RPAGF 120. I will avenge you.
120. I will avenge you.
The meat sizzled over the campfire, and the scalding fat dripped from the crispy skin, bursting into tiny sparks as it fell into the fire, making the already blazing flames leap even higher.
The last vestiges of night were mostly dispersed by this flickering flame, casting swaying shadows on the surrounding tree trunks.
Xinlai cut off the entire plump bear hind leg with a clean, crisp cut, the texture of the cut clearly visible, and pale red juice seeping between the muscle fibers.
This monster must have weighed a thousand pounds when it was alive; its hind leg alone would have been enough to feed two people for several days.
Thanks to Xinlai's ultimate purification process using magic, the inherent fishy smell of the monster meat was completely removed, leaving only the pure, fresh aroma unique to roasted meat. The aroma was so rich that it almost solidified, swirling and spreading outwards in the cool early morning air.
Xinlai sat cross-legged by the campfire, her eyes reflecting the trembling flames, as if something deep within her pupils was burning along with the flames.
He held a thick, wide leg bone removed from the hind leg joint, its edges simply trimmed to serve as the handle of a roasting fork, and slowly turned it, allowing the flames to evenly lick every side of the meat.
The oil dripped more and more frequently, the aroma of the meat became increasingly intense, and the surface membrane had been roasted until it bulged slightly, turning an enticing golden brown.
"Is it ready to eat?"
The voice came from the side, with a soft, sweet tone at the end.
Eve brought her legs together and curled up inside Sinley's large coat.
Her dress trailed on the ground, and the sleeves were long enough that only a few slender fingers were visible as she gripped the collar, pulling the dress tighter around her body.
Xinlai's coat was far too big for her, covering her entire body like a blanket, leaving only her small face and long, loose, snow-white hair exposed.
Her nose, slightly pink, was twitching as she caught the aroma of meat in the air. Her eyes were filled with longing for food, and her burning gaze, combined with her thin attire, made her look like a down-on-her-luck noblewoman begging on the street.
"Wait a little longer."
Xinlai glanced at her, her hands still moving. "The residual magic in these monster meats is too much for our stomachs to handle. They need to be roasted until the magic completely dissipates."
Eve turned her head upon hearing this, her pink lips unconsciously pursing slightly, with a hint of stubborn defiance: "I'm already a witch, I'm not afraid of that little bit of magic in the flesh of monsters."
Her words weren't entirely a show of bravado.
At this moment, Eve's eyes, which were once like amethyst, had completely turned blood red, and there was a faint undercurrent deep in her pupils, which was obviously a trace left by the qualitative change of magic.
This change in eye color means that her body has been reconstructed by magic, making her fundamentally different from the structure of ordinary humans.
Those eyes gleamed faintly in the firelight, like two polished rubies.
"You're not afraid, but I am." Xinlai freed her clean hand and gently ruffled Eve's snow-white hair.
His movements were gentle, his fingertips digging into Eve's fluffy hair, causing her head to sway slightly. "This meat isn't fully cooked yet; the magical structure inside hasn't been completely broken down. Eating it is no joke. Let's wait a bit longer."
Eve was silent for a moment, but finally relented: "Um... okay."
She pouted, and her reply turned into a helpless sigh. Her breath escaped from between her lips, condensing into a small cloud of white mist in the cool morning air.
She leaned to the side, resting her head on Xinlai's shoulder. Her long, snow-white hair cascaded down, a few strands slipping onto Xinlai's arm, feeling cool and refreshing.
She didn't urge him any further, nor did she say anything more. She just leaned against him quietly, half of her weight resting on Xinlai.
Her blood-red pupils and long eyelashes blinked gently as her gaze passed over the leaping campfire and landed on a small mound of earth not far away.
The shadow of her eyelashes fell on her cheekbones, trembling gently with each blink.
Xinlai noticed Eve's gaze, but he didn't say anything.
While he was processing the bear meat, Eve walked to the side.
She used the supreme affinity for magic and elements that only witches possess.
That is a wondrous state in which every cell in the body instinctively responds to the call of the elements.
Eve's talents lean towards the water element, something Sinlai already knew; her constitution naturally aligns with the fluidity and inclusiveness of water.
But now, even though she mainly cultivates water element, her control over earth element has far surpassed that of those grand mages who have spent decades cultivating to reach the fifth or sixth ring level.
This is not a skill acquired through diligent study and practice, but an instinct etched into one's very bones after the awakening of magic.
She selected a spot, extracted high-quality deep soil from underground, and stacked it a short distance away, forming a small mound.
Then she squatted down beside it, her hands clasped on her knees, her bloodshot eyes staring silently at the mound of earth. She didn't speak for a long time, just stared at it.
Her expression was calm, her lips pressed into a thin line, but the knuckles of her fingers, gripping the hem of her clothes, had turned white.
Xinlai knew that it was a temporary tomb Eve had erected for her father, the Marquis of Tansteen.
Calling it a tomb is far too hasty.
There was no tombstone, no offerings, not even a proper coffin; it was just a bare mound of earth built with magic, without even any remains inside.
But Eve no longer had the resources to hold a grand funeral for the Marquis of Tansten.
So much happened in one day, from the moment she learned of her father's death to the moment her magic went out of control and she turned into a witch.
Xinlai could handle this matter; with his princely status and the resources at his disposal, it wouldn't be difficult for him to arrange a respectable funeral for a deceased marquis.
However, he is now at the center of the turmoil in the capital, and his every move is being watched closely by countless eyes. Any slight change in his behavior will be used against him.
If it weren't for Alaya's meticulous cleanup efforts behind the scenes, his secret hiding of a witch would likely have been discovered by someone with ulterior motives and reported to his father long ago.
By then, let alone handling the Marquis Tanstin's funeral, it would be uncertain whether he could even protect himself.
So, having no other choice, Eve could only use this handful of yellow earth to express her longing for her father, conveying her final respect as a daughter in an almost impoverished way.
"Don't worry," Xin Lai suddenly said, her voice soft but firm.
His gaze remained fixed on the sizzling bear meat on the grill, but his tone carried a heavy weight: "I will avenge you."
He said it casually, but the fingers gripping the bear bone tightened slightly.
The air was silent for two seconds.
Eve gave a soft "hmm," a sound so faint it seemed to escape from her nose.
Then, like a cat, she rubbed her forehead against Xinlai's shoulder and gently brushed her cheek against the fabric of his shoulder, as if in response.