Ophelia's POV
I left without looking back.
My bags were packed, heavier now with memories I had to carry along with the physical weight of my things. Each step I took away from the Kingdom of the East felt like a step further from the life I had briefly inhabited, a life that was no longer mine. Samuel was there, surrounded by the people he cared about, and Amy… Amy was the one he could lean on now.
I had no place in that world anymore.
The roads ahead of me were lonely, but it was a kind of loneliness I welcomed. It was mine to carry, and only mine. No mortal to intervene. No king, no expectations, no promises. Just me.
The kingdom, with all its grandeur and sorrow, began to blur behind me as I walked farther and farther into the unknown.
The path I wandered on was dark, overgrown, and eerily quiet. The wind rustled the leaves, creating whispers I couldn't understand. My thoughts echoed in my mind, each one pulling me back, telling me that I was running from something. But there was no turning back. I needed to be free.
And then, amidst the solitude and the endless stretch of trees, a strange light flickered in the distance, drawing my attention. My steps slowed as I squinted, trying to make out the shape. A faint glow shimmered ahead, cutting through the dark, and as I approached, the figure of an inn emerged. A small, welcoming structure with a warm, inviting light spilling out from its windows.
I hadn't expected to find such a place out here, in the middle of nowhere. But something told me I needed to stop. I needed to rest, even if only for a moment.
I pushed open the door, the creak of the wooden frame breaking the silence of the night. The warmth inside was immediate, the fire crackling in the hearth filling the space with a comforting heat. The soft murmur of voices and the clink of glasses against wood was a welcome contrast to the empty silence I had left behind.
And then I saw him.
The man behind the counter was tall, with dark hair and a rugged, yet inviting face.
He looked up from a glass he was polishing and offered me a genuine smile.
"Well, well," he said, his voice deep and smooth, "It's not every day someone comes wandering in at this hour. You look like you could use a drink."
I stood in the doorway for a moment, hesitant. It wasn't like me to trust people so easily, but something about this man's demeanor made me feel oddly at ease. I stepped forward, closing the door behind me.
"I could," I answered, my voice quieter than usual. There was something about this place—this man—that made me feel like I didn't need to hide my true thoughts. I felt… safe.
The man nodded, placing the glass down and moving around the counter to pour something from a bottle. "Hugh Thorn," he said, as he extended his hand. "Owner of this fine establishment. And you are?"
"Ophelia," I replied, shaking his hand. His grip was firm but gentle. There was no hint of the judgment I had come to expect from others. Just understanding.
"Ophelia," he repeated, a knowing smile tugging at his lips. "Well, it's a pleasure to meet you. Would you like something warm to drink? Or something stronger?"
I hesitated, then nodded. "Something strong, please."
Hugh laughed softly, and I could sense the ease with which he moved through the space. He poured me a drink, handing it over with a steady hand. I took it from him, the glass cool against my palm, and raised it to my lips. The warmth spread almost instantly as I took a sip, the taste rich and earthy, something strong enough to remind me I was still alive.
I couldn't remember the last time I had allowed myself to simply feel the comfort of something warm, something that wasn't about power or obligation.
"You seem like you're far from home," Hugh remarked, his voice soft as he observed me.
I let out a breath, leaning against the counter, savoring the drink. "I suppose I am," I said. "I left everything behind."
Hugh didn't press further. He simply nodded as if he understood the weight of my words without needing an explanation. It was strange, but I felt the need to open up. Not to him, necessarily, but to the world around me. This new world, untouched by the past.
"And what brings you to this part of the world?" he asked after a moment of silence, leaning against the counter as if we were old friends.
"I'm looking for something," I said, then quickly amended, "Or someone. I'm not sure yet."
Hugh raised an eyebrow, intrigued but not judgmental. "A lost soul searching for a place to belong, hmm? Sounds like you've had a rough time."
I smiled bitterly. "You could say that."
He took a long look at me, his gaze not prying, but understanding. "Well, if you're here for the night, you've got a place to rest. I've got a room ready for you if you need it."
I nodded slowly, the weight of his words sinking in. Maybe it was okay to rest, just for tonight. Maybe it was okay to let go of all the burdens I carried, if only for a few hours.
I didn't answer immediately, just turned my gaze toward the fire crackling in the hearth, my mind drifting as the warmth surrounded me. It was strange—after everything, after all the decisions, the pain, the loss—here I was, with a stranger who seemed to understand without even asking.
For the first time in what felt like forever, I wasn't alone.
"So tell me, what urged you to run this shop?" I asked, wanting to lengthen the conversation so as not to feel alone. I feel like there was so many things going on in my head that I could use some distraction.
"Nothing. My family is wealthy enough to raise me so I kind of knew I can run a shop and not having to worry about whether I am going to suffer from loss. They're just there behind me, supporting me in every decisions I make." He said as he sipped from the shot glass he had prepared for himself.
"No wonder you're not worried about not having any customer at this hour." I laughed as I realized how he would really be suffering from loss of money now.
He sat in front of me. "It's okay, I've got plenty of times to figure out which business would give me money. I guess, it's what you get for living for thousand of years."
My eyes widened. "What did you just say?"
"Oh? That was a slip of the tongue." He reasoned out although I know very well that it was not a mistake.
I am not as dense as the earth to be fooled at all. I know he knew what he was saying.
"Are you saying that you;re an immortal? Or perhaps the time frame for you is much longer than mortals?" I asked. He had completely captured my attention that my questions started making sense even though he might not admit it.
"Yes, of course." He whispered in the air and leaned closer.
"And judging from how I can see you from here, you are just like me." He speak as though he can read my mind.
"What do you mean?"
He was closer than before now. His finger playing on the strands of my hair that was blocking my face. My hands tightened over the glass of liquor I was drinking as I felt my face burning. It was something I could not fully grasp because why would I feel this way?
"I know that you are immortal, a mage at that. I can feel all sort of energies and as soon as you enter this place, the whole room was filled with mana that have been surging from your core. You are careless for not being able to control it just because you feel gloomy." He explained.
"Gloomy?! An elf could not feel anything." I reasoned out, completely flustered.
His eyes widened and I saw a grin escaped his lips. "Ohh, is that so? Then maybe the mortal you have been hanging out with completely broke you."
"What?!" I was even more redder than before. I knew I looked like I was some tomato that was about to explode.
"I was just teasing you though." He moved away from me and laughed hysterically that made me mad.
"But it turned out I was right." He claimed.
"No." I sulked at the thought of it. "Hugh, do you know me? Or perhaps, since you are an immortal like me, have you been keeping a keen eyes on me?"
"And why would I do that?" He's even more teaseful right now. Those smile was making me feel irritation that I have never felt before.
"I don't know? Maybe because of the fact that you might relate to me more considering how you were actually just like me. You might have already known that we might get along well, making sure you'll memorize me by the time we meet in a place like this." I said, making an assumption that might seem silly but is making sense.
"I love the theory but unfortunately, no." He smiled and moved away, going back behind the counter.
"I am an immortal who might have lived longer than you. I've been through a lot, sweetie." He whispered in the air. "The last thing I would do to waste my time is to look over a mage who reeks mortal."