Casual Heroing, Chapter 251

SPARKS ARE FLYING!!! 💖💖💖

Next chapter comes out on March 18th!

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Chapter 251 – Fresh Air

As Lucinda stepped forward, a hush fell over the grand ballroom. Joey, holding a platter of freshly made pizza, turned to her and the other three women with a broad smile. The crowd, abuzz with curiosity and skepticism just moments ago, now watched in silent awe.

"Go ahead, taste it," Joey encouraged, his voice carrying a note of pride and excitement.

The four women, each distinguished in their own right in Amorium, hesitated briefly before curiosity overcame them. Lucinda reached out tentatively, taking a slice. The warmth of the dough against her fingers and the aroma of melted cheese and tomato sauce heightened her senses. Beside her, [Princess] Laurealia, Diana, and Clodia each mirrored Lucinda's anticipation as they took their slice of pizza from the platter.

Together, they bit into the pizza. The crunch of the crust made their eyes go wide as the cheese and sauce flavors melded in their mouths.

The crowd leaned forward, their earlier contempt forgotten, as they witnessed the [Princess], the newly minted [Druid], the gracious host of the night, and Amorium's most talented magician unanimously approve.

Lucinda felt a tear escape her eyes, overcome by the unexpected burst of flavors. Joey's pizza was unlike anything she had ever tasted. It was almost as if she could see another world just by biting into it.

Watching them, Joey's eyes shone. The room around him and Lucinda faded, and for a heartbeat, it was just the two of them sharing a moment of pure, unadulterated joy through their gazes.

[Princess] Laurealia allowed herself a moment of unguarded delight, her regal composure momentarily forgotten. Diana nodded in silent approval at each bite. Clodia seemed to forget all her woes, even her mother and just smiled lovingly at the pizza.

When Lucinda's gaze locked on Joey, something shifted in her. The doubts that had clouded her thoughts seemed insignificant now.

As she took another bite, savoring it completely, Lucinda realized their connection transcended the ordinary.

Another tear ran down her cheek as she swallowed her doubts.

...

As the previous song played by the [Musicians] faded into silence, a new melody began weaving through the grand ballroom of the Valerii’s estate. The slow, enchanting piece was a change of pace.

At that moment, Joey extended his hand to Lucinda – an invitation that spoke louder than words. With hesitance quickly giving way to trust, she placed her hand in his, allowing him to lead her onto the dance floor.

The crowd parted with curiosity, their eyes fixed on the pair. Under the chandeliers' soft golden glow, Joey and Lucinda found themselves enveloped in an atmosphere both electric and intimate. The world outside their bubble blurred into insignificance, leaving only the melody, the dance floor, and each other.

As they began to dance, there was a cautious exploration of movement, a gentle testing of boundaries. Joey guided Lucinda with a grace that belied his usual casual demeanor.

"Sorry for disappearing again and again," he smiled softly.

She followed his lead with an elegance that seemed to draw the very light towards her.

"You're fine," she scoffed kindly. "It's... I understand, Joey."

"I was hoping you would," he said, making her twirl and then bringing her closer to him as more people, now that more pizzas have started to make their way into the ballroom, joined the dancing again.

Joey and Lucinda were, however, completely unaware of them.

The dance floor became their world; the haunting melody wrapped around them like a cloak. Their gazes locked, and a myriad of emotions swirled within – wonder at all the things that brought them here.

Joey's hand at Lucinda's back was a steadying presence, helping to dissolve the last of her doubts. Her hand in his was a symbol of her trust, her willingness to put up with his craziness. They moved as if the music had been composed just for them, in perfect synchrony that left some of the onlookers in wonderment.

As the song neared its end, the intensity of their connection increased. It was almost as if tangible electricity illuminated the space around them. The final notes lingered in the air as Joey's eyes smiled at hers, and he spoke again, "I'll not leave again, I promise."

...

After the dance, Joey and Lucinda stepped out onto the balcony for some air, leaving behind the warmth of the ballroom in exchange for some refreshing chills. The night sky stretched above them. They stood side by side, wrapped in a comfortable silence.

The cool night air was a welcome reprieve, carrying the scent of the estate's gardens.

Finally, Lucinda broke the silence, her voice soft but carrying a weight of emotion. "Tonight... wasn't perfect, Joey. I didn't like being left behind, and… I was worried that was going to be my fate in the future."

Joey turned to her, the moonlight casting soft shadows over his face, highlighting the earnestness in his eyes. "Thank you for telling me," he started, his voice hesitant. "If I have to be honest, when you went up to talk to Augustus, I was kinda fearing you were rethinking the whole Nine Towers thing."

Lucinda shook her head, her purple eyes reflecting the starlight. "I'm not going. I want to learn magic, real magic. So far, Augustus and Titus have only shown politics as their primary competence. That's not who I want to be."

Joey felt a surge of relief mixed with a pang of guilt for having doubted her. "Then, I just want to say, you're more determined than I am. You are more focused and better at keeping your eyes on the target. I… I get lost. I might have even damaged my magic permanently, for all I know. I was feeling insecure that… you know, you'd not want to be with me because of it."

Stepping closer, Lucinda locked her gaze with Joey's. She took his hands in hers, her touch gentle yet firm. "Joey, even if I was only after your magic, you've shown me enough to aspire to become an [Archmage] in my lifetime. And, knowing you, I have absolute certainty, on all the roots of the World's Tree, that you'll figure this one out too."

A few tears escaped his eyes.

This was the second time someone had offered him unconditional support. The first was Irene, and Joey remembered how quickly he had jumped into that relationship – a decision he now contemplated with a hint of regret. This time, he knew he wanted to approach things differently, to take it slower, to ensure he didn't repeat past mistakes.

As they released their hands, Joey held her gaze, looking into her eyes with a mixture of hope and apprehension. "I need some time, you know? Before we do anything. I—I think I'm a bit messed up. I need to find out what happened to my teacher, what's going on with the Dungeon, and resolve some of the troubles with the Royals. I—I need time. I don't want to rush things if that's okay with you."

Lucinda nodded gently, understanding glinting in her eyes. She was about to respond when Tiberius interrupted their moment, stumbling through the balcony door with urgency.

"Joey, we can't find Clodia and Camilla. I think someone might have abducted them."