Chapitre 184: Chapter 184: The Ageless Witch
Chapter 184: The Ageless Witch
"Hastur, can you take me home?" As Hastur's figure reappeared in the bar, Leonard rose to meet him, and Serafina cast a curious glance his way.
"Hastur, I didn't expect you to come tonight. I hope you're not angry about what I did earlier. I think you can understand my situation," Leonard said with an apologetic look. He genuinely felt sorry for Hastur. His original intention for coming to the bar was to treat Hastur to a drink, but now that Hastur had arrived, he found himself chatting with a beauty instead.
Putting himself in Hastur's shoes, Leonard felt he was being terribly inconsiderate.
"Of course, I understand you," Hastur replied with a smile, though inwardly he scoffed, "I understand that falling in love with a witch is an interesting affair; you might as well pretend I don't exist."
Leonard cheerfully said, "Hastur, I'm set on being your friend!"
"Go ahead, don't keep her waiting."
"I'd like to introduce you to Serafina. After all, you're a friend I'm proud of."
"That's not a good idea. Tonight's bar is a stage for just the two of you; a third party shouldn't intrude," Hastur declined with a smile.
He had no intention of befriending the witch or experiencing her 'flavor'—that was for Leonard to discover on his own.
"Alright then, I'll treat you to a drink another time," Leonard said without insisting further. After a few more words with Hastur, he returned to his seat, while Hastur remained at the edge of the bar.
"Your friend seems quite special?"
Serafina observed Hastur sitting alone at the edge, drinking, her eyes shining with a different light.
"He is indeed a very special friend, very considerate of my current situation."
"Let's join him for a drink. The more friends, the better, right?"
"He prefers solitude, enjoys it. Let's not disturb him. Besides, tonight belongs to just the two of us. I don't want to taste jealousy a second time," Leonard refused.
Serafina didn't bring up Hastur again and began conversing with Leonard, her eyes fixed on his starry pupils.
About half an hour later, Serafina said with eyes full of reluctance, "It's about time, I should head back."
"Back where?"
"To a family I don't really want to return to."
"If this family causes you pain, then I hope I can help you escape that trouble."
"Pain is the nourishment of life. Having experienced pain, I can pursue happiness all the more."
"Serafina, if only I had met you sooner."
"It's not too late now."
Serafina gave Leonard a look full of love.
Leonard escorted Serafina to the door, then watched as she gradually disappeared into the crowd.
"Serafina…" Leonard murmured absentmindedly, and it took him a while to return to the bar, dispirited.
He sat down next to Hastur's empty seat and drank two large glasses of Southwell beer before sighing, "Hastur, I've really fallen into a whirlpool of love."
"To you, that seems like a happy thing."
Of course, it's also something that makes me happy.
Hastur's expression was calm, but he was holding back laughter inside.
"Yes, it's indeed a very happy and blissful thing, but it also brings me pain. The pain I feel when we part is no less than the happiness when we're together."
"Pain and happiness seem to be twins; one cannot exist without the other. With pain as nourishment, happiness can truly be called happiness," Leonard said thoughtfully.
Hastur looked at Leonard deeply. Oh, young man, such thoughts are dangerous!
Learning to savor pain is a doctrine of the witch's creed.
You're a follower of the Night Goddess, yet you want to fall in love with an ageless witch and have even let her influence your judgment. Aren't you afraid of being struck down by the Night Goddess? Oh, but the Night Goddess isn't known for hurling thunderbolts.
"Happiness isn't born from pain. True happiness doesn't need the participation of pain. Pain is just that—painful. Its existence only brings misfortune."
Hastur still decided to give Leonard, who was deep in the throes of love, a gentle reminder.
"But I'm tasting pain right now."
Hastur thought for a moment and said, "You could marry her and bring her home. If you see her every day, wouldn't you be free from pain?"
"Marry her?"
Leonard's gaze became vacant for a moment, then gradually brightened before dimming again.
"I've always considered myself a wandering poet, never thought about marriage and children. To me, that's a burden that would only hinder my progress."
"I can't help you make a choice; you can only rely on yourself," Hastur expressed his inability to assist.
The wandering vagabond choosing to stop wandering because of true love—it sounds like an interesting story.
Unfortunately, there's no true love here, only Leonard's unrequited affection.
"It's truly painful."
Leonard downed another large glass of beer.
Hastur just silently sipped his drink.
Feeling pain now, what about later? Wouldn't it lead to crying, making a scene, or even worse?
Although it's somewhat immoral, Hastur really wanted to see Leonard's reaction when he finds out the woman he likes is actually a witch, and an ageless one at that.
The old man inside Leonard must also be looking forward to that day.
Of course, it's also a rare experience of growth.
Hastur believed he shouldn't influence Leonard's growth; it was better to just be a silent observer.
"Hastur, if it were you, what choice would you make?" Leonard asked, full of hope.
Hastur took a sip of his drink and then said seriously, "Leonard, whatever advice I give you, you'll regret it in the future."
"Why?"
"Because it would be a choice made under someone else's influence, not entirely of your own will.
You're a smart man; you should know that some things can only be decided by oneself, something no one else can do for you."
Leonard fell silent, then poured himself another large glass of beer, his gaze lost on the row of bottles in front of the bar.
"Another glass of Golden Wheat."
Hastur ordered another cocktail, its taste a bit sour and sweet, supposedly mixed with plenty of orange juice.
Sour and sweet—is this what love feels like?
Hastur glanced at Leonard, then at the row of bottles, choosing a dark, black drink.
Black Abyss—that's a good name.
He had thought about ordering one for Leonard, who was drowning his sorrows, but didn't want to make it too obvious, lest Leonard's grandfather realize he was not ordinary.
…
Around midnight, Hastur watched a slightly drunk Leonard leave in a carriage and prepared to hail one for himself.
But after waiting half an hour, no second carriage appeared on the street.
This was unusual; Hastur had been to the Brave's Bar many times, and usually, within ten minutes or so, a carriage would pass by the entrance.
Hastur waited patiently for another half hour, but still, no carriage came by, which was abnormal.
He didn't choose to wait any longer and returned to the Brave's Bar to ask old Caspar to arrange a ride.
Caspar told him not to worry, saying he would arrange a vehicle soon.
With nothing else to do, Hastur tried a Black Abyss, but after just one sip, he frowned—it was bitter.
It was even more bitter than unsweetened black coffee, almost numbing the tongue.
"This drink is only for true brave souls to finish," Caspar said with a light tone and a smile creeping onto his face.
"Bring me a sweet iced tea."
"We're a bar, not a beverage shop."
"Tsk, without even a simple drink like sweet iced tea, how can you satisfy the diverse needs of your customers? Who says you must drink alcohol at a bar?"
After a few words with Caspar, Hastur switched to a glass of ice water, and after another ten minutes or so, still no carriage. However, a familiar figure approached the bar's entrance.
It was the ageless witch, Serafina, returning!
Hastur suppressed the urge to curse and pretended not to see her, continuing to taste his ice water.
True to the name Despair Abyss, he had barely taken a sip when he encountered such a despairing situation.
The ageless witch was clearly coming for him, shooing away those who tried to chat her up and sitting down next to Hastur.
"I must have been mistaken earlier," she said.
Her tone was no longer the youthful chirpiness of before but was filled with a lazy, regal air of a queen.
"It's late at night, and it's not good to be alone outside."
Since he couldn't avoid her, Hastur had no reservations.
Will, having promised him, would naturally keep an eye on the ageless witch's whereabouts.
He probably just had a wicked sense of humor, deliberately not using fate to lead the ageless witch away, allowing Hastur to encounter her tonight.
"It's indeed not very safe. Would you take me home?"
"Do I have a choice?"
"Why would you want that choice? What are you afraid of?"
"I don't want my friend to misunderstand."
"Then you should take me home all the more, to prevent any accidents from happening," Serafina's gaze fell on Hastur's face, and she remarked thoughtfully, "You really do have a handsome face."
"Thank you for the compliment. Let's go, I'll take you home."
Hastur had no choice; he suspected that the absence of carriages passing by was also the witch's doing.
She probably waited for him to walk home and then create an 'accidental' encounter. Unfortunately, he didn't give her that chance.
Hastur stood up and walked out of the bar, with Serafina following behind with her graceful steps.
(End of Chapter)
État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone