CHAPTER 17. A WEEK TO FOREVER.

Gwen sprang up, sitting upright.

"How long was I out?"

"Just a few hours," Damon replied with a smile, seated beside her.

She glanced around, spotting Zephyr behind her, sitting cross-legged. He stood up slowly and offered a small, quiet smile.

Her head had been resting on his lap.

She looked down, lifting the blanket that covered her—then froze.

"Where’s my shirt?"

Instead of her usual green with black stripes top, she was wearing the red shirt she often tied around her waist.

"It got torn through," Zephyr said casually.

"No, no, no, no..." Gwen muttered, panic building.

"If you want, I can go check the bathhouse," Damon offered. "Maybe the women who helped change you left it there—or they still have it. I’ll ask."

"What I don’t understand," Zephyr said, walking around to stand in front of her, "is why they left the bathhouse with those weird smiles and laughter afterward."

Gwen smirked, teasingly. "Maybe they saw something divine."

Zephyr raised an eyebrow, eyeing her chest. "Seriously?"

"I’ll have you know that whatever you're imagining, you're way off," Gwen said, her smirk growing into a grin.

She reached out a hand toward Damon, who helped her to her feet.

"Let’s go get my shirt," she declared.

They stepped out of the room and eventually out of the house. Outside, they saw buildings being rebuilt, beams and structures slowly rising as townsfolk worked.

"Hey there!" one of the men called, waving at Damon and Gwen.

Damon raised a hand in return—just as a few steel pipes smoothly lifted and shot up to meet him on the rooftop.

"Thanks!" The man grinned, waving again.

They arrived at the bath house and, luckily, spotted the young girls who had helped change Gwen.

"Please excuse me," Damon called politely.

The girls turned—and when they saw Gwen, their eyes lit up with reverent smiles. They giggled quietly, casting knowing glances at one another.

Gwen didn’t even notice them. Her eyes locked onto a basket of clothes. She pointed.

"Is that... my shirt?" She hurried over and picked it up.

"It is!" she beamed.

"It's very worn out," one of the ladies said. "We were planning to throw it away."

"No way," Gwen snapped, though her tone stayed light. "Do you know how long I’ve had this shirt? You have no right!"

"But it's torn—"

"I wash it every day, ya know!"

They started tugging the shirt back and forth. The two women pulled on one end; Gwen clung to the other.

"It's completely ruined!"

"I don't mind!"

With one final pull, the shirt tore in half.

"Ahhhh!" Gwen dropped to her knees, sobbing dramatically over the shredded fabric.

Damon chuckled and approached.

"I could lend you one of mine. I think I probably have almost the same shirt, though I doubt it'll be exactly.

"I wear these designs all the time anyways." He looked down on his cloth. His normal black and blue jean jacket worn over his white shirt, paired with his black trousers.

"The last one got torn by ivy, good thing I packed extras."

Gwen looked up at him with fake tears in her eyes.

"But... it won't be the same..."

"Then I promise—when we leave, I’ll buy you the exact same one." Damon smiled warmly.

Gwen sprang to her feet, then leaned in and whispered to the ladies, "This is my boyfriend, you know."

As expected, the girls shrieked in delight.

"I am not," Damon raised a hand, chuckling warmly.

"He is," Gwen nodded almost immediately.

A faint chime rang in Damon’s ear from no where.

"Grimm's looking for us. We should head back."

He bowed gently to the ladies.

“It was nice meeting you.”

With that, he and Gwen left the bath house.

They stepped into the room where Seraphim lay unconscious, Grimm sitting beside her with several witches gathered around. Zephyr stood at the far end, arms crossed.

“Oh great, you’re here,” Grimm said, smiling.

“What are you doing?” Damon asked.

“Hold on…” Grimm muttered, sliding his hand gently across Seraphim’s upper body and face. “Almost…” He reached between her bust and carefully pulled out a tiny, black, worm-like substance from inside her body. “And…”

The worm was instantly trapped in a cube of light and vanished.

“Now,” Grimm finished.

Immediately, Seraphim jolted awake.

Outside, loud screams erupted—screams of joy. The witches rushed to the window.

The black sky had cleared. After all these years of darkness… daylight had returned.

The morning sun rose with the smiles of the people.

Tears of joy filled the air. People began to cheer. Villagers ran from the room, celebrating in the streets. Only Damon, Gwen, Zephyr, Seraphim, and Grimm remained inside.

Damon smiled as he watched the joy spread outside, then turned to Grimm.

“So… what did you call me for again?”

“Oh, nothing much,” Grimm said, stretching. “Just to witness me basking in the glory of the amazing thing I just accomplished.”

“You are literally a man-child,” Damon said with a grin.

Tug.

Seraphim hugged Grimm from where they both sat.

“Thank you,” she whispered, tears in her eyes.

Then she looked up, wiping her face.

“I assume this is the third time you’ve saved me,” she said with a deeper smile.

Grimm hugged her back with one arm, saying nothing.

Without a word, Zephyr teleported out of the room.

“I’ll be taking my leave now,” Damon said with a slight bow.

He turned with Gwen, and the two walked out together.

Later, the trio lay sprawled on top of the tallest building in town, soaking in the golden glow of dusk.

“It’s funny how we’ve only got like a week and two days left before we start our big adventure,” Gwen said, arms behind her head.

“What’s even funnier,” Damon replied with a smile, “is the fact that we almost died on a five-day trip, and now we’re planning to leave for… probably years.”

Gwen smile, "Almost a week to forever, huh."

Just then, Damon’s head buzzed again.

“Grimm’s calling us—again.”

They followed the witches' directions through winding halls until they reached the designated room.

“What do you need this time?” Damon asked sluggishly as they entered.

Grimm smirked.

“Wasn’t me. She asked for you.”

He nodded toward the throne—toward the Witch Queen.

Seraphim.

Damon’s gaze rose. There she sat, regal and composed. He bowed in respect.

“I believe we had a deal,” Seraphim said, her voice calm but firm.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

Damon looked down with a soft smile.

“Yeah, but… I wasn’t the one who took the worm down.”

He pointed toward Grimm. “He did.”

Seraphim smiled.

“You’re far too honest. I bet you’ve never even told a real lie.”

Grimm rolled his eyes with a smirk.

“Yup. That kid is a walking truth flame. He only lies to protect people—like that time he took the blame for his sister breaking my vase. But when he steals my cookies, he just says, ‘Yeah, I ate it,’ before I even ask.”

Damon let out a short laugh—but it faded quickly, his gaze lowering again.

Gwen’s eyes flicked to him, remembering the time Damon was literally spilling all his details when they first met, but lied about not being hurt when he was caught by the veiled man. That lie still echoed.

Seraphim stood from her throne and stepped down. She gently raised Damon’s chin.

“You,” she said with a small smirk, “are definitely not Grimm’s son.”

“H-Hey,” Grimm flared up. “I mean… yeah, true, but c’mon—”

“I did say it would be my pleasure,” Seraphim added, eyes still on Damon. “So I don’t mind.”

Damon’s eyes lit up. He bowed deeply.

“Thank you.”

From behind, Gwen smiled.

“Guess there’s still one more job left to do.”

And so, the final week passed.

They expanded the homes, reinforced the walls, prepared the grounds for those soon to arrive.

The week flew by—quietly, purposefully.

They returned to Selune's village, the one hidden deep behind the mist. But the moment they stepped through, the clash of weapons echoed through the air.

Without hesitation, they rushed in.

A crowd of villagers had gathered in a circle, and from the center came the rhythmic clang of steel meeting steel.

Velira, drying herself with a towel, spotted them. Her face lit up, and she sprinted forward, wrapping her arms around them in pure joy.

“What’s going on over there?” Gwen asked, squatting low.

“Oh, nothing serious,” Velira replied with a grin. “Just a friendly sparing match.” She gestured them inside.

As the trio stepped into the crowd, the villagers noticed—and a wave of cheers erupted. Laughter and applause filled the air like a festival reborn.

Selune approached, a soft smile on her lips.

“Apparently, when you told them the village was theirs to protect… they took that a little too seriously.”

Just then, a chain-spear hurled straight at them.

Zephyr’s hand moved like lightning—he slapped it mid-air, shattering it to pieces.

“If it isn’t chain freak,” Gwen aaid, smirking.

“I swear I’ll kill you three one day,” Elrond muttered, his eyes locked on Damon, still haunted by the memory of the knockout punch that put him out for three whole days.

“We'll be waiting,” Damon grinned.

“Hey, be nice, Master Elrond!” Myrren scolded from the side.

“Yes, ma’am,” Elrond chirped like a scolded student.

Selune chuckled.

“Ivy and Ladrel went back for him after you reminded them.”

She glanced off for a moment, recalling the memory.

“Myrren, Lori, and Velira said they needed someone to train them. Ivy and Ladrel had someone in mind, but when they returned from the cave, they claimed he refused. So…” she smirked, “they stormed in, set the cave ablaze while he was asleep, and dragged him here.”

A massive fireball came hurtling toward Damon. He raised a hand—and it vanished mid-air like a candle flame snuffed by wind.

“I can control it now!” Myrren beamed.

“In a week? That’s impressive,” Damon said, patting her gently on the head.

“Hey! She’s not the only one!” Velira shouted, dashing over.

“You came back,” Lori said softly as she lightly kicked Zephyr’s shin with her tiny foot.

Zephyr squatted down and patted her head with a faint, warm smile.

“You’ve grown really strong I see." he said.

“You haven’t even seen what I can do yet,” Lori smirked.

“Why don’t you show me then?” Zephyr raised a brow, intrigued.

She grabbed his finger and started pulling him forward, her small hands full of confidence.

Gwen and Damon stood frozen, staring in disbelief as Lori dragged Zephyr away.

Gwen eyes widened.

“What the....?”

Damon blinked.

“Did she just…?”

“Yup.”

They stayed like that—starstruck. Unsure whether to be proud… concerned… or just plain terrified.

Inside the Village House

Damon, Ladrel, Ivy, and the Village Chief—the old woman—sat in a quiet room.

They spoke in low tones about leaving the village, planning their next move. The world outside still tense.

Lori stood firm. Behind her, the sand rippled. A massive figure began to rise—

SAND ARMORED GUARDIAN

Towering as tall as Zephyr. Its body was sculpted from sand, wearing a knight’s armor and helmet, gripping a towering double-edged sword and shield.

Zephyr’s eyes lit up with interest.

Lori summoned another sword, holding dual blades, one in each hand. What was the length of Zephyr’s dagger looked like greatswords in hers.

Lori charged.

Zephyr couldn’t help but grin.

She swung from the side—Zephyr flipped back, whistling sharply. The sound sliced the air like a bullet and flicked Lori’s forehead.

Her head tilted back—then snapped forward with a grin.

She leaped forward and spun in the air, slashing in a wide arc with both blades. Zephyr leapt again—

but the Sand Guardian appeared at his flank.

Zephyr eyes narrowed.

“I didn’t even sense its presence—”

He vanished.

The Guardian's arm was not in place.

Zephyr reappeared, waving the sand arm at Lori with a cheeky smile.

Lori shrieked, her eyes widening in disbelief.

The Guardian’s arm regenerated.

Gwen yelled from the sidelines. “Hey, Zephyr! No cheating!”

Zephyr eyes snapped towards her, "wha—."

Gwen smirked. “You can’t teleport.”

“Then how am I supposed to—”

He dodged the Guardian’s next blade with a head tilt.

“—fight?!”

He flung his arm, and the Guardian’s head flew off, carried by the wind.

Gwen grinned. “And no wind either.”

“What kind of rule is that?!” Zephyr leaped back, dodging Lori, she flew in from above.

Her sword pinning into the ground

“What? Scared she’ll beat you without your powers?” Gwen smirk grew deeper.

Sand guardian immediately falshed in front of Zephyr, blades flashing from side, but Zephyr flipped over it, grabbed it's head, he puffed it into a cloud of sand.

Lori appeared behind him, thrusting a blade toward his back.

Zephyr twisted mid-air, caught her wrist, and gently tossed her forward.

She hit the ground, rolling.

His eyes widened—

“Lori—!”

He ran toward her—

Lori smiled and Sand Guardian respawned at Zephyr's side, swinging fast.

Zephyr leapt back—

But Lori immediately slammed her palm into the ground.

The sand sucked at his limbs, binding his arms and legs.

From above—Lori and her Guardian came down hard—

Two blades—CRASH.

But Zephyr was gone.

The Guardian split clean in half.

Lori shrieked again. Zephyr stood beside her, laughing softly.

Gwen off to the side, whispered something to Myrren and Velira.

They took off—flying right at Zephyr.

Myrren, cloaked entirely in fire, burned like a meteor.

Velira, enveloped in an eagle-shaped water body, sliced through the air.

Zephyr’s eyes snapped wide—he teleported.

Gwen pointed at him. “No cheating, moron!”

“Seriously?! There’s three of them now!” Zephyr leaped back.

“Scaredy cat.” Gwen winked at the girls.

Lori and her sisters stood side by side.

Sand Guardian loomed behind Lori.

Myrren hovered, flame licking the earth beneath her.

Velira, now in a catlike water body, crouched low in a fighting stance.

"Sick 'em, girls!" Gwen yelled.

All three launched at Zephyr.

Myrren shot forward, launching herself like a fireball. Zephyr jerked to the side, and she flew past, crashing behind him. Using the distraction, Lori got in close, slashing at Zephyr from the side, her Sand Guardian swinging down from above.

Zephyr was suddenly at her back. The Sand Guardian had been split in half once more. He swung his hand, aiming to chop Lori on the head.

Lori smiled and leapt back. The sword in her hand vanished, and sand immediately wrapped around Zephyr's leg, locking him in place.

She raised her hand and the sand rose, forming spears. They shot at Zephyr.

Zephyr swung his hand to knock them away, but just as they closed in, the spears split mid-air, circling around and closing in from both sides. Zephyr leapt back and they struck the ground—

—and from the front, Velira came surfing in on Lori's sand spear. She launched herself at Zephyr.

At the same time, Myrren shot in from behind.

Zephyr charged forward toward Velira. She clawed down from above. Zephyr sidestepped, grabbed her wrist, and spun her around—using Velira to knock Myrren away, he tossed her at Lori sending both of them crashing to the ground.

Immediately, Myrren was back at his side, her fist scorching hot. Zephyr tilted back just in time, and as she flew past, he chopped her on the head, knocking her down.

Velira rushed in again, this time cloaked in a bear-shaped water body, towering over 200cm. She clawed from the side—Zephyr caught her hand. The other claw came from the opposite direction—he caught that too.

She struggled, pressing her strength in, and for a second, Zephyr's eyes widened—he felt his hand push back, even just slightly. Seeing brute strength was useless, Velira suddenly switched into her cat water form and leapt back.

Lori came surfing in on sand, Myrren flying in from the other side.

Reaching close, Lori leapt off the wave, flipped over Zephyr, and landed near Myrren. The sand reshaped into a spear and launched at Zephyr from behind, just as Myrren caught Lori’s hand, she spun around, and flung her back towards him.

Lori flew in with a giant sand fist, crashing down. Zephyr tilted his head, the sand spear flying past, then he reached out and caught Lori's fist, she pushed forward, struggling with all her might—but he held steady.

Velira came in from the other side, her fist cloaked in water, surfing at full speed. She struck.

Zephyr’s other hand shot out, catching her mid-blow.

From above—Myrren raised a massive fireball overhead.

Zephyr smiled, impressed.

He swung Lori and Velira aside and appeared in front of Myrren instantly.

Her eyes widened—too late.

CHOP.

He knocked her down with a clean hit.

The three girls regrouped, still persistent.

They smiled at each other.

"Let's do it."

Elrond smiled from the corner, silently.

Myrren fired a wave of flame at Zephyr—just before it hit, Velira quenched it with a blast of water, creating a thick smoke screen.

Immediately, Lori raised her hands, summoning a massive sand tsunami. She hurled it toward Zephyr, burying him beneath. Myrren flew into the air, launching a massive wave of fire down at the sand.

The smoke cleared.

Zephyr stood, trapped in solid glass.

Velira was already up close, launching Sea Serpent forward, drilling into the glass. It cracked—shattered—

—but Zephyr was already behind them.

Smiling.

The girls froze mid-action, shocked. Then they leapt back, still ready to attack.

"I... lose," Zephyr said with a grin.

"You're damn right, you moron!" Gwen yelled.

"How?" Lori asked.

Zephyr chuckled. "I....sorta, kinda teleported."

Their eyes widened. Then all three screamed in joy.

Gwen sat back, smiling. "Those three are gonna be real strong."

"Nice firepower, Myrren." Zephyr high-fived her.

"Awesome sand tsunami, Lori." Another high five.

"And your water forms..." Zephyr turned to Velira with a wink. "They're as beautiful as they are strong."

The girls ran to Elrond.

"Did you see that? Did you!?" they grinned.

Zephyr strolled over and sat beside Gwen.

"Loser," she muttered, not even looking at him. "Never seen you this happy before."

"I'm not." Zephyr replied with a straight face.

"Liar." Gwen chuckled.

Night fall came sooner than expected.

"Did they agree to it?" Gwen asked, lying down, her gaze fixed on the ceiling.

"Yes, they did," Damon answered, sitting beside her. "But they said it's going to be a while—maybe a day or two."

"What's gonna happen to this place then?" Gwen asked.

"That's what we don't know," Damon said, his face etched with concern.

"You're aware it's houses, right?" Gwen smiled at him.

"I'm aware," he smiled back.

"Moron." Gwen ruffled his hair.

. . .

The time came, and Grimm arrived at the village. He opened a portal, and they all began to walk through.

"Be careful... watch your step."

"So you're really going this time?" Velira and her sisters surrounded Zephyr.

Zephyr squatted down, smiling at them.

Tears flowed down Myrren’s cheeks. "Thank you, for everything," she sobbed, trying to fight back her tears. Her mind raced back to when they were always under attack—when people were killed in front of everyone like it was nothing.

"I promise..." she sniffled, "I promise to grow strong, just like you three. So if we ever meet again, I'll be the one who's gonna protect you."

"You better beat up some bad guys for me," Zephyr said, patting her on the head.

Her sobbing grew louder.

"There, there," Velira and Lori comforted her as they guided her toward the portal—being the last to step through.

It was evident, though the three were triplets, Myrren was the youngest.

"You guys plan on going, or do you want to head home?" Grimm asked.

"Nah, we're going home," Gwen smiled. "It’s gonna be even harder if we say more goodbyes."

"Just as I thought," Grimm said with a knowing smile.

The portal immediately shimmered, reversing its rotation.

"Home awaits."

The trio began walking forward.

"Hey," Damon said, stopping mid-step. "What was in the scroll, anyway?"

"Oh, it's nothing," Grimm said quickly, looking away.

"Grimm..." Damon stared at him.

"It was..." Grimm muttered under his breath.

"What was that? I didn’t hear you."

"It was a cooking recipe," Grimm repeated, still looking away—clearly bracing for a reaction.

Damon chuckled.

The trio walked through the portal without another word.