Chapter 478: Getting Used To
With the days that followed, Serah found herself gradually settling into life with the Hunters—an experience that, at first, felt foreign, but soon began to feel strangely comforting. The cabin in the woods, once quiet and unfamiliar, now echoed with laughter, chatter, and the kind of warmth that only came from shared meals and evenings spent together.
Serah began taking interest in the hobbies that filled the Hunters’ days. The first to capture her heart was Billy’s cooking. Marcus hadn’t been lying when he said his old man’s cooking was leagues above his own. The very first taste of Billy’s stew—rich, flavorful, and cooked with a care that could only come from years of practice—had her hooked instantly. It wasn’t just food; it was warmth in edible form. And from that moment on, Serah was determined to learn the art herself.
Billy, ever the patient soul despite his gruffness, was more than happy to teach her. "Cooking’s about feeling, not rules," he often said with that easy grin of his. But even with his guidance, it became quickly apparent that Serah was... well, a disaster in the kitchen. Her first few attempts ended with burnt pans, watery soups, and something that made even Loki, Marcus’s wolf companion, turn his nose away.
At first, Billy genuinely thought his teaching skills had gone dull. But then he remembered he had taught Marcus—an idiot by his own proud admission—and the boy could replicate his recipes decently enough. So, clearly, the problem wasn’t the teacher. It was the student.
Still, Serah never gave up. She was stubborn, determined, and far too proud to be defeated by a pot of stew. By the end of the first month, she had improved enough that Billy finally gave her a nod of approval, declaring her meal "edible." That single word made her beam with pride, as if she’d just won a royal tournament.
Another hobby she took up was fishing—though this time, her teachers differed. Marcus had already shown her the bow-and-arrow method, something that suited his impatient and thrill-seeking nature. But Billy preferred the calm, traditional way—with a fishing rod, a quiet stream, and an abundance of patience. It was the kind of peace that required stillness, something Marcus clearly lacked.
Serah tried joining Billy several times, sitting beside him with her fishing rod, her feet dipping into the cool river water. But no matter how many times she tried, she never caught a single fish. Her line always came up empty, and after many long hours of waiting and failing, she finally accepted her fate. "Maybe I’m just meant for the bow," she had sighed once, earning a laugh from Billy. From then on, she returned to fishing with Marcus—chaotic, noisy, and fun in its own wild way.
Aside from cooking and fishing, Serah stumbled upon something she hadn’t realized about herself—she was, deep down, a flower girl. The small garden behind the cabin became her sanctuary. She spent hours tending to it, arranging wildflowers she found in the forest, and nurturing delicate sprouts. It reminded her of her mother’s royal garden, one she had rarely visited due to her duties. Now, with no obligations weighing her down, Serah found peace among the petals and soil.
And when the sun dipped below the horizon, she discovered yet another quiet joy: stargazing. Almost every night, she’d sit outside, wrapped in a light shawl, gazing at the sea of stars above. More often than not, Marcus would join her—usually perched up in a tree or lying beside her on the grass, cracking jokes or pointing out constellations with names he clearly made up. The two would talk, laugh, or simply sit in silence, letting the night speak for them.
As the months drifted by, Serah realized she had grown far more attached to Marcus than she ever expected. Every shared glance, every laugh, every quiet moment by the fire pulled her closer to him. There was a warmth about him—a wild, untamed charm that clashed with her disciplined upbringing, yet drew her in all the same. And though neither of them voiced it outright, the bond between them deepened with each passing day.
Marcus, never one to hide what he felt, showed it in his own ways—in his teasing, his protectiveness, and those rare, fleeting moments when his grin softened into something sincere. Serah, on the other hand, felt her heart quietly surrendering to him, piece by piece, until she could no longer deny what had taken root within her.
***
Slowly but surely, four months had passed since Serah had left Ilis, the royal palace, and all her royal duties behind to embark on a journey of self-awareness and restoration. In those months, she had lived a life vastly different from the one she once knew, surrounded not by nobles and servants, but by Marcus Hunter and his father, Billy, in the quiet wilderness of Tnaji, a tranquil forest tucked at the very edge of Zone 19, overlooking the vast, glimmering waters of Stav Lake.
The Fall season had arrived in all its quiet beauty. The once-lush forest had traded its vibrant greens for hues of amber and gold, and each gentle breeze sent leaves cascading to the earth like slow-dancing embers. The air had grown crisp, biting softly at the skin, and the scent of drying grass and fading flowers lingered faintly in the wind.
The sun rose over Tnaji in a warm, honeyed glow, spreading across the treetops and spilling over the cabin that Serah now called home.
Stepping out into the morning light, Serah took in a deep breath of the cold air. She wore her usual black tank top tucked neatly into fitted leather trousers, her red hair tied high in a ponytail that caught the wind like a flicker of flame. As she stepped down from the cabin porch, she stretched her arms lazily, closing her eyes to feel the sun’s soft touch against her skin.
"Good morning, princess."
Her eyes opened at the familiar voice. She looked up to see Marcus perched on the cabin’s roof, one leg dangling off the edge, his dark eyes glinting mischievously as he gazed down at her. The morning light danced against his tanned skin and messy dark hair.
"What are you doing up there?" Serah asked, an amused smile tugging at her lips.
"Nothing really," Marcus said casually, leaning back on his hands as his gaze drifted toward the horizon. "Just admiring the sunrise and the fall colors. Pretty view, right?" Then, glancing back at her, he grinned. "So, sleep well?"
Serah raised a brow at him, her smirk deepening. "Yeah, I did. Just like always."
"Glad to hear it," Marcus said, his grin widening. With that, he stood and leapt gracefully off the roof, landing just a few feet in front of her. "Well, I’ll see you later. Got some wood to chop—winter’s creeping up fast, and I’d rather not freeze my royal guest to death."
Before Serah could reply, Marcus moved closer, his steps light and deliberate. Then, without warning, he leaned in and pressed a quick kiss against her cheek.
Her eyes widened as he immediately darted back, a mischievous grin plastered across his face.
"...See you laterrr~!" he called out in a playful tone as he dashed toward the forest, axe in hand, laughing like a mischievous child who had just pulled off the greatest heist in history.
For a moment, Serah just stood there, stunned. Her fingers slowly lifted to touch the spot on her cheek where his lips had brushed.
"Did... did he just kiss me?" she muttered to herself, her cheeks blooming a soft crimson as her heart skipped a beat.
"I believe," came a deep, calm voice from behind her, "that’s what one would call a ’perk.’"
Serah startled slightly, spinning around to see Billy standing at the doorway, a chewing stick resting in the corner of his mouth as usual. His calm, knowing expression almost made her blush deepen.
"Saints above, you scared me," Serah said, exhaling in relief.
Billy chuckled. "The Phoenix of Solara, startled by an old man like me? Now that’s something I never thought I’d see."
"I wasn’t scared," she countered quickly, folding her arms. "Just... startled, that’s all."
"Sure you were," Billy said, clearly amused. "Anyway, once you’ve freshened up, meet me by the lakeshore, will you?"
Serah tilted her head, curious. "Sure. No problem. I’ll be there in a minute."
"No need to rush on my account," Billy added with a faint smile as he turned to head toward the back of the cabin. "Take your time."
***
A little while later, after refreshing herself and grabbing a few fruits for breakfast, Serah made her way toward the lakeshore. The morning mist still clung low to the ground, and the surface of Stav Lake shimmered like glass under the sunlight. She had thrown on a long-sleeved shirt over her tank top, the sleeves slightly rolled up, her breath visible in the cool air.
When she reached the water’s edge, she spotted Billy sitting calmly in a small wooden rowboat, his posture relaxed, his gaze fixed on the still water.
"Where are you going?" Serah asked as she approached, stepping lightly over the dew-damp grass.
Billy turned his head slightly, meeting her gaze with that easy, collected smile. "Hm? Nowhere," he said simply. "We’re going fishing."
Serah blinked, glancing at the boat and then back at him.
"We?" she echoed.
Billy chuckled softly, patting the space beside him on the boat. "Aye. You’ve survived my cooking lessons, Princess Serah. Let’s see if you can survive the patience of the lake."