This chapter contains vulgar words, read it at your own risk
The witch was shocked as she looks to her left then right. She blinked a few times, expecting the mage to return. On her fourth blink, she found herself in a place full of darkness. The only light was from her chest at the place of her heart. She look around then turned her head forward. There stood a man ahead of her. he walked forward to reveal himself, showing that he is the mage that went missing in a blink of an eye.
"You! Why are you here?"
"Let's talk,"
"Answer my question!"
"...I exist in darkness, in darkness I exist, your deepest, darkness moment of your life, from start to end, I am there, but in the meantime, I experienced it too,"
"Don't talk bullshit with me! There's no way you understand my fucking pain!"
"I do feel it, it was as if...I was there myself, I was...you, from when you are a child, and your love life, the very one you told us, I felt it myself too, your anger, your sorrow, your pain, I experienced it,"
"So what? It's not your life anyway, you're not living it, I am! How could you possibly relate to my life?"
"...I lived a life somewhat similar with yours, I was called of betrayal towards humanity, I was detested my all, it was because of me that affected the course of history and magicstry, yet look where I am now,"
Will's expression remain unchanged. He calmly listed those things out. It were true, he is the so called the forsaken one that forsaken humanity, or humanity greatest betrayal, those were the titles given to him by humanity. The witch was appalled by Will's response. She wants to believe that he is lying but his expression seems melancholic.
"Roxanne,"
The witch raised her head at Will, surprised that he knows her name.
"Roxanne Grudrey, never let your past define you, what define you now is the present, the past is long gone, you are who you are now, make a change, even if you can't change the perspective of other of you, let them be! What defines you isn't their opinions, but your choice and personality,"
This suddenly struck deep within her. Who is this guy? Having the same presence as me, the curse of death yet somehow is able to live his life without being disregard. The witch with the curse of death, Roxanne Grudrey, has broaden her horizons of understanding.
"Listen to him, accept his offer, he is not lying,"
Before Will left, he said that to Roxanne. She tries to catch him by holding onto his hand but she falls. She snapped back into reality and saw the dungeon is shaking and is at the verge of collapsing.
"...It's too late for me, leave now, I may hold the dungeon a bit longer as I'm the dungeon lord for I have merged with it,"
The witch begs the Everlight party to leave.
"I have learned something, I don't want to hurt you because of my wrong doing,"
Raye did not listened to her. Instead, he leaped onto the tree and stabbed it.
"Forgive me but please bare it,"
He imbued mana into his sword and exploded the tree, freeing the witch from its grasp. As she was about to climb up, the dungeon shook once more which she falls deeper into the tree.
"Here, grab onto my hand!"
Raye reaches out his right hand to Roxanne.
"No, you'll die if you hold my hand!"
Raye did not listen to her.
"Just grab onto my hand, trust me!"
The witch did not listen, afraid that he would die if he did so. Before she could retreat her hand behind, Raye did not hesitate and grabbed her hand, pulling her out of the tree. He quickly let go off his hand but also making sure that she is stabilised on the ground.
"How...no, let's go,"
There is no time to think now, it is time to leave this falling dungeon. Since she is the dungeon lord, she could shape the dungeon however she wants. She formed a hole to the above that leads back to the first level as the ground that the Everlight party and the witch are standing on arises.
"Prepare for impact!"
They were about to crash into the ceiling of the dungeon before Amethia fired a giant rock spell at it, breaking them apart, sending them out of the dungeon. Amethia grabbed onto Raye while Will grabbed onto Al and Auoun with the help of the shadows. Roxanne flew by herself and slowly descended onto the ground. The dungeon rotted collapse after that.
The people inside the guild heard all of the ruckus came running out and saw that the Everlight party safely returned with someone. It was the witch with the touch of death.
"What's she doing here?"
"I thought we told you to kill her!"
The people roared at the Everlight party for their sloppy job but Raye just shielded Roxanne without touching her.
"Don't you realise what are you doing is prejudice? You don't care to understand her yet persecute her, who are you to judge?"
"But she's a witch, you know how many times that she had killed?"
"I know, but, all of these would not had happened if it weren't for your choice of action, you could have given her the care she needs, yet you chose to persecute her,"
Will said as he walks toward Raye. His cold gaze staring deep into their souls. Just then, the guild master came out of the crowd and look at Raye's determination.
"...I supposed you're right, we did not think of this thoroughly, I apologise on behalf of my people,"
The guild master bowed down at the Everlight party. The crowd were shocked by the guild master's words.
"Why are you doing this?"
"They are in the wrong!"
"Silence! What the hero speak of is the truth, we are practicing prejudice without knowing it, how far are we going to continue this until she truly becomes hostile to us?"
The crowd went silent after hearing their words.
"Your apology would not be enough for her,"
Raye said to the guild master. He raised his head and look at Raye.
"We will treat her better the next time, those who do not do so will be burn alive!'
He then roared at the crowd which they all nodded in fear.
"Well then, I supposed I should give you the gold coins as promised,"
"Give half of our coins to the girl, she needs it more than we do,"
Roxanne looked at Raye from the back. It was as if someone has shine a light in the darkness she was in. A ray of hope was given to her. Brighting up the darkness she was in, providing her a new path to continue, to live.
Raye walked to her and smiled. She wiped off her tears and tries to reach for Raye's hand but Raye moves it backward. She was confused by Raye's action for he was able to grab her hand without any harm. Raye looked at Al for a few seconds before looking at Roxanne. He then grabbed her hand and shook it.
"I hope we help you in your darkest moment,"
Will walked towards Raye and stood beside him. Raye releases his hand as she quickly pull it back.
"...May I know both of your names again?"
"I'm Raye Winston,"
"Will Beuratt,"
"...Raye...Will...such beautiful names..."
It's like a ray (Raye) of hope that gave me a will (Will) to live. Roxanne thought to herself as she giggles.
"I hope that from this day onward, you will live your life and cherish it well instead of complaining about it, life is a blessing after all,"
Raye handed her the gloves he picked up during the dungeon as soon as he finishes his sentence.
They stayed at the city before departing the next day. At night, Will decides to pay the goddess of death, Araphiel a visit.
"It's been a long time since you have visited! Did you forget our deal?"
"Cut the crap, why was she cursed with the touch of death?"
"..."
Araphiel did not answer Will instantly. She just stared at him with a dead expression.
"...It is not my fault that she caught onto that curse, but fate itself chose to do so,"
Fate? Will have heard about fate a lot of times. They say fate is what leads them to do something, the future that is inevitable. Though all of these are just excuses for people who did something foolish and blame it on fate. Will believes that the cause is all from human's actions, not planned by 'fate'. Maybe that ideology of Will was the reason of him still staying strong even after joining the dark side, why he never actually asked for forgiveness before.
...
Unfortunately, the city's state can't be restored for the Everlight party can't do anything about it. As they left after a few meters away, Al asked Raye a question.
"...Why did you choose to lie to her?"
The reason why Raye was able to touch her hands without any harm was because of Al's magic. It is an immunity to everything including curses though it only works for 3 seconds.
"It does not counts as a lie if it helps someone,"
"...It's a false hope,"
"This false hope is what she really need right now,"
Al did not talk much after that conversation. With that, the Everlight party left the city and headed for the tundra.