Chapter 49: I Think It’s Time

"Absolutely, Sarah. What’s up?" I asked, taking a bite of pancake after.

"I uhh..." She paused, and her face suddenly became very serious. "...I think it’s time for my real body to try and get over her fear."

"Oh? What brought this on?" I asked.

"I’m tired of being afraid. And the others get to actually snuggle with you. This body can’t do that..." she replied, lowering her head.

I raised my arm and flexed, slapping my bicep hard enough to create an ear-piercing sound. Wincing slightly, I said, "Give it your all."

She raised her head, meeting my vision.

"Can you come up to the Hot Springs alone?" Micro-Sarah asked.

"Trying to take him for yourself, Sarah?" Damara called from across the table. "Who would’ve thought you would be the first to ask. Huh," she sighed. "Beat me to it too," she added.

"Damara, you may be making this more than it is," I explained.

"I’m only giving you a hard time, Sam. Who am I to be mad? You make us all happy," she replied. "I have some things to do back in town anyways, so it works out perfectly."

I quickly finished the rest of my pancakes and stood up from the table. Damara gathered her things, offering me a playful wink before heading toward the front door.

Katrina just smiled and grabbed the empty plates. The clinking of porcelain under running water filled the kitchen, giving us plenty of space.

With the downstairs suddenly quiet, I made my way toward the stairs. Micro-Sarah flew right beside my ear. Her tiny wings buzzed with a frantic, nervous energy.

Neither of us said a word as we climbed the steps. The wood creaked softly beneath my boots. I knew how massive this was for her. She was a spirit bound to her domain.

Leaving it wasn’t just opening a door; it was breaking a fundamental rule of her current existence. Facing her biggest fear.

I reached the heavy wooden door of the hot springs and grabbed the metal handle. Pulling it open, a familiar wave of warm, humid air washed over me.

The rich scent of cedar and minerals hit my lungs. The dim lighting of the room gave the steaming water a soft, inviting glow.

Micro-Sarah vanished from my shoulder in a quick flash of light. A second later, the water near the center of the large stone pool rippled loudly.

The real Sarah waded toward the shallow edge. The warm water reached just below her waist. She was definitely nervous. She fidgeted with her hands just beneath the surface, taking a slow, deep breath to steady herself.

Her cheeks flushed a deep shade of red as she watched me step into the room and click the door shut behind me.

"So today you come out into the greater world," I said, keeping my voice calm to keep her grounded. "What really made you finally want to come out?"

She stepped out of the water. The moment her bare feet hit the stone tiles, she used her magic to dry herself off almost instantaneously. Above her, the thick canopy of the room shifted. A thick wooden branch grew down toward her, holding a folded white gown. Grabbing it, the limb retreated back into the ceiling. As she stepped toward me, she let the soft fabric drape heavily over her shoulders.

"You. Sam. I’ve been hidden away inside of here for so long. I’m tired of it," she replied, her tone turning surprisingly harsh. She gripped the edges of the gown tightly. "I let so much time pass by me. I sit on your shoulder and watch Katrina and Damara hold your hand. I watch them actually live in this house with you. But no more," she said triumphantly, taking another firm step in my direction. "I will leave these springs."

"That’s the spirit," I shouted, giving her an encouraging nod and waving my hand forward. "So let’s go."

She reached out. Her fingers felt incredibly hot against my skin, still radiating the raw heat of the spring water. She put her hand in mine and squeezed with surprising strength as we turned toward the closed door.

"Only a few steps and we’re there," I whispered.

We began walking. The first few paces were easy. But as we closed the gap to the doorframe, I felt her pull back. A few feet from the threshold, she stopped entirely and began shaking lightly. The magic of the room was actively fighting her, pressing down on her shoulders like a physical weight.

I didn’t pull her or rush her. I just stood firmly by her side and let my thumb rub soothing circles across the back of her hand. I watched as she settled herself. Her breathing slowed down. The violent trembling in her arms slowly faded away. By the time the shaking fully subsided, her eyes had returned to the fierce determination they held previously.

And with that, we took the final step.

We walked past the invisible barrier, letting our feet land flat on the hard wooden floor of the upstairs hallway. The humid air of the springs instantly vanished, replaced by the cool, dry draft of the house.

I turned to Sarah. She had started weeping. Heavy tears ran down her flushed cheeks, dripping onto the collar of her gown.

"I did it," she muttered, rubbing her eyes with her free hand. She looked down at the wooden floorboards, almost unable to believe she was actually standing on them. "Thank you, Sam," she whimpered, throwing her arms around my neck and pulling me into a tight, warm hug.

I wrapped my arms around her waist, holding her close. "I’m proud of you," I whispered into her hair.

She held the hug for a long time, soaking in the reality of the moment. Then, slowly, her crying stopped. Her breathing shifted, growing deeper and much more deliberate.

When she pulled back slightly to look up at me, the innocent vulnerability was entirely gone. Her green eyes locked onto mine, dark and completely focused.

The heat radiating off her skin seemed to spike, burning right through my shirt. She didn’t let go of my neck. Instead, her hands slid to the back of my head, her fingers tangling into my hair as she pushed me firmly back against the hallway wall.

"I’m finally out, Sam," she whispered, her voice dropping into a low, husky register that sent a sudden jolt straight down my spine. She pressed her body flush against mine, eliminating every inch of space between us. "Now... it’s time for you to show me exactly what I’ve been missing."