68. Final year

Why was it that every time the Xu system woke up, it was always the first thing to hear Krysia’s greetings.

Why is it that every time he opens his eyes, he always sees Krysia’s face first.

The answer is simple.

It’s so simple that it’s dismaying.

With every slumber, with every sleep, Krysia would sit quietly on the edge of the bed after witnessing Xu lie down, accompanying the passage of time with a small wooden chair.

Meditate and sit until the sun and moon rise and fall in the sky.

Wait, wait until the seasons of the world change.

Krysia accompanied in silence, waited in the solitude that was left to her alone, and sat motionless, with eyes only for the growing older figure.

Pain?

Boring?

Krysia didn’t feel it.

For as the figure fell into silence, the world the witch could see was nothing but gray, she could not feel any life, nor could she see any color, she actively blocked out everything.

It wasn’t until the Xu system awakened that the witch’s dead world revolved and once again had normal colors.

“I have been, always, always, waiting for you.”

The sun shone down the window into the bedroom.

Due to the angle of inclination, it creates a beautiful layout that is half light and half dark.

Already 85 years old, the Xu system is showing its age, he is lying on the bed, just on the bright side, every wrinkle, every trace of gray hair, are clearly illuminated.

And not far from the Xu system was the bedside.

Kryssa sat in the shadows, poised and quiet, her empty eyes reflecting the gesture of light.

The calm, delicate face was clearly that expressionless, but when the light gray-silver hair swayed slightly in the wind, it seemed to be bursting with countless emotions.

Waiting for you.

Been waiting for you.

So says Krisa Kristina.

She is a witch without a heart, without her own joy, without her own sorrow, and is an “object” that follows her master’s orders all her life.

So, the witch stayed by the side of the Xu system.

Waiting for the Xu system to awaken, waiting for another order from the Xu system.

That was all she had left to live for.

Facing such a Krisha, facing such a witch who had waited for countless days and nights.

One time.

The Xu system also didn’t know whether to criticize and educate the witch so that she would stop this meaningless behavior, or to praise and appreciate the witch for that unchanging persistence.

In the end, the Hsu system was neither criticized nor praised.

Because it doesn’t matter.

He gently took the witch’s hand, grasping the slender five fingers so that they were revealed to the reach of the sun.

“Walk me out, Krysia, I feel like I’m losing feeling in my body after being in bed for so long.”

“…… is.”

Krysia is very well behaved and obedient.

Together with the Xu system, who had gotten out of bed, she walked out of the bedroom door, across the silent, deserted porch, and finally into the sunny, green courtyard filled with flowers and trees.

Hsu system walks very slowly.

The feeling of weakness came from within, spreading a little to the legs.

The sensation was subtle, the sluggishness of the body clearly felt with every step, as if a show that could come to an end at any moment.

“It’s beautiful.”

Steeply, the Xu system stopped in its tracks.

In front of him was a flourishing courtyard of flowers and plants tended by the witch, with intertwining branches and leaves, fragrant flowers, and clusters of red-colored dragon’s blood grass ambling against the wind, like small undulating waves.

“Krysia, you’ve managed it well, I’m very pleased.”

“Thank you for your affirmation.”

Xu Xiang looked to his side, the witch with long gray and silver hair stood quietly, she was so indifferent, with an indescribable emptiness, as if she was cut off from everything in this world.

This was exactly the same as when the Xu system first met her.

But the poor girl who was skinny and bony back then.

Long ago, he grew into a reliable adult.

Looking out over the courtyard, over the flowers, over the warm sunshine, over the grown-up witch.

Xu System slowly closed his heavy eyelids, feeling the sunlight fall on his body, warming his loose, drooping skin and bringing some warmth and reassurance to himself.

He, already, had nothing to worry about.

Plop–

[You’re walking with a witch in the courtyard]

[Everything in the courtyard, including the dragon’s blood plant, which is your main concern, everything is well taken care of by Krysia]

[Even if you manage it yourself, you can’t do better than this.]

[You are in a trance and once again think back to when the witch was small, and you compare them and realize that the grown-up witch is so brilliant that she no longer needs your prodding and coaching]

[Your duties as a mentor, perhaps it’s time to end]

[You relieved, you sighed, you laughed softly, since a long time ago, you have been worried about the future of the witch, and now you can be sure that even without you, the witch can live well]

[The worries that have been keeping you awake disappear]

[Your consciousness suddenly falls silent, and your aged body falls forward, nearly falling to the ground, and it is the witch who steps in just in time to hold you up]

[Less than an hour after awakening, you are once again in a deep sleep.]

“Mentor! …… Mentor!”

The sound of grief echoed through the darkness.

The Xu system was tired, so tired that even when they heard voices, they couldn’t give a response.

Like a boat in the middle of an angry wave.

His consciousness, his soul, his mind, were swallowed by the endless darkness and assimilated into eternal peace.

Only a little bit of self remains, still tenacious.

……

In the 72nd year of the simulation, you’re 86 and Krysia is 78.

[You’ve been sleeping for a year since the day you fell into a coma in the courtyard, but you haven’t shown any signs of waking up.]

[Krysia doesn’t say a word, just sits on the edge of the bed and waits, waiting for you to return]

[She witnessed another turn of the seasons in the house]

In the 73rd year of the simulation, you’re 87 and Krysia is 79.

You’re still asleep

[Krysia still maintains her timeless 17-year-old look]

[In this year, Krysia’s strength arrived at the upper limit of the Holy Domain Magician, she tried to break through to the demigods and rely on the power of the gods to save you, but she failed]

[The previous unfavorable equilibrium didn’t allow the witch to break through the realm, and the witch was stuck at the Holy Realm Magician]

In the 74th year of the simulation, you’re 88 years old and Krysia is 80.

[Some of the furniture has deteriorated and become less serviceable, and the Witch has paid no attention to it, she is still on guard in your room]

In the 75th year of the simulation, you’re 89 and Krysia is 81.

[The Witch is still waiting]

[The Witch is still waiting]

[Witch Continues Waiting]

In the 79th year of the simulation, you’re 93 and Krysia is 85.

[Your spirit still sleeps, but your body has aged beyond recognition, and the years have left indelible marks, plucking out everything you once had.]

[Your face is gradually changing into something the Witch doesn’t recognize, with dull, wrinkled skin like a rough, ugly piece of bark.]

[Witch stops sitting still]

[She gently holds your palm, feels the texture of the withered branch, once, twice, calling out to you over and over again, praying for your return.]

[You open your cloudy eyes]