Time passed little by little.
From the early hours of morning to the fading afterglow of the setting sun, it felt as though time itself had slowed, distorting the day until it no longer resembled what it had been before.
The children and teenagers who had been playing earlier gradually began to leave, likely heading home for dinner. One after another, they disappeared from the shoreline, until only three sets of footsteps remained along the entire coast.
Rather than a simple walk, the atmosphere now carried a strange weight—something unusual, something that lingered beneath the surface.
"How are you feeling today?"
Finn's eyes drifted toward the two women beside him. He already knew the significance of today.
Most of the games they had played earlier had only been a way to pass the time. The real work—the creation of spellcraft, the study of magic, and the mutual exchange of knowledge over the Darkhold—was what truly mattered. That was why he asked.
Still, today's walk had brought a rare and welcome calm.
As for Finn himself, he wasn't someone who needed constant battle to feel fulfilled. He believed in balance—the combination of work and rest. Without real downtime, it became increasingly difficult to summon the energy needed to face the darker things lurking on the horizon.
"I feel okay today," the Dark Witch replied honestly. "Not too good, not too bad."
She didn't bother sugarcoating it. If this walk had been more like an actual trip or tour, she might've felt more satisfied. But it wasn't bad, all things considered. There would be plenty of time for deeper plans and movement later on.
No need to stress or rush—at least, not yet.
"And you?" Finn asked, his gaze shifting to the other witch. He hoped for a more definitive answer, something positive that might reflect success in their shared time.
Because otherwise, if even this walk couldn't bring a sense of ease, then perhaps it had been a waste after all.
"Me?" she echoed, pausing for a moment before answering. "Actually, for me, I feel pretty good. Not much pressure."
For her, just being able to walk side by side with Finn like this already meant a lot.
Things had changed drastically in the recent past. Time had become tight and heavy. If she wanted to stand against the growing threats—forces that seemed to multiply in shadow—she needed to use these moments of calm wisely.
She had to improve.
Otherwise, when the darkness came again, she would be caught unprepared—and the consequences could be devastating.
"Do you have any troubles?" Finn asked her suddenly. "You seemed a little distracted today."
His tone wasn't accusatory—more like gentle concern.
After all, witches like her carried immense power, and inner turmoil could destabilize everything. A flicker of doubt in someone like her could destroy worlds.
"Yeah," said the Dark Witch softly, chiming in to support Finn. "Tell us. If there's something wrong, we can work it out together. There's no need to keep secrets between us."
She understood the other woman's heart too well. But even so, she wanted her to speak openly—it would help.
"Generally speaking, it's nothing too difficult," the witch admitted after a moment of hesitation. "It's mostly about what Fin—" she corrected herself, "—what was said before."
Worry flickered in her eyes.
What if the enemy's forces really did come to them? Would they be strong enough to resist? What if the protections they'd built weren't enough?
And even beyond those known threats, there were the mysterious figures waiting in the months ahead—beings whose power remained unknown, whose intentions were hidden.
All of it weighed on her like an invisible chain.
Was there even a solution to this?
"I've already told you," Finn replied calmly. "Right now, these aren't the things we need to worry about. If those forces do come knocking, we'll deal with them. We'll destroy them, if that's what it takes."
He spoke with certainty, as if the dark forces they feared were no more threatening than smoke in the wind.
Even though he knew how dangerous those enemies were—knew their power and intent—Finn didn't flinch.
His calm was unshakable.
Where others like Stephen Strange might have wavered or strategized endlessly, Finn simply chose confidence. He believed in their strength, believed in himself.
"I know you're right," the witch said. "But whenever I think about how strong they are, I can't help but worry. I just… I don't know how to stop."
Her voice was quieter now, weighed down by fear she hadn't meant to show.
Hearing her speak like that, Finn and the Dark Witch exchanged a glance.
They both understood her mindset perfectly—but even then, neither of them said what they were really thinking.
Today wasn't the day for hard truths. Not yet.
Telling her the whole truth now would only make things worse. She was already afraid. Revealing more would only breed more doubt—and that, in a being like her, could be dangerous.
Not because she couldn't handle it—but because she cared too deeply.
Still, the questions wouldn't stop. Her heart wouldn't let go.
"Witch," Finn said gently. "Don't worry too much. Even if those forces come, I believe I'll find a way to deal with them. Completely."
He walked closer, reached out, and gently touched her head—a silent reassurance. A promise.
"Okay," she whispered, nodding. "I'll try not to overthink it. I'll work on letting it go."
Because Finn was right. Worrying endlessly wouldn't stop an invasion. It would only exhaust her before the fight even began.
"Come on," Finn said, turning toward the shore. "Let's keep walking. We'll head back when it's time."
He didn't want to dwell on things they couldn't control—not today.
The future could wait. For now, the moment was enough.
The two women nodded in quiet agreement and followed after him.
And as for the witch, she held Finn's words close, locking them deep in her heart like an unspoken spell.
For now, she would let the worries rest.
She would trust him.
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