Chapter 549

Chapter 549: A Familiar Stranger

The park was... surprisingly brimming.

From the outside looking in, I couldn’t even find a single spot that didn’t have its own ring of people... I supposed the change in the seasons had changed the place to quite the local attraction.

And indeed, the feeling of festivities was literal in the air, as a flier slowly came drifting over... landing flat beneath my boots.

A community event set on Christmas Eve, for the people, by the people, hence all the people gathered here now. It seems I’ve wandered in amidst preparations... stalls were being set up, lights were being hung, and a stage was being built.

All the commotion had garnered a lot of attention – by kids, mostly. Eager to be a part of all the hustle and bustle. Really though, how the heck do these kids out here have the bloody energy to run around in weather like this?

Screaming, squealing, sprinting, without so much as the slightest shiver. Maybe it was just a me problem, perhaps I’m just built different.

Perhaps it was a good thing that I came when I did... just being here alone was draining me of my energy. I can’t even imagine how the hell Sera had been faring all the while. Hell, a stray leaf falling on her head would probably be enough to get her grumbling already

.....

Speaking of which... the last we both ever saw of each other was before my return trip to the countryside. That was nearly a month ago now, and it’s not as if I’ve forgotten about her, it’s just that... there was just no reason for me to go and see her, and if she herself wasn’t hounding me for my company, then clearly I wasn’t the only one that was in the same line of thinking.

So just what the hell was I doing here then? Why visit now of all times?

Guess I’ll find out soon enough.

I wedged myself in between two rather inconspicuous set of trees, taking great care not to pull any loose wirings along with me, and once I felt the ground uneven and jagged beneath me, I began making my way across a long-familiar route, retracing my steps from days long past.

Took longer than usual, leaves everywhere made it hard to tell my forward from my backward, but I was vaguely familiar enough to not get too lost, and once I was where I believed we usually meet, I tried calling for her.

She didn’t answer.

Maybe I just believed wrong.

For a while longer, I braved the cold, searching for her a bit more... but frankly, I didn’t even know where to begin. It was a big forest, and very little space to easily navigate without risking bumps and bruises.

I held on for as long as I could, went as far as I could go... it got to the point where I was getting slightly concerned the more ground I covered. Didn’t help that the string lights wrapped around almost every tree were starting to strain my eyes

In the end, I just about had enough of stumbling onto every loose rock, forget it. I squeezed myself out through the same set of trees, shaking like a leaf, and rubbing bleary eyes – only to then be assailed by shrieks and squeals once more.

Just what the hell was I doing here? I should be home, I should be on the couch, I should be drinking hot cocoa. That sounded so much better than this. Yeah, I’ll go do that instead.

The pathway towards the park entrance was so riddled with constant comings and goings, I opted to just trail it by the sidelines. Of course, that kinda placed me in harm’s way over all the preparations coming along, but at that point, I hardly even cared anymore.

All these assemblies... I supposed it was going to be quite a big night on the night itself. Perhaps I should drop by at some point, I’m sure Ash would more than appreciate the splendor. Or maybe Irene would... Or perhaps Amanda... Adalia might too.

Fuck...

“Well, well, there’s a familiar face if there was ever one.”

I heard it. Amidst it all, the hammering, the clamoring, I heard it. A hard clack on the pavement. And then another.

Then another...

From the thick crowd, a man quietly emerged... immaculate in appearance, his mere presence exuding elegance. Even with an obvious limp, hobbling with a cane gripped tightly with a gloved hand, he showed no signs of delicacy, weakness... in fact, you could so easily forget his thin stature just from the way his calm hardened gaze bore at you, as it did me just right then.

As if I wasn’t bothered enough already...

The man with the cane stopped in front of me, straightening his hat, and baring a faint nearly unsettling smile, spoke once more, “Funny the places you meet all kinds of people, don’t you agree?”

Briefly, I weighed my options before me, and eventually thought it best, for now, to play nice.

“I guess,” I muttered, looking at him, and also all around him. “You’re the last person I expect to be out and about around here.”

“And why’s that?” He asked, tapping his cane once onto the hard dirt. “I’m human, flesh and blood, just like you. I enjoy a good winter’s day just as much as any other.”

Then, completely out of blue, he burst out into a faint chuckle, shaking his head, and letting out a deep breath with a more prominent smile. “But I suppose that’s not entirely accurate, is it?” He said, eyeing me with rousing interest. “You... human...”

Unsurprisingly, I didn’t share his amusement, and steered the conversation elsewhere. “You here for the event?”

He maintained his smile. “Who do you believe is organizing it?”

Of course...

“Didn’t realize Christmas celebrations are a viable way to launder money.”

“It isn’t,” He nonchalantly replied. “As I said, I have my little enjoyments, don’t I? And who doesn’t enjoy a good Christmas?”

“So this event is all from the good of your heart then?”

Think he could sense my distaste for him in my tone, and if so, he continued to play along. “What little there is left of it.”

Again, the topic switched, this time his turn taking the wheel. “I heard you paid your parents a visit a while ago. How has your father been doing?”

“You could ask him yourself,” I suggested.

He snorted, hearing my distaste even stronger. “Taking up your precious time, am I?”

“Not as precious as yours, surely,” I said, keeping the courtesy in my voice. “Wouldn’t want to distract you from your little enjoyments, after all.”

Laughter everywhere. Happiness in droves. Maybe that’s why he was in such a good mood today, smirking the way he was.

“One last thing, then...” He muttered before he lifted his cane, pointing the other end of it just over my shoulder. “Is that one over there one of yours?”

A little bemused, I warily shifted my eyes over in the same direction. It took only a moment, a second to spot it, that color – in the breeze – that flutter and sway of violet amidst all the other colors frolicking about.

Sera was wandering the place, not a care in the world – a cardboard box in her hands as she followed another man’s pace wearing a familiar-looking round bowler hat. She placed the box on the table, before turning back around to take another from a pile nearby – all the while, a familiar bundle of white by her the hems of her swaying cloak clumsily struggled to keep pace.

What the hell was she doing out of the forest? alone especially? Don’t tell me the commotion outside has attracted her interest like some sort of magnet.

Seriously... she just does what she wants, doesn’t she?

My stunned silence affirming his guess, the man slowly lowered his cane back down.

“I have her helping out for a while now. She seemed quite eager,” He said, a little tinge of curiosity in his tone. “For the record, I suggest stashing your business somewhere a little better... wouldn’t want to attract the wrong type of attention now, would you?”

Without wasting another second, I began to march, throwing him only a single dull stare. “Duly noted.”

“Oh, I almost forgot as well,” He called out, and I stopped myself in place. “From what I’ve gathered... you seem to be good friends with my son all of a sudden. Hearing Leon describe you in detail was quite a bizarre coincidence, I must say. He also seems to have taken quite a liking to you... to the point of even giving up one of his fine horses. Tell me, how did this ever come about?”

“Well...” I turned again, briefly meeting his gaze with a raised stare. “Funny the places you meet all kinds of people, don’t you agree?”

Then for once, the man with the cane formed another smirk, and I felt no aversion to seeing his expression. “You’ve changed quite a bit since we last met, haven’t you?”

I didn’t answer that one, mostly because I was already moving again, weaving through the crowd... and when I quickly glanced back again – the man was nowhere to be seen.

Gone.

And if my only Christmas gift was to never see him again in my life, this would turn out to be the best Christmas ever.

Here’s hoping...