The memory blurred.
And then, Zoey found herself leaning against a tree, her eyes locked onto the silver moon above.
It was full.
Bright.
Soothing.
Yet, within her, anger burned.
She had almost given up.
She had almost forgotten.
She had promised her aunt, a promise she had vowed to keep no matter what.
And now?
A small, bitter chuckle escaped her lips.
"I'm a mess."
She had let her emotions control her.
She had almost thrown everything away, for what?
For jealousy?
For a feeling? The thought disgusted her.
"Aunt Jereva would be disappointed."
Her fists clenched.
What was she doing?
What the hell was she doing?
She couldn't possibly throw everything away for something like this.
Lumindra, who had been silently watching her, smiled warmly.
She felt it.
She felt the shift within Zoey.
The shame was still there, but now… now, it was buried beneath something stronger.
Determination.
Zoey exhaled heavily and wiped her tears one final time.
Her eyes were red, swollen from crying, but she didn't care.
She turned to Lumindra, smiling.
"Thank you, Lumi."
No other words were needed.
They were bonded and they could feel each other's emotions.
Lumindra's smile widened.
She fluttered into the air, then landed softly atop Zoey's head.
"You can praise me later," she said teasingly.
Her voice grew gentler.
"So… what do you plan on doing now?"
Zoey didn't hesitate.
Her eyes blazed.
"I have to see him again."
Lumindra nodded, a hint of pride creeping in. She knew Zoey had finally made her choice.
"Then let's go."
…
Atticus had already returned to where he had been meditating earlier, the middle of the island.
On the way back, he had encountered his ever-annoying, pride-filled spirit.
And, of course, Ozeroth couldn't resist making his thoughts heard.
"Tsk. What you did back there was acceptable. But you could be better."
The spirit floated beside him, arms crossed, his tone dripping with haughtiness.
"You have to be colder. Cooler. You can't let anyone of their gender catch you off guard! Women are dangerous, boy! You give them an inch, and they'll take your entire soul!"
Atticus sighed.
Why hadn't this bonding thing come with a mute button?
Ozeroth continued, undeterred.
"But let's just be grateful you didn't embarrass yourself. I was fully prepared to knock some sense into you if you dared act like a fool."
He dramatically flipped his hair.
"Honestly, you should thank me for keeping you in check! Without me, you'd be a helpless romantic, stumbling over your words like a fool!"
Atticus ignored him.
Instead, he moved to the center of the clearing, preparing to sit, when something popped into his mind.
"Right… what's the deal with you and Zoey's spirit?"
Ozeroth froze.
His usual dramatic flair momentarily stopped.
"…What do you mean?" he asked, his tone strangely neutral.
Atticus arched a brow.
"I could sense some tension between you two." He tilted his head slightly. "Do you like her or something?"
Ozeroth exploded.
"HOW DARE YOU!" His voice boomed across the clearing.
"The great Ozeroth does not 'like'."
He puffed out his chest.
"I have women fawning over me from the entire spirit realm!"
"They beg to be with me! Worship the ground I walk on! My magnificence is—"
Atticus smirked.
"The faster you start being truthful to yourself, the better."
Ozeroth sputtered.
"Did that purple-haired pretty girl knock you on the head or something?! What the hell are you talking about?!"
Atticus shook his head, his smirk deepening, but said nothing.
Just as he was about to sit—
His gaze flickered. His head subtly turned to the side.
Ozeroth noticed immediately.
"Oh? Did she come for round two?"
He snorted, floating beside Atticus with a smug expression.
"What a needy little thing."
Atticus ignored him.
He waited.
Then, a figure emerged from the foliage of trees.
Purple hair flowed behind her in waves. Her clothes were dirtied, wet patches staining them from her time crying in the forest.
Zoey.
Atticus's eyes met hers.
A cold breeze swept through the clearing. Yet, its coldness did not reach them.
Leaves rustled.
The silver moonlight bathed them in its radiance.
Then, Zoey spoke.
"I have something to say."
Her red-rimmed eyes held no more tears.
Atticus's perception remained sharp, sensing everything she was feeling.
Her storm of emotions had been overtaken by one.
A powerful, unwavering force.
Determination.
'Her eyes have changed.'
Atticus remained silent.
He simply nodded.
Zoey inhaled deeply. Then…
"I am jealous of you, Atticus Ravenstein."
Her fists clenched.
"I am jealous of you."
She repeated it again.
Then again.
Each time, her voice grew stronger.
And then, her eyes blazed.
"But I will never let it hold me back."
"My reasons are far too important."
Atticus gave a single nod.
"Good."
Zoey continued, her determined voice unwavering.
"You're better than me. You're too good for me.
"And as time passes, I will only hold you back.
"But I am human. And I am selfish."
She inhaled sharply.
"I want you, Atticus."
Her voice was raw.
"I don't deserve you, but I want you."
She clenched her fists tighter.
"Right now, I am too ashamed to even face you because of this stupid feeling."
"But this will change."
"I will make sure it changes."
Then she lifted her head, her expression unshakable.
"And when I can hold my head up again…"
"I will come back and make you mine."
Silence.
A thick, heavy silence settled over the clearing.
Atticus and Zoey met gazes.
Neither spoke.
Neither looked away.
They just basked in the intense moment.
They both felt warmth.
Warmth that they, unfortunately, couldn't have.
At least, not yet.
The moment passed, and without another word, Zoey turned and walked away.
Only Atticus and a ranting Ozeroth remained.
"HOW AUDACIOUS!"
Ozeroth exploded the moment Zoey left.
"She was supposed to grovel and beg! How dare she still stand tall!"
His tone shifted slightly.
"…At least she acknowledged that we were better than her."
Atticus exhaled.
"Me."
Ozeroth blinked.
"Huh?"
"She said I was better than her. Not we."
Ozeroth scoffed.
"Potatoes, potatoes!"
He waved a dismissive hand.
"You. Me. We're the same."
Atticus tilted his head.
"…Are we?"
Ozeroth ignored him.
"You're okay. I'm great."
Atticus sighed.
He was impossible.
Shaking his head, he turned his gaze toward the direction Zoey had left, his thoughts churning.