Simulated Lives: The Sorrow of the Sword Maiden-Chapter 40 – The witch regards you as the sun

"Boom—"
A thunderous explosion echoed from the outside.
It was a high-level fire magic, fireworks soaring into the sky and bursting at a single point.
The bright flames even illuminated the night.
In Allenson City, the three divine churches of the Fire God, the God of Blacksmiths, and the Goddess of Harvest had their mages continuously casting various powerful spells to showcase the might of their deities.
It can be hard to make great work when its stolen from bit.ly/3iBfjkV.
Every year at this time, the divine churches would secretly compete with each other.
Whoever emerged victorious would gain more followers in the coming year.
"Boom! Boom!"
The intense sounds of magical bombardments in the distant sky interrupted Xu Xi's thoughts.
He glanced beside him, where the young witch wore a blank expression, clutching a necklace and coins in her hands, still maintaining that vacant, quiet demeanor.
The magic outside was truly dazzling.
So dazzling that the light spilled into the room.
Illuminating half of Krisa's fair cheek, her silky silver-gray long hair, and her softly contoured petite nose.
And those hands, unconsciously rubbing the necklace.
Krisa seemed to want to wear the necklace, but she didn't know how, because in her tragic past life, there was only pain and torment, and her understanding of necklaces was limited to just looking.
Her slender white fingertips brushed over the necklace's loop, clumsily, cautiously, touching it lightly before immediately withdrawing.
Afraid of accidentally damaging it.
The awkward movements, the helpless fingers, evoked a sense of pity in those who watched.
"Krisa, let me help you."
"…Okay."
Xu Xi extended a helping hand, taking the Azure Necklace from the girl's hands, and walked behind her, gently threading the mithril chain ends around her neck.
During the process.
Xu Xi's fingers brushed against the girl's neck.
It was a peculiar sensation, making Krisa feel a bit ticklish, a bit warm, and somewhat fond.
She instinctively nudged, her neck brushing against the chain, producing a pleasant clinking sound.
But the girl quickly realized that this might cause unnecessary trouble for Xu Xi.
So she stood still again.
Feeling the warm hands lift her long hair, guiding the mithril chains to cross at the back of her neck, finally pressing the silver clasp with a click, securing the Azure Necklace in place.
Snowflakes danced outside, the atmosphere lively and bustling.
Under the gentle guidance of the man, the mithril necklace adorned with the Aquamarine settled comfortably on the girl's slightly warm neck.
Why was it warm?
The witch was puzzled.
This was an experience she had never had before.
"Not bad, not bad," Xu Xi stepped back a few paces, looking Krisa up and down with the necklace on, a satisfied expression on his face.
"Just as I imagined, this necklace really suits you, Krisa."
Xu Xi smiled.
Genuinely praising her.
Winter was harsh and cold, even on a lively New Year's Eve, that wouldn't change.
But at this moment, right now.
Xu Xi felt he saw something beautiful enough to melt the winter chill.
The silver-gray hair slightly covered the snow-white neck, the scars of the past vanished, replaced by smoothness and softness, the emotionless witch lowered her head, holding the Azure Necklace that hung from her neck.
Reflecting.
Glistening.
Mirroring.
As Krisa gazed at the Azure Necklace, the hazy, dreamy blue glow also reflected in her vacant eyes.
At first glance, those eyes seemed to regain their liveliness.
Even if only for a fleeting moment.
Quickly dissipating with the instability of the light.
But Xu Xi still felt that this moment was incredibly splendid.
He felt a sense of pride, a sentiment that his witch was truly beautiful.
Then, Xu Xi asked the expressionless girl, "Krisa, how does it feel? Do you like it?"
The girl nodded gently, "I like it."
Then politely added, "Thank you."
...
The night deepened.
On New Year's Eve, it was time to part.
After giving the New Year's gift and the red envelope, Xu Xi left the kitchen.
Heading towards the study, planning to meditate and break through his mental strength before sleeping tonight.
After he left, Krisa sat in a daze for a long time.
A long time, longer than all her past memories.
A mess, more chaotic than her inner turmoil.
When Krisa came back to her senses.
She realized she had unconsciously tidied up the dishes and returned to her room.
She sat curled up in the corner of her bed, hugging her knees, lost in thought for a long time.
"A gift..."
"I also have my own... gift..."
A faint voice echoed in the air.
Very flat, without any fluctuation.
Even now, Krisa still felt that someone like her, who could be discarded at will, had no right to receive gifts or the affection from her master.
An object should have the self-awareness of an object.
Should not desire more things that do not belong to it.
But.
Listening to the master's words was also necessary.
The master told her to accept it, so she couldn't refuse. Krisa held the deep blue necklace on her chest, her eyes confused yet with a hint of ripple.
Like...
Really like...
Really like this gift.
The heavy sentiment kept accumulating in her chest, growing heavier, more chaotic, yet she couldn't understand what it was.
For a witch who had lost her emotions, understanding these feelings was too difficult.
But it didn't matter much.
Krisa had her own solution, she neither needed to understand nor express them, as long as she stayed by Xu Xi's side, listening to his words and instructions was enough.
Rip—
The sunlight from outside the window caught Krisa's attention.
It was then she realized she had been in a daze in her room all night, not even noticing the sunrise.
The first day of the new year.
The sun's rays were unprecedentedly strong.
With a fierce and violent posture, they forcefully penetrated the curtains, falling on the dazed demon race girl, reminiscent of the redemption that man had performed two months ago.
"Praise the great Sun God."
"May the Sun God always protect you and me."
Outside.
The citizens of Allenson City gradually emerged from their homes, praying towards the sun on this first day of the new year, hoping for the Sun God's protection.
The sun...
Krisa lowered her head, burying her face between her knees.
In a volume only she could hear, she said:
"Thank you, sun..."
Not thanking the deity.
But thanking the one who broke into her world, pulled her from the mire of despair, bringing her light and hope, her very own 'sun.'
In the repeated cries for help, only he heard the witch's voice and was willing to extend a warm hand.
That warmth.
That compassion.
Had already been deeply engraved in the witch's heart, unforgettable.
For this, the witch's future would only be for the "sun," and if she lost that gentle light, lost that gaze upon her, the witch would completely lose the meaning of existence.
Falling into an abyss even she feared.