Chapter 144: The Fall of Blackwater
Peiya’s voice was very soft, like something floating in clear water. Just a small touch, and it would scatter.
“Were you serious about what you just said?”
Elise still couldn’t quite believe her ears. It didn’t feel like something Peiya would normally say.
“Of course I was serious. I just hope the pressure on you can be a little lighter. As for other things… I can’t really control them.”
Peiya understood her own limits very well. Some things were better left alone.
“Sigh… I didn’t expect that in the end, the one trapping herself would be me.”
Elise sighed, her expression returning to normal.
“Thank you for being willing to tell me all this. Being understood by you already makes me very happy. And thank you for giving me another chance for trusting me again.”
Elise gently touched the ring on her finger and noticed faint marks along the edges, like it had just been polished.
The marks were still fresh, probably left during the crafting just now. Thinking of this, a sweet smile appeared on her face.
“Then next week, I’ll take you back with me. After meeting my parents, we’ll probably head to Blackwater City. Do you need to prepare anything? You can use this time to get ready.”
“Prepare something…”
Peiya checked the small items she carried. “I don’t really need anything. But what about you? Are you really ready to go back?”
“I’m fine. I’ll probably ask a few pastry chefs to prepare some gifts, and bring a few clothes. But honestly, even that’s not necessary. In my family, girls don’t need to prepare much when they return home.”
“That’s good. I already have everything I need. But if I think about it, I should prepare some gifts too… although everything I have feels pretty ordinary. Your family probably doesn’t lack anything.”
“Just bring yourself. That’s what we’re missing~”
Elise let out a soft laugh.
Peiya didn’t understand at first, but quickly realized what Elise meant.
“No, absolutely not. I’m just going back with you to gather some information. Don’t even think about anything else.”
Elise didn’t respond. She just quietly listened as Peiya finished explaining. Sometimes, when someone really doesn’t care, they won’t explain at all.
Explaining this much… usually means something unusual.
“I’ve said everything I needed to say. I’m heading back now.”
Peiya stood up and left the manor. As she walked away, she looked back once. She had given the gift, but for some reason, she still felt uneasy.
“Master, I sense a witch’s presence nearby. Should we take a look?”
A witch’s presence?
Peiya became alert. Why would there be a witch nearby?
Meanwhile, Hunhun’s shadow-like figure flew around cautiously.
“Yes, and it’s very close. I suggest you go check it out.”
“Alright.”
Peiya calmed herself and followed Hunhun’s guidance to a nearby street. She looked around but didn’t notice anything unusual.
Just as she was about to leave and check another area, the space behind her suddenly collapsed.
A deep voice sounded from behind.
“You’ve finally come, Kreis. You’re not as careful as before.”
The voice felt hollow and distant, like rising smoke. You couldn’t catch its beginning or end, only feel it pass through your body.
“Who are you? I don’t think I know you at all.”
“Of course you know me. Have you forgotten what happened during the cycles of reincarnation? Have you also forgotten that we once fought together, raising our flags against the gods? Well… it has been so long. We’ve all changed. Ever since the Blackwater faded last time, it felt like the dark cloud above us finally disappeared. But, Kreis… we can’t escape. Back then, to avoid the Blackwater, I tried to erase my identity as a witch. But what happened? Now I’m still trapped here. Why is that? I still don’t understand what witches did wrong. Kreis, can you tell me?”
Peiya listened to the other person talking nonstop. She suddenly remembered what Il had told her earlier and made a bold guess.
“Are you saying… you are the Eternal Night Witch from Blackwater City?”
Based on what she knew, this seemed possible. But she didn’t expect to meet her in this way.
“No, not exactly. I’m only a fragment she left behind. She sensed your arrival in a prophecy, so she sent me here to wait. And I just happened to notice you, so I brought you here.”
“So you led me here on purpose. Fine, just say it clearly, what do you want?”
“So direct? Good. That saves time. I want you to remember more about your past. We witches… are not meant to have a good ending. This is a lie spread by the gods. Whether it’s you or me, we cannot break free from it. And it seems you really like that girl from earlier. I didn’t expect that you, a witch from the past, would choose to build such a close bond with a human…”
“...But she carries the curse of Blackwater City. Do you really think this will end well? Sigh… I don’t want to sound cold, but… Calamity… some feelings were taken away from us witches from the moment we were born.”
Peiya sighed.
“Sorry, but I am Peiya now. And I’m not interested in what you’re saying. I will define what it means to be a witch in my own way. You should know the meaning of the name ‘Kreis,’ right? Then you should understand her original intention. Whether she was my past self or not, I am still Peiya now. That will never change.”
“Tch… so that’s your answer. Fine. Looks like I worried too much. You’re still as straightforward as ever. The reason I appeared here is to tell you this, the Eternal Night Witch… is about to die. Alright, that’s all I wanted to say. I wish you a safe journey to Blackwater City. A not-so-complete blessing… from a fragment of the Eternal Night Witch.”
W-what!?
“Hey, wait! Explain it clearly!”
Peiya tried to stop the fading spirit, but it disappeared as if it had been programmed to vanish.
“Is there really no trace left?”
Peiya looked around, then turned her gaze to Hunhun.
“Yes, Master, she’s gone. Actually, that fragment was similar to me. I think she knew she was about to disappear, so she forced herself to come find me. She even acted a bit proud, saying she was just waiting here. But from what I sensed, she was already very weak when she came into contact with me. And what she said made me think of many things. I even feel like half of her words were meant for me. I just can’t fully understand them yet. But one thing is clear, the Eternal Night Witch is probably in very bad condition…”
“...Back then, she alone resisted the Blackwater and stopped its spread in Blackwater City. And now that she has appeared again, it’s likely that the Blackwater from before is starting to lose control again. If something really happens to the Eternal Night Witch, then the disaster from hundreds of years ago in Blackwater City might return. The only question is… where it will happen this time.”