Your Name Cuts Through the Night
—
Uncertain where to find peace within himself, after regaining his senses, Thrett found himself atop the tallest structure in the small town—the clock tower of the church. This was probably a habit he picked up from his time with Queen Lily. The ground-level scenery had grown tiresome for him, ever since the months following his departure from the Demon King’s castle.
However, everything changed upon meeting Ellyad. The world became vibrant and colorful with Ellyad in it, and everywhere he looked, there were landscapes he could never tire of. Thrett felt that he had invested all his thoughts and emotions in Ellyad, and he only used the power of the Demon King to protect him.
Thrett was not a dull-witted person, but he couldn’t find the ancient word to describe this feeling because he was unsure if such an emotion truly existed within him.
Yet, if that emotion didn’t exist, why was he feeling so much pain now?
Even if it improved, what difference would it make? They couldn’t be together forever, and after seeing Ellyad today, Thrett became more convinced than ever that he was not truly trusted.
At this thought, Thrett couldn’t help but sigh. Time seemed to move slowly, yet in Thrett’s eyes, the entire day had passed in a blur. The sun arched from the east to the west, shadows danced around him, and the colors of dawn, dusk, and night were poured like pigments onto the canvas of the sky. In an instant, the day turned into a crescent moonlit night, and Thrett sat alone on the unattended clock tower, spending an entire day in solitude.
—
It was already noon on the second day, and Thrett had not returned to the inn. A fine drizzle began outside the window. Ellyad stayed close to his room, rarely leaving except for necessities like using the restroom or grabbing a bite to eat. He hardly ate, just taking a few bites to fill his stomach. He wanted to go out and find Thrett but was afraid that if he left, Thrett might return, and they would miss each other.
When Ellyad asked his neighbor, Ziyuan, for information, Ziyuan’s response was, “Thrett has his own way of doing things.” The implication was for Ellyad not to worry too much, and Ziyuan made it clear that he wouldn’t interfere.
The matter of the mermaids was pushed aside. Now, the only person Ellyad was concerned about was Thrett.
As Ellyad approached the window for the eleventh time today, he fixed his gaze on every passerby, hoping to see the figure in the black cloak returning.
“He still hasn’t come back…”
Thrett had mentioned that he just needed some time alone, so he would definitely return. Just as Ellyad was thinking this, the air suddenly became damp, and the scent of rain penetrated his nostrils. In an instant, a torrential downpour began. Such heavy rain was uncommon in winter, and besides natural factors, there was a race known as weather fairies that could influence the local climate. Perhaps this heavy rain was caused by one of those mountain fairies, but that was irrelevant at the moment.
Suddenly, a thought crossed Ellyad’s mind: What if Thrett didn’t return because something unexpected had happened? Ellyad immediately dismissed this speculation. Thrett was strong and capable of protecting himself; such an event was unlikely. However, in his current state of excessive worry, Ellyad found it challenging to convince himself with reason.
“Thrett might be in danger,” he thought, not even bothering to grab a coat as he rushed out of the room.
Despite not knowing Thrett’s whereabouts, Ellyad continued to run in the pouring rain. He had no idea where he was heading, just relentlessly searching for that elusive figure.
Ellyad suddenly felt like he was losing his mind, mocking his own irrational behavior in the depths of his heart. Yet, he couldn’t stop worrying, and his sprinting feet showed no signs of slowing down.
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
Running and running, he reached a high slope at the edge of the town. A rickety wooden fence twisted and turned, obstructing the way forward, as going any further would lead directly into a valley.
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Crack! Snap! The fence emitted a crisp breaking sound. In an instant, his body lost its support, and Ellyad was startled. Reflexively, he shifted his weight backward, trying to steady himself. However, the rain-soaked mud beneath his feet caused him to slip, and he, along with the broken fence fragments, tumbled down into the ravine!
—
He initially fell straight down, only to land on a gentle slope near the bottom, where the soft mud provided some cushioning. After rolling countless times, he finally came to a stop. The impact on his body emptied his mind, casting a dark veil over his thoughts. His lungs momentarily ceased contraction, making it impossible for him to breathe smoothly.
Ellyad’s vision was considerably blurry, and due to the torrential rain, large raindrops stung and chilled his body. He was completely drenched, lying motionless on his back.
Although the fall wasn’t fatal, every part of Ellyad’s body ached. Aside from removing the branch embedded in his abdomen with his left hand, the rest of his limbs refused to cooperate. The pain was so intense that even turning his neck was impossible, preventing Ellyad from examining the extent of his injuries.
‘Damn it, move quickly! What if Thrett encounters something like this?!’ However, more concerned about Thrett facing a similar fate than his own condition, Ellyad wished to rescue him as soon as possible. Despite rational thoughts insisting that such an eventuality was improbable, Ellyad’s worries overshadowed his ability to think.
Perhaps this restlessness was the result of intolerable solitude. He sensed that the distance between him and Thrett had grown vast, as if the next moment might see their connection easily crumble.
“No way…” Ellyad gritted his teeth, enduring the pain, attempting to move his body.
—
From now on, no matter where you are, just call my name, and I will come to your side.
—
“ .” Ellyad called out the other’s name, moving his lips silently, but unfortunately, the pact was ineffective.
The condition of the pact was to “call my name,” but silent calling was not valid in the terms of the pact. Magic is not a miracle, so it was impossible for Thrett to appear.
“ …” Only the shape of lips remained, raindrops hitting the slightly parted lips, warmth lost in the rain puddles, and Ellyad’s body gradually growing cold.
What had he done for Thrett all this time?
Seeing Thrett’s despairing expression today made Ellyad question himself.
He had always demanded Thrett to stay, even though Thrett promised him multiple times. However, in the end, Ellyad betrayed Thrett. The Hero’s Sword held significant meaning for the demons, as it was a deadly weapon against the Demon King, equivalent to their archenemy. Yet, Ellyad used that sword against Thrett.
What had he done for Thrett all this time? The answer was, nothing.
“… .” His gaze blurred once again, not just because of the falling rain but more due to guilt and regret.
If only he had something to give back to Thrett. Unfortunately, Ellyad had nothing, and that was what pained him the most.
How could he repay everything to Thrett?
What could he do to use his own strength to protect Thrett?
He just wanted to be with that person, regardless of their identity or how much difference there was between them. That feeling was deeply embedded in his heart.
“ …” If he still had a voice, it would probably be a mournful cry echoing through the dreary rain.
The coldness of his body made Ellyad lose consciousness, maintaining alertness became incredibly difficult, but he persisted in supporting his blurred vision, holding onto the last shred of consciousness.
In the valley below the pouring rain, what were the chances of being discovered and rescued by someone? Or, how likely was it that he would get another chance to see Thrett.
—
In the curtain of rain, Thrett suddenly raised his head and gazed at a distant point from the bell tower.
“Ell?”
The next moment, he decisively jumped down from the bell tower, his figure instantly disappearing into the heavy rain.
He felt as if that person was calling him, and crying with sadness.
Following the alarm in his heart, Thrett descended to the boundary on the hillside of the small town, and before him was a broken gap in the wooden fence.
“No way.” Thrett bent down in the rain, focusing on the scene below, and his eyes widened in shock as he shouted,
“Ellyad!”
—
Muttering the person’s name, he remembered when he first heard it in the guild hall, he strangely liked the name, even though it sounded a bit odd.
‘Once my body can move a bit, I’ll find a way to leave here and immediately go look for Thrett… He’ll be fine.’ In order to control his increasingly chaotic thoughts and the dissipating focus, he repeatedly called Thrett’s name.
Just by calling, it felt like his heart was being filled with something, as if that name gave him strength.
“…, .” Over and over again—
“Ellyad!”
Suddenly, everything went black before him, and Ellyad’s body was lifted up. The sudden warmth enveloped him forcefully.
“!”
“What are you doing? How did you fall!” For the first time, Thrett shouted angrily. Ellyad was a bit panicked, but what surprised him even more was Thrett’s presence.
Thrett took off his cloak and draped it over Ellyad, holding him tightly in his arms, dispelling the cold from him. At the same time, his other hand gently touched and healed the wound on Ellyad’s abdomen.
Crystal raindrops dripped from the ends of his black hair, and Ellyad was a bit incredulous at the scene before him. Thrett was right there, even though he shouldn’t have been able to call him over.
‘Are you okay?’ Ellyad asked, tilting his head, as if Thrett were the injured victim.
“What could happen to me! Tsk, to think I fell like this.” Thrett scolded again.
Ellyad didn’t notice the sorry state of his right arm and legs. Although there was no splattering blood, severe swelling and bruising appeared on his limbs.
Ellyad’s body temperature was terrifyingly cold, even though Thrett held him tightly, there was no sign of it rising. Thrett, amazed, didn’t forget to cast healing magic. Watching Ellyad in this condition, he felt his heart ache.
It wasn’t hard to guess that Ellyad fell into the valley while trying to find him. Thrett suddenly regretted leaving Ellyad. If he had known, he shouldn’t have left Ellyad, and he definitely shouldn’t have wasted time indulging in self-pity.
Most of the severe injuries and broken limbs had already been healed. Thrett sighed with relief. There were some superficial injuries left, but he decided to treat them slowly when they returned to the inn. However, having used too much magic, he couldn’t use teleportation with Ellyad anymore. Thrett could only try to climb back up to the ground along the gentle slope.
Sensing that Thrett couldn’t use magic to move, Ellyad informed him that, after being healed, he seemed to be able to move freely. Although his movements were still a bit slow and awkward, it would take some time for him to climb back.
“Don’t move around too much,” He said, pulling up his black cloak to shield Ellyad from the rain and then lifting him horizontally.
‘Mm.’ Seeing Thrett’s firm attitude, Ellyad dared not say more. In reality, with his current strength, it would be difficult for him to walk back to the inn.
Thrett immediately carried Ellyad and gradually ascended along the gentle slope of the mountain wall. After some time, they safely returned to the top of the cliff. Soon, they were back at the inn. Due to the sudden heavy rain, the inn was crowded with many guests seeking shelter. Thrett cleverly jumped into the room through the window, which was left open. The heavy rain poured around the window, forming a sizable puddle on the floor.
Thanks for the update, I’m relieved 🙂
ˁ•ᴗ•ˀつ～ 💞
Thank goodness that this didn’t end with a cliffhanger 😭😭 I don’t think I would have been able to take it
sigh… Just admit it already!
<3 is it just me or are you guys also missing how Elliad and thrett bonded to this point already?