novelblue
Chapter 148: A Day of Respite
Chapter 148: A Day of Respite
The Weight of Stillness
The morning light filtered through the curtains in golden slivers, illuminating the quiet interior of their home. For once, there were no hurried movements, no battle preparations, no silent exchanges filled with tension. Just the slow, lazy pull of morning—a luxury none of them had dared to indulge in for a long time.
Seraphis stirred first, still wrapped in the warmth of her blankets. Her muscles ached, but it was the kind of ache that reminded her she was alive. The dull throbbing in her limbs, the residual exhaustion in her bones—it was a far cry from the sharp, searing pain of battle.
She turned onto her side, staring at the wooden ceiling above her. For once, she had no urgent reason to get up.
That thought alone felt foreign.
She lay there for a while, simply listening.
Somewhere in the house, someone shifted in bed. A muffled groan, a heavy sigh—signs that the others were also waking, albeit slowly.
No rush.
No immediate danger.
Just silence.
And for the first time in what felt like an eternity, silence didn’t feel like a threat.
Slow Mornings and Soft Footsteps
Eventually, she pushed herself up, stretching out the stiffness in her joints. The wooden floor was cool under her bare feet as she made her way toward the kitchen, her steps slow, unhurried.
The house felt oddly serene, as if the walls themselves exhaled in relief.
By the time she reached the main room, she found Kaela already sprawled over the couch, half-awake with her face buried in a pillow.
"You’re up early," Seraphis remarked.
Kaela let out a groggy noise, her voice muffled. "This is early?"
Seraphis smirked, moving toward the stove. A warm drink sounded like a good way to start the morning.
She boiled water, letting the rich aroma of tea leaves fill the air, the scent earthy and calming. As she poured herself a cup, Sylvaine shuffled into the room, looking just as exhausted as the rest of them.
"It still feels strange," Sylvaine admitted, running a hand through her disheveled hair.
"What does?"
"Not having to fight."
Seraphis nodded, taking a slow sip of her tea. It really did.
Easing into the Day
Elyndra emerged next, still tying her hair into a loose braid. Her movements were sluggish but deliberate, as if she, too, was trying to adjust to the unnatural sense of calm.
"I had a nightmare," she admitted suddenly.
Seraphis raised an eyebrow but said nothing, waiting for her to continue.
"I dreamt we were still there," Elyndra murmured. "At the Tower. Trapped. Fighting. But no matter how many times we struck them down, they kept standing back up."
Kaela groaned from her spot on the couch. "Don’t say stuff like that. It makes me feel like we’re cursed."
"Maybe we are," Sylvaine muttered, staring into her cup as if searching for answers in the swirling tea leaves.
Seraphis didn’t believe in curses.
But she did believe in wounds that lingered even after the battle was over.
The Comfort of Familiar Routines
Determined to shake off the heaviness, Seraphis turned her focus back to the stove. Cooking helped.
She chopped fresh herbs, the sharp scent of rosemary and thyme filling the room. She sliced potatoes, diced onions, and let everything simmer in a pan with butter, the slow sizzle breaking the silence.
Kaela perked up almost instantly. "Are we getting another feast?"
"Not a feast," Seraphis corrected. "Just breakfast."
But as the food came together—a hearty spread of eggs, crisped meat, and warm bread—it felt like a feast nonetheless.
They sat around the table again, shoulders less tense, voices softer, letting themselves indulge in the simple joy of a meal without urgency.
"This feels like a dream," Sylvaine mused, spearing a piece of meat with her fork.
"Then let’s not wake up yet," Kaela replied, grinning around a mouthful of food.
For once, no one argued.
An Afternoon of Nothingness
With their stomachs full and no immediate obligations, the group fell into a rare state of laziness.
Kaela claimed the couch once again, dozing off mid-sentence. Sylvaine sat by the window, watching the town go about its day. Elyndra thumbed through an old book, the faint rustling of pages the only sound in the room.
Seraphis, feeling restless, decided to step outside.
The sun was warm against her skin, the town lively yet peaceful. Children played near the marketplace, merchants called out their wares, and the scent of fresh-baked bread drifted from the bakery down the street.
It was a stark contrast to the blood and fire they had left behind just days ago.
But wasn’t this what they had fought for?
This peace.
This quiet.
This chance to just exist.
For a long while, she simply stood there, drinking it in.
The Weight of the Past, The Promise of Tomorrow
By the time she returned inside, the others were still lounging, basking in the luxury of an uneventful day.
Sylvaine looked over at her, eyebrow raised. "Done brooding?"
Seraphis huffed, flopping onto a chair. "I don’t brood."
Kaela, still half-asleep, mumbled, "You totally do."
Seraphis rolled her eyes but didn’t argue.
They sat in comfortable silence, the weight of the past still lingering but not suffocating.
The world would call for them again soon. There would be more battles, more struggles, more moments where life and death danced too closely together.
But today, they let themselves be selfish.
Today, they let themselves rest.