Chapter 302: Celebrations!
Having finished his time with Willow, Jax fell asleep with her in his arms, and only woke up hours later.
He left the chamber, heading to the elevated cliffs overlooking the endless celestial landscape of the Witches Dimension, able to see all the sweeping changes happening all throughout the Dimension from when he arrived to now.
The skies no longer flickered or looked hazy. Instead, the artificial stars burned brighter than before, radiant streams of cosmic mana flowing smoothly across the heavens like glowing rivers woven through the night itself.
Even the air Jax breathed felt much cleared and laced with celestial mana, improving his quality of life.
Below him, Jax could see the once-damaged forests had now returned to vibrant life. Fields of flowers stretched endlessly beneath the drifting starlight, blooming in impossible colors that shimmered faintly with magic.
Looking all across, Jax could see crystal rivers sparkling once again, clear beautiful water flowing continuously all throughout.
Mana flowed freely through the dimension without interruption, with a much higher quality than before, and perhaps most noticeable of all the various changes was that the hazy, oppressive tension that had quietly weighed over everything had disappeared.
The entire world felt like it could finally breathe. Everything felt relaxed now.
As he looked at all of this, Jax sensed Willow, who had woken up, had already changed and now stood beside him quietly for several moments, her emerald eyes reflecting the restored stars overhead.
The changes were far bigger than when they had left here the day before, and that left her stunned.
Not because she doubted Jax, she had the most faith in his power out of everyone she knew, but because she had spent weeks watching the dimension slowly deteriorate while exhausting herself trying to hold it together.
Then Jax showed up, worked his magic, and fixed everything in less than a day. It once again made her in shock and awe over the level of Jax’s power.
Eventually, Willow exhaled softly.
"You know," Willow said quietly, brushing several strands of green hair behind her ear, "you make the rest of us feel extremely inadequate sometimes."
Jax glanced sideways and stared at her, smiling as he still saw some of the marks he left on her alluring body, "That sounds like a you problem."
Her eyebrow twitched, "...There he is, the usual smug idiot," She said as a joke, and Jax smirked faintly when he heard that.
"You worried for nothing." He responded.
Willow crossed her arms lightly beneath her chest, "I was not worried for nothing."
Her tone sharpened slightly, "This dimension houses thousands of witches, Jax."
She gestured toward the glowing horizon, a warm gaze in her eyes, "This place is our home."
Her expression softened afterward, "...You saved it."
For a moment, neither of them spoke, just enjoying the moment. The breeze drifted quietly through the sanctuary, carrying glowing flower petals between them.
Jax finally shrugged, "Told you already."
His voice remained calm, "You all matter to me."
Willow went strangely quiet. Her emerald eyes lingered on him longer than usual. Then, after several seconds, she said, "...You really say dangerous things so casually."
Jax blinked once and looked at her, "What?"
"Nothing., She immediately looked away.
"...Forget it."
Jax narrowed his eyes slightly.
"Suspicious."
"You’re one to talk."
Before the conversation could continue further, a sudden pulse of mana echoed throughout the sanctuary.
Then another and finally another.
Jax immediately recognized what it was. It was people, lots of people all around.
Willow sighed softly, "...Right."
Jax raised an eyebrow, "What?"
She looked faintly amused now, "It’s been a whole night, everyone must be celebrating,"
A moment later, the sanctuary entrance burst into activity as several witches appeared first. Then dozens and then apparently half the dimension.
Jax stared flatly.
"...Seriously?"
Beautiful witches flooded into the sanctuary from every direction. Some elegant, some playful and some carrying flowers.
Others carrying magical drinks or glowing offerings.
The moment they saw him, the atmosphere shifted immediately.
"LORD JAX!"
"He’s really here!"
"You actually fixed it?!"
"The stars feel normal again!"
"You disappeared for way too long!"
Several witches approached at once.
One silver-haired witch grabbed his arm dramatically.
"Do you know how stressed everyone’s been?"
Another immediately leaned closer.
"And then you show up and casually repair an entire dimension?"
A third witch smiled warmly.
"You really saved us."
Unlike before, the sensual affection many witches naturally carried toward him felt layered now with unmistakable gratitude.
Because every single one of them understood exactly what had nearly happened. If the dimensional collapse worsened, they could’ve lost everything.
Their homes, their people, basically their entire world would’ve vanished instantly, and Jax managed to stop it so casually.
Willow folded her arms nearby, clearly entertained watching him get overwhelmed, "...You earned this."
Jax sighed.
"I liked it better when everyone was panicking quietly."
"That’s not how gratitude works."
Several witches began speaking over one another.
"We prepared food!"
"There’s a celebration already happening!"
"You’re absolutely not leaving immediately!"
"You owe us time!"
Jax blinked.
"...A celebration?"
Willow looked mildly guilty.
"It sort of happened the moment everyone realized the mana stabilized."
Jax looked toward the glowing city districts in the distance.
Sure enough, Jax could see the lights, and hear the sound of music, flowing lanterns drifting through the air.
The entire Witch Dimension apparently moved very quickly when celebrating.
"...Fast."
Willow smirked.
"They were terrified this morning."
She glanced toward the stars.
"Now everyone can breathe again."
That...
Actually made sense.
Jax exhaled quietly.
"...Fine."
The witches brightened instantly.
"But I’m checking on Serika and Seraphina first."
That earned several amused looks.
"Ooooh."
"The little mermaid princess?"
"She’s adorable."
"She’s been having the time of her life."
Jax raised an eyebrow.
"Really?"
Willow nodded.
"She’s probably seen more magical nonsense today than in her entire life."
That sounded accurate.
After a few more minutes of witches thanking him, some far more dramatic than others, Jax finally escaped the sanctuary.
Though not before several witches insisted on giving him food for later, or trying to convince him to stay longer, or teasing him relentlessly.
Willow walked beside him for part of the journey.
"You know," she said quietly, "they really do trust you."
Jax glanced sideways.
"Yeah?"
"Completely."
Her voice softened slightly.
"You coming here calms people."
That earned the faintest pause from him.
Then—
"...Guess I should visit more."
Willow smiled faintly.
"You should."
Eventually, the sanctuary pathways opened into one of the larger communal districts. After a bit, he finally arrived where Seraphina was, near the center of an enormous riverside gathering area—
Seraphina had apparently become the unofficial guest of honor. The little merfolk princess sat surrounded by witches while completely overwhelmed in the best possible way.
Her purple hair had tiny glowing flowers braided into it. Someone had given her a flower crown and someone else apparently decided she needed glowing bracelets, and right now, she was enthusiastically eating something off a plate while talking animatedly.
"...AND THEN THE FLOWERS STARTED SINGING!"
Several witches laughed softly around her.
"That scared you?"
"A little!"
Nearby, Serika looked significantly more composed.
Though even she seemed relaxed while sipping tea beneath a flowering tree, her fox tails swaying lazily.
She noticed Jax first. Then smiled immediately.
"There you are."
The moment Seraphina turned, her violet eyes widened.
"JAX!"
And just like that, she launched herself at him again.
~THUMP~
Jax barely caught her automatically.
"You’re back!"
Her arms wrapped tightly around him while excitement practically radiated from her.
"You disappeared again!"
Jax sighed through his nose.
"Was working."
"You said that last time too."
Nearby witches laughed quietly.
Serika covered her smile behind one hand.
"She’s been asking about you every thirty minutes."
Seraphina immediately looked scandalized.
"I did not!"
"You absolutely did," Serika replied smoothly.
The little princess puffed her cheeks.
"...Maybe a little."
Jax snorted quietly.
"Thought so."
Only then did he actually take a proper look around.
Food everywhere.
Tables lined with magical dishes.
Floating desserts.
Mana-infused drinks.
Crystal fruits glowing softly beneath lantern light.
Apparently the witches took celebrations very seriously.
One nearby witch approached with a grin.
"Lord Jax."
She held out a plate.
"You’re eating."
Jax raised an eyebrow.
"That mandatory?"
"Yes."
Another witch nodded firmly.
"Very."
Willow looked deeply amused beside him.
"You’re outnumbered."
"...Great."
Meanwhile, Seraphina was already tugging lightly at his sleeve.
"You have to try this!"
She pointed dramatically toward a glowing dessert.
"It tastes soooo good,"
Jax blinked once and grabbed it, taking a bite and smiling as a warm burst of deliciousness flooded his mouth.
Jax relaxed as he enjoyed this taste, taking another bite as all of the tension surrounding the Church and their plans, the dimensional sabotage and the uncertainty of what came next.
All of that quietly faded into the background, because right now, the Witch Dimension was safe.
The witches were smiling again.
Serika looked peaceful, and Seraphina, who not long ago had been trapped inside a cage terrified and hurting—
Was laughing while trying every magical food in existence.
Jax quietly watched her for a moment.
Then exhaled softly.
"...Yeah."
Worth it.
Even if questions still lingered. Even if the Church was clearly planning something dangerous.
For now, Jax would let everyone enjoy the peace.
Tomorrow could be a problem.
Tonight, they celebrated.