beyond boundaries

chapter 10(Lily)

Fews day pass, i started to like this place and more this village,now i spend more time in village with people.the children's laughter filled the air as they ran around me, their giggles infectious. It felt almost surreal, this peace, this joy that I hadn't realized I'd been craving. For once, I forgot about the heaviness that had been pressing on my heart since I'd arrived here. I was just... happy.

I had settled into a rhythm-playing games with the children, helping with little tasks around the village, blending into the everyday life as though I had always belonged. The village had become my escape, but there was always that soft ache of missing my family, my old life. I couldn't help it homesickness. But here, I had found something else-something that made me wonder if I could belong here, too. This place, like a dream I didn't want to wake from.

Right now, I was in the middle of a circle of little ones, their small faces alight with excitement, their energy boundless. I had long since stopped being an outsider to them. They didn't know my true identity, and I didn't feel the need to tell them. Here, I was just Lily, the girl who played with them, who laughed with them.

But my heart couldn't help but skip a beat when my eyes found him.

Callan was standing off to the side, a quiet observer. Even with the busy work of leadership surrounding him, he always seemed to find a moment to check on me, his gaze steady and warm. I could feel it on me even when I wasn't looking. The intensity of his attention, the way it made my stomach flutter in ways I couldn't explain.

I smiled, feeling playful, and waved at him, unable to keep the grin from my face.

His lips quirked up into a grin that made my heart squeeze. He raised his hand in a slow wave, acknowledging me in that way of his-like he had all the time in the world just to notice me. It made me feel... seen.

A tug at my sleeve pulled me back into the moment. I turned to find one of the boys, his wide, eager eyes locked on me.

"Look! Look what I have!" His voice was an excited whisper, like it was a secret only I was meant to know.

I bent down, my curiosity piqued. "What do you have to show me?" I asked, smiling down at the tiny figure in his hand.

His grin was as bright as the sun, his little fingers holding up a wooden figurine. It was small, intricately carved, and looked like a warrior in mid-battle, with a large sword in hand. "It's a warrior, like our great leader Callan!" he said, practically beaming with pride. "See, he has a big sword and everything!" The boy demonstrated, making the figurine chop the air.

I glanced over at Callan. His presence was like a force that couldn't be ignored, even from a distance. "Yes, he is great and kind," I said softly, my gaze lingering on him for just a moment. "Too perfect..."

A flicker of something-pride, maybe-crossed Callan's face as he watched the exchange. But then the boy, clearly thrilled by the attention, looked up at him, his wide eyes gleaming with innocence.

"Callan, she says you're kind!" the boy announced, his voice ringing out.

Callan's smile deepened, his gaze flicking to me before softening. He started walking toward us, his long strides purposeful, his eyes never leaving mine. When he reached us, he crouched down beside me, lowering himself to our level. "And what else does she say?" he asked, his voice low, playful.

The boy tilted his head, trying to remember. "She said... she said you're too perfect!" he declared, his words making me flush with embarrassment. His innocent giggles followed as he glanced back at me.

Callan's gaze snapped back to mine, his eyes softening in a way that made my chest tighten. There was warmth in his smile, but there was also something else-something deeper. "Is that so?" His voice was lower now, a touch more intense, as though the boy's words had struck a chord with him.