Eternal Undying Chronicles

The forest sky glowed faintly, its eerie blue cast by a translucent dome covering the entire area. It was the witches' barrier—one that hadn't fully activated when Alicarde and Malefica first entered. Then, its effects had been minimal, barely noticeable, but now, the barrier had become a solid shield, allowing nothing to pass in or out.

That suited Alicarde just fine; he had no intention of retreating, nor did Malefica, who was set on saving Marian from being sacrificed. They found themselves in an isolated part of the woods, not far from the witches' village. The enemy would soon be on their trail, undoubtedly bringing nothing but hostile intentions.

After dismounting Wrath, Alicarde reached up to Malefica, gently helping her down. Her face was drawn and ashen, visibly weakened from the effort of casting her protective boon. He noticed that her gift, stemming from her True Name, allowed her to create barriers, an invaluable skill for any witch. Her True Name, Solitaria, granted her powerful barrier magic even without conventional spellcasting, yet the strain had clearly taken a toll.

"Hey, are you okay?" Alicarde asked, concern evident in his voice.

Malefica nodded, her breath coming in shallow gasps.

"Y… Yes. I just… need to catch my breath."

Alicarde gave a curt nod, eyeing the shadows of the trees around them.

"We need to keep moving. Find shelter, make a plan, rest up, and then… destroy that bitch."

Malefica managed a faint smile, her voice tinged with exhaustion.

"Never took you for… someone to retreat. That's growth."

Alicarde chuckled, sweeping her up in his arms with ease.

"Knowing yourself and knowing the enemy is key to a million battles," he said confidently, holding her close in a princess carry.

"That's why I'm willing to retreat… all good things to those who wait."

Malefica settled comfortably in his arms, not protesting as she had in the past.

"Let's keep moving… find a forest creature to guide us to a safe spot," she suggested, resting her head against his shoulder.

"Can't the witches also use the animals to track us?"

He asked, following her lead deeper into the woods.

"They could," Malefica admitted after a pause.

"But if we tell the animals to stay silent, they won't rat us out. Just make sure not to use any magic—the barrier would pick up on it immediately."

Using magic within the barrier's field would be like setting off a flare. Alicarde nodded in agreement, no point arguing with an expert.

"What about my Esper powers? Are those safe to use?"

Malefica nodded.

"Esper abilities, ki, ether—all fine. Just… no magic."

A mischievous glint entered Alicarde's eyes.

"And… killing? Is that off-limits?"

Malefica's face turned stern, her gaze sharper than usual.

"Absolutely not. You mustn't kill anyone." She hesitated before adding.

"I have a plan to stop the ritual without unnecessary bloodshed."

Alicarde sighed.

"Fine. Let's just find a place to rest."

Winter's chill was beginning to settle, and the woods seemed to hold its breath in silence. Eventually, they spotted an owl perched nearby, and Malefica hummed softly, calling it to her. The owl obediently landed on Alicarde's shoulder, turning its head toward her as she spoke softly in its language of hoots and whispers.

Alicarde smirked, watching the scene unfold. Stay tuned with empire

"Are you sure you're a witch and not a storybook princess?"

Malefica gave him a sidelong glance, amusement flickering in her eyes.

"I'm sure. Witches are loved by nature too… even if our reputation says otherwise."

As they walked, the owl hooted in quiet exchanges with other animals they passed, each time receiving silent affirmations. Alicarde raised an eyebrow, sensing an odd reverence among the creatures.

"What's it saying to them?"

"He's telling them to keep our passing a secret."

Before long, the owl led them to a small cave nestled near a large waterfall, the sound of rushing water loud in the quiet forest. Alicarde took in the scene and groaned internally.

'Knowing my luck, we'll probably end up jumping down that waterfall to escape later,' he thought.Nôv(el)B\\jnn

Setting Malefica down, he helped her steady herself as she wobbled slightly. Snow was beginning to fall, and a small blizzard was taking shape outside.

"Winter is beautiful… but it's more likely to kill you than any other season," Malefica murmured, huddling against herself in the cold.

Alicarde noted her shivering and walked toward the cave's entrance.

"Wait here. I'll look for some wood to start a fire."

She looked at him, her eyes softened with gratitude, though she tried to hide it.

"Be careful out there," she said quietly.

He nodded, flashing a quick smile.

"Yeah, sure. I'll be back soon."

Alicarde stepped into the slow, swirling blizzard, the cold air biting into him despite the protection of his Reaper vestments. Though they offered warmth, he could still feel the chill creeping in.

'Why couldn't these witches at least make a barrier that's warm?'

He moved cautiously, aware that venturing too far could mean becoming hopelessly lost in the nascent storm. If that happened, he'd be at the mercy of the bitter cold—a chilling thought.

He'd heard tales of people succumbing to the blizzard's grasp, deliriously shedding their clothes in their last moments, their bodies desperately fighting against the inevitable freeze.

With this in mind, he collected as much wood as he could find, picking up dry branches where possible. Some were damp, but he shook off the moisture, gathering small roots and anything flammable enough to spark a fire.

When he returned to the cave, he found Malefica curled up, hugging her knees, visibly trembling as the wind's howling grew louder outside. He carefully set down the wood and began arranging the dry roots he had gathered.

Dragging his gauntleted fingers along the ground, he created sparks that fell onto the dry roots. As smoke rose, he leaned forward, blowing gently until the small flame grew into a modest fire. With a relieved sigh, he moved beside her, wrapping an arm around her shoulders and pulling her close to share warmth.

"You really are starting to take liberties with me."

she murmured, a hint of her usual firmness surfacing despite her shivers.

He chuckled, shifting closer.

"Just trying to keep you warm… nothing sus about it."

Malefica fell silent, and Alicarde tightened his hold on her, sensing a slight softening in her posture.

After a moment, he asked.

"Do you still have your phone?"