SWNOVELXO Chapter 88:
Chapter 88: The Eternal Shackles Called Love:
When the witch was young, she endured all the malice the world could muster, forcing her to retreat into herself, escaping the dirt and darkness around her. Yet, there was one man who dedicated his life to breaking the chains that bound her.
He succeeded.
With the fleeting years of a mortal’s life, he stayed by her side until his final breath. In those few decades, a brilliant and eternal flower blossomed in her heart.
The witch found freedom, and the entity known as Krisha Kristina finally experienced liberation.
But when Xu Xi died before her eyes, when the only light in her heart disappeared, the witch’s newfound freedom turned to ash.
The chains that had once shackled her were broken, but with them, she rediscovered the depths of human emotion. She cried silently, her tears marking her return to being a free bird, just as Xu Xi had always wished for her.
Yet, Krisha rejected this freedom. She didn’t want it.
“Master, please…” Krisha whispered, holding out the shimmering ocean-blue necklace in her delicate hand, placing it into Xu Xi’s palm.
Xu Xi had spent his life removing the witch’s shackles.
Now, Krisha chose to wear them again.
This time, the chains were called [Eternal Love]—heavier than anything in the world, a bond she willingly imposed upon herself. She no longer wished to be separated from the sun in her heart. She wanted to remain by his side, always…
“Krisha, why did you take off the necklace?” Xu Xi asked, puzzled, as he carefully held the necklace.
“To clean up the trash for you. I was afraid it would get dirty,” Krisha replied softly, her gray-silver hair swaying gently.
“Trash?” Xu Xi frowned slightly.
Something about her words felt off, but he couldn’t pinpoint what. He decided to let it go for now.
“Krisha, lower your head.”
In the quiet courtyard, bathed in the warm orange glow of autumn, Xu Xi stepped behind the witch. He gently lifted her flowing silver-gray hair, the strands slipping like silk through his fingers, soft and luminous.
The autumn breeze carried warmth, blending with the golden light.
As Xu Xi held the mithril chain in his hands, he couldn’t help but recall the first time he had placed the necklace on her. That New Year’s Eve felt like it had only been yesterday. A faint smile appeared on his lips as he carefully secured the necklace around her neck.
The soft click of the clasp echoed faintly, signaling the completion of the task.
“Thank you…” Krisha murmured, her voice as faint as the autumn breeze, yet clear and resolute.
“I like your necklace very much… I really like it…”
The autumn wind grew stronger, causing Krisha’s long hair to dance wildly. Yet, instead of disrupting her beauty, it enhanced her ethereal presence. The necklace glinted with a soft, ocean-blue light against her chest, exuding a dreamlike glow.
“Good, I’m glad you like it,” Xu Xi said with a warm smile.
He gazed at Krisha. Her appearance had not changed—a 17-year-old girl with an air of indifference. Yet, her presence filled the space with familiarity and contentment.
Though they had been apart for what felt like a lifetime and separated by entire worlds, there was no sense of distance. Everything—the past, the present, the illusion, and the reality—blurred together seamlessly.
“It’s windy outside. Let’s go inside,” Xu Xi said, gently taking Krisha’s hand and leading her into the warmth of their home.
For Krisha, it felt like home again.
Once inside, Xu Xi headed to the kitchen, intending to make tea, but Krisha stopped him.
“Please let me handle it,” she said, her tone unusually serious.
Xu Xi glanced at her, surprised. Her once dual-colored eyes of black and gold had transformed. Now, they shone with pure red, reflecting his figure with youthful vitality.
“Alright, I’ll leave it to you,” Xu Xi said, yielding to her insistence.
Krisha nodded calmly and walked into the kitchen. Though it was her first time using earthly utensils, she adapted quickly. Her gaze swept across the tools and appliances, understanding them as if by instinct.
She used no magic or supernatural powers, opting instead to work with quiet precision. It was as if she had returned to their life in the magical world, moving with practiced ease to prepare tea.
Soon, she handed Xu Xi a cup of hot tea, carefully placing it on a small porcelain plate to insulate the heat.
“Thank you, Krisha,” Xu Xi said, taking the cup. He blew on the steaming liquid and took a sip. The warmth was perfect for the chilly autumn day.
The tea’s light flavor lingered on his tongue, bringing a sense of peace.
It reminded him of their life together in the magical world. Despite their immense power, they had chosen a simple, tranquil existence. Every moment of that life, no matter how mundane, was cherished.
“Krisha, sit down,” Xu Xi said gently.
Krisha had been standing quietly by his side, her hands folded neatly in front of her, her posture perfectly straight—like a maid awaiting orders.
“Yes,” she replied, seating herself with grace.
The dim autumn light faded as night approached. Xu Xi turned on the living room lamp, its soft glow casting a warm halo over Krisha’s silver hair.
Setting his empty teacup down with a soft clink, Xu Xi finally voiced the question that had been on his mind.
“Krisha, how did you… come here?”
“I saw your figure, heard your voice, and felt your presence. So I came to find you,” Krisha said simply, her tone calm as ever.
Her words were straightforward, but Xu Xi knew the journey must have been anything but simple.
“Thank you, Krisha,” he said softly, his emotions a mix of gratitude and sorrow.
“It wasn’t difficult,” Krisha replied, shaking her head slightly.
To her, as long as she could reunite with him, nothing else mattered. The hardships, the dangers—they were all insignificant compared to being by his side again.
The ocean-blue gem on her necklace shimmered faintly, as if mirroring the tides of her emotions. Sometimes gentle, sometimes turbulent, it reflected the witch’s unspoken thoughts.