Dust drifted in the sunlight slicing through the cracked window. Ren sat on the splintered floor of his new "room," surrounded by cobwebs and stale air.
He sneezed. "Achoo! …Nice. The smell of adventure."
The door opened with a slow creak.
Vaspera stepped in — tall, graceful, her cold gaze sweeping over the clutter.
"You'll be staying here," she said evenly. "It's the storeroom. It should be... adequate."
Ren blinked at the broom leaning like a corpse beside him.
"Adequate. Right. I've seen coffins with better lighting."
"You're forbidden from entering my quarters," she continued, completely ignoring his mumbling. "You'll use the public baths, it's not that far from here. My bath is not to be touched."
Ren nodded quickly. "Noted. Public baths. No touching. Got it."
"And one more thing—" Her crimson eyes flicked down to him. "If you touch me again—"
Ren raised his hands instantly, voice trembling. "I won't! I swear on every dust bunny in this room!"
She paused, blinked once, then turned sharply toward the door. "Dinner is at sunset. Don't be late."
The door shut. Silence filled the dusty space again.
Ren slumped forward, groaning. "How… how did I get here again?"
He stared at the cracked ceiling. "A few hours ago, I was helping rebuild the village… now I'm a live-in healer-slash-hostage for a woman who could probably vaporize me if I sneezed too loud."
"achoo."
Ren sneezed again, rubbing his eyes. The dusty air swirled around him.
---
A few hours earlier…
The village of arvendale was tense — so quiet that even the wind dared not whisper.
A crimson aura shimmered down the dirt road, the air heavy with pressure.
Vaspera walked through the streets of the small village, ignoring the fearful murmurs that followed her.
"It's her again…"
"Why has the Crimson Witch returned?"
"Don't make eye contact—don't even breathe near her."
She didn't care. She'd grown used to the fear. It was better this way — no one close enough to betray her again.
Her gaze drifted through the crowd until she found him — a boy with snow-white hair.
Her lips curved slightly. There you are.
"Hey. You," she said, her voice cutting through the silence like a blade. "The one with white hair. Come here."
The villagers froze. Ren looked around in confusion.
"M–me?"
"Yes, you. Do I look like I'm talking to someone else?"
Before he could move, the old woman who had taken him in stepped forward, trembling but defiant.
"What do you want with him? He hasn't done anything to you!"
Vaspera's eyes narrowed. A smirk tugged at her lips.
"Hey, old hag… want to die?"
Gasps filled the air. Ren's stomach twisted.
"Wait!" he shouted. "I'll come with you! Just… please, don't hurt anyone!"
The witch turned away, her expression unreadable. So quick to throw himself away… interesting.
"Good choice," she said simply. "Follow me."
---
They stopped in the forest just beyond the village, a place dence and ancient. The air between them was heavy, filled with the faint hum of magic.
Ren swallowed hard, trying not to shake. "S–so… what do you want from me?"
Her eyes glinted.
"Your life."
Ren froze. "Wh–what?!"
"You dared to touch me."
Ren blinked.She's serious? "You mean… when I was healing you? You were bleeding!"
"Irrelevant," she replied, her tone flat and calm.
Ren stared, jaw slack.She's crazy. Absolutely crazy.
Vaspera stepped closer, her aura brushing against his skin like heat.
"But I'll make you an offer. I'll spare you… if I can kill that old woman instead."
Ren's stomach twisted again. His fists clenched.
Without a moment's hesitation, he said it — quietly, but firmly.
"Kill me."
Everything stopped. The wind, the leaves, even the faint sound of distant birds.
Vaspera's expression faltered for the first time.
"What?"
He didn't even think. Just said it.
Her heart skipped— a strange, unwellcome pulse that caught her off guard.
Ren's voice was shaky, but steady enough.
"If it's between her and me, then take me. She doesn't deserve to die for my sake."
"Why?" she asked, genuinely curious. "She'll die soon anyway. Why throw your life away for her?"
Ren scratched the back of his neck, smiling nervously.
"I don't know. It just… feels right."
For a long second, Vaspera stared at him — her usual sharp glare replaced by something unreadable.
Feels right…? What kind of answer is that?
Her chest felt tight. Why does this stupid boy's voice sound so calm? Why does it bother me?
She turned away, trying to compose herself.
"Your name," she demanded.
"huh, um it's Ren."
"From this day forward, you're my personal healer."
He blinked twice. "…Heh?"
"You heard me," she said curtly.
Ren's jaw dropped. "Heh… whhhaaat?! How does that even make sense?! You just threatened to kill me like five seconds ago!"
Vaspera's smirk returned.
"Be grateful I changed my mind."
---
And now, back in the present...
Ren lay flat on his cot, staring blankly at the ceiling.
He groaned. "How does a healer end up as a witch's house pet…?"
Outside, Vaspera sat by her window, chin resting on her hand, eyes half-lidded.
He said 'kill me instead' without hesitation... Is he brave or just an idiot?
A faint, invisible smile tugged at her lips. Maybe both.
---