Chapter 13: The Weight of the World... or Not?

The soft rustling of leaves was the first thing I noticed when I woke up. That, and the dull ache in my back from sleeping on the ground. But honestly, it wasn't that bad. The earth was surprisingly soft, like a giant pillow made by nature itself. I stretched slowly, rolling my neck from side to side as I let the warmth of the late morning sun wash over me.

"Mm… the sun is nice today," I murmured to myself, half-contemplating the possibility of just staying here forever. After all, the trees were thick, the air smelled sweet, and the world felt just the right amount of calm. It was everything I could want in a quiet, lazy day.

It wasn't like I had anywhere important to be or any big tasks waiting for me. Sure, the whole Heart of Shadows business still lingered in the back of my mind, but… well, that could wait, right?

I yawned, feeling the sun on my skin. This was the kind of peaceful existence I could get used to. Who needed adventures and world-saving when there was grass this soft? A perfect spot to nap, and a perfect day to forget all the heavy things.

The birds sang cheerfully in the trees, and I lazily watched them hop from branch to branch. Their carefree movements made me smile. If only I could live as carefree as they seemed. It wasn't like I didn't have the power to do whatever I wanted, but sometimes it felt... like a lot of responsibility. And, frankly, responsibility was exhausting.

"Too much thinking," I muttered, shaking my head as I let my body sink deeper into the ground. "Just... no thinking today."

It was the perfect time for a nap—at least for me. The world could keep turning without me for a little while. The darkness of the shadows from yesterday's encounter with Ezra had almost faded from my memory. The lingering weight of it wasn't as strong anymore, and the sunshine in the forest felt so much lighter.

I closed my eyes again, letting the warmth seep into my bones. I didn't have to deal with anything. No one could make me. I was Aria Velanova, the one who didn't care about the chaos others wanted to throw at her.

That thought, oddly comforting, stuck with me.

But, as if the world decided it had been too peaceful for too long, a voice pierced through the tranquility, ruining my plans.

"Aria," a familiar voice called from a distance.

I sighed and cracked open one eye, already annoyed. Why did they always come to bother me when I was at peace?

I groaned and sat up slowly, pushing my hair out of my face as I squinted toward the voice. Of course, it was Aldric. His presence was unmistakable even from a distance, though he hadn't been very impressive in terms of speed.

"Didn't I already tell you I was resting?" I called back, my voice carrying lazily through the trees.

Aldric stepped into the clearing a few moments later, still looking way too serious for my liking. His eyes darted around, but he didn't seem surprised to find me lounging in the middle of a forest.

"You didn't seem like the type to... nap for long," he remarked, his eyes narrowing slightly at my obvious lack of concern for whatever he thought was urgent.

"Look, I don't know who told you that I'm some sort of superhero who needs to be constantly vigilant, but I'm really just more of a nap enthusiast," I replied with a smile that was about as relaxed as my current mood. "That's how I prefer to operate. Takes the stress away."

Aldric paused, seemingly caught off guard by my laid-back response. "But... you have powers, Aria. The Heart of Shadows—it's dangerous. Shouldn't you be looking for a way to control it?"

I scratched my head, letting out a dramatic sigh. "Ugh, fine, I get it. Dangerous Heart, world at risk, yadda yadda yadda... I'll get to it eventually. But for now, do you really think this forest is just going to destroy itself while I nap?"

He stared at me, looking almost exasperated. "I'm trying to warn you. There are others who are actively searching for you, for the Heart. Powerful people who will not stop until they get what they want."

"And I'm sure they'll be just so disappointed when they find out I'm too busy napping to deal with them," I replied lazily, lying back down on the grass. "I'm really not in the mood for epic battles today. Can't I just enjoy my nap without being reminded of how important I am?"

Aldric frowned deeply, clearly not expecting this level of nonchalance. "But what if the Heart has the power to change everything? What if it's the key to some greater threat that you aren't even aware of yet?"

I was half-tempted to let out a dramatic yawn. "What if the world does need me? Then I'll show up. Right now, I'm enjoying the world the way it is: slow, peaceful, no big worries. If someone wants to take my power, they're welcome to it. But not today. Maybe tomorrow."

I closed my eyes once more, letting the weight of my exhaustion settle over me again. As much as Aldric's words hung in the air, they didn't have much impact on me. I'd deal with things when I was ready, not a moment sooner.

Aldric stood there for a moment longer, but I could hear the frustration building in his voice. "This is absurd. You're taking this too lightly. There's a real threat out there."

"You're overestimating the threat," I mumbled without opening my eyes. "If they come, I'll be ready. I'm not helpless, you know. But I don't need to be on high alert all the time."

There was silence for a moment, and I imagined Aldric trying to process what he had just heard. I could feel him still standing nearby, no doubt thinking I was being reckless. But I wasn't. Not really. I wasn't ignoring the danger. I was just... prioritizing my personal peace over the overwhelming chaos others wanted to create.

Finally, Aldric exhaled loudly, a sound of frustration more than anything else. "I don't know if you're the most frustrating person I've ever met or the most intriguing," he muttered under his breath.

I shrugged, still lying on the grass. "Both, probably. I mean, being both a pain and fascinating at the same time is a pretty impressive skill, if you ask me."

For a long while, he said nothing, and I could feel his gaze on me, but I didn't mind. Eventually, he sighed. "You really do live your life on your own terms, don't you?"

I grinned lazily, eyes still closed. "Of course I do. Why would I waste my life stressing over stuff I can't control?"

"Fine," he relented, after a long pause. "I'll leave you to your... nap. But remember, Aria, this won't wait forever."

"Yeah, yeah," I mumbled. "Come back tomorrow, and we can talk about it. Or not. Either way, I'll still be here. Probably napping."

I heard Aldric walk away, the sound of his footsteps fading into the distance. The moment I was sure he was gone, I let out a satisfied sigh and snuggled back into the grass.

It was nice to be left alone. For once, the world had slowed down enough for me to catch my breath and just... be.

And that was exactly how I liked it.

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