“Cough…!”
“Bribie-nim, wake up!”
“Wha…!?”
Bribie, a Yaagada Elf and the assistant to Lirisia, groggily woke up, feeling a corn makgeolli bottle inexplicably lodged in her mouth.
“Ugh, what’s going on?”
Whether it was because Lirisia was not around or simply due to sleepiness, Bribie’s usual high-tension, nerdy demeanor was absent, and she spoke in a rather ordinary manner.
Actually, she was using formal speech, which was beyond ordinary.
As Bribie questioned them, the Yaagada Elf gently helped her sit up and replied.
“I woke up to use the bathroom, but Captain Lirisia is missing.”
“Hmm, is that so? Just leave her be… she’ll come back on her own when it’s time.”
“But she’s been gone for over 30 minutes!”
“And it’s still early dawn, it wouldn’t hurt to let her rest a bit…”
“No, I have to fill the sea again starting tomorrow morning, and if the captain’s not here, I can’t do the work…”
Ugh, are they trying to dump this on me? Fine, I’ll go.
‘Even if she was the Witch of the Dark Star, she’s just a mere human now, what could possibly be going on?’
Of course, it was true that Olgania had tasked Bribie with watching over Lirisia after receiving her escort duties from Shia, helping her adapt to life here while also keeping an eye on her.
However, after observing Lirisia for a while, Bribie felt convinced that she was indeed a mere human. It was only natural that she grew negligent in her duties.
What would there be to monitor when there’s no need for it?
Well, perhaps the sisters below had a different mindset.
Or maybe they were genuinely worried about her…
“Alright, fine. I’ll just go look for her.”
Just go look for her…
sigh I’m so sleepy…
Bribie sighed deeply and cracked her neck.
—
“So, I got cut by the hero’s sword, and ta-da, I became a human…”
“I see.”
They exchanged stories, and there was a mountain of accumulated tales.
“Oh my, Lirisia-chan has aged quite a bit, hasn’t she?”
“She’s much younger than Eselatia.”
“Hehehe, it’s a relief that you’ve discarded a lot of your timidity compared to the past.”
“Glad to hear you think so…”
This is how I’ve lived. Like a song floating over a calm sea, no matter how tattered the past is, I cast the spell of ‘It’s okay because we met again.’
“By the way, you look much younger now…?”
“Lirisia-chan, you know I’m a doll witch. To transcend worlds and get embroiled in various matters, I had to sacrifice either my body or soul.”
Teresa chuckled softly, accepting the bowl Lirisia offered.
In the bowl swirled a light yellow corn makgeolli, representative of their shaking hearts trying to eliminate the awkwardness with alcohol, the liquid rippling continuously.
“Drink it all. Maybe it’s because it’s made from corn grown by elves, but it’s quite tasty…”
“Looks like you’ve had a few before, judging by how you’re shaking the cup, Lirisia-chan.”
“When you’re stuck in the desert, you’ve got to drink this to last.”
Teresa grasped the cup with both hands and downed it.
Had it been the Teresa before Shia, she would have said, “Damn, this is freaking delicious! Soak it up!” in a vulgar tone; however, the Teresa now was extremely cautious and elegant in her movements, as if she were an aristocratic lady from when she first met Lirisia.
‘At least in front of Lirisia, I must act as Eselatia.’
Interestingly, Teresa and Lirisia had similar speech patterns.
Teresa spoke as if she were a celestial girl aristocrat while also projecting an air of an elegant noblewoman, a blend reflecting both her aristocratic roots and the lengthy time spent as a reincarnator, while Lirisia, during her time as the Witch of the Dark Star, had been profoundly influenced by Eselatia—Teresa.
Of course, now that she was a human, the elegant lilt of her speech had soured into a crude tongue, but upon Eselatia returning before her, Lirisia reverted to the timid young saint she once was when she first met the witch.
So the two clinked their bowls lightly and poured the makgeolli down their throats.
Without the drink, it would have been hard to converse in their sober state, not to mention this entire situation seemed utterly unbelievable.
gulp
gulp
And so, they continued to sip the drink.
Oblivious to the fact they were getting drunk, gazing at the dark starry sky, Lirisia and Eselatia shared drinks, stealing glances at each other as time trickled by.
“……….“
“………“
Sometimes chatting, sometimes silently gazing.
Then gently smiling, looking into each other’s eyes, and wishing to validate the existence of the one in front of them by touching hands.
Cautiously scratching palms, gently squeezing fingers. Occasionally brushing knuckles like they were tickling.
And then they realized.
Ah, thank you.
This isn’t a dream.
Your smile isn’t an illusion.
Your laughter isn’t a phantom.
It’s all real.
“Haha. Tasty….”
“You still haven’t changed, Lirisia-chan.”
“You too…”
So delighted…
This reunion so overwhelmingly blissful…
That was good enough.
For both of them, this unbelievable reunion was far too precious.
Yet as their world stopped in the joy of reunion, reality kept racing forward.
The dark star was fading, dawn was surely coming soon…
“….That’s enough.”
And thus, Teresa hesitated but stood up.
“What do you mean, ‘that’s enough’?”
“You know what I mean. We’ve only got a limited time to meet.”
There was a chill even as Teresa spoke, ice seeming to drip from her voice.
“What are you talking about…?”
“Let’s not meet again if we can help it.”
“Eselatia…”
“Don’t call me that.”
The warmth from moments ago, the joy and happiness heavy in her voice, now felt utterly hollow, as if she had transformed into someone else altogether.
“I am Teresa Kaitlyn.”
BAM!
Her heart felt like it was quaking.
Even after becoming a human, Lirisia’s heart, which she hadn’t even realized was alive, now sank under the violent shock and despair.
Lirisia wasn’t an idiot.
She understood what Teresa meant.
She knew that Teresa was not her witch. She knew she had to return one day.
She also recognized that she was not Eselatia but rather the Witch Teresa Kaitlyn.
But…
“……I really missed you.”
“I see.”
What she perceived with her mind and what she felt with her heart were two completely different things.
“Really, really, really… I missed you so much.”
“I see…”
I felt that too.
And Teresa—Eselatia—nodded silently.
“But to you, it seems I’m just…?”
“…….”
“Is that all I am to you?”
As Lirisia tried to lean closer to Teresa, she was pushed back gently with a hand.
That slight gesture was more than enough to crumble Lirisia’s expression.
“…It was nice meeting you again. I’m glad you’re alive. Is that really all we can condense down to?”
“…Yeah.”
“I… I am… I am….”
It felt like her heart was violently swirling, like a hurricane.
Was this hesitation?
Or was it regret?
“I wanted to see you… so badly….”
Lirisia sank to the floor like a penitent sinner, confessing her feelings to Teresa.
“Do you know, Eselatia…? The Mangja Seongnyeo has a heart, but it doesn’t beat.”
“I know.”
I know all too well.
Teresa lowered her head as if holding back something.
“Even after becoming the Witch of the Dark Star, my heart still didn’t beat… And now I’ve turned into a mere human, and I still can’t feel it beating.”
“………”
“I thought it was okay. I accepted it as a punishment for not protecting something precious, for not being worthy to see my lost ones again…”
It hurts too much.
It felt like her heart was being crushed.
“Yet, despite that, I wanted to see you so badly. My heart seemed to be tearing apart and burning.”
“I understand.”
“But can I just say goodbye and leave…? Even knowing, can I just walk away…? That’s not right. Is it? Eselatia? That can’t be okay.”
Even if the entire world betrays her…
You mustn’t betray me!
“You can’t do this to me!!!”
She knew.
She knew she mustn’t betray her.
She understood the wounds you bore.
She understood all the pain you felt.
But despite that understanding, Teresa Kaitlyn couldn’t approach her.
She mustn’t get close to her.
“…Damn.”
The wind blowing felt chilling.
Even as a doll, that biting cold seemed to freeze her to the core.
This isn’t right.
I know I shouldn’t toy with someone’s heart and then leave!
I know I should not reject you!
If I think of you, if I can even understand your pain, your suffering, then, at least as Eselatia, I shouldn’t be rejecting you!
Beyond karma and sins, Lirisia deserves at least that much.
“Now we can share the joy of reunion and live happily together… right?…”
“It’s not like I’m doing it out of joy.”
“Then why!!!”
“…Sigh.”
Ah, this is frustrating.
It’s hilarious, really.
Though it’s Lirisia bearing the pain, it’s this dark witch wearing the most hurt expression.
“I don’t want to push you away. I don’t want to hurt you. That’s why… I can’t… I know!!! I know!!!”
Her emotions burst forth, then in an instant became tranquil, like a serene lake.
“But listen, Lirisia. You know.”
Having experienced numerous reincarnations, she had thought herself adept at managing emotions, but such an unexpected, miraculous meeting triggered a mental escape in her.
Her hands trembled.
Because it was a doll’s body, that quivering felt even stronger, resonating directly with her soul.
“You know, if you’re here, you’ve heard and seen what I’ve been through, right? You know that I wasn’t trying to save you, after all!”
“Ah….”
“Even if you’re this oblivious good-for-nothing saint, you know that!!!”
The words hit like a knife, and Lirisia sat there, stunned.
Usually, she would have stood up, tried to deny Teresa’s words somehow.
But even Lirisia knew.
Without Teresa saying it, she understood.
Her witch had already died, and that witch was… Shia’s witch, the being known as Teresa Kaitlyn.
“One day, I’ll have to make a choice… If the time comes to choose between you and Shia, I won’t hesitate, and you’ll be hurt.”
“…….”
“I don’t want that.”
I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I’m sorry.
Actually, that’s not true.
If I could, I’d love to choose both.
I want to save both.
Not just both, but everyone… I want to reach a happy ending.
While not wanting to hurt you, I couldn’t bear to see you withering away from lack of affection and fulfillment.
“I don’t want to see you suffer from a lack of love.”
But I can’t.
I can’t do that.
I can’t.
“It’s too much.”
“But Shia has everything.”
“Menelapie. Yeonseo. Yeonhwa. Her followers. Family. Friends. Even nameless people all praise her. They love her like she’s a Viewer. They cherish her and treat her with love.”
Through eyes slightly unfocused, Lirisia’s mouth curved upward.
At first glance, it looked like a semblance of a smile, but her eyes were filled with turmoil.
“Then what about me? The one who couldn’t protect you and lost you?”
“Lirisia.”
“Can’t I have this one thing…? Just this one thing…!!!”
I know.
I know, Lirisia.
But…
“Is that really greed? Is it… is it that bad?”
“………”
“Answer me, Eselatia… Am I… am I really that terrible…? Did I ask for something beyond my means…?”
I don’t want to hurt anyone.
But I’ve lived through so many futures and many iterations.
Do you think I haven’t experienced situations similar, or even worse than this?
No, I have been there.
I’ve lost chances.
I’ve had much more in my hands than you ever will, yet I lost it!
I understand how even a single indecisive choice can lead to a massive snowball effect.
For the sake of those choices and a happy ending, I can’t give anyone a foothold.
I don’t know where this might lead in the future!
You know this too, Lirisia.
“I, I…”
Ah, this isn’t good.
I can’t let go.
I should let go, it’s for the best…
Lirisia remains an uncertainty, a seed of anxiety about the future.
If it’s for the sake of my true saint. If it’s for Shia… then letting go should be for the best.
Pretending I don’t know, and being grateful that she’s doing okay… it should be the right action.
It’s better not to meet again. That’s what I want to say…
“I can’t…!”
I just can’t do it.
Knowing your pain.
Knowing your loneliness, that hurt you feel.
Knowing how painful this moment is to you, Lirisia, I…
If I cast you away, how much more pain would you have to endure?
How much more, how much more… how much longer…?
If I think of that, even despite needing to cast you away, I can’t.
“Hic… Esel, Latia… Hic…”
“Lir, Shia… I…”
And at that moment…
[Now…]
Bang!
“Ah….”
“Huh…?”
[What are you doing?]
The air froze chillingly.
Familiar voice.
Familiar footsteps.
Familiar energy.
Familiar divine power.
As she slowly shifted her gaze, a dazzling white divine energy rippled through the air, and even whiter hair danced in the wind.
As if something was shattering like broken stars.
Ah…
Why now… why at this moment… the one person I didn’t want to meet…
[I’ll ask again…]
Is this a punishment?
A punishment for selfish thoughts… for even daring to think about discarding someone?
[…What are you two doing?]
Shia…
