TWFLLYM Ch 113

Another Path

[Mazi] “It must be here.”

Mazi's magic finally led them to the library. While the capital possessed a massive Imperial Library, the library within the palace was smaller and exceptionally beautiful.

The ceiling painting stood out most of all. Over thirty court painters had worked across three generations, starting from the reign of Raquelman II, to finish it. It was a masterpiece, but few people noticed it daily. Most avoided looking up for too long, as the height strained their necks.

[Roserikta] “Yes. I see it too, Grandma.”

Roserikta stared at the section of the ceiling illuminated by her grandmother's soft light. The painting depicted myths of the twelve gods from before human history, featuring countless figures.

Among them, one face looked familiar. A goddess with long black hair reaching her feet and piercing purple eyes. This was no goddess; the Black Witch had bound her form within the art.

[Clobell] “That is perfect camouflage. She would have stayed hidden there forever if we hadn't looked.”

[Roserikta] “True. Instead, ghost stories would have haunted this library. The Black Witch would have tried to absorb life force from humans any way she could.”

[Clobell] “Ugh, that is horrific. People would catch a deadly sickness while reading without even knowing it.”

[Roserikta] “You're right. It's a terrifying thought.”

Mazi added her own observation.

[Mazi] “We know how humans act. They would have claimed a witch's curse hit the library. Now, what should we do? Do you have a plan?”

[Roserikta] “Mmm...... yes. I think I know what to do.”

She once lay beside Kalart, gazing at this very ceiling. They had talked about replacing the painting with stars. While she couldn't change the entire mural, she could rewrite a single small figure in the corner.

[Roserikta] “I have to erase her first, right?”

She didn't ask for help. She pulled out her Axaca powder.

[Roserikta] “Phew.”

She placed the powder on her palm and blew. The grains sparkled as they drifted upward to cover the painting. She chanted the spell silently in her mind. She knew she could do it now.

Return to your original state. Just as I wish.

Scrape, scrape......

As if an invisible eraser moved across the ceiling, the purple-eyed goddess began to vanish, starting from her toes.

[Clobell] “Look! Look! Her expression is changing!”

As the image faded, the goddess's face twisted. Her mouth fell open in a silent, jagged scream. The sight was bone-chilling, yet also a little pathetic.

[Roserikta] “She isn't using liberation magic. Is it because she has no strength left?”

[Mazi] “Correct. She had to use black powder because she couldn't use her own magic, and there was no powder inside that painting. She intended to hide there until her body recovered enough to use her power again.”

The goddess in the painting wore only white clouds. The clouds were so thin they were almost transparent, leaving no place to hide any black powder.

[Roserikta] “Then she will disappear like this. Entirely.”

[Mazi] “She will.”

Roserikta watched the painting fade until the very end. Watching a screaming figure was not pleasant, but as a witch connected to the Black Witch through the moon's destiny, she had to see it through. She had to erase every single strand of hair.

[Mazi] “This is getting a bit boring. Don't you think? I might take a nap.”

Mazi hopped onto a nearby desk and lay down. Free and informal, she was the definition of a witch. Roserikta smiled at her.

[Roserikta] “Sleep if you are tired. I will keep watch.”

Clobellina followed the grandmother and sprawled out on the desk.

[Clobell] “But won't it be too obvious if you erase it like that? It looks like a hole in the ceiling. Won't we get punished? Countess Aldwin will find it tomorrow and be furious.”

[Roserikta] “Mmm...... well, I suppose so. But we had no choice. We had to destroy the Black Witch. Ah, but I can't explain that to the Head Maid. Besides, this painting looks very old.”

[Clobell] “Didn't you say before that if I even leave a claw mark on the furniture, it's a death sentence without a trial?”

Roserikta realized this might be a tricky problem.

[Roserikta] “If we handle this quietly and sneak back to our rooms, won't it be fine? We did a good thing, after all. There's no need to go out of our way to get punished.”

[Clobell] “I never said I wanted to be punished. I'm saying we should be careful.”

[Roserikta] “You're right. If I had known, I would have worn the invisibility cloak. It would have been the perfect crime.”

[Clobell] “Rosy. You are becoming a lazy witch. What kind of witch leaves her cloak behind? You should keep it with you at all times.”

[Roserikta] “What are you talking about? No witch wears a cloak every single day.”

[Clobell] “Look for one. There must be one somewhere.”

[Roserikta] “Stop talking nonsense. Everyone is asleep right now, so no one saw us come here......”

She spoke too soon.

Crash! Thud!

[Roserikta] “What was that?”

Loud footsteps echoed from outside the library.

[Clobell] “Someone is coming!”

The library doors slammed open, and the Royal Guard rushed in. Despite her jokes about punishment, Roserikta never expected to be caught. She stood nervously before the guards, preparing an excuse.

[Roserikta] “Wait, that is......”

I didn't do it on purpose. I had to do it to destroy the witch.

She never finished her explanation. She didn't need to.

[Kalart] “What is happening? Are you safe?”

Kalart stepped forward from the guards, his face twisted in a deep scowl. Cold sweat soaked his forehead.

She knew immediately that his painkillers were wearing off. He was in deep pain. Arad held him up, providing much-needed support.

[Roserikta] “Why are you walking around? You are in pain!”

[Kalart] “Because you didn't return for a long time. I heard the Black Witch wasn't dead yet, and I worried.”

He had dragged the half-asleep Royal Guard out to find her while he was still injured. He even carried a sword at his waist. Roserikta doubted he even remembered his wrist was broken.

[Roserikta] “I'm fine. Actually, I have something to tell you, Your Highness.”

She pulled her sleeve down to wipe the sweat from Kalart's forehead.

[Roserikta] “Grandma helped me find the Black Witch's hiding spot. She was hiding here in the library. You will be shocked when you hear where exactly.”

[Kalart] “Did you intend to face her alone? At this hour, without a word?”

She hadn't just intended to; she had already erased her.

[Roserikta] “Grandma helped. She is...... Your Highness?”

She stopped mid-sentence and stood on her tiptoes to peer into his eyes. His clear, solid black eyes were surging like a dark ocean during a storm. Something was changing.

[Roserikta] “Your Highness. Are you alright?”

[Kalart] “Ah, right now......”

He blinked, perhaps because of the sweat dripping into his eyes.

[Kalart] “My eyes......”

His blinking grew rapid. Unable to endure it, he raised his hand—even with the splint—and rubbed his eyes roughly.

[Roserikta] “Your Highness.”

Her heart pounded so hard she could hear her own breathing. She caught his hands to stop him from rubbing.

[Roserikta] “Close your eyes...... then open them slowly.”

[Kalart] “Close them......”

[Roserikta] “Yes.”

He squeezed his eyes shut. The moonlight highlighted the tension in his brow, his trembling eyelashes, and the beads of sweat.

[Roserikta] “Now, open them.”

He bit his lip. He hesitated, his hands reaching out to touch Roserikta while his eyes remained shut. He felt the change. He was simply afraid of losing the precious things he had found with his cursed sight.

[Kalart] “The first thing I see when I open my eyes......”

[Roserikta] “Yes. It will be my face.”

[Kalart] “That is......”

[Roserikta] “Of course, you might be disappointed. I might be different from what you expected. But I want you to open them, Your Highness.”

I want you to see this beautiful world properly.

[Kalart] “That won't happen. Disappointed? Never.”

He finally opened his eyes.

[Roserikta] “Ah......”

She saw a whirlwind of emotions in the black eyes she had always thought were as beautiful as a painting.

[Kalart] “My...... God.”

His mouth fell open, but no words came out. His expression said enough. His gaze remained locked on Roserikta, forgetting even to blink.

[Kalart] “So...... this is you.”

The curse was broken. Kalart was seeing Roserikta's exact appearance for the first time.

[Kalart] “So...... so......”

His hands moved where words failed. He traced the curve of her forehead, touched her thick eyelashes, and felt the skin around her lovely brown eyes. He followed the small, round line of her nose.

[Kalart] “You are so beautiful.”

Tears filled her eyes.

[Roserikta] “The curse...... it's gone. Entirely.”

She leaped up and threw her arms around his neck.

[Arad] “Wait, that's—uh......”

Arad wanted to remind her that Kalart was injured, but he was too late. Kalart went even further and lifted Roserikta into the air. She finally came to her senses.

[Roserikta] “Wait! Put me down! Your wounds might open.”

[Kalart] “Just a moment.”

His voice was low and tight.

[Kalart] “Just a moment. Only a moment. If I don't, I don't think I can control myself.”

She stroked his hair to soothe him.

[Roserikta] “Be happier. It is okay to be as happy as you want.”

[Kalart] “I am.”

If I were him, I would be screaming and crying. But he is just holding me.

[Roserikta] “You have a very different way of showing joy than I do.”

[Kalart] “Nothing is better to me than you. I am happiest because you are the first thing my eyes truly saw. It means everything to me.”

[Roserikta] “......”

Oh, my. I have nothing to say when he speaks like that. I'll just have to sing him a song later if he says he's in pain.

Eaton started to sob on Kalart's behalf.

[Eaton] “This is...... I am so relieved. Thank you so much. I am so happy, Your Highness.”

Eaton rubbed his eyes with his injured hands while sobbing. Arad stepped in and hugged him tightly. He had likely learned that from his lover, Elona.

When Eaton didn't push him away, the other guards approached and patted Eaton's back. Eaton grew embarrassed and told them to stop, but because he was still crying, they only tried harder to comfort him.

[Mazi] “Oh dear. It's already time for the night to end.”

At the sound of Mazi's voice, Kalart finally set Roserikta down. They stood side by side to face the grandmother. Behind her, through the large library window, the moon was fading into the dawn.

[Mazi] “The Black Witch is gone. The human world is free of its sorrow, so it is time for this witch to leave as well. Rosy.”

[Roserikta] “Yes, Grandma.”

Mazi held out her hand.

[Mazi] “You earned the right to return to the Witch's Kingdom today. You know that, don't you?”

[Roserikta] “Yes.”

[Mazi] “Then won't you come with me?”

[Roserikta] “......What?”

[Kalart] “What did you say?”

Kalart gripped Roserikta's hand in a panic.

[Mazi] “If you come to the kingdom, you will become the fourth witch of Versaryl. When I move on to the back of the moon, you must rule the kingdom in my place. You will live more like a witch there than anywhere else.”

[Roserikta] “Ah......”

She was stunned. She had never even considered such a thing.

[Roserikta] “Grandma. I've never......”

[Mazi] “I know. You need time to think. I will give you time, so consider it carefully.”

Mazi stood up from the desk.

[Mazi] “I must go before the path disappears. Rosy, send a letter when you have decided.”

The grandmother hopped onto the windowsill. Under the moon, she looked lighter and freer than anything in the world.

[Mazi] “Don't make me wait too long. I'm old now. Hoho.”

Mazi flew off on her broom and reached the distant castle in an instant. At that moment, the path to the kingdom—which had sparkled like a fallen galaxy—vanished into the blue light of dawn.

[Roserikta] “I feel a bit sad seeing the path disappear.”

As she whispered to herself, Kalart turned and blocked the moonlight with his back. He filled her vision as if demanding she look only at him.

[Kalart] “Say it isn't so.”

[Roserikta] “What?”

[Kalart] “Say you won't go...... No, say you won't even consider it.”

[Roserikta] “......”

Mmm...... I don't think I can answer right now, Your Highness. Today was the day you saw a new world, but it was the same for me.

I saw the Witch's Kingdom for the first time. The world I had always dreamed of.

I...... I need time too.

Seeing Roserikta hesitate, he crumpled. The sight of his pained face hurt her heart. She used her fingers to smooth the frown on his lips gently.

[Roserikta] "It is too late now, so let's talk after we sleep. I want time to think. If I answer because you are pushing me, I might not give an honest answer. And the other knights look like they desperately need sleep."

He caught her hand and pressed it to his cheek.

[Kalart] “If you say so.”

[Roserikta] “Thank you, Your Highness.”

The night the curse broke ended, and the full dawn arrived.