Chapter 10: Fragments (II)

The scene changed again.

Inside the all-white building, the smell of disinfectant filled the air.

Cat, standing on the hallway stairs, walked toward the only lit door on the floor.

He entered a patient room.

A single-occupancy room, the space was large—even comparable to an apartment.

But in the spacious room, the strong disinfectant odor, the steady dripping sound, and the cold wind drifting in from outside added a sense of loneliness and desolation.

On the bed, half-reclining, was the woman as white as snow.

And sitting by the bed was the Witch Miss, who had grown a little older.

Her youthful face had long lost its baby-fat charm; now her gaunt cheeks and red-rimmed eyes plainly revealed the condition of the woman lying in bed.

She was going to die.

She lowered her head slightly, looking at the Witch Miss who kept staring at the sheets, and said,

"I know today isn't a day off."

"Please, stay with me all day."

Her speech was very slow; each sentence required a long pause.

Looking at her on the bed—sunken cheeks, dull eyes, withered white hair—and recalling her recent fury, Li Wei felt a mixture of emotions.

Should he applaud and shout that she deserved it?

Or should he lament the frailty of beauty and pity the Witch Miss?

He felt that no extreme emotion could capture the complexity in his heart right now.

After a long pause, the weak woman spoke again,

"Today……is the last time."

Hearing this, the Witch Miss, who had been keeping her head down, snapped her head up and stood.

Her black pupils were filled with shock and disbelief,

"Last time?? Mother, what does that mean??"

Because she hadn't spoken in a long time, her voice was even a little hoarse.

"Sorry, I don't have time left."

She didn't answer the Witch Miss's question, as if talking to herself,

"I've long known that my life is almost over."

"But I still have you."

"I can't let you go, and that's all I can't let go of."

"That's why I've always been strict with you, educating you this way."

…

The Witch Miss didn't speak; she remained immersed in the shock and helplessness from just moments before.

——You already knew…?

Li Wei could even hear her inner helpless, wandering self-talk.

——Why?

——Why is it like this.

"Looking at you now, I feel I did nothing wrong."

"I'm glad I once disciplined you so strictly; look at you now—you're so outstanding."

——Did nothing wrong.

As she repeated that thought in her mind, the Witch Miss involuntarily drew a deep breath.

She widened her eyes and forcibly swallowed the words she had wanted to say but hadn't yet organized.

She wanted to say:

"No, there must still be a way."

"Death……?"

"Is she going to die?"

"No……impossible, impossible."

"We definitely still have a way; we can……we can……"

But all of this was choked off in her throat.

And she, who hadn't noticed the Witch Miss's abnormality, suddenly reached out and gripped the Witch Miss's arm tightly,

"Remember what I'm saying now."

"You might not understand now, but you must remember."

"You must."

Her sudden violent motion made the IV bottle hanging above shake; her nails dug into the Witch Miss's arm, and her widened eyes locked onto the panicked Witch Miss,

"Never let anyone know your lineage, never let anyone know you are my mother."

——Why……why.

"Don't let anyone know you are also a witch."

——What is a witch……

But the Witch Miss didn't get to ask any of her questions, and her mother left her no chance to do so.

She slowly lifted her other hand, using a gentle motion she had never shown before, to feel the Witch Miss's head.

That lifting and stroking motion instantly made the Witch Miss's eyes well up.

It was, in her memory, in her whole life, the first time… her mother was groping her like this.

Her tears fell drop by drop, like a breached dam, sliding down from her eyes.

"Mom…"

But her mother paid her no attention,

"Your black hair, just like your father's, is wonderful."

Her dimmed red eyes stared tightly at Witch Miss, as if she were seeing something through him.

"He wasn't like this before.

He was gentle, gentlemanly, caring, even humorous."

"But now I know, all of this has a purpose.

What he wants has always been the witch's blood flowing in me."

—Witch's blood…?

"Witch and dragon blood, elf wings, demon eyes…

These are top‑grade treasures that countless people would risk their lives to obtain."

"So you must never expose yourself.

In this era, if you are exposed, life will be even harder for you than it is for me, child."

"But it's okay, your father has already decided you're a failure.

You inherit neither my blood nor his great sorcerer blood.

His arrogance led him to abandon you like this, hahahaha, hahahahaha…"

Her laughter echoed in the empty room, hoarse voice, hysterical cackle, like a wandering ghost at midnight.

After a long while, a violent cough stopped her terrifying laughter.

Her expression suddenly changed, brows knit, face resolute,

"I have already been manipulated, becoming a blood bank for the greedy.

Therefore, I would rather die."

—No, don't.

A Witch Miss of this age can't endure such fright; she has already stood still, at a loss.

"Bai Yan, mother has left everything she has to you.

You need not feel sad; you will understand, mother has always been with you."

"I know you really dislike your father, it's okay.

From tomorrow onward, you are my daughter, you are simply my daughter."

—What does this mean?

"From now on… I can no longer be with you when you sleep."

"I'm sorry."

—No, what I want… isn't like this…

"Don't hate anyone.

Mother only wishes you to live peacefully."

"But you must always remember, this world has changed.

To truly be safe, you need strength, stronger than everyone else!"

These words seemed to exhaust the last of her strength; she fell weakly back onto the bedside, and released the hand that had been gripping Witch Miss tightly.

She waved her hand, turned her head, and did not look at Witch Miss again,

"Let's go. I'm tired."

"No, mother… I don't want…"

"Leave."

"…"

"Don't make me say it a second time."

"Fine…"

Witch Miss's reply was choked and breathless,

"I'm leaving, mother. I'm really leaving!"

"Alright, let's go, we'll meet tomorrow."

After speaking, an invisible force swept Witch Miss out.

Bang.

The door slammed shut.

That was a door she could no longer open, no matter how she smashed, knocked, or cried.

Seven days later.

The sun shone brightly; it was a fine, clear day.

Beside the drooping white flowers stood a tombstone.

Her snow‑white hair and never‑seen gentle smile were forever etched upon it.

At this moment, the only one coming to visit her was Witch Miss.

Standing before the tombstone, Witch Miss only bowed her head, staring intently at her photograph.

She said nothing, did not cry, and made no move.

She simply stood there quietly.

……