Light and Shadow, Always Together

"Master...?"

Her legs were weak, as if they might give way at any moment.

She moved forward unsteadily, her steps trembling.

Her body was frail.

Her voice was faint.

Krisha's physical condition was poor—she was too weak, so weak that walking was a struggle. She could only inch forward with great difficulty, her breaths rapid as she slowly approached Xu Xi.

The scene was silent, yet it carried a deeply moving power.

The witch had proven one thing through her actions.

In the face of true willpower,

a frail body could not hinder her in the slightest.

The light fell upon the girl, further illuminating her pale, bloodless face. Trembling, she extended her slender, delicate fingers and rested them on the chair where Xu Xi sat.

With this support, the pressure of her movement lessened significantly, allowing her to reach Xu Xi's front.

And then.

Krisha saw it—the familiar face, now deeply asleep, marked by excessive exhaustion.

"Master... you're fine..."

She tilted her head slightly and blinked her eyes.

The truth of the matter was different from what she had imagined. Xu Xi was not in trouble; he had simply fallen asleep, nothing more.

"That's good."

Her calm voice echoed in the air.

Within her chest, the accumulated sorrow and worry dissipated entirely, returning to their usual hollow state.

What should she do next?

Krisha felt lost. After confirming that Xu Xi was fine, she suddenly didn't know what to do. Should she lie back on the stone slab and patiently wait for Xu Xi to wake up?

Light and shadow are inseparable companions.

When light appears, shadow follows closely, for without the light's illumination, shadow cannot exist.

So then.

When the light falls silent, where should the shadow go?

Krisha didn't know how to answer this question. Her life, her everything, had long been accustomed to staying by Xu Xi's side.

Beyond that, the witch had no interest in anything else.

But given her current physical condition, even if she stayed awake, what could she do?

She could barely take care of herself,

let alone anything else.

Thus, Krisha abandoned the impractical thoughts of helping with chores as she usually did.

Instead, she stood quietly, her expression calm and composed, her hands crossed in front of her abdomen, leaning against the edge of the table as she stood guard beside the sleeping Xu Xi.

The room was dim, the light hazy, creating an ethereal and fleeting glow that seemed to touch upon memories of the past.

Gently and tenderly, it enveloped the figures of the man and the girl.

One was deeply asleep.

The other stood watch.

This was the only thing the witch could think to do at this stage.

And it was also the only thing she wanted to do.

Since the light was in slumber, the shadow would stand by its side, waiting until the light rekindled and warmed the world, providing the shadow with its reason to exist.

However—

How should she put it? This feeling was somewhat subtle, even peculiar.

"Master's face..." Krisha murmured to herself. She wasn't as tall as Xu Xi, and though she could usually see his entire face, she hadn't observed the finer details.

But now, with Xu Xi sitting and sleeping, the standing girl could see his face up close.

This was the first time she had observed Xu Xi so closely.

The witch saw the swollen eyes, a result of long hours spent reading and overwork.

The witch saw the fingers, which even in sleep maintained the posture of holding a brush, a testament to his constant writing.

The witch saw the weary face, marked by exhaustion, with pale lips and a deeply fatigued expression.

She saw it all.

She saw the passage of time at his temples, the faint tremors of his breathing at his nostrils.

She saw the depth of Xu Xi's slumber, and the sacrifices behind that depth.

Ah...

Ah...

So this is how it is.

A heavy feeling seemed to pierce Krisha's heart in an instant, causing her pupils to dilate slightly.

Before, the witch had thought that if the light fell silent, the shadow would lose its sanctuary.

But now.

The truth showed the witch.

Even if the light fell silent, even if the sun briefly extinguished, its residual warmth would still penetrate the soul, providing the shadow with a path forward.

The witch didn't know what words or actions could do justice to that blazing, warm light. Her emotions accumulated, her thoughts grew chaotic, and her chest filled with an increasing sense of impulse.

The witch was too clumsy; she had no idea how to proceed.

And so.

Based on her own understanding, the witch did the best she could think of.

She carefully extended her fingers, moving as gently as possible, and lightly cupped Xu Xi's cheeks. She bent down, pressing her forehead against his, her nose touching his.

Strands of her silver-gray hair fell, a few brushing against the man's face.

"May you be well."

Krisha Christina whispered her prayer.

Her calm, even voice seemed to carry a fleeting mix of emotions, but the tranquility of her words made one wonder if it was just an illusion.

Touching, feeling the warmth of the light.

Time seemed to stand still.

Those brief seconds felt like an eternity, as countless new sensations burst forth within the witch's heart.

What was it, exactly?

Krisha felt guilty. She kept her forehead pressed against his, reluctant to part from that warmth and closeness, even though she knew that, as a "personal possession," such an act was overstepping.

Suddenly.

Perhaps her actions had disturbed the man's sleep.

Xu Xi's brow furrowed slightly, and he let out a soft groan. Though the sound was faint, it startled the 17-year-old witch, sending her fleeing in panic.

"!!!!!"

Despite her weak legs, the witch managed to sprint faster than ever before.

She scrambled back to the stone slab.

Grabbed the blanket Xu Xi had prepared for her.

Dove inside, hiding herself completely.

Curling up into a ball,

like a self-enclosed silkworm, she wrapped herself tightly, leaving no gaps, afraid to give the outside world even the slightest chance to observe her.

She trembled lightly, squirming slightly, utterly adorable.

Her heart was pounding, filled with unprecedented tension.

The witch didn't know why she was so afraid. Though she had overstepped, it was just a simple touch of foreheads. Yet, her heart was in turmoil.

"Master?"

She waited for a long time, but there was no movement.

No reprimand from her master came.

Krisha cautiously peeked out, letting her eyes emerge from the blanket. Seeing that Xu Xi was still asleep, her nervousness gradually subsided, returning to its usual emptiness.

However.

"So strange... so hot..."

Krisha was bewildered. She lightly touched her snow-white cheeks and found them burning.

The witch suspected she might have a fever. Was this the price for overstepping with her master?

The witch's knowledge had increased.

She thought that as long as her master didn't find out, this price was acceptable.