"Pah!" Witt spat out the barely-chewed bread at his feet.

"Ah, how could you?" Kaelxi covered her slightly parted little mouth, staring at Witt with a trace of surprise and dejection in her eyes.

"I’m just preventing you from poisoning me," Witt said, ignoring Kaelxi’s pitiful look. He squatted down and scooped muddy water from a puddle with his hand.

Last night’s light rain had softened the forest soil outside the city, creating many water-filled puddles. Neither had noticed it then—Witt had been "beating" Kaelxi while she desperately begged for mercy.

Seeing Witt about to drink the filthy water, Kaelxi hurriedly asked, "Witt, what are you doing?"

"Just rinsing my mouth. I don’t trust your poison."

Kaelxi pulled out her water flask and offered it. "You don’t need muddy water. Use mine."

*An indirect kiss—he won’t refuse, right?* Kaelxi thought secretly. If he took this first step, they could slowly mend things. Then she’d suggest traveling together. How could he reject an Elf girl’s company? *I’ve got him wrapped around my finger!*

But Witt ignored her gesture. He rinsed his mouth with the murky water instead.

Kaelxi froze, arm outstretched.

"Witt... are you afraid I poisoned the water too?" Her voice dropped low, trembling as if holding back tears. She hadn’t expected him to go this far just to cut ties.

"Yes. But not only that," Witt spat out the muddy water slowly. "I don’t want to use your things."

"I don’t want any connection with you."

"I don’t even want to see you."

"Whatever your goal—winning me over or using me—just leave now, Miss Kaelxi."

He turned toward Cesecity to buy travel supplies.

"Witt, where are you going?" Kaelxi jogged after him, backpack bouncing.

"Back to the city. Then I’m leaving." Witt walked faster, not glancing back.

"No need! I bought everything—tent, rations, travel funds." Her bulging pack held all she thought essential for survival.

"I said I won’t use your things."

"Your fake kindness makes me sick," Witt snapped, not hiding his disgust.

Kaelxi sprinted to catch him. She wrapped her arms tightly around his waist from behind. "Do you hate me that much?" Her grip tightened, pressing her chest against his back as if trying to fuse their bodies.

Witt felt the softness against his spine, recalling their first meeting when he’d carried her. He remembered her warmth... No! It was all a lie!

He shook his head, breaking free.

"Yes."

"I hate you."

"I hate you very much."

Witt strode away without once looking at her. Her dazzling charm, her desperate efforts—all just masks. What did she truly think? Which words were real, which fake? He refused to guess anymore.

Kaelxi stood frozen, eyes brimming with sorrow. She whispered faintly, "...Witt. I’m sorry..."

He didn’t stop.

Suddenly, a goblin leaped from behind a tree, roaring and swinging a wooden hammer at Kaelxi. It might have hidden from Witt earlier, or just returned from foraging. Either way, it was one he’d missed.

Lost in grief, Kaelxi didn’t notice. The hammer slammed into her shoulder. Her backpack strap snapped, spilling bread and supplies into the mud.

"Ugh!" Kaelxi crumpled to the ground. She sat up painfully, clutching her shoulder, staring in terror at the snarling goblin.

The hammer rose again for her head. Trapped, she screamed through tears, "Help! Witt!" But he’d vanished into the distance.

The hammer crashed into her forehead. Her skull cracked against the mud.

"It hurts! Help!" Kaelxi lay helpless, golden hair and dress caked in dirt, a bruise blooming on her brow.

The goblin howled, hammering the defenseless Elf relentlessly. To it, this meant a full belly at noon.

"Don’t... I don’t want to die!"

"Witt! Save me!"

The hammer struck her slender neck.

"Cough—ah!"

"It... hurts so much..."

"Witt... help..."

Her cries faded as the blows continued.

Witt had heard her initial screams but thought a trained warrior could handle a goblin. When her pleas grew desperate, then silent, he knew he had to check.

He arrived as the goblin finished its hunt.

Kaelxi’s dress—chosen today to win him over—was soaked in mud, torn in places. Bruises mottled her skin. Blood trickled from her lips; her unfocused eyes stared blankly at the sky. Her lips moved weakly: "Witt..."

Witt had never seen her so broken. She’d always been effortlessly graceful. Now, she was dying.

Yes, she’d lied. She deserved punishment.

But he couldn’t bear watching the girl he’d once loved beaten to death.

Witt raised his right hand. Sunblast ended the goblin’s filthy life.

Kaelxi turned her head toward him, then at her spilled backpack. Fresh tears streamed down her face.

"Witt... I’m... so sad..."

Witt followed her gaze. Her scattered supplies—all meant for him—lay ruined. The half-eaten bread lay alone in the mud, inedible.

"Stop crying. We can buy new things," Witt said, forcing himself not to care.

"The bread... I gave you... it’s dirty..." Kaelxi sobbed quietly, her words catching him off guard.

Witt’s heart ached.