Across from her, William stood smiling at her, standing with Lord Kaito and Lady Clara, behind the small table that contained containing the sake andsmall fruits that was needed for the ceremony.
He beamed at her, his eyes filling with obvious pride. Ella smiled back; her heart full.
The first meeting between Ryu and William had been the opposite of amicable, to say the least. After Ella had been healed of the wounds caused by Kenji’s treachery, Ryu had taken her on another flight on Ember, his firedrake. They’d landed in Strayhaven in the early hours of the morning, and Ella had led Ryu to the house she’d shared with William, her heart pounding in anticipation. She couldn't wait for William, her foster father, to meet Ryu.
She’d marveled at how different the village had seemed with Ryu at her side. What had once been her home had become her prison, and now, it was a place where the fondest memories of her childhood lived.
As they approached the familiar wooden door, Ella took a deep breath, her hand trembling slightly as she knocked. Moments later, the door swung open, revealing a tall, stern-looking man with graying hair and kind eyes. It was William, her guardian and the man who had loved her like a daughter.
His eyes narrowed as he caught sight of Ryu standing beside Ella. "You," he said, his voice laced with frostiness. "I never thought I'd see the day when you would set foot in my home."
Ryu's expression softened, remorse flickering in his eyes. "Mr. Thatcher, I apologize for the pain I caused you and for taking Ella without your consent. I can assure you, my intentions were never to harm her."
William's gaze hardened, his protective instincts for Ella rising to the surface. "Intentions or not, you still put her in danger. And I don't take kindly to those who threaten the safety of my family."
Ella interjected; her voice filled with pleading. "Please, William, hear us out. Ryu has changed. He saved me countless times and has proven his love and devotion. I understand your anger, but I ask you to give him a chance."
William sighed heavily, his stern facade showing cracks of uncertainty. "I've seen the way you look at each other, and I can't deny that you make my little girl happy. But know this, Ryu, if you ever hurt her, I will hold you accountable."
Ryu nodded, his gaze never wavering. "I understand, Mr. Thatcher. I will do everything in my power to protect and cherish Ella. She means the world to me."
As they settled in at the table with steaming cups of tea, an awkward silence hung over the three of them. Ella opened her mouth, unsure of what to say to break the silence, when there was a knock at the door.
William went to twitch his curtain back and look out of the window. He turned to Ella, his face grave.
“Ella, stay here.”
“But I want to come too!”
William shook his head. “It’s safer this way. Please.”
As she heard raised voices, Ella flew to the door, her heart pounding with a mix of apprehension and determination. Ryu was a silent shadow at her side as she drew the door open behind William, facing the villagers of Strayhaven after nearly a year away from them.
The tension in the air was palpable as a group of men and women stood outside the cottage, their disapproving whispers filling the evening air.
In a flash, Ella understood that the villagers had come to meet William at his home, all of them united in their disapproval of Ryu’s presence in Strayhaven.
The man in front was arguing heatedly with William. Ella could feel their judgmental stares, their resentment toward her for returning with an outsider.
“Please, everyone," Ella began, her voice steady yet tinged with emotion. "I understand your concerns, but please hear me out."
The villagers exchanged wary glances, their arms crossed in defiance. One villager stepped forward, his voice filled with bitterness. "We don't need your kind here, Ella. You've brought trouble upon us."
“Yes,” another man cried, his face dark with anger. “You’re nothing but a witch. And now you’ve brought one ofthemwith you!” he said, pointing an accusing finger at Ryu. “Bloodthirsty, arrogant creatures," he muttered under his breath.
Ryu's eyes blazed with anger as he faced the villagers, his voice thundering with authority.
"If that's how you feel, then perhaps I shouldn't have bothered saving you at all. If you think so little of the lives I protected, then you have no right to judge Ella or me."
The villagers recoiled, but Ryu gave them no quarter, he stepped forward, meeting their angry stares head on.
"Do you not remember the day the Osmarian pirates arrived, ready to enslave your people? We were the ones who fought back, who saved you from that fate."
The villagers exchanged uncertain glances, their anger wavering in the face of Ryu's passionate defense. One of them spoke up, their voice quivering. "But the pirates... they came after the Elves arrived."
Ryu's gaze held unwavering resolve. "We did not invite the pirates, nor did we bring them upon you. It was us who vanquished them, who ensured the safety of Strayhaven."
Pressing the advantage, Ella stepped forward, trying her best to keep her face neutral, trying not to scare off the villagers with her anger. “Ryu is not the enemy. He saved our village from the Osmarian pirates who sought to enslave us. He and his companions fought off the pirates and ensured our safety.” She met the gaze of the man in front of the crowd, watching as realization filled his eyes. She kept her voice calm, trying to project her conviction “Perhaps you’ve noticed that since then, there have been no pirate attacks on Strayhaven.”
