TWFLLYM Ch 112

The Witch's Path

Roserikta ended up lying side by side with Kalart, held fast in his embrace. The bandages wrapped around his body scratched her cheek softly.

Tears threatened to spill. Kalart had suffered a major injury, yet he remained strong, holding her as tenderly as always.

Roserikta felt the bed, warmed by his body heat, wrap around her. She had never felt this close to him before.

[Roserikta] "Moving your arm like that isn't good for the wound on your back."

[Kalart] "I hate just watching you more than I hate the pain."

He leaned down and pressed a light kiss to the tip of her nose.

[Kalart] "This makes it hurt less."

This man. He is being stubborn again.

When Kalart was injured, he tended to become quite pushy. Subconsciously, he knew Roserikta would indulge him.

[Roserikta] "That's only because of the medicine. You drank three whole cups of painkiller."

Of course, she had prescribed such a heavy dose herself. She hated the thought of him feeling even a flicker of pain. Since the painkillers from Versaryl Pharmacy had almost no side effects, she felt safe giving him a large amount.

[Kalart] "Then give me more."

He spoke in a low voice, pressing his lips against her cheek.

[Roserikta] "No. The wound won't heal well if I do."

[Kalart] "I think I would be fine with that."

He let out a small laugh, his lips were still brushing against her skin.

[Kalart] "Staying stuck to you like this for a long time...... That night already feels like a distant memory."

He was referring to the night they had spent together.

This man isn't hurt enough. He feels no pain at all.

Though no bones or organs were damaged, the hole in his back was significant. He would struggle until it fully closed.

For a start, the cold baths he usually enjoyed were strictly forbidden. His right hand was even worse; he couldn't use it at all for two months.

Normally, a person should be screaming in pain, no matter how many painkillers they took.

Furthermore, Roserikta's heart began to waver. Until a moment ago, she felt like crying, but seeing Kalart act as if he weren't hurt at all fanned the flames Elona had stirred.

I am sorry, Your Highness, but I still can't forgive you for kissing someone else.

[Roserikta] "Let go. You should get more sleep."

[Kalart] "I just woke up. I'm not sleepy."

[Roserikta] "I will give you a sleeping draft. It is best to sleep as much as possible until you heal. You said you were hungry, so eat something and then take the medicine."

[Kalart] "I'm not hungry anymore. This is better."

He acted like a spoiled child, nuzzling against her and trying to press his lips to hers.

[Roserikta] "Your Highness."

She pushed his face away. Her expression turned cold as she recalled the kissing scene.

[Roserikta] "I must ask this first. Has the curse been broken?"

[Kalart] "Must it be?"

His expression stiffened to match hers. It wasn't hard for him to realize something was wrong.

[Roserikta] "It is still there, isn't it?"

[Kalart] "Nothing has changed. That is......"

[Roserikta] "Sigh......"

She let out a long breath. She had hoped it wasn't true.

She is still breathing. Where did she hide this time?

[Roserikta] "The same thing will repeat itself."

Seeing her shoulders slump as she sighed in despair, Kalart pulled her waist closer.

[Kalart] "You couldn't have done anything more in that situation. Don't blame yourself. Thanks to you, everyone is safe again."

He leaned in tenderly as if to offer comfort with a kiss. Before their lips touched, she pushed him away again.

[Roserikta] "Yes. I suppose so. I'll go get you something to eat. Please let me go."

[Kalart] "No. I haven't kissed you yet."

He insisted. Her gaze sharpened.

[Roserikta] "Don't. I don't think I can kiss you for the time being."

[Kalart] "What?"

He stammered, completely stunned.

[Kalart] "What does that mean? Why on earth?"

[Roserikta] "I haven't forgotten yet."

[Kalart] "......"

He fell silent. He looked more devastated now than when his back was pierced.

[Kalart] "But...... earlier you said it was fine as long as I was safe......"

[Roserikta] "I thought so too at the time, but my heart feels differently."

[Kalart] "Why?"

[Roserikta] "Think about it from my perspective. Instead of you and the Black Witch, imagine me and someone else...... say, Sir Eaton. Even if there was a reason, how would you feel if I kissed him?"

[Kalart] "Don't even say that."

His face turned serious, and he struck the bed with his hand. He winced, likely aggravating the wound on his back. Roserikta used that opening to escape his grasp.

[Roserikta] "The painkillers must be wearing off. You are going to feel the pain now, so please take the sleeping draft as I said and go to sleep."

She stood up quickly.

[Kalart] "I don't need medicine. Don't go."

He looked at her with the face of an abandoned child. She shook her head.

[Roserikta] "Stop being stubborn. If you do...... well, I think it will take me even longer to forget that scene."

[Kalart] "How can you be so cruel?"

Hmph. Who told you to do that?

Anyway, this seems effective. I should use this whenever he doesn't listen to me.

She patted his head gently.

[Roserikta] "Then lie down and rest comfortably. I'll be back soon."

[Kalart] "......"

His lips twitched, but he said nothing. Roserikta turned her back and left the bedroom, stifling a giggle once she was outside.

Seeing him act like that, he must not be in too much pain. What a relief. Now he just needs to heal.

Of course, regardless of her relief, the sight of Kalart kissing the Black Witch in the Baroness' form would stay in her memory for quite a while.

Roserikta felt she finally understood why Kalart often complained about Arad doing this or that.

---

[Roserikta] "......?"

She was on her way back to her own room after leaving Kalart's side. She tilted her head at the sound of giggling coming from inside.

[Roserikta] "What is going on?"

When she opened the door, she saw her room flooded with bright moonlight.

[Roserikta] "Oh my......"

She stopped in her tracks, her mouth hanging open. The moon was so large it filled the entire sky. It was a massive moon she had never seen before, illuminating every corner of the night. Just by looking out the window, she felt as if the whole world was within her sight.

[Roserikta] "Ah......"

And from the window stretching toward the moon, she saw a straight path paved with stars. It was an incredibly mysterious and beautiful sight. At the end of the path stood a giant castle.

[Roserikta] "Is that......"

The Kingdom of Witches.

Someone waved from a tower of the castle. Even though they were so far away, the figure was clear.

[Roserikta] "Grandmother Mazi?"

[Mazi] "Yes, Rosy."

Grandmother Mazi hopped onto a broom and flew along the path of stars. In the blink of an eye, she was outside the window. The Kingdom of Witches was actually very close.

[Mazi] "May I come in?"

[Roserikta] "Of course you can!"

Clobellina, who had been sleeping alone on the bed, blinked her sleepy eyes.

[Clobell] "What is happening...... Oh? Grandmother Mazi is here? Welcome."

Roserikta opened the window wide for her grandmother and gave a light pout.

[Roserikta] "But why are you so late? I sent the letter this afternoon. It was pure chaos here because of the Black Witch."

[Mazi] "I know, I know. I intended to come earlier, but that woman sent a letter first."

[Roserikta] "Grandmother? Oh, please sit here."

Roserikta offered a chair. While Grandmother Mazi sat comfortably on the plush sofa, Clobellina hopped down from the bed. She purred loudly and rubbed her head against Mazi's ankle.

[Clobell] "It's good you're here. But what did the letter say?"

Mazi leaned down to pat the cat.

[Mazi] "She told me to watch for a while. Now that I'm here, I see why."

Roserikta felt she understood too. Looking out the window again, the Kingdom of Witches was still sparkling in the distance.

The night was this bright. This was the world of witches.

[Mazi] "She wanted to see you become a proper witch."

Roserikta placed a hand over her racing heart.

[Roserikta] "Why did it happen so suddenly...... I don't really know. I can't even use magic without the powder Grandmother made for me."

[Mazi] "You faced the Black Witch entirely on your own, didn't you? That makes you a proper witch. Anyone can use magic if they learn it. But using it like a true witch is difficult. You achieved it today."

[Roserikta] "But the Black Witch isn't dead yet. I don't know when or how she might return."

[Mazi] "Yes. That is why I am here. But you likely already know the answer. You know how she is hiding."

[Roserikta] "Ah......"

She understood what Grandmother Mazi meant. In fact, she had been thinking about how to find the Black Witch's whereabouts for some time.

[Roserikta] "You might be right. Something kept coming to mind."

[Mazi] "Tell me."

[Roserikta] "The reason the Black Witch used black powder is that she can't use magic power herself, right? Just like me."

Grandmother Mazi nodded.

[Mazi] "Yes. Her body probably wasn't whole after the injury she took last time. The wound that woman left will never heal. It's like adding another hole to a cracked pot."

[Roserikta] "I thought that was why she borrowed someone else's body. Perhaps she can no longer maintain that beautiful original form of hers?"

[Mazi] "Correct. You figured it out. That makes the most sense."

[Roserikta] "Then she must have hidden her original body somewhere here. For some reason, I keep thinking of liberation magic. To have liberation, there must be a restriction first, right?"

Grandmother Mazi smiled broadly.

[Mazi] "So you think the Black Witch hid her original body inside an object using restriction magic?"

[Roserikta] "Yes. It won't be the biological encyclopedia. I purified that with the energy of the moon."

Clobellina gaped in admiration.

[Clobell] "Wow, Rosy. When did you get so smart? You always say I'm getting smarter, but it's you."

Roserikta gave the same reply back to her.

[Roserikta] "I was always smart."

[Clobell] "I know you. You weren't this smart."

[Roserikta] "I was. But regardless of being smart, I think I've improved. I have been desperate."

To avoid being destroyed by the Black Witch. To protect him.

[Roserikta] "A desperate witch is a terrifying thing. Right, Grandmother?"

[Mazi] "Indeed, she is."

After watching Roserikta and Clobellina bicker playfully, Grandmother Mazi stood up from the sofa.

[Mazi] "Now, I must play my part. Let's go. Let's go liberate the Black Witch."

Roserikta pressed her hand against her chest. Her heart pounded fiercely.

[Roserikta] "Really, Grandmother? Then this time we can finally......"

[Mazi] "Yes. This will be the last chance. She was a seed of a witch to begin with, so a witch should have gathered her. She was left in the human world for too long, without anyone knowing a black seed would grow into a black sprout."

She patted Roserikta's back with pride.

[Mazi] "The moon's guidance led us to this day. I am so proud of you, child. That woman likely feels the same way."

[Roserikta] "Yes, Grandmother."

Her heart raced so much that her reply was slightly slow. Roserikta hugged Grandmother Mazi tightly, just as Elona had done to her.

[Roserikta] "This is just because I wanted to hug you."

[Mazi] "I know. It's okay. Some things can only be shared through a hug."

[Roserikta] "I think so too."

She decided she must thank Lady Elona. To the human who became her first friend as a witch.

[Mazi] "Shall we go now?"

[Roserikta] "Yes."

Grandmother Mazi pulled a wand out of her large witch's pocket.

[Mazi] "You sent me so many raw moonstones. So, I made a spell with them."

Flash.

A light blossomed at the tip of the wand as she finished speaking.

[Mazi] "Phew."

The grandmother blew a breath toward the light. The light floated up as if it had wings and began to find its way.

[Mazi] "This magic finds anything that rejects the moon's energy. It was quite difficult since the two powers are opposites. It would have been impossible without the moonstones."

[Roserikta] "That is all part of the moon's destiny, right?"

[Mazi] "Of course it is."

To the moon, this massive and complicated world was just one thing. Everything had a beginning and an end, and the two were linked in a circle.

Two witches and a cat stood side by side, chasing the darkness that was about to vanish.