Ending the Cycle || A Timebomb Fanfic

XXIX

Hope you guys had a wonderful Christmas and Holidays!! <3

Here's to the last chapter :,)

Thank you so much for reading and enjoying!! Y'all mean the world to me!!

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"No, no, no. Move the board higher. If I hammer it at that angle, it's just going to fall," Jinx said, her voice carrying the sharp authority of someone who had learned to take charge over the years. Hammer in hand, she crouched slightly, aligning a nail against the plank of wood. Daxen, perched precariously on a ladder, grumbled under his breath but complied, shifting the board higher to meet her demands.

"Better?" he asked, straining slightly as he held the board in place.

"Perfect," Jinx replied, her tone satisfied as she lined up the hammer. With a swift, practiced motion, she drove the nail into the wood with a satisfying thunk, securing the plank to the growing structure. She repeated the process, each strike of the hammer deliberate and steady, until the board was firmly anchored. Stepping back, she planted her hands on her hips and tilted her head, admiring their handiwork.

The house was a sturdy addition to the cobblestone streets of Terbisia, one of many rising from the ashes of what had once been a desolate ruin. Its frame stood proudly amidst the row of new homes, each built with the sweat and determination of the sanctuary's people.

"Not bad," Daxen admitted with a grin, climbing down from the ladder and wiping his brow with his sleeve.

"Maybe I'll paint it pink!" Jinx exclaimed, her voice bubbling with excitement. She twirled the hammer in her hand, a mischievous glint in her eyes as her mind raced with possibilities.

Daxen immediately shot her a warning look, holding up his hands. "Yeah, no. That's not happening. You've already got the whole town in chaos with your last 'creative project.' We're keeping this one simple."

Jinx rolled her eyes dramatically, tossing her now-long blue hair over her shoulder. "Buzzkill," she muttered, but the smile tugging at her lips betrayed her amusement. Pulling her hair into a loose ponytail, she crouched to gather the scattered tools at her feet. She gave the house one last appraising glance, her expression softening with a rare hint of pride.

"I'm gonna find Ekko," she announced, straightening up and slinging the toolbox over her shoulder. "He can help with the windows. We'll need someone steady for that."

Daxen smirked. "Good luck dragging him away from the little hellions down by the field. Kuro's probably got him wrapped around her finger by now."

Jinx snorted, already turning toward the cobblestone streets. "She's got everyone wrapped around her finger."

The streets of Terbisia stretched before her, transformed almost beyond recognition in the three years since the battle at the sanctuary. Where there had once been dirt paths and makeshift shelters cobbled together in desperation, there were now neat rows of homes with solid walls and shingled roofs. Flowers bloomed in window boxes, and the sound of laughter filled the air. Children darted between houses, their games spilling onto the cobblestones that had replaced the mud and dust of their past.

It was a town reborn, a sanctuary no longer defined by its need for defense but by the community it had nurtured. Families thrived here, mages and non-mages alike living side by side in harmony. The scars of war remained, etched into the memories of its people, but the streets of Terbisia told a different story now—a story of resilience, rebuilding, and hope.

Jinx's footsteps echoed lightly against the cobblestones as she made her way through the town. Her once-buzzed hair now fell in long, vibrant strands past her shoulders, a wild mane that seemed to reflect the transformation of the town itself. She nodded to neighbors as she passed, exchanging quick smiles and waves. These were people who had fought alongside her, who had bled and sacrificed to make this haven possible.