Welcome to the Innocent World - Chapter 55

Chapter 55: Leaving the Winds

Sunlight poured over the street as Athlea stepped out of the building, her dress catching the light and casting a soft glow around her. My heart stopped for a second. She looked stunning, her figure wrapped in a deep red dress that hugged her in all the right places. She’d done her hair in loose waves, her cheeks a faint shade of pink as she caught me staring.

“Y-You look so stunning, Athlea…” I stammered, unable to hide the blush spreading across my face.

She tilted her head shyly, a smile tugging at her lips as she looked me over.

“Thank you, Austin. You look… really handsome too.” Her voice softened on the last word, and for a moment, she seemed lost in thought.

We stood there for a heartbeat, taking each other in, until the sound of an approaching engine pulled us back. The car—a sleek blue Lamborghini—glided to a stop in front of us. An older man in a neat black uniform stepped out, holding a key in his hand.

“Mr. Austin,” he greeted, bowing slightly as he handed me the key. “Enjoy your drive.”

I thanked him, and as he left, I turned to Athlea with a grin, holding out my hand. “Come on, Athlea, let’s go.”

She hesitated, looking from my hand to my face. A faint blush crept up her cheeks again, but she reached out, placing her hand in mine.

Her fingers were soft and warm, fitting perfectly. “Thank you, Austin… for having me,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper, as if she were afraid to break the magic of the moment.

I opened the door for her, watching her as she settled into the passenger seat, the red of her dress a stark contrast against the black leather interior. Once she was comfortable, I closed the door and moved around to the driver’s side, sliding in and gripping the steering wheel.

The engine purred to life, and as we pulled onto the road, Athlea looked around the car in awe, her fingers tracing over the sleek lines of the dashboard.

“This car is incredible,” she murmured. She turned to me, eyes wide with curiosity. “Who does it belong to?”

“It’s ours,” I replied with a playful grin, glancing over to catch her reaction.

She gasped, covering her mouth with her hand. “Wait—what? You… you got a Lamborghini for us?”

I shrugged, trying to keep my tone casual. “Only the best for you.” I winked, and her cheeks turned a deep shade of red, her gaze darting to the window.

As I drove, my mind flashed back to Eta, who had made this all possible. When I’d asked her if I could have a car for this trip, she hadn’t hesitated. Within minutes, she’d arranged everything, funding the entire rental with her usual efficiency. Eta was a powerhouse, running an inter-country trading corporation, all to support the Shadow Mystics—and, of course, me, their leader.

Athlea glanced at me, her lips curving into a shy smile. “You’re really something else, Austin… Always full of surprises.”

I chuckled, giving the car a little more speed. The engine responded eagerly, the city blurring past us.

Suddenly, Athlea let out a small squeal, clutching the edge of her seat as we sped down the road. “Austin! Slow down! You’re scaring me!” she laughed nervously, though her eyes sparkled with excitement.

“Alright, alright,” I replied, easing off the gas. “Didn’t mean to frighten you.” I cast her a playful look. “Though, you seem to be enjoying it.”

She rolled her eyes, but a smile tugged at the corners of her mouth as she glanced out the window, watching the world rush by. The city was fading into the distance, giving way to open roads lined with trees and the occasional quaint village. Athlea seemed lost in the view, her eyes gleaming with wonder.

As we drove in comfortable silence, my thoughts drifted back to three nights ago.

Three Days Ago

It was late, and I’d come to her door, unable to contain my excitement. Athlea answered, looking surprised to see me standing there so late, a ticket in each hand.

“Athlea, look what I got!” I held up the tickets, grinning.

Her eyes lit up with curiosity as she glanced at the tickets, then back at me. “What are these for?”

“It’s a surprise.” I grinned, watching her face for her

reaction. “Tickets to the new amusement park opening in the next town. They’re going to have roller coasters, theaters, and even a five-star hotel. I thought it would be fun for us to go… you know, just for a few days.”

Her expression softened, but then she hesitated, biting her lip.

“Austin, I don’t know… My husband… he’s away, and I don’t think I should leave for three days…”

Her voice trailed off, and I could see the worry in her eyes. I took a step closer, placing my hands gently on her shoulders.

“Come on, Athlea. It’ll be fun, I promise. You’ve been handling so much… you deserve to relax, to get away from it all.”

Her gaze flickered to mine, searching my face as though she wasn’t sure if she could let herself give in. “I… I don’t know…”

“Please,” I whispered, leaning in just a bit closer. “It’ll just be a few days, no one has to know, and I really want to take care of you, even if it’s just for this weekend.”

I could feel her resistance slowly melting away as she sighed, her shoulders relaxing under my grip. After a long pause, she finally nodded, a small smile breaking through.

“Alright… just a few days.”

“Perfect! Thursday morning at 10 a.m. I’ll come get you.” I couldn’t help but grin as I imagined the trip, my heart racing with excitement.

Present

The memory brought a smile to my face as I glanced over at Athlea, who was still admiring the passing scenery.

Soon enough, we arrived at the amusement park. The gates loomed ahead, tall and adorned with intricate gold designs, lights twinkling like stars. The energy in the air was contagious; families, friends, and couples all chattered excitedly, waiting for the grand opening.

We joined the line, our VIP passes catching the sunlight as they scanned them and handed us black and gold wristbands.

Athlea slipped hers on, studying it with a mixture of curiosity and excitement. I couldn’t help but feel a surge of pride—this was our moment, an escape from reality, even if just for a few days.

Standing in front of the massive gates, I glanced at Athlea, who was taking it all in with wide eyes.

“Ready?” I asked, squeezing her hand lightly.

She took a deep breath, her face glowing with anticipation. “I’m ready.”

The countdown began. “Three… two… one…”

With a grand flourish, the gates swung open, and a burst of water from nearby fountains shot into the air as music filled the park. People began streaming inside, their laughter and excitement filling the space around us. I turned to Athlea, holding out my hand once again.

“Shall we?” I asked, giving her a warm smile.

She blushed, her fingers intertwining with mine as she nodded. “Yes, let’s go.”

We walked through the gates together, the world around us seeming to fade into the background. It felt as though this was our own little world, one where worries and responsibilities didn’t exist.