you some every day. In this heat, there's nothing better than a scoop of vanilla ice cream!" he added.

"I completely agree," she said, smiling.

And Alisa found herself comparing the two, Philip and Mark. Alisa had never seen either of them working, but she assumed they were both hard workers. Mark, on the other hand, couldn't see a skirt without his Don Juan side coming out. Yet all the girls in Bluebell had nothing but good things to say about Philip.

"My brother is a very serious person," Lilian had told her. "You two are quite similar in that regard."

"Do you think I'm a serious person?" Alisa asked, surprised. She considered herself a lot of things, but definitely not a serious person.

"Yes, I do. You have a hard expression to read, like my brother's. I believe you've been through a lot. I can say for sure that he has. That's why I think you two are alike."

Hearing these words made Alisa curious about what kind of suffering Philip had gone through. Was it love pain like hers? She decided she would ask him when she saw him again.

"Love pain?" He asked, scratching his head. "No, I don't know if I could say I've ever suffered from love, no. It's just that I come from a very complicated family, you see. I left home when I was still a boy and I've been living alone ever since. I think that was the suffering Lilian was referring to," he said, taking a spoonful of the ice cream he had brought to eat with Alisa. "But she's right when she says we're similar," he added. "You really do seem to have suffered a lot in your life."

Alisa stared at her ice cream for a long time, letting Philip's words sink into her mind, her soul, and her heart. And without realizing it, her heart ached. In a way she had never felt before. And the witch's words reverberated in her mind.

"You must not fall in love again. The pain would be inevitable."

"Alisa!"

When Alisa came to, tears were streaming down her face and Philip was holding her shoulders tightly, concern written all over his face.

"Sorry," she said, wiping her tears with the back of her hand. "I guess I got a little distracted."

"Distracted...?" he asked incredulously.

And Alisa was grateful that he didn't ask her any questions. He just stood there, beside her, holding her hand and rubbing her back, like an adult trying to sooth a child after they wake up from a nightmare.

"I thought I could keep the spell going for a little longer," Alisa thought.

That night Alisa went out and headed to the top of the mountain. Of all the times she had gone to watch the cooking competitions she couldn't help but notice that there was a crystal clear spring of water very similar to the one near the church on the islands. And she felt strangely calm when she looked at those waters. That night, however, her intention was to cry all the tears she needed. The tears of past loves, future loves and her present love.

"Falling in love with him is a mistake," she whispered.

"Why would it be a mistake?" She heard a playful voice.

She looked around but saw no one.

"Who's there?" She asked, startled.

"You know who I am. Look at the water," the voice said.

Alisa obeyed, and when she looked, she saw the image of a woman with green hair, dressed in clothes that seemed to be made of silk that fluttered in the wind, even if there was no wind.

"Harvest Goddess?" She asked hesitantly.

"Yes, that's me."

"Why can I see you?" She asked, confused.

"Why is not the right question here," the Goddess began. "But why do you have so many doubts?"

"I don't understand," Alisa began, but the Goddess interrupted her before she could say anything.

"All people are born to love. No matter how much you run away, this feeling will haunt you for the rest of your life. It's up to you to know how to make the most of what love brings you. However, you cling to the bad things. Try to see the positive side of things and to learn from your past experiences and you will be able, one day, to truly love. Your heart hurts today because you can't forgive the people you once loved, nor forgive yourself for having loved them. Allow yourself to love and you will see that you will be happier."

"Allow myself to love?" Alisa repeated, not understanding what she really meant.

"One day you will understand. Now go. I can't sleep with you whining."

"I'm sorry," she said. "And thank you."

Alisa returned to the spring the next day hoping to see the Goddess. And the next. And the next. But the Goddess did not appear to her again. And she began to wonder if it had been a dream. It was autumn when she received a letter she had long awaited. A letter from the convent where she had taken her vows. It contained a picture of her garden, and she was delighted at how well the flowers were indeed being tended. And with it was a small note from Mother.

"We all miss you. We hope you are well. May the Goddess pour her blessings upon you."

That letter gave Alisa a new resolve. Now she knew what she had to do. And Philip was the first to be informed of her decision.

"Return to the convent?" he asked.

"Yes," she said, looking him in the eye. He didn't look away.

"I see," he said, taking her hands and holding them in his. "May I ask you a favor then?"

Alisa hesitated, but nodded in affirmation, and he placed her hands on his chest so that she could feel the beating of his heart.

"But," she tried to protest, but he interrupted her.

"Think of it as a favor. And don't think you'll be bothering me, I'm the one asking after all."

Once again, Alisa nodded. After all, what harm could there be?

But things always seem easier when they are inside our minds. And when the time came to climb aboard the boat, Alisa couldn't resist crying. Philip hugged her and she tried to push him away.

"You'll end up with your shirt soaked," she protested.

"Stop resisting," he whispered. "Let them go and don't worry about me."

For the first time, Alisa allowed herself to cry in someone's arms. And she really stopped caring whether she would wet his shirt or not. She cried and sobbed and clung to his arms. She imagined that he was the teacher and the committed boy she had fallen in love with as a teenager and who could never understand or accept her feelings. She imagined that he was Mark and made a wish that the boy would not have to suffer as much as she had suffered in order to someday understand how she felt. And finally, looking up, she looked at Philip. The Man who was hugging her at that moment. The person she didn't know if she loved, admired, or respected. And she smiled.

"You look so much prettier when you smile," he said, returning the smile.

"You too," she said.

And as she climbed aboard the boat, she took one last look back at everything she was leaving behind on that land. And she didn't regret it. Better days would come, she was sure of it. And she was determined to build her future so that, one day, she could look back on the past and think of it with fondness and not with resentment. So that when she remembered, the memories would be just that: memories.