Chapter 240: Linsley's Dance With Lucy
For a moment, Lucy was silent.
Then, as if deciding there was no harm in it, she closed her eyes and whispered something too quiet for him to hear.
With both hands, she released the lantern.
It floated upward, moving with a grace that set it apart from the others. As it rose, the surrounding lanterns followed suit, gathering around it and soaring into the sky together.
The scene above them transformed into a breathtaking galaxy of light, the lanterns spreading like stars across the dark canvas.
Linsley's gaze lingered on Lucy as the golden glow reflected in her eyes. "What did you wish for?"
Lucy glanced at him, a playful smile tugging at her lips. "That's a secret."
He chuckled softly. "Of course it is."
The two of them stood in silence for a while, bathed in the golden light of the lanterns as they faded into the night sky.
For the first time in what felt like forever, the world seemed small and quiet, and Lucy let herself simply exist in the moment.
…
The quiet serenity of the garden gave way to laughter and music once more as they made their way back toward the busier section of the park.
A new attraction loomed ahead—an enormous roller coaster whose glowing tracks spiraled through the air like trails of stardust.
Lucy eyed it skeptically. "Another roller coaster?"
Linsley smirked, his grin practically devilish. "Didn't we already do this?"
"This one's different," he assured her, his tone brimming with mischief. "Trust me."
"I don't know if trusting you is a good idea anymore," Lucy muttered, though the corners of her mouth twitched with amusement.
They climbed into the coaster car, the tracks glowing faintly in the darkness. The ride started with a slow ascent, the click-click of the wheels building anticipation.
Lucy shifted slightly, her wings brushing against the seat as she glanced at him. "If this is just another normal ride—"
Linsley grinned and snapped his fingers. A ripple of his Real Fantasy gift shot out around them.
The roller coaster car lifted off the tracks.
Lucy gasped as the ground fell away, the car soaring into the open air.
The entire park below blurred into a sea of shimmering lights as the surroundings transformed into a vast, endless night sky.
Actual shooting stars streaked past them, close enough to feel like they could reach out and touch them.
"Linsley!" Lucy shouted, her wings flaring instinctively as the car twisted and looped through the stars.
Her alarm quickly gave way to exhilaration, laughter bubbling up as they spiraled around constellations that shimmered to life. Patterns of golden light connected the stars into familiar shapes—mythical creatures, flowers, and galaxies—stretching out across the sky.
"See? Better than the last one," Linsley said, his voice carrying over the rush of wind.
"You're impossible!" Lucy yelled back, though her laughter betrayed her enjoyment.
At the apex of the ride, the car slowed, giving them an uninterrupted view of the world below.
The park glowed like a jewel, its lights twinkling in harmony with the stars around them.
The wind swept through Lucy's silver hair and brushed against her wings, making her look almost otherworldly.
She turned to Linsley, her golden eyes reflecting the constellations. "You really can't help showing off, can you?"
"Only for you," he replied with a grin.
Before she could respond, the coaster plunged back into its descent, weaving through loops and turns that felt as if they were dancing with the stars.
By the time the ride ended, Lucy stepped off with slightly unsteady legs, a breathless smile on her face. "You might actually be trying to kill me."
"Nonsense," Linsley said, offering her his hand. "I'm just making sure you have the best time of your life."
She took his hand, shaking her head with an exasperated smile. "You're lucky you're good at it."
"I aim to please," he replied with a wink.
They walked away from the glowing ride, the sound of laughter and music filling the air once more.
The night felt alive with magic, and for the first time in a long while, Lucy found herself forgetting the weight of her responsibilities.
And Linsley—Linsley was content to see her smile.
…
Their path led them through quieter parts of the amusement park, where the crowds thinned and the cheerful noise softened into a distant hum.
The golden lanterns lining the path grew sparser, replaced by towering trees whose branches stretched like guardians over the winding walkway.
Lucy tilted her head curiously when she noticed the faint strains of soft music drifting through the air, carried on the gentle night breeze. "What's that?"
"You'll see," Linsley replied, his usual smirk tempered by something quieter—an almost wistful anticipation.
The grove opened into a secluded pavilion, bathed in the pale silver glow of the moonlight.
Vines adorned with luminescent flowers curled around the pavilion's carved stone pillars, casting faint ripples of light across the open floor.
Tiny motes of magic—like drifting stars—floated lazily through the air, swaying in time with the soft, ethereal music that seemed to come from nowhere and everywhere at once.
Lucy stopped at the threshold, her wings twitching faintly as she took in the sight. "A… dance pavilion?"
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"Seems like the perfect way to slow things down," Linsley said, stepping forward and turning to face her.
He extended his hand, his silver hair catching the moon's glow. "Shall we?"
Lucy hesitated, her golden eyes flicking between his offered hand and the pavilion floor. "I've never danced before."
"Then I'll teach you," Linsley said, his voice confident but gentle, as though daring her to trust him.
She sighed softly, almost as if debating with herself, before reaching out and placing her hand in his. "Fine. But if I trip, it's your fault."
"I'll take the blame," Linsley replied, his smirk returning as he guided her into the center of the pavilion.
With a wave of his free hand, his Real Fantasy gift rippled through the air. The tiny motes of light brightened and began to drift closer, swirling gently around them like suspended stars.
The music grew richer, its rhythm slow and melodic, wrapping around the moment like a tender embrace.
Linsley placed one hand lightly on Lucy's waist, his other hand still holding hers. "Relax. Just follow my lead."
Lucy stiffened slightly at first, her wings fluttering with unease. She looked down at her feet, her movements hesitant. "I'm going to step on you."
"You're doing fine," Linsley assured her, his tone softer now. "One step at a time."
He guided her carefully, his movements fluid and confident, until Lucy found her rhythm.
Slowly, her tension eased, and her steps grew steadier. The faint blush on her cheeks was visible even in the soft light as she glanced up at him.
"You're a good teacher," she murmured, her voice quieter than before.
"And you're a quick learner," Linsley replied, his silver eyes meeting her golden ones.
The floating lights began to spiral around them, twinkling like stars caught in an eternal dance.
The soft glow brushed against Lucy's wings, setting her feathers aglow with a celestial brilliance that made her seem even more ethereal.
As they moved across the pavilion floor, the rest of the world seemed to fall away.
The music, the lights, even the trees surrounding them became background to the quiet connection shared between them.
Lucy's gaze softened as she looked up at him, her usual guarded expression replaced by something more open—more vulnerable. "You're… not what I expected," she said softly.
Linsley raised a brow. "Oh? And what did you expect?"
"I'm not sure," she admitted, her voice almost lost to the music. "But it wasn't this."
Linsley smiled faintly, his tone sincere. "I'm full of surprises."
The final notes of the music lingered in the air as the lights began to drift upward, forming a soft canopy of stars above them.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Lucy's golden eyes reflected the lights around them as she gazed at him, her hand still resting lightly in his.
"Thank you," she whispered.
Linsley tilted his head, the question unspoken but clear in his expression.
"For today," Lucy continued, her voice steady but soft. "For everything."
Linsley's gaze lingered on her for a moment longer before he replied, his voice carrying the same quiet weight. "You deserve it, Lucy."
…
The final stop of the evening brought them to the edge of a shimmering lagoon.
The water mirrored the lights of the park, its surface rippling gently with the faintest breeze.
Crowds had begun to gather at a distance for the announced "Eternal Light" fireworks finale, but Linsley led Lucy to a quiet spot far removed from the others.
"This is the last stop," Linsley said, sitting down on the cool grass.
He patted the spot beside him. "Best seats in the park."
Lucy settled next to him, her wings folding neatly behind her as she gazed across the lagoon. "It's beautiful here."
"It's about to get better," Linsley replied with a smirk, raising his hand.