William woke to the scent of fresh bread.
For a moment, he forgot where he was. The warmth of thick blankets, the distant chatter outside, the lazy crackling of embers in the fireplace—it all felt too foreign, too soft. His body tensed on instinct, waiting for the cold, the hunger, the weight of survival to settle back in.
But it never did.
Instead, there was a knock on his door, followed by Levi's impatient voice.
"C'mon, you're gonna miss breakfast!"
William sighed, dragging himself up. The wooden floor was cool against his feet as he pulled on his coat, shaking off the last remnants of sleep. When he stepped outside his room, Mara was already setting the table, her usual exasperation softened by a knowing smile.
"Finally up, huh?" she teased, handing him a plate.
Elias just gave him a small nod from where he sat, already sipping his morning tea. Levi, on the other hand, was practically vibrating with energy.
"Hurry up, we got a lot to do today!" the boy said through a mouthful of food. "The festival's in two days, and everyone's setting up. We gotta help."
William arched his brow. "We?"
Levi grinned. "Well, me and you. You're part of the town now, so that means you gotta help too."
Part of the town.
The words settled deep in his chest, foreign but… not unwelcome.
He didn't argue.
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The entire town was in motion, buzzing with life in a way William had never seen before. Stalls were being decorated, banners strung across buildings, and the scent of roasting meat filled the air. People moved between tasks with easy familiarity, sharing laughs and playful banter.
And somehow, he was in the middle of it.
He helped hang lights, his strength making short work of lifting crates and setting up tables. He got pulled into a game of tag with a group of kids, their laughter ringing through the streets. An old man even stopped him to give him a piece of sweetbread, patting his shoulder like he was just another neighbor.
It was strange. Warm.
By midday, or the equivalent in a world without a sun he found himself at the town square, watching as Levi struggled to tie a ribbon around a wooden post.
"You're making it worse," William pointed out.
"No, I'm not."
The ribbon fell.
William sighed and crouched down. "Here. Let me."
Levi watched as he tied the knot with practiced ease. "You're really good at that."
"I used to help set up market stalls," William said before he could stop himself.
Levi just grinned. "Guess that makes you an expert."
Something in William's chest ached.
____________________________________________________________________________
By evening, the town had settled. Lanterns cast a soft glow over the streets, and the smell of home-cooked meals filled the air. William sat by the fire with Mara, Elias, and Levi, his hands wrapped around a cup of tea.
It was quiet. Warm. Safe.
Levi was already half-asleep, curled up against Mara's side. Elias sipped his tea, watching the fire with his usual calm.
Mara glanced at William, her gaze knowing. "You're thinking too much."
He blinked. "What?"
She smiled. "You've been looking over your shoulder all day, like you're waiting for something to go wrong."
William hesitated. She wasn't wrong.
"I just…" He exhaled, staring into the flames. "This place is good."
Mara nodded. "It is."
"Things like this don't last."
She didn't deny it. Instead, she placed a hand on his. "That doesn't mean you can't enjoy it while it's here."
William swallowed. He wanted to believe that.
For just one night, he let himself try.