“Master…?”
Krisha’s legs were so weak they seemed ready to collapse with each step. Her movements were shaky, her pace unsteady.
Physically, she was frail. Her voice was soft, barely audible.
Krisha’s condition was dire. She struggled even to walk, moving forward with great difficulty, taking one step at a time while breathing rapidly.
The scene was quiet, yet it carried a profound emotional weight. Through her actions, the witch proved a simple truth:
In the presence of true will, even a weak body cannot hold someone back.
The light fell on her figure, highlighting her pale, bloodless face. Trembling, she stretched out her slender fingers, resting them on the chair where Xu Xi sat.
Using the chair for support, the pressure of her arduous journey lessened, allowing her to finally reach Xu Xi.
Then, Krisha saw his familiar face, now haggard from exhaustion, as he slept deeply.
She tilted her head and blinked. The truth was far less grave than she had feared. Xu Xi was unharmed; he had simply fallen asleep.
“Very good.”
Her calm voice echoed in the room. The weight of her worries dissolved, returning her to her usual detached state.
Now, what should she do?
Krisha hesitated. After confirming Xu Xi was fine, she was at a loss. Should she lie back on the stone slab and wait for him to wake up?
Light and shadow go together.
When light appears, shadow follows it closely. But once light disappears, shadow loses its existence.
So…
When the light falls silent, where does the shadow belong?
Krisha had no answer. Her life revolved entirely around Xu Xi. Beyond his presence, nothing else interested her.
However, in her current fragile state, what could she even do? She struggled to care for herself, let alone assist with anything else.
Abandoning unrealistic ideas of helping with chores, Krisha stood quietly by Xu Xi’s side. She crossed her hands in front of her, leaning against the table, her expression calm and indifferent.
The dim room, illuminated by hazy lights, seemed like a fleeting memory. The soft glow gently enveloped the man and the girl—the former fast asleep, the latter standing still.
This quiet act was all the witch could manage and all she wished to do. Since the light was resting, the shadow would remain by its side until it could shine again.
But…
There was something strange about this moment, a subtle and unfamiliar feeling.
“Master’s face…” Krisha murmured.
Standing, she now observed Xu Xi closely. Typically, she could see his face, but not in such detail.
This was her first time studying him from this perspective.
She noticed his swollen eyes, a result of overworking himself with books. She noticed his hands, calloused from holding a pen for countless hours, even in sleep.
She saw his pale lips and his haggard face, signs of intense fatigue. She saw it all.
She saw the years etched at his temples, the shallow breaths escaping his nostrils, and the weight of his exhaustion.
Watching him sleep so deeply, she could feel everything he had endured.
Ah…
Ahhh…
So, this is what it is?
A heavy sensation pierced her heart, dilating her pupils slightly. Krisha once believed that without light, the shadow would be lost.
But now…
She realized the truth.
Even when the light dims, its lingering warmth penetrates the soul, providing the shadow with a path forward.
The witch didn’t know how to express her gratitude for the blazing warmth she felt. Emotions swirled in her chest, confusing and overwhelming her.
Not knowing what else to do, Krisha acted on impulse.
She gently stretched out her hands, cupping Xu Xi’s face with utmost care. Lowering herself, she let their foreheads touch, their noses brushing lightly.
Her silver-gray hair draped down, a few strands brushing his face.
“May you be well,” Krisha whispered softly.
Though her voice was calm, it carried a flicker of emotion, fleeting yet profound. For a moment, time seemed to stop.
In those brief seconds, countless new feelings erupted within the witch’s heart. What were they exactly? She couldn’t say.
Clinging to the warmth of their closeness, Krisha felt a pang of guilt. She knew that, as “personal property,” such an act was out of line.
Suddenly, Xu Xi’s expression shifted slightly, and he let out a faint groan.
“!!!!!”
Startled, Krisha panicked. Her weak legs carried her faster than she thought possible as she scrambled back to the stone slab.
She pulled the bedding over herself, curling up tightly like a cocooned silkworm, leaving no gap for the outside world to see.
Her small form trembled slightly under the covers. It was an adorable sight, despite her fear.
Her heart pounded violently, a tension she had never experienced before. Though her action had been small—just a touch on his forehead—she was overcome with panic.
“Master?”
After waiting for what felt like an eternity, there was no reprimand. Xu Xi remained soundly asleep.
Peeking out from the quilt, Krisha cautiously observed him.
Seeing that he hadn’t woken, her nerves slowly settled, her calm demeanor returning.
Still…
“So strange… so warm…”
Krisha touched her flushed cheeks, surprised by their heat. Was she running a fever?
She wondered if this was the cost of overstepping her master’s boundaries.
The witch decided that as long as she wasn’t caught, the price was worth it.