dark witch

Chapter13

Suddenly, a piercing cold pain attacked unexpectedly, as if thousands of needles from the inside of the ring were stabbing into the flesh, quickly penetrating deep into the marrow. Haiyin's eyes bulged with her silver-gray pupils, her mouth agape. After taking a breath, she dared not exhale, enduring the heart-wrenching pain, her right hand tightly clutching her thigh, her body trembling uncontrollably.

The ring worn on her left thumb slowly absorbed the fresh blood on the ring, gradually emitting a dim light. As it fully integrated with the blood on the ring, the moon outside the window suddenly dimmed, while thousands of stars shone brightly.

A strand of moonlight, as if alive, passed through the glazed window and wrapped around the ring, making the heart-wrenching pain even more profound, so intense that it seemed her soul was screaming.

A black crow perched quietly on the headboard, silently observing everything, making no sound.

"Ah," unable to suppress the painful groan, Haiyin suddenly closed her mouth and clenched her teeth. At this moment, her mother and aunt should be gathering the light of the moon. Despite the pain, she could feel that the ring bore no malice; it was merging with her.

Pain... endless pain. Haiyin's mind was filled with only these thoughts, enduring. Blood gradually covered her eyes, spreading quickly. Her teeth were clenched so tightly that her gums cracked, blood seeping from her tightly closed lips. Unable to stand, she collapsed forward, curling up, her left hand clawing tightly at the porcelain-white windowsill.

The black surface of the ring on her thumb began to flow and gather, revealing the silver-white body of the ring. A strand of blood as thin as a hair gradually appeared in the middle of the ring, entering the swirling black.

Drip... A drop of sweat fell on the windowsill. The silent night could not mask the sound of the drop. In a moment, Haiyin was drenched in sweat, her eyes no longer bulging, her gaze dim. She had adapted to the pain, becoming numb. Her lips gradually relaxed, collapsing onto the windowsill like a lump of mud.

The strand of moonlight entwined around the ring seemed to tire of it, leaving the ring and wrapping around Haiyin's plump wrist, then flowing into her meridians. The previously numb Haiyin, as if stimulated, suddenly clenched her hands tightly into the white marble, her entire body tensing like a drawn bow.

Her silver-gray pupils were now covered with red blood vessels. Blood flowed from the corner of her mouth into her ear, her body gradually emitting a soft lunar light...

At dawn, the red sun rose from the eastern horizon, casting its light on the pristine Lord's Mansion of Anastasia City. Haiyin, lying on the windowsill like a dead pig, had a spark ignited in her vacant eyes. Her thick, curled eyelashes trembled slightly, her cracked lips parted slightly, and she swallowed hard, then slowly curved her mouth into a smile.

"Damn it, a full six hours of pain, but I finally made it through," she boasted to the red sun, then slowly closed her sore eyes, her black curls spreading on the pristine windowsill, shining with a glossy sheen.

In her dream, she had wings, flying joyfully like a sprite through a dense forest, climbing on antlers, teasing the silkworms clinging to the trees, drinking the morning dew, truly living as she pleased.

Perhaps too happily, darkness suddenly enveloped her, she lost direction, and everything around her vanished in an instant. The darkness was silent, she was frightened but tried to remain calm, wanting to call out to her grandmother, mother, and aunt, but it was as if her mouth was sewn shut, she couldn't make a sound.

"Ah... Arno..."

A strange chant sounded, she flapped her wings and looked back towards the source of the sound, only to see an indistinct dark figure raising a dagger covered in silver vigorous lines, glowing with a faint ghostly light, stabbing downwards. Her heart stopped, and something warm and sticky splattered onto her face...

Her eyes suddenly opened, the blood vessels in her silver-gray pupils had receded. Holding her breath, Haiyin propped herself up, her gaze sweeping across her surroundings, everything so unfamiliar, but she remembered where she was. Exhaling, her mouth felt dry.

Supporting herself with her hands, she jumped off the windowsill and went straight to the table, lifting the glass teapot to her mouth, drinking water greedily. After consuming half the pot, Haiyin felt somewhat relieved, put down the teapot, burped, and wiped her mouth contentedly. But the vague figure in her dream lingered, her eyes darkening as she murmured, "Who was that person?"

Rubbing her temples, aSuddenly, a sharp, unexpected pain assaulted her, as if thousands of needles from within the ring were piercing into her flesh, swiftly burrowing into her marrow. Haiyin's eyes widened, her silver-gray pupils bulging, her mouth agape. After taking a breath, she dared not exhale, enduring the excruciating pain, her right hand clawing at her thigh, her entire body trembling uncontrollably.

The ring on her left thumb slowly absorbed the fresh blood, gradually emitting a dim light. As it fully integrated with the blood on the ring, the bright moon outside suddenly dimmed, while thousands of stars shone brightly.

A strand of moonlight, as if alive, passed through the glazed window and wrapped around the ring, deepening the piercing pain, making her soul scream in agony.

A black crow perched silently on the headboard, quietly observing everything, not making a single sound.

Unable to suppress her painful moans, Haiyin suddenly closed her mouth and clenched her teeth. At this time, her mother and aunt should be gathering the light of the moon. Despite the pain, she could feel that the ring bore no malice; it was merging with her.

Pain... endless pain filled Haiyin's mind, the only thoughts she could muster. Her eyes gradually reddened with blood vessels, quickly spreading. Biting her teeth too tightly, she cracked her gums, blood seeping from her clenched lips. Unable to stand, she collapsed forward, curling up into a ball, her left hand clawing at the porcelain-white windowsill.

The black surface of the ring on her thumb began to flow and gather, revealing the silver body of the ring. A thin, hair-like strand of blood slowly appeared in the middle of the ring, entering the surging blackness.

Drip... A drop of sweat fell on the windowsill, the dead silence of the night unable to hide the sound. In an instant, Haiyin was soaked in sweat, her bulging eyes no longer so, her gaze dim. She had adapted to the pain, becoming numb. Gradually, her clenched lips loosened, and she lay limp on the windowsill like a lump of mud.

The strand of moonlight entwined around the ring seemed to tire of it, leaving the ring and wrapping around Haiyin's lush wrist, then flowing into her meridians. Already numb, Haiyin, stimulated by something, suddenly clenched her hands tighter into the white marble, her entire body tensing like a drawn bowstring.

Her silver-gray pupils were now filled with red blood vessels, blood trailing down from her mouth to her ears, her body gradually emanating a soft moonlight...

By morning, the sun rose from the east, casting its light on the pristine city lord's mansion of Anastas. Lying on the windowsill like a lifeless body, Haiyin's vacant eyes sparked to life, her lush eyelashes quivering slightly. Her cracked lips moved slightly, and with difficulty, she swallowed, then slowly curved her lips upward.

"Damn it, a full six hours of pain, but I've finally made it through," she said with pride, smiling towards the rising sun, then slowly closing her sore eyes. Her black, curly hair spread out on the pristine windowsill, shining even more brilliantly.

In her dreams, she had wings, flying joyfully through a dense forest like a little fairy, climbing onto deer antlers, teasing silkworms clinging to trees, drinking morning dew. It was truly as joyous as one could imagine.

Perhaps too blissful, darkness suddenly enveloped her, losing all sense of direction, everything around her disappearing in an instant. The silence in the darkness was unsettling, but she tried to stay calm, wanting to call out to her grandmother, mother, and aunt, but her mouth seemed sewn shut, unable to make a sound.

"Ah... Arno..."

A strange chant sounded, and as she turned her wings to look towards the source, she saw an indistinct shadow raising a dagger covered in silver, vigorous lines, emitting a faint ghostly light, stabbing downwards. Her heart stopped, a warm, sticky substance splattering onto her face...

Her eyes suddenly opened, the red blood vessels in her silver-gray pupils having receded. Holding her breath, Haiyin sat up, her gaze sweeping across her surroundings, everything unfamiliar, yet she remembered where she was. Exhaling, her mouth felt dry.

Pushing herself off the windowsill, she approached the table and picked up the glass teapot, drinking directly from the spout. After gulping down half the pot, Haiyin finally felt more comfortable. Setting down the teapot, she burped, wiping her mouth contentedly, but the blurred figure from her dream lingered in her mind, her eyes darkening as she murmured, "Who was that person?"

Rubbing her temples, a peculiar ring caught her eye.yin stared at the ring on her left thumb, dumbfounded. After the previous night, the ring had completely changed its appearance. No longer black and rusty, it now looked ancient but was imbued with a dark, moonlit glow, its silver body. A black mandrake flower, connected by a dark vine, appeared vividly on the ring, giving her the intuition that this black mandrake was alive.

Touching it directly felt like touching skin; the silver ring seemed nonexistent, yet she could distinctly feel it on her left thumb, as if they were one.

"How is this like encountering a ghost?" Haiyin frowned, vigorously rubbing her left thumb. Then, inspired, she tried speaking to the ring, "Can you let me touch you, just so I know I'm not dreaming?" The moment she spoke, she felt a tangible sensation, "Ah..."

Had she really seen a ghost? Pinching the ring, Haiyin noted its hardness despite its silver appearance, and with a wry smile, she bargained, "Let's make a deal, can you just let me touch you like this?"

Once a firm believer in science, her worldview was now completely overturned. She needed to rebuild her beliefs and thoughts, or she'd be left behind.

Feeling frustrated, she looked around the room, her gaze stopping at the clothes rack. Haiyin stepped forward, "It's you," her hands suddenly grappling the napping black crow, causing a tumult.

"Wa... wa..."

The crow squawked in alarm, attempting to flee, but was effortlessly restrained, eventually being manhandled on the bed as if it were molding clay. Just as the crow considered pecking at this annoying girl, a heavenly voice came from outside.

"Haiyin..."

Merlin knocked on the door, "May I come in?"

The room finally calmed as Haiyin released the thoroughly ruffled WuHeiHei, turning to notice the time of day and leaping off the bed to greet her mother.

Merlin, carrying dinner, opened the door only to see her darling with a nose full of black fluff, her eyebrows knitting together. She had heard the crow's cries for help from outside, and her gaze, moving past her daughter, confirmed WuHeiHei slumped over the pristine bed.

"What did you do?" Merlin approached, sensing the room's stale air. A gentle blow produced a breeze, instantly refreshing the space.

"WuHeiHei's feathers are always so rough; I was just grooming it," Haiyin sighed in relief, fully accepting her new reality.

"Is that so?" Merlin glanced at WuHeiHei, noting its now even more disheveled feathers. Holding the dinner plate, she pulled her daughter close, "Hungry? I asked the kitchen to make jellyfish soup, seared ox eye meat, with bread."

"Thanks, mother," Haiyin smacked her lips, feeling famished after expending so much energy last night.

"I didn't wake you this morning; you were sleeping so soundly," Merlin knew something had happened last night when she smelled the familiar scent of blood. It was as the Western Sea Witch's manuscript described: once a sacred object gains consciousness, it naturally forms a mystical ritual of recognition with its owner, a process called "Spirit Condensation."

The "Spirit Condensation" process was painful but marked the beginning of a new life. If one could endure it, the master would successfully merge with the sacred object, becoming part of the owner's body. Her little Haiyin, with her extraordinary will, had proven herself strong. Merlin was proud of her.

Haiyin, now at the dining table, glanced at her mudfish-like dress with disdain, scrunching her nose at the previously unnoticed room odor, now unmistakably sour.

"Mother, have you noticed any change in me?"

"You've become more beautiful," Merlin affectionately brushed her now black hair, which shimmered with golden hues.

Truly her own flesh and blood, Haiyin's eyes curved in a smile, "I think I'll take a bath first."

"Do you need help?"

"No," Haiyin quickly refused, "Just wait for me; I'll be quick."

"Alright," Merlin's gaze briefly lingered on her plump left thumb, her smile widening, "I'll get you a clean dress," her eyes flashing sharply. Last night was restless for some.

Indeed, their life, accompanied by daylight, could not ignore the changes in moonlight and stars. But with Merlin there, they dared not act rashly. Fortunately, after "Spirit Condensation," the Life Spirit Ring had completely transformed, making it difficult for those deceitful beings to probe.

After a refreshing bath and a hearty meal, Haiyin felt revitalized, "Mother, is there an event tonight?" If not, she planned to test the Life Spirit Ring to see if it could accelerate the gathering of moon

light.

Merlin looked outside, the sky darkening, "It's still early; rest a bit more." Seeing her daughter's improved complexion brought her relief. This morning's visit had been heart-wrenching.

"Then okay," Haiyin escorted her mother to the door, eagerly locking it behind her, somersaulting back to the windowsill to sit and meditate, quickly entering a profound state as expected.

She envisioned herself, a winged elf girl, identical to her, amidst a field of black mandrake flowers under silver moonlight. Her consciousness merged with the elf girl, becoming one.

Ah...

A slight ear twitch, and Haiyin opened her eyes, feeling revitalized after hours of practice. Looking up at the moon, the night deepened without her mother's call. What was that sound?

Descending from the windowsill, she donned deer leather boots and left her room. The house was silent, yet all lights were on. She moved towards the main door, then upstairs, recalling the sound, carefully discerning its direction.

Taking less than ten steps, she paused, turning back, her plump lips pouting, "In the dead of night, could you not scare children?"

"Weren't you the one who said you're not just any child?" Alexander·Sterling, with his wine-red curly hair and half-buttoned white floral shirt, barefoot on the soft wool carpet, approached Haiyin, crouching before her: "Hello, little DeXi."

"Hello, Count Alexander·Sterling," Haiyin surveyed the rake-like man, his stunning appearance not fitting his noble Androsi bloodline, "Was that woman the source of the sound?"

Alexander nodded, "She was disobedient, so I starved her."

Haiyin chose not to probe further, "Continue your fun; I'm heading back to my room," and started to walk away.

Alexander watched her leave without a trace of reluctance, raising an eyebrow, "Wait," blocking her path, "Last night's silver snowflakes were beautiful," his blood-colored eyes twinkling with amusement.

"You should seek my aunt then," Haiyin pondered, "If you're lucky, during your birthday, if my aunt is short on cash, you might see them again."

"You're interesting," Alexander sat down, "I'm currently free."

His father had sent him to Anastas City under the guise of seeking a suitable human partner for offspring, but his real mission was to track down Duke Correll. Unfortunately, he had found nothing, leading to his frustration.

"My time is precious," Haiyin suppressed her mischievous thoughts, lifting her foot, yet hesitating to step forward, "During this trip out of the Western Sea Forest, I promised to bring gifts for my family," her implication clear.

Alexander chuckled, "What gift do you plan to prepare?"

Haiyin set her foot down, eyeing Alexander, a bit apprehensive, "That... I found the blood-colored rose crystal card you gave me last time quite beautiful."

"You want it as a gift?" Alexander inwardly laughed at her choice, "I'll give it to you."

"Thank you," Haiyin raised two chubby fingers, starting to count, Alexander watching her bend one stubby finger after another, couldn't help but smile bitterly, "Does your family really have so many members?"

Haiyin paused, realizing it was enough, "I have my grandmother, mother, father, aunt, two brothers, two old horses, a flock of black crows..."

"Wait," he understood the family members, but the latter, "Black crows and old horses count too?"

Haiyin earnestly replied, "They are all family to me in my heart."