The Black Saint is My StalkerCh120 - The Saint of Eternity is your…!?

Edited by dreamandwonder


A trail of smoke rose up high; drawing a dark streak across a rare cloudless sky. A large pit of fire burned and with it an array of priceless magical artifacts collected over countless eras from all corners of the world. The thin layer of snow surrounding the roaring fire had all but melted into a muddy slush. W7mJAe

Graham stood watch, for he was the only person left to mourn. He had chosen a place far from the hubbub of civilization, deep within the woods, so close to the coast that he could sample the roaring sound of waves in the gusting winds.

In the small clearing he had built her an altar and with it, all the items he acquired over the centuries for her and her alone. Aoibhinn’s remains were unsightly to look upon and he had wrapped her delicately in the finest ancient silk.

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All of it went up in flames.

Graham stood vigil with the howling wind. He wore a mask of indifference, his eyes glazed over, body stiff. The emotions that welled within him were indescribable. mxtC8O

Bottomless sorrow to euphoric liberation. Regret, understanding, fear, inexplicable anguish, and overdue solace.

His muscles and nerves were tense and numb all at once and his eyes stung with dryness from staring at fire too long without blinking.

Old memories stirred and he held onto them, basked in melancholic nostalgia.

“Husband, look!” The Aoibhinn in his memories was a little more girlish, vibrant, and bright. Her strawberry blond hair was bound in tight braids but loose strands danced about in the winds.

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His recollections of his late wife had become a bit more colored in and full after seeing her once more. The thought flitted through Graham briefly.

The Aoibhinn in his memories continued to beam, tugging on his wrist towards a sandy shore. His attention was caught by a pile of wood collected on the beach. Animated straw men and other magical familiars worked at the witch princess’s beck and call, but their task was rather curious.

He raised a brow at her. “What is this?”

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.

Aoibhinn grinned. “What does it look like?” a4vj2z

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Ktlr alcs lrijcv kjr atflg bcis rjcmaejgs. Vb Glwlaglr mbeiv cba ecvfgrajcv atf wfjclcu bo yelivlcu j ybja. “…Pa ibbxr ilxf j vfjat klrt,” tf abiv tfg tbcfrais.

Aoibhinn pouted and then rolled her eyes, but that was hardly enough to deter her smile. “The world is so vast, Husband. Borders exist even beyond the Vesparian Empire. Lady Andraste told me many tales about flaming mountains and underwater caverns, mystical forests, and palaces in the sky. Don’t you think that it’s a shame not to see these wonders at least once in one’s lifetime? I don’t want to be trapped here on this island forever.”

But the land on which they lived was one that Aoibhinn defended with her sweat and blood. Why would she want to leave? The young Dimitris didn’t really know. He also did not care to see all these so-called marvels in the world. He only cared about his wife’s sunlit smile and the dazzling glow in her eyes. iY7dcy

“I don’t really care,” he had said, “but wherever you go, I will follow.”

Aoibhinn had laughed at him then, teasing him for his innocence and purity. The two of them took a stroll along the shoreline while she conjured elaborate stories about their future endeavors and fantastical travels.

She never did leave the Britian Isles. And Graham would go on to travel the four corners of the world without her.

He closed his eyes, savoring the old memory while heat licked his face and char tickled his nostrils. With a long exhale, he let the memory go; like the ashes to the wind. iDuTMb

Aoibhinn was dead. But Graham yet lived. Perhaps there was a time where he would have walked into the flames to make good on an ancient promise, following her into the next life.

“…” But tragedy, now, did not cut so deep. His sorrow for once was light, almost bittersweet.

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Graham stepped away. The trek back to his estate was a long one, but he would make it in due time for dinner.

Silently, he wondered if Han Li might be awake. Th3wLN

“Things have been a mess…” Valtteri explained with a deep sigh, “the Heavenly Layer got destroyed, but they’re still trying to salvage the Earthbound Layer that survived vaguely intact. No…idea how they plan to…stitch the Pillar back together. Demonic cases are already…seeing an increase… and since I’m kind of out of a job, I’m back to…regular hunting.”

“Shit,” Han Li breathed, blinking as he tried to register all the information he was bombarded with. And while he understood that the Pillar had been, for the most part, destroyed, the consequences hadn’t yet sunk in.

Miguel had left the room, claiming to hunt down the resident maid, who kept the kitchen under apparent lock and key. Neither Han Li nor Valtteri paid the Saint of Shields much attention. Han Li sat in an armchair, opposite of the scout, who at least rose from his reclined position into a seated one. “So…what the fuck even…happened to you? You didn’t even…show up to Trevor and Leonie’s funerals.” AOzilk

“…Oh, um.” Han Li blinked. He didn’t even know they had died. His expression turned solemn and though there was little love lost between them, he still felt that familiar bite of regret and disappointment. “My condolences…I— I actually really didn’t know. I was out, like seriously knocked out, don’t even know what happened,” he explained.

“Huh.” Valtteri frowned and scratched his chin, feeling as though things didn’t really add up. Hadn’t Han Li been assigned patrols around the perimeter? With a position that was hit even lighter than Valtteri’s post? He couldn’t imagine what mind literally knocked out a half-demon for the better part of two weeks. “How…did you manage that…?”

The door clicked open and Valtteri perked up.

Han Li stumbled over his thoughts as he tried to weigh the pros and cons between lying and telling the truth. He did not think it was Graham of all people that approached behind him. When the familiar drawl of a melodic voice washed over him, he flinched like an idiot. In an instant, Graham commanded the attention in the room. “Han Li was critically injured during the incident and is experiencing some amnesia as a result. I ask that you do not pressure him with unnecessary questions.” zk9asl

Startled, Han Li leaned back into the armchair, his neck craning up. Gloved fingers tickled the underside of his jaw and Han Li found himself instinctively leaning into the touch, eyes fluttering closed. The touch tailed down his neck, before settling on the junction between his neck and shoulder. Ah, Graham smelled like fire and wild grass, with fresh flavors of char, ash and morning dew.

Placated with intoxicating allure, Han LI had stupidly forgotten about his current situation—

Valtteri sat uncharacteristically still, eyes widening beneath Graham’s sharp glare. “Oh…You must be…”

“Graham Astley, Saint of Eternity.” p3hCBv

“…I’m Valtteri.”

“…”

“…”

“…” s8Wa3G

Han Li coughed, uncertain where this stifling awkwardness even came from. “Uh, Val was our scout. He’s pretty chill,” Han Li looked up but saw that Graham’s eyes were pinned on Valtteri, cold and without much patience. Was Han Li missing something here? The gloved hand remained against his neck, moving down a little to thumb the curve of Han Li’s clavicle.

The Northerner cleared his throat and rubbed the back of his neck but it was then that the tension in the air was cut with the sound of approaching footfalls.

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“Ah, it seems that I interrupted something here? Just when I found Sylvie dear wandering around the halls.” Miguel chuckled as he held open the door.

A tray of tea and snacks were carted in, a small woman donned in a maid’s outfit stared at them vacantly, her posture stiff. Her skin was a strange greyish hue and Han Li could tell almost immediately that she had no life force of her own. gQq84O

Miguel inspected the scene in front of him and cocked his head, “Now, now. No need to be so on edge, Saint Graham. Jealousy is an ugly thing, mind you. Isn’t it, Mr. Han?”

Han Li cringed, “Please don’t call me that… Just Han Li’s fine.” It was only then that Graham’s hand retracted from his neck. The Saint of Eternity let out a funny little puff of air from his nose and Han Li could almost imagine the saint acting indignant. Was that only his imagination?

Perhaps so, because when Graham turned his gaze toward Han Li, he noted the faint glimmer of softness that hid behind the veil of stoicism. “Is your friend staying for dinner? I fear that we might not have enough food stocked for four mouths. I will have to order something immediately if that is the case.”

Miguel could not help but find this scene rather curious, for the Saint of Eternity should know that Valtteri Hopeaharju was his guest and not Han Li’s. After all, Graham had allowed him to invite the hedge witch over to discuss a particular matter. It was only chance that Han Li woke while the witch was present at the manor. IB9dLy

“What?” Han Li interjected with a frown, “Then we should just order something, right?” Knowing the expanse of Graham’s fortune, such a thing shouldn’t be an issue at all.

But not all parties present agreed.

“No, no!” Valtteri quickly rose to his feet, his hands held up to claim innocence. “Don’t mind me… I’ll be…on my way.” He sighed deeply and shook his head, turning his gaze back to Han Li. “I didn’t…know that…the Saint of Eternity is your…boyfriend!”


Author: I….. I have no excuses, as always. None. Just the questionable workings of my shriveled brain 0Y4dtE

🍆 The Daily Eggplant 🍆

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24 comments

  1. THankieess for the chapter heheh poor valtteri.

    Honestly i was eating soup and when Grams came i made sure to eat it all before i continued reading

  2. Graham a little vinegar pot 🤣

    I feel bad for Valtteri his never ending source of power is taken. Poor baby

  3. I can already picture the next moment after Han Li heard that “boyfriend” comment. A situation like this: Severely embarrassed Han Li sputtering how it’s not true trying to vacant the space only to be pulled back by Graham and mercilessly teased by Miguel that there’s no need to be shy about it. All that exposing his ‘morning regret’ thoughts about how the night before doesn’t change anything between them.

    …like that… ehem… or maybe not… depends on the author.

    Aaaaand good thing that Graham finally let go of his past, now he can move forward with his little kitten. It’s just that he has to coax Han Li first.

    Thank you for the chapter!!!

    • …did this come true in the next chapter? LOL I can’t recall ngl I’m so sleep deprived I don’t even know what’s up and down…

  4. Sad too see Aoibhinn go like that…and it feels also a bit conflicting to not be more sad about it–how in the past, Graham would have followed her body into the flames…

    And now, Graham touching Han Li under the chin….Han Li is a dog? cat?? XD

    • U___U not sure if i was able to convey it well, but mm yeah graham’s emotions are more melancholic and bittersweet than anything else. There are a lot of romance stories with immortal lovers that wait centuries for their true/first love, but I wanted to write a story about a character that moves on from this delusion weeps not sure if I pulled it off but at least I tried!

      …i mean…is he not? o 3 o

      • Graham’s melancholy came through I felt happy/ relieved for him. We all have our own ways to finalize the end of a relationship. Graham is ready to truly admit his feeling for Han Li

  5. Poor Valtteri… He was directly sent away by Graham’s stare lmao now Han Lì Is going to become red like a tomato and question his relationship with Graham

    Thank you for the chapter!!! ❤️❤️

  6. Ahaha it smells strongly like vinegar in her, isn’t it Grams ?

    Seriously Miguel is too funny, I love him and his awkwardness ! Can’t wait to see Han Li spluttering some nonsensical mess after Valtteri comment. Seriously Graham you have to do things right this time ! Our little kitten deserves it !

    Thanks for the chapter !

    • o w o always need a tiny dose of vinegar ehehe

      LOLL Miguel is laughing evilly beneath his smile, I can just feel it. He’s basking in Han Li’s second hand embarrassment x’D

      thank you for reading!!!

  7. I really like how you wrote Graham’s grief. I think that is exactly what he should feel, a hurricane of turmoil yet hopeful.

    thanks for the chapter <3