Chapter 5 – The Way She Smiles

The village was livelier than usual.

Warm sun spilled over the cobblestone paths as stalls opened and laughter echoed through the square. It was Market Day—a weekly gathering where villagers traded vegetables, herbs, handmade tools, and stories with smiles and haggling in equal measure.

Kaito stuck close to Lyria as they moved between booths. This was his first time seeing the village properly. Last time, he’d still been half-broken and dizzy. Now, walking among the townspeople, he felt like he’d stepped into a storybook.

Thatched roofs. Flower boxes. Chickens weaving between children.
And people. Friendly, familiar people who called Lyria’s name like she was an old friend.

“Lyria! That moonroot salve worked wonders—my boy’s back on his feet!”

“Lyria, do you have more of that fever tonic?”

She greeted them all with a small nod and calm smile, her voice gentle as she handed out little bundles wrapped in linen. Despite the requests piling up, she didn’t seem annoyed—just quietly patient.

Kaito helped where he could, carrying her satchel, passing out parcels, occasionally being mistaken for her assistant or younger brother (which made her roll her eyes in private). He didn’t mind. He liked watching her work.

Then something changed.

As they passed the village well, a group of children—maybe six or seven of them—ran up, waving and laughing.

“Lyriaaa! Lyria, come play!”

One of them, a little girl with twin pigtails, clutched a wooden flower crown. “We made this for you!”

Lyria blinked, caught off guard. “For me?”

The kids nodded excitedly. “You helped Mama! So you’re like a flower fairy!”

Kaito stepped back, letting the scene unfold.

Lyria crouched down, allowing the giggling girl to place the crooked little crown on her head. One of the boys cheered and tossed a handful of petals in the air.

And then—

She laughed.

Not a polite chuckle. Not a reserved smile.

A real laugh. Full and light, like a breeze dancing through bells.

Kaito stared.

She laughed again as one of the boys grabbed her hand and spun her in a clumsy circle. The flower crown slipped sideways on her head, and she adjusted it playfully. Her eyes sparkled. Her whole face lit up.

And for a moment, she wasn’t the quiet, mysterious girl from the glowing forest.

She was just a young woman surrounded by joy. Open. Free.

Beautiful.

Something stirred in Kaito’s chest—gentle but strong. Like a thread tugging at something buried.

That night, the village quieted. Lanterns were doused. The air cooled. Back at the cottage, Lyria was putting away her satchel, rearranging herbs in silence.

Kaito stood by the window, the memory of her laughter still vivid in his mind.

“Hey,” he said softly.

She looked up.

He hesitated, but then met her gaze. “You smiled today. Really smiled.”

She blinked. “Did I?”

“Yeah,” he said. “It was… kind of amazing.”

A silence stretched.

Then—her cheeks turned pink. Just faintly, like a brush of watercolor.

“No one’s ever said that to me before,” she whispered.

Kaito tilted his head. “Really?”

She looked down at her hands, fingers gently curling. “People thank me. Praise my magic. But... not like that. Not for something so ordinary.”

“It’s not ordinary,” Kaito said.

Her eyes slowly lifted to meet his.

For a few seconds, they simply looked at each other—no words, no expectations, just quiet honesty between them.

Then Lyria gave a tiny nod and turned back to her herbs. But her hands trembled slightly.

And for the rest of the evening, she couldn’t stop touching the flower crown, now sitting quietly on the cottage windowsill.