The Beginning of the End
After they had departed, Theo's body convulsed once more, engulfing him in another excruciating wave of pain and his face contorted in agony.
Lilith tenderly traced her fingers along his cheek, then ruffled his hair. Heavy emotions flickered in her eyes, emotions that would have shocked Theo had he been conscious to witness. The wild glint normally present in her eyes was strangely absent; instead, she appeared almost as if possessed by a different soul, one brimming with deep affection for him.
As another spasm of agony subsided, Theo managed to gasp out, "Please, leave me alone. It’s hard to resist there's such a beauty beside me."
"If you really lose control, let it be," Lilith responded. Her voice quivered as she continued, "I will accept your advances. But I won't let you die; your death will also become my death as I am your guardian."
Voice filled with frustration, he retorted, "I’ll release you before dying, so don't worry. So please go away." With a tired movement, he pushed her hands away and clenched his eyes shut, steeling himself for the next wave of torment.
Yet, Lilith remained relentless to stay by his side.
After enduring another surge of excruciating pain, Theo reopened his eyes and pleaded, "Demoness, I might lose control if you stay. For God's sake , please leave."
He was met with her stubborn gaze. "I'm not going anywhere," she declared resolutely. "I don't fear the consequences."
"Please, this isn't the time to do things your way," Theo begged.
"Shut up," she cut him off, not budging an inch. Theo was helpless as another wave of agony swept over him.
Meanwhile, upstairs, Elana guided Aerin to a guest room on the mansion’s second floor. With a sorrowful expression, she opened the door to reveal a room that she had tidied while cleaning a room for Lilith. It was modest but comfortable, complete with a queen-sized bed, a table, and a cupboard. An attached bathroom and a window that offered a wide view of the mountainous surroundings.
Aerin peered outside the window to grasp her current location. Thanks to her sharp eyesight due to being an archer, she could discern distant houses, wandering citizens, and patrolling guards, though they appeared to be humans?
Turning her attention back to Elana, Aerin inquired, "Where is this place?"
"It’s Ashenvale Village, a barony in the Lighthaven Empire," Elana replied tersely.
"And why is he in a Baron’s mansion? Why do you call him 'Master'?" Aerin probed, her curiosity piqued. She wondered how a merchant could be so respected in a Baron’s mansion. Just what was his real identity?
"I cannot answer your questions. Please forgive me," Elana responded, her tone showing her unwillingness to divulge more.
Confused yet helpless against this fiercely loyal maid, Aerin expressed, "I pray that he survives this ordeal. I don't want to lose such a friend." she spoke with a hint of sorrow and regret.
Mirroring her saddened tone, Elana simply nodded, then turned and exited the room, leaving Aerin to her thoughts.
Aerin could not help but feel a twinge of guilt; she knew that to some extent, she was responsible for Theo's current condition. If only she didn't have such a treacherous sister, Theo would not be enduring such agony.
After an hour, Aerin and Elana were waiting outside the grand hall, their faces were etched with nervousness and hesitancy. They wanted desperately to check on Theo but were hindered by the memory of Lilith's fierce, almost murderous gaze.
Eventually, Aerin broke the tense silence. "Let's check if he's Okay," she whispered.
Still hesitant but unable to resist her own concern, Elena nodded. They approached the door to Theo's room cautious steps, their hearts pounding in their chests. Exchanging a look, they both took deep breaths as if preparing for an intense battle. Gently, Elena pushed the door open just enough to peek inside.
The sight that greeted them was of Lilith at Theo's side. His hand clutched hers so tightly that his nails had stabbed her pale skin. Blood flowed freely, yet she seemed not to mind, using her other hand to tenderly ruffle his hair as he grimaced in pain.
Before either could say anything, Lilith's eyes shifted toward the door. Her gaze was icy, full of unspoken threats. The pressure emanating from her was suffocating that forced both Aerin and Elana to retreat hastily, shutting the door behind them.
Aerin felt her respect for Theo surge. He had even rejected Elana's help, protecting her dignity despite the fact that she was 'just a maid.' He could have used her to lessen his torment, but he chose not to violate her.
Then, her thoughts shifted to the indomitable, domineering woman beside him who had not budged an inch despite Theo's efforts to send her away. And Aerin had heard it all while standing near the door; the pain had made it impossible for Theo to speak softly.
"Is she his girlfriend?" Aerin asked in a hushed voice.
Elana shook her head. "They are childhood friends," she replied in a hushed tone.
But Aerin wasn't convinced by her answer, the depth of their relationship seemed to stretch beyond mere friendship. Though Theo had shown no signs, she saw clearly the yearning and protectiveness in Lilith's actions.
Another four hours crawled by. Theo's condition worsened dramatically; blood began to seep from his skin, staining the bedsheets a horrifying shade of red. His consciousness faded in and out; he couldn't even notice the sight of his own blood. He was lost in his world of continuous torment.
The next hour was even worse. Blood began to trickle from his mouth, his eyes turned a ghastly red, and even Lilith found herself splattered with his blood. Her eyes flickered with sorrow as she realized he might not withstand much more of this.
"You don't have to resist this anymore. I won't allow you to die," The girl finally whispered.
Lilith took a deep breath as if steeling herself for what was to come. She shifted her position, settling onto Theo's waist. She prepared herself mentally and emotionally for what she was about to do, fully aware that it was a last resort to ease his insufferable pain, she had decided to be physically intimate with him, to allow him a release that might alleviate his endless agony. But just as she leaned in, Theo's struggle suddenly stopped and his body went limp.
Her eyes shifted to him. "Theo!" she cried, her voice filled with rising panic. Hurriedly, she brought her fingers close to his nose, searching for the reassuring sign of breath.
Feeling no air, tears started to flow down her cheeks. Yet, she didn’t give up and leaned down, her ear pressing against his bloody chest, desperate to hear the comforting thump of his heartbeat.
But as she laid her head against his blood-soaked shirt, there was only silence. A devastating, heart-wrenching, all-consuming silence that filled her with a dread she'd never known before not even when she was confined at the dark basement.
The silence engulfed her like an endless abyss, stretching the seconds into lifetimes.
It is often said that in the moments before death, one's life flashes before their eyes. For Lilith, that saying held true.
Her mind reeled back through her dark past, when she was confined in the dark chamber of Baron’s basement. She remembered the day a mountain-like boy stepped into her dim world.
She remembered how her initial instinct was to attack him, to draw his blood. Yet the moment she tasted it, an inexplicable connection awakened within her, pulling her toward him as though they were magnets with opposite poles.
Over time, their relationship had consisted of light teasing and head-bonking, fighting possessed demonic tomato foes. And that day when she wreaked havoc upon the people of the count, she was so enraged that she'd wanted to slaughter them a thousand times over.
"Am I dying?" The thought flickered through her mind. Perhaps these memories were resurfacing as the herald of her own death.
Yet, as her hands tightened around Theo's neck, she felt no regret. She closed her eyes, embracing the destiny of a bound guardian, fated to perish alongside their master.
-
-
-
In the oppressive silence of the room, filled with the scent of blood and despair, an unexpected phenomenon unfolded.
Despite Theo's lifeless state, a whisper seemed to emanate from somewhere deep within him, or perhaps from somewhere beyond.
The voice carried a message that seemed to resonate with the finality of a closing chapter. It was as if his very soul had found the strength to speak directly to those who had journeyed with him, and to the unseen audience who had watched his story unfold.
"I thought I'd known betrayal, but the cruel twists of fate in this world have unraveled before me, each one a deeper cut than the last. My grandfather, the man I admired, took everything from me, casting me into these unfamiliar lands, stripping me of my inheritance.
In the shadows of betrayal that stretched longer than the night, I found roses among the thorns—Lilith, with a spirit too bright for the darkness that held her; Liliana, who stood by me when she could have turned away; Elena, who showed me kindness when she had every reason not to.
Hated, hunted... by my own Silverblade family, by those who couldn't see past the veil of my humanity.
The kind princess, my childhood friend, bestowed upon me a title, a barony... I dared to hope, dared to dream that maybe, this was where I was meant to be. But dreams can turn to nightmares.
In a dark basement, I found her. Lilith, my fierce guardian, my unexpected salvation. When our eyes met for the first time, something within me recognized her. Was it a past bond, or was it the promise of what could have been? Together, we faced the shadows, the scorn of elves, the sting of betrayal. Yet, we endured.
Betrayal has been my shadow. Leonard, a man who tried to assassinate me; Elena, who stood on a knife's edge between loyalty and deceit; the elves, who judged me not by my actions but by the race I was born into. And now, Elara's deception has led me here, to the brink of the abyss.
In the eyes of Neria, a child, I saw innocence worth protecting, and in the heart of an elven princess who once despised me, I found an unlikely friendship.
I may not recall my past, nor understand the pull of an unbreakable bond, but if this is where my journey ends, let it be known: I've lived, I've loved, and I've lost.
Thank you, to the kind princess, my childhood friend, to Lilith, my fierce guardian, and to all those who walked with me even for a short while. You turned a cursed journey into a tale worth telling.
I don't fear death... but to leave a story unfinished, to leave the bonds that have just begun to deepen untested... that is my regret.
If these are to be my final moments, know that I've lived with honor. I've battled for a cause greater than my own, seeking a place where I belong.
Farewell, my friends, my enemies, my loves. If my story is to be forgotten, let it be a silent testament to the spirit that never yielded to despair.
Is this where my story concludes, or is there another chapter yet unwritten? Only time will tell, and I fear mine is running short.
This may be my end... but it is also my beginning.”
As the last word of Theo's spectral soliloquy faded, so too did the ephemeral presence that had momentarily filled the room. What remained was a deep stillness, a silence that spoke of the end of one tale and the hope of another yet to be told. The air itself seemed to hold its breath, waiting for the next page to turn.
==[SnowNote]==
Please bless this novel with high ratings so that it can gain more exposure and attract more readership.
Read 16 chapters ahead of 'My Demonic Farm' on Patreon now!: https://www.patreon.com/whisperingsnow
Additionally, you're invited to join our Discord community: https://discord.gg/88SmwnRQdN
The Beginning of the End
After they had departed, Theo's body convulsed once more, engulfing him in another excruciating wave of pain and his face contorted in agony.
Lilith tenderly traced her fingers along his cheek, then ruffled his hair. Heavy emotions flickered in her eyes, emotions that would have shocked Theo had he been conscious to witness. The wild glint normally present in her eyes was strangely absent; instead, she appeared almost as if possessed by a different soul, one brimming with deep affection for him.
As another spasm of agony subsided, Theo managed to gasp out, "Please, leave me alone. It’s hard to resist there's such a beauty beside me."
"If you really lose control, let it be," Lilith responded. Her voice quivered as she continued, "I will accept your advances. But I won't let you die; your death will also become my death as I am your guardian."
Voice filled with frustration, he retorted, "I’ll release you before dying, so don't worry. So please go away." With a tired movement, he pushed her hands away and clenched his eyes shut, steeling himself for the next wave of torment.
Yet, Lilith remained relentless to stay by his side.
After enduring another surge of excruciating pain, Theo reopened his eyes and pleaded, "Demoness, I might lose control if you stay. For God's sake , please leave."
He was met with her stubborn gaze. "I'm not going anywhere," she declared resolutely. "I don't fear the consequences."
"Please, this isn't the time to do things your way," Theo begged.
"Shut up," she cut him off, not budging an inch. Theo was helpless as another wave of agony swept over him.
Meanwhile, upstairs, Elana guided Aerin to a guest room on the mansion’s second floor. With a sorrowful expression, she opened the door to reveal a room that she had tidied while cleaning a room for Lilith. It was modest but comfortable, complete with a queen-sized bed, a table, and a cupboard. An attached bathroom and a window that offered a wide view of the mountainous surroundings.
Aerin peered outside the window to grasp her current location. Thanks to her sharp eyesight due to being an archer, she could discern distant houses, wandering citizens, and patrolling guards, though they appeared to be humans?
Turning her attention back to Elana, Aerin inquired, "Where is this place?"
"It’s Ashenvale Village, a barony in the Lighthaven Empire," Elana replied tersely.
"And why is he in a Baron’s mansion? Why do you call him 'Master'?" Aerin probed, her curiosity piqued. She wondered how a merchant could be so respected in a Baron’s mansion. Just what was his real identity?
"I cannot answer your questions. Please forgive me," Elana responded, her tone showing her unwillingness to divulge more.
Confused yet helpless against this fiercely loyal maid, Aerin expressed, "I pray that he survives this ordeal. I don't want to lose such a friend." she spoke with a hint of sorrow and regret.
Mirroring her saddened tone, Elana simply nodded, then turned and exited the room, leaving Aerin to her thoughts.
Aerin could not help but feel a twinge of guilt; she knew that to some extent, she was responsible for Theo's current condition. If only she didn't have such a treacherous sister, Theo would not be enduring such agony.
After an hour, Aerin and Elana were waiting outside the grand hall, their faces were etched with nervousness and hesitancy. They wanted desperately to check on Theo but were hindered by the memory of Lilith's fierce, almost murderous gaze.
Eventually, Aerin broke the tense silence. "Let's check if he's Okay," she whispered.
Still hesitant but unable to resist her own concern, Elena nodded. They approached the door to Theo's room cautious steps, their hearts pounding in their chests. Exchanging a look, they both took deep breaths as if preparing for an intense battle. Gently, Elena pushed the door open just enough to peek inside.
The sight that greeted them was of Lilith at Theo's side. His hand clutched hers so tightly that his nails had stabbed her pale skin. Blood flowed freely, yet she seemed not to mind, using her other hand to tenderly ruffle his hair as he grimaced in pain.
Before either could say anything, Lilith's eyes shifted toward the door. Her gaze was icy, full of unspoken threats. The pressure emanating from her was suffocating that forced both Aerin and Elana to retreat hastily, shutting the door behind them.
Aerin felt her respect for Theo surge. He had even rejected Elana's help, protecting her dignity despite the fact that she was 'just a maid.' He could have used her to lessen his torment, but he chose not to violate her.
Then, her thoughts shifted to the indomitable, domineering woman beside him who had not budged an inch despite Theo's efforts to send her away. And Aerin had heard it all while standing near the door; the pain had made it impossible for Theo to speak softly.
"Is she his girlfriend?" Aerin asked in a hushed voice.
Elana shook her head. "They are childhood friends," she replied in a hushed tone.
But Aerin wasn't convinced by her answer, the depth of their relationship seemed to stretch beyond mere friendship. Though Theo had shown no signs, she saw clearly the yearning and protectiveness in Lilith's actions.
Another four hours crawled by. Theo's condition worsened dramatically; blood began to seep from his skin, staining the bedsheets a horrifying shade of red. His consciousness faded in and out; he couldn't even notice the sight of his own blood. He was lost in his world of continuous torment.
The next hour was even worse. Blood began to trickle from his mouth, his eyes turned a ghastly red, and even Lilith found herself splattered with his blood. Her eyes flickered with sorrow as she realized he might not withstand much more of this.
"You don't have to resist this anymore. I won't allow you to die," The girl finally whispered.
Lilith took a deep breath as if steeling herself for what was to come. She shifted her position, settling onto Theo's waist. She prepared herself mentally and emotionally for what she was about to do, fully aware that it was a last resort to ease his insufferable pain, she had decided to be physically intimate with him, to allow him a release that might alleviate his endless agony. But just as she leaned in, Theo's struggle suddenly stopped and his body went limp.
Her eyes shifted to him. "Theo!" she cried, her voice filled with rising panic. Hurriedly, she brought her fingers close to his nose, searching for the reassuring sign of breath.
Feeling no air, tears started to flow down her cheeks. Yet, she didn’t give up and leaned down, her ear pressing against his bloody chest, desperate to hear the comforting thump of his heartbeat.
But as she laid her head against his blood-soaked shirt, there was only silence. A devastating, heart-wrenching, all-consuming silence that filled her with a dread she'd never known before not even when she was confined at the dark basement.
The silence engulfed her like an endless abyss, stretching the seconds into lifetimes.
It is often said that in the moments before death, one's life flashes before their eyes. For Lilith, that saying held true.
Her mind reeled back through her dark past, when she was confined in the dark chamber of Baron’s basement. She remembered the day a mountain-like boy stepped into her dim world.
She remembered how her initial instinct was to attack him, to draw his blood. Yet the moment she tasted it, an inexplicable connection awakened within her, pulling her toward him as though they were magnets with opposite poles.
Over time, their relationship had consisted of light teasing and head-bonking, fighting possessed demonic tomato foes. And that day when she wreaked havoc upon the people of the count, she was so enraged that she'd wanted to slaughter them a thousand times over.
"Am I dying?" The thought flickered through her mind. Perhaps these memories were resurfacing as the herald of her own death.
Yet, as her hands tightened around Theo's neck, she felt no regret. She closed her eyes, embracing the destiny of a bound guardian, fated to perish alongside their master.
-
-
-
In the oppressive silence of the room, filled with the scent of blood and despair, an unexpected phenomenon unfolded.
Despite Theo's lifeless state, a whisper seemed to emanate from somewhere deep within him, or perhaps from somewhere beyond.
The voice carried a message that seemed to resonate with the finality of a closing chapter. It was as if his very soul had found the strength to speak directly to those who had journeyed with him, and to the unseen audience who had watched his story unfold.
"I thought I'd known betrayal, but the cruel twists of fate in this world have unraveled before me, each one a deeper cut than the last. My grandfather, the man I admired, took everything from me, casting me into these unfamiliar lands, stripping me of my inheritance.
In the shadows of betrayal that stretched longer than the night, I found roses among the thorns—Lilith, with a spirit too bright for the darkness that held her; Liliana, who stood by me when she could have turned away; Elena, who showed me kindness when she had every reason not to.
Hated, hunted... by my own Silverblade family, by those who couldn't see past the veil of my humanity.
The kind princess, my childhood friend, bestowed upon me a title, a barony... I dared to hope, dared to dream that maybe, this was where I was meant to be. But dreams can turn to nightmares.
In a dark basement, I found her. Lilith, my fierce guardian, my unexpected salvation. When our eyes met for the first time, something within me recognized her. Was it a past bond, or was it the promise of what could have been? Together, we faced the shadows, the scorn of elves, the sting of betrayal. Yet, we endured.
Betrayal has been my shadow. Leonard, a man who tried to assassinate me; Elena, who stood on a knife's edge between loyalty and deceit; the elves, who judged me not by my actions but by the race I was born into. And now, Elara's deception has led me here, to the brink of the abyss.
In the eyes of Neria, a child, I saw innocence worth protecting, and in the heart of an elven princess who once despised me, I found an unlikely friendship.
I may not recall my past, nor understand the pull of an unbreakable bond, but if this is where my journey ends, let it be known: I've lived, I've loved, and I've lost.
Thank you, to the kind princess, my childhood friend, to Lilith, my fierce guardian, and to all those who walked with me even for a short while. You turned a cursed journey into a tale worth telling.
I don't fear death... but to leave a story unfinished, to leave the bonds that have just begun to deepen untested... that is my regret.
If these are to be my final moments, know that I've lived with honor. I've battled for a cause greater than my own, seeking a place where I belong.
Farewell, my friends, my enemies, my loves. If my story is to be forgotten, let it be a silent testament to the spirit that never yielded to despair.
Is this where my story concludes, or is there another chapter yet unwritten? Only time will tell, and I fear mine is running short.
This may be my end... but it is also my beginning.”
As the last word of Theo's spectral soliloquy faded, so too did the ephemeral presence that had momentarily filled the room. What remained was a deep stillness, a silence that spoke of the end of one tale and the hope of another yet to be told. The air itself seemed to hold its breath, waiting for the next page to turn.
==[SnowNote]==
Please bless this novel with high ratings so that it can gain more exposure and attract more readership.
Read 16 chapters ahead of 'My Demonic Farm' on Patreon now!: https://www.patreon.com/whisperingsnow
Additionally, you're invited to join our Discord community: https://discord.gg/88SmwnRQdN
