Elina

Elina's eyes were closed. She breathed slowly, softly. She leaned to her side, her head resting against me.

I nudged her a little. No reaction. She was asleep. Unconscious. Vulnerable.

For the same reasons a witch hunter never falls asleep next to a witch, a witch never slept next to a witch hunter.

But she knew I couldn't kill her.

And I knew she couldn't kill me. Not so easily at least.

Her hair was still silver. I swallowed. This was the time first time I've seen her this close. Her lips were slightly parted. Her chest rose and fell slowly. Tiny flakes of magic glittered in her hair. Like snow. Like stars.

My nose itched. Her scent was that of a woman with magic laced in it.

With her eyes closed and her mouth shut, she almost looked like a human woman. Kind of like Julia Abernathy. It was frightening to think about how easily a witch could fool a man. Seduce man.

My eyes rested on Elina.

She was fooling me too.

She had lied to me. But which part did she lie about and why?

The part about Julia being a witch had to be true. Because if it was a lie, then she would've thought of something more believable.

Hmm...

It was easier to think of why she has lied.

There is something she wants from me.

"A down payment in good faith."

"A down payment for your trust."

The question was why would she want my trust?

But it isn't just about the why. The timing, the when, is important too.

Elina didn't pursue this kind of deal after we met the merchant and the mercenary, and the two knights from the Church, the green eyed bastard and his friend, Gregor.

She only proposed this after talking to Julia. Which means that Julia told her something she didn't know, something that caused her to plan ahead.

Whatever that plan was, it involved getting my trust. The only reason for wanting my trust is because she will need me to do something and has no way of forcing me to do it. She needs me to want to help her.

But help her with what?

I looked down at her. Her peaceful sleeping expression, innocent like an angel, but a devil when she was awake.

There were still eight more days before we reach Merkelborough.

-----------------------

ELINA: I woke up, but kept my eyes closed, drifting in the last fragments of sleep. I find it difficult to sleep deeply when I'm alone. Because you know you are alone.

It's nice to have someone to lean against. There is something reassuring about it. The warmth. The comfort. Just knowing there is someone with you.

Unbeknown to humans, witches are actually doting mothers. I hear that they take great care teaching the ways of magic. How to hide from witch hunters. How to fight back. How to find someone who won't betray you.

I never received those lessons. Quite the opposite.

Salem said, "Wake up."

I breathed out.

Salem said, "I know you're awake."

"Oh."

"The rain has stopped. It's time to go."

I savored the last moment of this comfort, then stood up and stretched. Salem went out to ready the cart and horse.

While he did that, I looked around. The private quarters of whoever manned this outpost were rather comfortable. A few pillows here and there. An empty cabinet meant for food and drinks or ledgers filled with transactions. A hard bed.

I wonder if the person lived alone. Like I did. Did he have friends? A family? A woman he thought about? Regrets that kept him awake?

It must be lonely living like this.

Salem called for me.

I was about go out, but something stopped me.

There was a scroll resting on the cabinet shelf. With a little difficulty, I reached it, unrolled it and read it.

Very interesting.

Looks like I have something I can leverage against Salem~

Salem called out again.

I stepped out. The world had been washed clean. The scent of rain clung onto everything. Water dripped from every leaf, every grass blade. The road was soft with puddles and mud.

We got onto the cart.