Crown of Thorns

Team : Starrynight, WilsonWilson, Stephanie

Evan liked it when the Witch’s Shadow watched over him.

It was for that simple reason that he had intentionally made it difficult to handle things that could be easily managed—oftentimes even hurting himself on purpose. Because at night, a Shadow always came and stroked his wound. He was content that it was not much different from Nyx, who cared for his heart with warm eyes and a tender touch when he was younger.

If she was only protecting him because she needed him, would she care if he was getting hurt or not? Isn’t the Shadow that carefully swept away his wounds proof that she valued him, if just for a tiny bit? Evan hoped so, for even if the love that she held for him was small, even if she did not value him as much as he valued her, it would be good enough.

After Nyx disappeared, Evan called out her precious name, sweeping down the wounds that her shadow had stroked.

“…Nyx.”

When Evan fell asleep, Nyx’s Shadow would slip away, allowing him his privacy. He knew the moment he no longer sensed her Shadow’s presence. She had never once crossed the line, even as she was certain that he could not feel her Shadow. It was a token of her consideration and kindness.

“Nyx.”

He missed her.

Her name spread warmth through his chest as he called it. He wanted to meet her desperately. She, who had looked at him with tranquil and unambiguous eyes when he called her. He had grown big and strong with his constant training and believed that he was ready to accomplish whatever Nyx desired. He wondered; would she be happy to see him again? Would she laugh?

He had always remembered her face, along with her exhausted and lonely expression. He was inherently anxious that if he were to even stray a little, she would dissipate from his life and he’d never be able to hold on to her. The only thing he’d be able to do is helplessly stare at the place she drifted away from like a gust of wind.

Is there any way to hold on to her? Is there any way to make sure she stays with him at all times? So he didn’t have to dread the moment when she’d disappear?

*

Contrary to Evan’s wishes, the streets were whispering about the witch.

Rumors had been circulating endlessly amongst the people, speaking of a witch as the culprit who had incited monsters and was the one who caused the war between nobles. Evan refused to believe it was her. She wasn’t that kind of a person. He understood the human who loved the world and showed him how to do the same. Nyx was a woman who comforted and persuaded him that “Revenge is futile.”

Nyx, throwing the world into torment? That couldn’t be right.

Moreover, her Shadow was still following him. It did disappear when he fell asleep, but it was more of a routine that had been repeated for a long time because she respected his privacy.

It had been chasing him almost all day. There were times when it disappeared, but it was only for a short while. Now that he thought about it, she might have been exploring the world through her Shadow while sitting still, eyes closed and her back to the wall. However, no matter how powerful she was, he realized that it was impossible for her to see or move in two places at the same time, as she would look a little hazy whenever he called for or touched her. And she closed her eyes whenever she started looking into the outside world again.

Her incapability of being in two places simultaneously meant that the gossip going around was false. Evan strongly believed so, but he didn’t have anyone to acknowledge his opinion even if he voiced it, and most importantly, he said from his own lips that there was no such thing as witches. He thought that it would be a relief if she were to become a frightening being, as no one would dare to come near her in that case.

He felt sorry for Nyx, but he hoped that it would never be revealed that she was such a nice and tender woman.

Evan covered his hair with a cloth that Yohan had handed him and continued to fight with the monsters. For some reason, rumors were circulating that only a warrior with bright Light could kill the witch. So, not only the emperor but also those who were seized by fear were looking for such a warrior.

In truth, the fact that people with bright colors were dragged away and killed was not a mere baseless rumor. Evan recalled the time when he first met Yohan. His Light drove out the darkness that covered the witch’s forest and crushed the monsters into ashes.

It was understandable that if the rumors were true and a person who provoked monsters and orchestrated war between nobles had really existed, then that person’s power should naturally be feared.

All of which was but more proof that it was not Nyx, for she was the one who revealed to him that he possessed such power. Seeing that she followed him everywhere, she didn’t have to go around killing other kids, she could easily take his life whenever she pleased, being that she had the power and an abundance of opportunities to do so.

Therefore, the suspect couldn’t have been Nyx.

While thinking about this, Evan made a grave mistake while fighting; a monster had taken his sword. He, of course, could have taken it back or retreated into a safe distance, however, he deliberately let himself be in danger by getting caught between two monsters. Whenever this happened, Nyx would try to protect him. There would be a big wave of Shadows appearing in urgency.

And if he were to get hurt, she would pet him. Evan didn’t really care how badly he got hurt or if he got hurt at all; as long as she could express that she was worried about him and he could feel her touch.

But something unexpected happened. The monster, who had taken Evan’s sword, made a powerful strike with it while he was turning his back. There was no way out of the sword’s path, which was thrown quickly with such ruthless power, no matter how fast he tried to move. He tried to back down, twisting his body to avoid fatal injuries, but at that moment, a black fog emerged blocking his front.

In the blink of an eye, Nyx’s Shadow shielded his front and tried to absorb the hit of the sword thrown by the monster with its body. However, thanks to the added speed of the sword, the hit wasn’t blocked completely, and it eventually tore through the shadow and dug into Evan’s shoulder.

But Evan had no time to care about his pain because he felt that Nyx’s Shadow was forcibly scattered until it finally disappeared.

“N—Nyx…”

If the sword was embedded in her even though she blocked it in her Shadow form, then she must have received a great shock. Because if one had been using their magic without a break, the forceful cancellation of it would cause great pain to the sorcerer’s spirit connected to it. Perhaps leading to their death.

Evan’s heart pounded loudly, his eyes were wide open and bloodshot red. He remembered Nyx struggling in pain.

Because of me, she was trying to save me and ended up like this. Because of me…!

“Nyx.”

Light responded to his anger and desperation, covering his surroundings with a white gleam that engulfed the monsters around him too. The wounds on Evan’s body, as well as on everyone moaning in pain around him, vanished without a trace.

The monsters were scattered into ashes before having a chance to utter a scream and at the same time, Evan disappeared, leaving only sparkles of lights. While everyone was dumbfounded about this miraculous turn of events, it was in front of the witch’s tower, Nyx’s, that he reappeared.

“Nyx.”

He found her lying down on the floor, already thin and anxious-looking, bleeding from her mouth, and felt something breaking. His legs trembled, Evan was filled with fear. He feared that he might lose Nyx, that she might not open her eyes ever again because of him.

He managed to get in front of her and plopped down. Then, he opened his faint trembling mouth and called out to her.

“Nyx.”

After coming to his senses, he hurriedly approached her face and heard a very weak but existing breathing sound. He was relieved. She did say she wouldn’t die anyway, but it couldn’t have occurred to him in this situation. Even if she wouldn’t, he couldn’t wait until she woke up on her own, so he laid next to her.

After quickly wiping away the tears that had suddenly formed, he hugged her and began to pour all the energy he could. He felt like crying. I’m sorry, I’m so sorry... Evan began thinking of himself as terrible, horrible, disgusting, and all kinds of negative qualities; it had all swallowed him.

“I’m sorry, I’m so sorry, Nyx.”

His restraints burst, all the forces that he had not been able to control before were overflowing and filling his surroundings, this was not something he could revoke in an instant. But Evan continued to scatter Light onto Nyx, making the inside of the tower a scenery of white light, turning it into a completely different place; similar to a snowfield that he had seen before.

Evan had been consistently transmitting his energy to the extent of exhaustion, it would have been normal for him to faint and lose consciousness for a long period of time. But he managed to slowly lift himself, even though his face was pale, it was lightened with relief because Nyx’s breathing became normal.

And in the haze of his fading Light, Evan saw Nyx’s true appearance for the first time. His light healed her wound and further healed all her scars. The removed horrifying traces revealed a woman so young and thin, more beautiful than expected.

Her rough, lumped skin was now as white and transparent as a newborn babe’s; her hair, which was thin due to malnutrition, was now as smooth as the best of silk. In addition to that delicate, thin, and feminine eyebrows, dark downcast eyelashes formed. Instead of a thick nose, hers stretched out in a dense yet lovely way, with lips that looked soft and moist.

Evan unwittingly reached out his trembling hand and swept Nyx’s cheek. The flesh on his fingertips was so soft that it seemed to melt. At the same time, the tip of Nyx’s lips rose slightly. Even though it was a small movement, Evan’s heart dropped.

It didn’t matter how much she was covered with scars; her beauty did not fade. He knew who she was. Yet, he wasn’t able to get a hold of himself, how could he? After all, seeing her so effortlessly glorious, if she were to open her eyes right now, if her magnificent eyes were to be coupled with her true bewitching appearance, he wouldn’t be capable of handling his throbbing heart.

He felt uneasy; he was scared of touching her because of how delicate and thin her arms and slender neck were. He strongly thought that it would not be easy to control himself and endure this strong urge, that he had never felt before, rising within him, confusing him.

So he tried to stand slowly, but he was surprised by a sudden thin hand that gripped the hem of his clothes. He carefully wrapped his hand around hers, unable to hide his tearful expression. Her hand was cold yet soft and so fragile.

To think that such a young and vulnerable woman like her was a witch – and if that was not enough, she had also been inflicted with terrible scars. How painful it must have been.

Evan slowly laid by Nyx’s side and hugged her with his other arm. She was so light that he felt no weight even though her head was resting on his arm. He brushed her black hair away with his fingers, and as he looked down so close, he could see her teeth and red tongue between her slightly open lips. The calm, sweet, and warm breath seemed to be able to possess the power to devour him if he were to get any closer.

Evan slipped his fingers into the hair on the back of her head and lifted it, feeling the soft hair. Then, he lowered his head to face her. He traced her white cheeks, her previously-cracked lips, which made her look pitiful, and the bridge of her high nose, then he removed his hand. He could not stop himself from lustfully gazing at her lips and lightly kissing her chin.

With the desire continuing to rise, the hand around her hair was tightening, but he did not covet her lips at the end. Instead, he affectionately pressed his on her forehead and waited for her to wake up.

* * *

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