The Witch's Tears, The Witch's Smile

Parting is a weight so heavy.

Like a boulder.

Like a mountain.

It presses on the heart, making it hard to breathe.

Only when parting truly arrives do people realize that all the rehearsals they prepared in advance are as light as a feather, barely ten percent of the actual burden.

Krisha had prepared herself for scolding.

As an object, she had openly defied her master's decision.

This was something absolutely unforgivable.

The moment the words left her mouth, the witch's heart sank into regret and self-blame, yet even so, she still had to reject Xu Xi's request.

As if by refusing his instructions, she could also refuse the parting.

Make Xu Xi stay.

Keep the warm sun from fading away.

"Please…" The delicate face, gently caressed by a withered hand, trembled as she spoke, "Don't say anymore. I won't accept it."

The witch's refusal took Xu Xi by surprise.

His expression shifted—first shock, then confusion, and finally a gentle, relieved smile. There was no scolding, as Krisha had feared.

"Hahaha… ahahaha…"

"Hack… cough!"

Xu Xi laughed.

He seemed to be in good spirits, but his frail body betrayed him. His laughter turned into violent coughing, harsh and urgent.

His aged face twisted in pain.

"Master!"

Krisha quickly cast a life-restoring spell to ease Xu Xi's suffering.

Every shallow breath, every flicker of pain, became an invisible blade piercing her heart, making her tremble uncontrollably.

What could she do? How could she save him?

Krisha didn't know. All she could do was desperately cast the highest-level life magic, over and over, to make Xu Xi's body feel just a little better.

Soon, Xu Xi's coughing subsided.

"I'm fine, Krisha. I'm just… too happy."

Xu Xi's eyelids grew heavier.

His tired eyes half-open, he gently took the witch's hand and shook his head, signaling her to stop casting. His gaze met her hollow, lifeless eyes.

"For the first time… this is the first time you've opposed me."

"Krisha, it's wonderful… you've gained your own thoughts…"

An object has no will of its own, nor does it express opposition. When a witch learns to oppose, it means she has regained her sense of self.

The witch had truly become—

A **person**.

Xu Xi's eyes were clouded and unfocused. He could barely see the world before him. Sleepiness surged, threatening to steal the last glimmer of clarity from his gaze.

"Krisha…"

On the bed, the dying old man softly declared, "You've graduated."

The world fell silent.

So silent that Krisha couldn't comprehend it.

So silent that fear welled up in her heart, dreading the cruelty that was about to come.

"But… compared to you, I'm still far behind…" Krisha's voice trembled. Her face remained expressionless, but the suppressed sorrow seemed to break free from her body, echoing in the air.

"There's still so much… so much I need to learn from you."

"Without you, I can do nothing."

Krisha's voice grew hoarse, the immense grief burning her throat like fire.

She didn't understand.

She couldn't comprehend.

She was Xu Xi's possession, a witch despised by the world, a worthless thing that could be discarded at will—lowly, ugly, and insignificant. She was a shadow that would lose its meaning without the light.

Thus, Krisha couldn't accept Xu Xi's acknowledgment of her "graduation."

It meant she would have to leave his side.

Clumsily, she listed her flaws and shortcomings, over and over, amplifying them to prove she wasn't ready to graduate.

"…"

Xu Xi didn't interrupt her. He simply gazed at her tenderly, his bony hand reaching out once more.

He placed it gently on Krisha's head.

Giving her one last touch of warmth.

Gradually,

Krisha stopped speaking, no longer reciting the lies she told herself.

The room was quiet. Outside the window, the world was bright.

But Krisha's heart was torn apart.

True despair isn't a sudden disaster—it's knowing the disaster is coming and being powerless to stop it.

This torment of helplessness, this despair of watching the end approach, drained the mystery and brilliance from Krisha's black-and-gold eyes, leaving only hollow sorrow.

"Please… don't leave me."

"Or… let me go with you."

Krisha choked back a sob, finally voicing the words she had buried deep in her heart. Her tone carried no weeping, yet it was filled with desolate sadness.

Like a candle on the verge of extinguishing.

Like a bird with clipped wings.

She pleaded helplessly with Xu Xi.

Krisha had already prepared herself to die alongside him.

Nothing mattered anymore—not the world, not godhood. In the loneliness of her heart, nothing weighed as much as Xu Xi.

Just as Xu Xi had saved her and given her everything,

Krisha was willing to abandon everything to accompany him in silent death.

No reason was needed.

No hesitation.

She was willing, with all her heart.

In response, Xu Xi's hand grew weaker on her head, and his voice became as faint as a wisp of air.

"Krisha, you know I won't allow that."

On the bed,

Xu Xi's breathing grew fainter. Each breath seemed like a final struggle, a fight against the pain and suffocation as his body slowly lost sensation.

He gave Krisha one last smile.

His aged, weathered face, bathed in sunlight, faintly revealed traces of his younger self.

"Please live well, Krisha."

"This is my request."

"Don't grieve over my departure. This isn't goodbye—just a long separation."

"One day, we'll meet again."

His weak hand could no longer caress her hair. It lost all strength and rested motionless on her head.

The spark of life was about to fade.

The shadow of death closed in.

Xu Xi spoke his final words to Krisha: "It's a pity… I never got to see you truly smile."

Suddenly,

Xu Xi paused, his pupils dilating slightly. A sudden shock seemed to delay death for a moment.

"Master…"

"Look…"

"This is… my smile…"

Under the golden afternoon sun, her gray hair cascading like a waterfall, Krisha sat quietly by the bed. Trembling, she raised her hands.

All fingers curled except the index fingers.

Two index fingers,

hooked at the corners of her mouth,

gently pulling, creating the shape of a smile.

The smile was stiff, and tears streamed down from her already brimming eyes, silently soaking her hands.

It was less a smile and more a silent cry.

"Such a beautiful smile…"

Xu Xi whispered softly.

In the quiet breeze, his breathing ceased. His tired eyes closed.

This time, he would never wake again.

[You have died.]

[Simulation ended.]