Witt watched the girl before him, her eyes downcast as if on the verge of tears yet forcing herself to stay strong. He realized he’d truly gone too far today.
Forcing Kaelxi to kiss him, playing with her ears, locking her in a crate—all of it must have hurt her deeply.
Witt wanted to pull Kaelxi into a tight embrace. His hand reached out, then hesitated. "Kaelxi… may I hold you?"
She didn’t answer. Instead, she buried her face against his chest, wrapped her arms around his back, and hugged him fiercely.
(She’d just thrown up and hadn’t wiped her mouth yet—perfect chance to clean it on his shirt.)
One arm cradled her back; the other gently stroked her silky golden hair. Her warmth, the faint scent of perfume and skin, the softness of her hair beneath his fingers—Witt wished time would freeze right here.
"Kaelxi, I’m sorry."
"I only meant to tease you today. Not to get back at you."
"I really like you… I just don’t know how to show it."
"If I’ve hurt you… I won’t do it again."
"And I won’t let anyone else hurt you either."
He lowered his head, pressing a soft kiss to her hair.
"Witt, it’s okay."
"You can do anything you want to me."
"This is my penance. I won’t blame you."
Her breath warmed his chest. She kept her face hidden—otherwise, he’d have seen the wicked grin spreading across it.
*The more I say this, the guiltier he’ll feel. He won’t dare touch me without permission again.*
*That’s called playing hard to get!*
*Feel guilty! Feel guilty! Now you’ll weigh every word and action—lest you break my heart, hehehe~*
Witt stayed silent, holding her tightly, unsure how to make up for the day’s cruelty.
Then his stomach growled loudly.
Night had fallen. He’d spent hours gathering supplies in the city and hadn’t eaten all day. The single bite of bread Kaelxi had offered him? He’d thrown it up.
Kaelxi had finished wiping her mouth. Hearing his stomach, she asked, "Hungry, Witt?"
He shook his head. "Not hungry."
*Just… want to hold you longer.*
*Pathetic virgin. Think I don’t know your game?*
*Savoring a hug like this—you’d probably try kissing me if I hadn’t just puked!*
*If we keep this up… ugh, I don’t even want to imagine what might happen!*
Kaelxi pushed him away, rummaging through his luggage with a pout. "Witt, I know you want to hold me longer," she scolded, pulling out a strip of dried meat. "But you eat when you’re hungry!"
"You can’t protect me if you’re weak!"
She handed him the meat, eyes crinkling into crescent moons. "Besides… if you want to hold me…"
"There’ll be plenty of chances later."
Starving, Witt devoured the meat, mumbling through a full mouth: He’d settle her safely in the Royal Capital of the Desert Kingdom. Then he’d return to the Buchert Kingdom. He’d wipe out the Slave Catcher Squad. Erase the threat forever.
He chewed viciously—as if the tough meat were the squad leader’s flesh—until he choked, coughing violently.
Kaelxi "concernedly" handed him water, moving with deliberate slowness. *He looks ridiculous when he chokes.*
Witt gazed at her gratefully, adoringly. After gulping the water, he clenched his fist. "The Slave Catcher Squad… I’ll slaughter every last one!"
"Then you’ll never have to fear them again."
Kaelxi was genuinely moved. She’d expected him to dump her at the border. Instead, he’d promised her safety in the Royal Capital—and a deadly counterstrike.
"Witt, you don’t need to take me all the way to the capital. The border towns are fine—"
"No. They hunt non-humans on the borders too. Furry Beastmen like you are targets. I won’t risk it."
Yes—the Desert Kingdom was a Beastman realm. Humans were the rare ones here.
"But why fight them? You can’t win!"
*(Okay, maybe I care a tiny bit about whether he lives or dies. Just a little. No, not more than that.)*
"Kaelxi… every night while we lived together, you’d cry out in your sleep. ‘Help me!’"
"I didn’t understand before. Now I know—it’s those damn slavers."
"Even with amnesia, the memory of being captured… of losing your home… it’s carved into your soul."
"I just want your dreams to be sweet."
"For that? They deserve to die."
Kaelxi froze. *He thinks my nightmares are about slavers? They’re about falling from rooftops!* But she couldn’t tell him. She didn’t want him charging to his death for nothing. "You can’t beat them! I don’t want you to die!"
*(Who’ll protect me if you’re gone?)*
Warmth flooded Witt’s chest. *She cares this much… she must like me.*
Confidence lit his face. "I won’t die. I’m slow, but not stupid. I’ll wait until I’m stronger than them."
"Kaelxi… I’m actually a genius. Train hard, and in a few years? They won’t stand a chance against me."
"When I return… I’ll marry you."
"I’ll make you happy for the rest of your life."
.....................
Inside Witt’s tent, Kaelxi tossed and turned. She’d leave him eventually. His departure to hunt the slavers would be her perfect escape window.
Hide in some Desert Kingdom village—he’d never find her without clues.
But… would he be even more heartbroken this time?
*Sigh. How do I slip away safely?*
Burdened by the unsolvable puzzle, she finally drifted into sleep.
Outside, Witt sat by the campfire on watch.
Flickering flames danced across the young man’s uncertain face. A new adventure loomed ahead.
*Magic. The unknown. Maidens. Elves. Beastmen.* Words that once set hearts racing meant nothing to him now.
He’d just lied to Kaelxi for the first time.
He *was* a genius. But even reaching Gold Rank wouldn’t guarantee victory against a Slave Catcher Squad backed by Buchert nobles.
He knew going might kill him.
But how could he let the girl he loved endure nightmares forever?
He had to go.
