[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-born-as-a-witch":3,"chapter-born-as-a-witch-born-as-a-witch-chapter-158":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Born as a Witch",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1702599,2172,"Chapter 158: Bonus - 7 - Love and Bond","born-as-a-witch-chapter-158",158,"\u003Cp>The portal realm had become their sanctuary — a place outside time, where mist, energy, and the ancient tree cradled them in quiet protection. Yet something had shifted between Renkai and Liralis. The playful banter, the shared tasks, the training together — all of it had woven an unspoken intimacy, a rhythm between them that neither could ignore.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They trained side by side as usual, hands tracing patterns in the air, streams of fire, water, wind, and earth intertwining. Renkai, careful yet instinctive, mirrored her movements, blending his fox-spirit energy into the multielemental flows.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But today, there was something more in the air — not a threat, not tension, but awareness, a gentle attentiveness that made each movement heavier with meaning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liralis glanced at him mid-motion, and for a heartbeat, the mist seemed to hold its breath. Renkai caught her gaze and froze — amber eyes locking with hers, the world narrowing until nothing existed but the space between them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>> \"Renkai...\" she murmured softly, voice trembling, carrying a note of vulnerability he had never heard before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He blinked slowly, tail flicking behind him in uncertainty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>> \"Yes?\" he asked, voice steady, though his chest thrummed like a drumbeat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She let her hands rest lightly on the energy spiraling around her, letting them hover near him, almost touching.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>> \"I... I’ve never felt this before,\" she admitted. \"Even in lifetimes past, even with knowledge and power, I never... never felt connected to anyone like this.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Renkai’s heart, long used to silence, loneliness, and survival, stirred in a way that made him ache. His instincts flared — protectiveness, desire, and an overwhelming sense of recognition.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>> \"Liralis... I feel it too,\" he said quietly. \"I’ve survived the world alone for so long... and yet, being here with you, it feels... right. Like I finally belong somewhere. With someone.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She stepped closer, each movement deliberate, almost hesitant, as if testing the fragile line between friendship and something deeper. Renkai mirrored her motion, his energy pulsing softly, tail brushing the mist in gentle rhythm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When their hands finally met, the contact was electric, a surge of warmth and resonance that ran through both of them. The elemental energy around the tree responded subtly, flickering and dancing like playful fireflies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>> \"You... you are not just a shifter,\" she whispered, eyes searching his. \"You are... part of this, part of me somehow.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He tilted his head, lips parting slightly, heart beating fast.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>> \"And you... Liralis, you’ve changed everything for me. I thought I only knew survival... but now I understand connection, trust... love.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her cheeks warmed faintly as she let herself lean closer, their foreheads brushing for a brief, tender moment. The mist swirled around them, cocooning them in quiet isolation, shielding them from the world outside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The words were unspoken after that. No more explanations were needed. Their movements, their gazes, the subtle brushing of hands and fingers, carried everything — trust, respect, desire, and a growing, undeniable love.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They trained together still, but now every interaction carried intimacy. When Liralis shaped streams of fire and Renkai mirrored with ethereal fox energy, their flows intertwined like a dance of hearts as well as power. When they rested beneath the glowing roots of the tree, their shoulders brushed, and the warmth of presence became comfort and longing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Renkai began to shift fluidly between fox and human forms around her, each transformation a playful display, but also an expression of his trust and openness. She laughed softly at his antics, and each sound, soft and melodic, anchored him to her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even when they ventured into the fog forest, the connection remained. Renkai hunted and gathered, but he felt her awareness beside him, guiding, watching, protective. When they reunited at the portal, their hands met without thinking, a silent promise in the clasp.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>> \"We’re stronger together,\" he murmured one evening as the mist curled softly around the glowing tree.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>> \"And safer,\" she replied, pressing lightly against his chest, energy humming softly between them. \"And... home.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For the first time in his long life, Renkai understood the meaning of home beyond survival, of bond beyond companionship. Their hearts had found each other in the endless mist, in the sanctuary of the tree, in shared laughter, struggle, and quiet vulnerability.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In that place, surrounded by swirling mist, glowing energy, and the hum of ancient life, love blossomed — not loud, not demanding, but strong, resilient, and patient. It wove into their shared power, their shared space, becoming a force that would carry them through challenges yet to come.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The portal realm was no longer just a refuge. It was the cradle of something eternal, a bond forged by survival, trust, and now, deep, undeniable love.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The mist swirled softly around the portal realm, carrying the hum of the ancient tree as a constant comfort. Yet, even in this sanctuary, the weight of the outside world began to creep in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liralis returned from the fog forest one evening, shoulders slumped, robes dusted with mist and small scratches from her travels. Her eyes, normally so calm and composed, were shadowed with worry. She sank to the ground near the roots of the glowing tree, letting her hands rest in her lap.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>> \"Renkai... it’s getting worse,\" she said quietly, voice trembling just slightly. \"The hunters... the ones who seek multielementals... they are getting closer. I don’t know how much longer I can stay hidden here. I don’t even know if this place is safe anymore.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Renkai, still in human form, knelt beside her instantly. He wrapped his arms around her, holding her close, feeling the tension in her body, the rapid pulse of fear that she tried to mask. He pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead, letting his energy calm her subtly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>> \"Shh... it’s alright,\" he murmured. \"You are not alone. I am here. We are together. No one will take you from me. No one will touch this place while I’m near.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her hands pressed lightly against his chest, feeling the warmth and strength of his presence. Slowly, the tremor in her body eased, the worry in her eyes softening as she let herself rest against him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>> \"You... you always know what to do,\" she whispered. \"Even when I feel helpless, you... anchor me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>> \"I’ve survived alone for many years,\" Renkai said softly. \"But now... I don’t want to be alone anymore. And you won’t be either. I’ll protect you. Every day, every night, every danger that comes our way.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They stayed like that for a long while, wrapped in the gentle glow of the tree, mist curling around them as if shielding them from the outside world. Words were unnecessary; their closeness spoke volumes. Every heartbeat, every soft breath, every faint touch, deepened their bond.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As days passed, the strain of the outside dangers grew heavier. Liralis would return more fatigued, her elemental energy flickering slightly as the forest beyond the portal grew restless. She confided in Renkai about her fears, about the hunters who tracked multielementals, about the uncertainty of keeping the tree and portal safe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And each time, Renkai held her close. His presence became a shield as much as a comfort. He would kiss her forehead, brush her hair gently, murmur soothing words, and even when he did not know a solution, he offered steadfast reassurance, an anchor in the storm of fear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>> \"We will find a way,\" he told her one evening, tail wrapping softly around her legs as they sat beneath the glowing roots. \"Together. We’ve survived the impossible before. This... this we can face too.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her hand rested over his heart, feeling the strength and certainty that matched her own fears and hopes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>> \"Renkai... I don’t know what I’d do without you,\" she murmured, voice catching.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>> \"Then don’t think about it,\" he replied, pressing a gentle kiss again to her forehead. \"We’ll face this together. And no matter what comes... I will not let go of you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The mist around them shimmered faintly, almost as if responding to their bond, pulsing softly in rhythm with their hearts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Days became a rhythm of training, exploration, and quiet moments together, punctuated by the creeping tension of danger outside. Their love, however, grew stronger with every shared glance, every brush of hands, every whispered reassurance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fox spirit who had once survived alone in the fog forest now had a purpose beyond survival — a bond to protect, a heart to cherish, and a future to fight for.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even as shadows approached, even as hunters drew closer, Renkai and Liralis had something stronger than fear: each other.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fog lay thick and oppressive outside the portal realm that day. Renkai stood at the edge of the shimmering doorway, senses alert, every fiber of his being tuned to the forest around him. He had grown accustomed to the constant hum of danger in the fog, the faint whispers of shadowed hunters, the restless spirits that drifted aimlessly. But today, his intuition screamed — something was wrong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A faint rustle echoed through the mist. At first, he thought it was another wandering phantom, perhaps a ghost lost in its own endless search. But then, movement — a flash of white and the familiar golden-brown of Liralis’s torn dress. Blood streaked across the fabric, a stark, living red against her otherwise glowing presence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>> \"Liralis!\" he shouted, voice carrying through the mist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was running, stumbling, barely keeping upright. Her energy flickered and sputtered with fatigue, and she clutched her side as if to hold herself together.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Renkai’s legs carried him forward instinctively, faster than thought, wind whipping past him as he closed the distance. But the fog was thick, and movement stirred shadows from every corner. Shapes began to solidify — cloaked figures in dark, jagged robes, advancing slowly yet relentlessly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His heart hammered, fury igniting deep in his chest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>> \"No... you will not take her!\" he roared, every muscle tensing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A shard of jagged black crystal — a weapon he had seen hunters use before — shot through the fog, striking Liralis from behind. She cried out, falling forward, and Renkai lunged, catching her mid-fall, arms wrapping around her like iron. Her warmth pressed against him, but so did the sting of her wounds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>> \"I... I fought many,\" she whispered hoarsely, her voice thin and strained. \"I don’t think I can... do more... maybe just... last few... I need to push it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Renkai’s amber eyes blazed with unrestrained fury. He looked toward the approaching figures — humans in grotesque black robes, their faces hidden, energy dark and oppressive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>> \"How dare you touch her!\" he growled, rising to his full height, holding Liralis firmly against him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She weakly raised her hand, summoning her remaining energy. Fireballs erupted, scattering toward the robed attackers. Streams of wind and twisting vines followed, flinging debris and cutting paths through the fog. Each strike cost her — blood streaked her cheeks, hands trembled, and her energy flickered like a dying star — but she fought with everything she had left.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Renkai, fury sharpening every sense, swept his fan in wide, precise arcs. Wind blades cut like silver knives through the advancing enemies, taking down many, yet more came, relentless as shadows.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>> \"We need to—\" he whispered close to her ear, voice harsh but gentle. \"Hide. Portal.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Together, they backed toward the shimmering threshold, fighting with desperate precision. Fireballs, energy shards, wind spirals — the fog became a tempest of elemental power and raw fury.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were almost at the portal. Just a few steps more. Renkai could feel the pull of the safe space beyond, the cool calm of the green grass, the hum of the tree waiting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then — a scream. A chilling, echoing scream cut through the chaos. Renkai’s amber eyes widened as a giant fireball, larger and hotter than any she had conjured, surged forward from the shadows. Time slowed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>> \"Go!\" he shouted, voice breaking, as he lifted her fully, sprinting into the portal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fireball slammed against the boundary just as they crossed, exploding in a brilliant cascade of sparks and energy that ripped the fog around them. Renkai fell to his knees on the soft green grass of the portal realm, still holding Liralis. She lay weakly across his lap, blood soaking her robe, eyes fluttering with pain and exhaustion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>> \"Love? Love... are you okay?\" he asked, voice trembling, hands pressing gently against her shoulders, cradling her head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She turned her gaze toward him, tears glimmering in the corners of her eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>> \"I... I don’t think I can make it,\" she whispered. \"The portal will hold them back... for now. Stay safe... I love you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Renkai’s chest constricted. His hands shook as he pressed her closer, voice cracking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>> \"No... don’t leave me! Don’t... I love you! You are everything! Everything in the world to me!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She touched his cheek, fingers trembling yet tender, a faint smile on her lips despite her exhaustion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>> \"We... will meet again... I shall... be back,\" she whispered, voice fading.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Renkai shook his head violently, refusing to let her go.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>> \"No! Don’t leave me! I... I will bond your soul to mine if I have to! Don’t go! I... I cannot—will not—live without you!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She smiled softly, eyes closing as her energy dimmed, one fragile hand falling to the grass.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Renkai tried to shake her, his tears wetting her face. He felt helpless, heart cracking with fear and anger. Then, something inside him shifted — raw, primal, and unrestrained.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>> Rage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It surged through his body, fanning out like wildfire. The fox-spirit instincts, the years of survival, the grief, and the burning need to protect the one he loved — all coalesced into a single force.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With trembling hands, he gently laid Liralis down on the soft grass, caressing her cheek once more. His tail bristled, fur rising like flames, eyes glowing amber in the misty light.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then he stood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>> \"If they think they can take you... if they think they can harm us... they will learn what fury truly is!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The portal shimmered behind him, the safe space of the tree glowing softly, but Renkai’s attention was entirely on the fog forest beyond.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He stepped forward, every muscle coiled, every sense alert, a storm of anger, love, and unyielding determination ready to explode.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The forest outside waited, unaware of the force now rising within it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Renkai — protector, survivor, and now, the avenger of all he loved — had crossed the line between fear and fury. And nothing, no shadow, no hunter, no dark force, would stand in his way.\u003C\u002Fp>",2450,"2026-06-06T14:30:21.780Z",1,"novelbin.me","8bcb7b865e9de21d95e403bf9ac4a4823299f2fa34f76052b9a3088fa6b82b1d","born-as-a-witch-chapter-125","born-as-a-witch-chapter-124",479,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fborn-as-a-witch-cover.jpg"]