Chapter Text
Yuuta
The forest is endless, made up of trees that seem tall enough to reach the stars, filled with creatures out of nightmares, and most of all, vibrating with cursed energy.
It’s said this forest was once the battleground for a fight between one of Yuuta’s ancestors and the king of curses, but those are only rumors, of course.
No one ventures into the cursed forest because of those rumors, not usually. They know better, regardless of their abilities. No one except reckless, naive individuals who think they can run from their problems, and people like Yuuta, who come after them when they’re offered good pay.
Yuuta has been in the business of being a mercenary for a few years now, and he’s gotten quite good at the profession, given his status as a powerful sorcerer, ranked as one of the strongest. He was taught how to control his abilities by one of the strongest sorcerers in the world, after all, one who decided a few years ago that abiding by the rules of society wasn’t to his liking anymore and chose to reside within the capital city where many look to him for leadership, alongside another sorcerer.
His mentor has never quite understood why Yuuta insists on mingling with society outside the capital city. He thinks Yuuta is naive because of that, but he’s wrong. Yuuta sees society’s greed but chooses to use it to his advantage.
He taught Yuuta everything he knew and maybe, somewhere down the line, Yuuta also became jaded toward the world. But regardless of Yuuta’s beliefs and everything he’s been taught, he’ll gladly take the world’s coin and help fund his life. He can’t rely on his mentor forever, nor his friends, not when they’ve already done so much for him.
His life was not always full of power and status. Once, he was nothing more than a cursed boy whose family was afraid of him until his mentor came and saved him. He was alone once upon a time, but now, that time is far in the past.
Now, all he knows is power and how to wield it. He’s yet to meet anyone who’s actually given him a challenge aside from his mentor. It’s rare to meet anyone aside from his mentor and his friends who are on his level or even close.
Yuuta wonders what his mentor would think of him right now, taking a job that requires him to hunt down a well-known coven’s potentially missing member when he could just be residing in the capital city instead. He’s sure word will reach his mentor soon and a scolding is within his future, but for the moment, he pushes that to the back of his mind and focuses on the task at hand—his target, Inumaki Toge.
Being a mercenary who hunts on the run people who can use magic or cursed energy isn’t for the weak. A mercenary must always think one step ahead of their target and be stronger than them; and sadly for Yuuta’s current target, that’s exactly what’s happening right now.
If it weren’t for Yuuta’s cursed senses and abilities, he would’ve never found his target. He’s been tracking his target, a wanted, runaway witch from the renowned Inumaki coven, since he accepted this assignment for a few moons now, and it’s going just as he expected it to go, with a few exceptions.
The pay offered by the Inumaki coven was far too good to be turned down, and the coven specifically sought him out for the role, so it was a no-brainer when it came to accepting the mission. It was an easy way to make coin.
The instructions were clear: bring Inumaki Toge back alive before the upcoming blood moon for full payment and make sure no one learns of the witch’s disappearance.
Yuuta didn’t think finding and capturing his target would be difficult even if he were from the esteemed Inumaki coven. He was right about that because it hasn’t been, but what’s truly slowing Yuuta down from completing his mission is discovering how entertaining it is to follow Toge around.
The little witch has obviously been planning his escape from his coven for a while, given how well he’s covered up his tracks and kept moving at a steady pace. It’s become clear to Yuuta just how powerful and smart this little witch is, despite what the Inumaki coven had said about him.
He’s making for a good, entertaining hunt, one that has had Yuuta’s blood burning hot in his veins and his cursed energy roaring to life inside him, strong enough that he feels it gathering in the tips of his fingers and on the tip of his tongue, eager to strike.
Toge’s appearance is deceitful because he might look small and weak, but he’s clearly a force to be reckoned with. Yuuta now understands why Toge’s disappearance has caused so much turmoil within his coven, considering his potential. Covens often care far too much about what others think of them, and having a rebellious witch desert their post gives them a bad reputation, one they’re willing to hire a skilled mercenary to prevent from getting out to the public.
It’s impressive just how far Toge has gotten, considering he made it all the way into the cursed forest without much trouble along the way. His coven clearly underestimates him, it’s a pity because Toge shows a lot of potential, and Yuuta is almost sad to end this game of chase with the little witch. It’s been so long since he’s felt such a thrill while he’s hunted someone down.
Oftentimes, targets make it far too easy for Yuuta to capture and claim the reward.
Toge bears magical shackles on his cheeks and one on his tongue to restrain his power, courtesy of a punishment bestowed upon him by his coven, but despite that, they do little to hinder him. He’s been giving Yuuta a good show, deceiving people left and right and keeping himself safe on his journey despite his limited magic. Yuuta wishes he could see the little witch at full power, but sadly, this game of chase must come to an end before too long. It’s such a pity.
Witches, for the most part, are not to be trusted by sorcerers, or anyone, really. Yuuta knows this well because sorcerers are equally as untrustworthy.
He knows the Inumaki coven only trusts him to deliver the bounty, and if he doesn’t, they’ll offer Toge’s bounty to lesser mercenaries by the next upcoming blood moon, and Yuuta can’t let that happen. He hates sharing and distrustful covens.
But even if the Inumaki coven did such a thing, it wouldn’t matter. Yuuta wouldn’t let anyone interfere with his mission. He’s far too invested at this point in time.
It’s quiet right now in the cursed forest aside from the sounds coming from the creatures, most of them waiting for darkness before they strike. The little witch is ready for them to emerge, already having cast a spell using his limited magic and speech to keep himself safe from them, but sadly for him, it’s far from being enough to keep him safe from Yuuta.
The sun is setting, and the little witch has finally stopped for the night after nearly a full day of walking to set up camp so he can rest. He’s been making good progress, and within one more day, he should be close to the end of the forest and be on his way toward the capital city. Too bad he’ll never reach it.
For the moment, the little witch is busy collecting sticks for fire and hunting something for dinner since it has become apparent to Yuuta that he tries to conserve his limited magic and speech for emergencies and to keep himself hidden from predators. So resourceful.
It’s not often someone manages to capture and keep Yuuta’s attention, but this little witch has done it. Yuuta understands now why the Inumaki coven is so desperate for his return. It’s clear as day that this little witch is capable of more than meets the eye.
“He’s too smart for his own good,” Yuuta says to Rika, his familiar, as he watches the little witch from his hiding spot.
Currently, Yuuta is perched on the branches of one of the highest trees, angled right over the little witch with a cloak, keeping him hidden from sight and concealing every sound he makes. If Toge weren’t so distracted with his tasks, he might’ve felt Yuuta’s presence already, but it's clear he’s grown comfortable, thinking no one has found him yet or tracked him down this year. Such a naive little witch. It’s a good thing Yuuta found him before anyone else noticed a little witch from a well-known coven wandering around.
Rika, a raven, is an impressive size and has been infused by Yuuta with enough cursed energy to wipe out an entire town on her own. She’s currently sitting on Yuuta’s shoulder, watching the little witch roast his dinner.
She was a great help in finding Toge when their search first began and has been busy making sure no one gets close to their target. People have said she can be something out of a nightmare when she’s on the prowl, acting out Yuuta’s commands. Those comments always make Yuuta grin with glee.
Tomorrow, Yuuta will put an end to this hunt, but for now, he’ll watch for a little bit longer. There is no harm in indulging himself for the night.
He watches with intense interest as Toge sits in front of the fire and looks around at the flowers, and gently traces them with his fingers. It’s a soft touch, one that couldn’t possibly come from the runaway the Inumaki coven have described. It’s far too gentle.
Toge picks up his container of drinking water, nearly empty, and pours the smallest amount on the flowers. He infuses them with a spell to help them grow and prosper. He’s a fool for wasting his magic so easily on silly things. He should save it for when he’ll need it to stop Yuuta from dragging him home.
Yuuta watches it all, not taking his eyes off Toge for a second. His mind starts racing the longer he stares, filling with selfish and indulgent desires. He rarely lets himself have what he wants because it’s rare he wants anything at all—but this little witch…he’s different.
He doesn’t have to capture Toge tomorrow in order to complete his mission early. He already has the little witch right where he wants him. He could just follow after Toge for a few more days and enjoy this before the inevitable happens. There’s no reason he shouldn’t. It’s not as if the Inumaki coven could stop him or reprimand him. They know better than to piss off a sorcerer of his rank.
Once Toge is sound asleep, Yuuta decides to jump down to get a closer look at him. Gently, he crouches down near the little witch while Rika flies over the forest to make sure no one lingers close by. It only takes one idiot to get close enough to recognize the scent of an Inumaki witch and think they’ve struck gold, and Yuuta isn’t willing to risk letting anyone get close enough for that to happen.
This close up, Toge is the epitome of beauty as he sleeps, looking peaceful as his eyelashes fan over his cheeks. The sight only manages to make Yuuta’s infatuation grow and his head fill with questions regarding the little witch.
The seals on Toge’s face are infused with a heavy, strong spell, making Yuuta wonder what the little witch did to deserve such a fate. The Inumaki coven would not share much about Toge, only letting Yuuta know how much of an embarrassment the little witch was to their coven and that they urgently needed his return.
This close up and despite being suppressed, Yuuta feels Toge’s magic wash over him as if it were a light breeze. It’s faint but there, pounding at the walls of their prison, demanding to be set free.
Yuuta wonders why Toge fled his coven, the longer he stares at him. He knows the well-known covens within society are strict and only accept select members, so he doesn’t understand why they’re desperately trying to hold on to a member who clearly lacks the desire to be a part of them. It’s strange.
The fire burns out, yet Yuuta doesn’t move, far too entranced. He’s being selfish, but he can’t stop himself.
Toge twitches in his sleep, and the motion makes his hand brush against Yuuta’s leg. The touch brings forth a spark of something. It’s heavy, making the greed flowing through Yuuta’s veins grow heavy.
Yuuta decides right then and there that, for once, he’ll be selfish and follow his desires, taking after his mentor for once.
A plan begins to form in Yuuta’s mind, one that should be simple enough to accomplish and smart enough to deceive Toge completely.
Toge
Toge wakes with the first light of the morning. He’s on guard as soon as his eyes open, never quite trusting his surroundings since he escaped his coven.
Carefully, he packs his things so he can keep going on his journey. He can’t waste a second of his time because he knows his coven far too well, knows they’ve most likely sent someone after him.
It would be wishful thinking that they would leave him alone and understand his desire to live apart from them, but sadly for him, it’s not that simple in their world. His family would never allow such a thing from one of its members, given their reputation in the world, and his coven even less. His coven would never risk looking bad to society, the prominent families especially.
He’s been planning his escape for some time now and finally found the courage after his last punishment when his coven put the seals on him that restrict his magic. He didn’t want to stick around for much longer and see what else they were capable of if he kept defying them.
His time spent living with the Inumaki coven was never a happy one. He was always on guard around them, all while they held him to impossible standards. He wouldn’t wish that fate on his worst enemy. He wished his family had been more understanding when he’d pleaded with them to let him come home, but they wouldn’t hear it.
He’s meant to be a witch belonging to a well-known coven from a prominent family, but now, he’s a rogue, self-proclaimed. It’s not been easy, but for the first time in his life, he’s felt free.
All he needs to do now is reach the capital city before his coven finds him. It’s the only place he can be safe and free from them, but the journey there has been dangerous since it requires crossing through the cursed forest to avoid being recognized. He still needs to pass through a few towns and long stretches of rural land.
His coven and family might come or send someone to search for him in the capital city, but the place is known as a free-for-all, where society’s uptight rules are hardly followed. It’s where one of the strongest sorcerers and those similar to him reside. They would be fools to come after him, but it's a strong possibility.
Toge has heard stories about the cursed forest and was expecting to encounter things and creatures out of nightmares, but to his surprise, it’s been rather quiet, almost unbelievably so. It’s suspicious, but he tries not to overthink it for the time being. He doesn’t want to jinx himself and end up facing an owlbear when he’s almost through this place.
The only thing he’s seen throughout his journey through the forest has been a raven flying high in the sky. It’s an impressive size, and even from the ground, Toge can sense its power.
He yawns as he makes his way through the forest and loses sight of the raven soaring above. He didn’t sleep too well last night since he kept stirring. It was as if something was watching him, but that would’ve been impossible since he hid himself before going to sleep. It’s probably his fatigue that’s making him think such silly thoughts. He’s always been such an overthinker.
The coven might’ve restricted his power, but he’s still able to use some of it to help keep himself hidden, protect himself, and cast small spells that don’t require too much magic. He cannot speak anymore because of his shackles, it has made communicating with people difficult but not impossible. It’s probably for the best, so no one discovers his real identity. He knows he cannot trust just anyone.
He keeps an eye out for any potential danger throughout the remainder of the day and decides to push through since he’s almost to the edge of the forest. He’s tired and hungry since he has to conserve his magic, but knows that once he gets through the forest, he should be coming up to a small town where they’ll have a tavern and inn, at least according to his memory from one of the coven’s many maps. He’ll sleep there before continuing on his journey.
It’s almost sunset when he reaches the edge of the forest and finally returns to civilization. He only has to walk one more stretch before coming up on the town, since there are many magical barriers that keep the cursed forest contained and away from the town.
The temperature starts getting cold as he walks toward the entrance of the small town, greeting the people with a simple nod so they don’t suspect him of any suspicious behavior.
He readjusts the hood of his cloak when he sees something amiss up ahead. It’s drawing the attention of some of the townspeople, but none of them intervene.
There’s a group of rangers, all surrounding another man who looks to be around Toge’s age. They’re clearly passing through, on their way into the town for the tavern and inn as well, and up to no good. It’s no surprise to see rangers of their status acting like this and picking on those with less power.
It’s clear the group of rangers mean to intimidate, but the man caught in the middle doesn’t look the least bit concerned; if anything, there’s a mischievous glint to his eyes. This could be bad news for everyone involved.
Toge should mind his business and keep walking, truly, he should, but there’s something about leaving that man to his fate that pulls at the witch’s heart. Perhaps it's because he wishes that someone in the Inumaki coven would’ve stood up for him during his time there whenever things such as that happened to him.
There’s a small black bird perched on the man’s shoulder, and it looks over and locks eyes with Toge, as if the animal knows him.
Fuck.
Toge knows he shouldn’t get involved, but he can’t help but cast a spell under his cloak to aid the man. It’s a simple spell, but it takes up more magic than he would like. It makes the rangers lose their concentration and forget what they were doing at the moment.
The group of rangers stumbles back and away from the man, looking around before continuing on their way toward the tavern, all rubbing their temples. They look annoyed more than upset, so Toge bites back a smile and continues on his way, following behind them.
“Thank you for doing that.”
Toge turns around in surprise and sees the man from earlier standing there. He didn’t think the man would’ve noticed what he did. It’s rare that people can detect that sort of thing.
This close, Toge can see the man’s jaw-length black hair, the dark circles under his eyes, and the innocent look on his handsome face. There’s hardly any power coming from him, letting Toge know the man isn’t a threat and is an inexperienced sorcerer. He must still be learning how to control his cursed energy. He feels even better about having saved him from those rangers now.
“You saved me from them,” the man expresses, smiling. His little black bird on his shoulder chirps happily. “You’re pretty powerful,” he compliments, gazing at Toge like he’s in disbelief at what Toge just did for him. “Thank you again.”
Toge blushes under the man’s praise and stare, feeling oddly shy. He shakes his head, wanting to say that it was no problem, but the seals on his face make it impossible. Besides, the man looks like he can take care of himself whenever magic isn’t involved, given his physique. He probably didn’t need Toge’s help that badly.
He hopes the man thinks nothing of the seals. They’re not an uncommon sight these days. The man might think they are tattoos and nothing else.
The man walks closer and stops in front of Toge, towering over the witch.
“My name is Yuuta, I’m a sorcerer, well, still in training,” the man introduces himself, expression shy with a sheathed katana on his back. “Are you by any chance headed to the tavern in town?” He asks, glancing over his shoulder at the town, sounding extremely optimistic.
Toge nods, making sure his hood stays on his head. He wishes he could say more, but the seals keep him silent.
Yuuta cocks his head to the side and his expression turns concerned as he looks down at Toge’s face. “…You can’t talk because of those seals, right?” He asks, gesturing toward the seals on Toge’s face.
His little bird chirps unhappily at that.
Toge’s eyes widen in panic, unsure of what to do. He doesn’t want to accidentally reveal anything about his identity and bring trouble.
“Oh, let me help you, as a thank you,” Yuuta insists, and before Toge can do anything, the man snaps his fingers and a small amount of cursed energy seeps into Toge. It’s a small amount, but it almost manages to knock him off his feet. “There, it’s only a simple technique since I’m still learning, but it should help you communicate with anyone now.”
Toge blinks and finds that he can suddenly sign anything he was once able to speak. He smiles as he looks at Yuuta, as the weight of being isolated from communicating is lifted off his shoulders. It’s amazing someone that inexperienced could know a technique like that.
Wow, thank you, Toge signs, his smile widening when he realizes Yuuta can understand him. This is…amazing.
“It’s the least I could do,” Yuuta mumbles bashfully. “What’s your name?”
Toge shakes his head. He knows better than to tell anyone his name. He has no way of knowing if Yuuta would suspect foul play. He can’t risk it, not after how far he’s managed to come. He wishes he would’ve thought up a fake one prior to leaving the coven.
I don’t have one, Toge lies.
Yuuta hums, expression amused. “Somehow I don’t believe that, little witch,” he teases. “Everyone in this world has a name.”
Toge shrugs but doesn’t budge. Believe what you want, sorcerer.
“I’m heading toward the tavern,” Yuuta says, dropping the subject, much to Toge’s relief. “The rangers will be there… but I’m hungry and the next town is a day’s journey away,” he explains, fear evident in his eyes. “What do you say about going to the tavern… together?”
Toge knows he should keep to himself. It's safest since he has to keep his identity hidden. Then again, Yuuta doesn’t seem dangerous, and he doesn’t want to leave the sorcerer alone after what happened earlier. It doesn’t seem right, and Yuuta just did him a favor since Toge’s seals are immune to his own magic.
It’s just dinner. It should be fine.
Okay, fine, let’s go, Toge agrees, and they fall into step together as they head toward the tavern. He looks over toward Yuuta. What’s your bird’s name?
“Rika, she’s my familiar,” Yuuta introduces the little bird on his shoulder. He holds his finger up to Rika, and the little familiar climbs on. Gently, Yuuta places Rika on Toge’s cloak-covered head. “She’s tiny right now, but she’ll grow big and strong one day.”
Toge smiles as he looks up and sees Rika chirping away. For some reason, the little bird looks familiar, but Toge can’t quite place why. It assumes she must look like a familiar that he once knew back at his coven.
He holds up a finger, and Rika climbs on. He smiles as he holds her up so he can get a good look at her. Rika chirps happily.
“She likes you,” Yuuta confesses, pumping their sides together like they’re old friends. It’s comforting to Toge after days of silence. “Take that as a compliment because she hardly likes anyone who gets close to me.”
Toge laughs and reaches into his pocket, pulling out one of the seeds he’d gathered from the cursed forest to snack on later. He offers it to Rika, who gobbles it down immediately and pecks at his finger for more.
“Careful, she’s greedy,” Yuuta warns him, grinning. “It’s a bad habit she’s picked up, no idea where she got it from.”
The tavern is busy when they arrive, hosting every type of traveler and many of the townspeople.
Toge made sure to cast a spell on himself that distorts his appearance to everyone but Yuuta, since the sorcerer had already seen his face. It’s safer this way, and luckily, Yuuta doesn’t comment on it. He must not know much about powerful covens, which Toge is grateful for.
The rangers don’t seem to remember them as Toge and Yuuta pass by them. Toge smiles when he sees Yuuta physically relax at that.
They find an empty table in the far corner, and within moments of sitting down, someone comes and takes their order. It’s a small witch, this one rogue, and unlike Toge, she doesn’t seem to be part of a pretentious family.
Toge immediately envies her and longs for her freedom. He shouldn’t feel this way, not when the witch, Momo, is friendly and starts up a conversation with Toge immediately. She seems delighted to meet another witch. It must be rare for witches to pass through this town.
Momo, however, is wary of Yuuta right from the start. She’s short with him and keeps eying Rika, as if expecting the small bird to attack her. It’s a little odd, but Yuuta only laughs once Momo leaves to fetch their drinks and food.
“She must not like sorcerers,” Yuuta says, not looking the least bit bothered by it.
He’s too busy messing with Rika. The little bird lets him, chirping away happily.
Toge nods in agreement. That must be it because he can’t think of any other explanation for Momo’s disdain toward Yuuta. Witches are cautioned to avoid sorcerers if possible, since sorcerers aren’t to be trusted. Momo must find it strange to see a witch and a sorcerer traveling together.
He pushes the thought to the back of his mind and looks around the tavern. To his surprise, he finds that nearly everyone is avoiding glancing in their direction.
For once, he breathes a sigh of relief at that. He doesn’t have to worry about getting recognized by someone powerful who might see through his spell.
“They must be wary of you because you’re so powerful,” Yuuta concludes, following Toge's line of sight. “That must be why they’re not looking over here,” he teases. “I’m glad we came together, that way no one will even think about bothering us.”
Rika chirps in agreement.
Toge scoffs. As if, he signs. They must not be friendly here.
The seals on his face and tongue are suppressing his powers to an unreal degree. He’s most likely the weakest person in the room right now, well aside from Yuuta and Rika. There is no way anyone in this tavern is afraid of him.
“Well, it certainly isn’t me they’re scared of,” Yuuta points out, making Toge nod in agreement. “Or this little bird,” he adds, petting Rika.
Momo returns and sets their beverages and food down, cautiously glancing toward Yuuta. It’s obvious that she doesn’t trust him.
Yuuta smiles in return, not taking it to heart. He seems to take it as a joke.
Toge’s mouth waters at the sight of the food. He hasn’t had a decent meal in days since leaving the coven. It smells divine.
He eats everything in seconds, nearly choking. It might be the best food he’s ever had, but he might just think that because he’s been forced to hunt and scavenge for his food since he ran away. He looks up when Yuuta slides his plate over, gesturing for Toge to eat it as well.
“Go ahead,” Yuuta insists. “Have it.”
Toge shakes his head and slides the food back toward the sorcerer. I can’t eat your food, he signs. What will you eat?
Yuuta keeps pushing the food toward Toge. “It’s fine, besides, I did say this was my way of thanking you for saving me earlier,” he reminds Toge. “Have it, little witch.”
They keep going back and forth until Rika joins in and outnumbers Toge. Toge hesitantly accepts the food and devours it in seconds, all while Yuuta watches him eat. It’s nice to feel this full again.
“So, where are you headed?” Yuuta asks, still not taking his eyes off Toge. “It must be somewhere important since the journey there made you cross through the cursed forest,” he comments. “Hardly anyone does that.”
How did you know I crossed through there? Toge asks.
Yuuta shrugs. “I can sense it on you, the cursed energy.”
Toge would normally feel uneasy at someone knowing so much about him, but it’s clear Yuuta doesn’t mean much harm; he seems curious more than anything.
This must be one of Yuuta’s first journeys alone. It makes sense that he’s excited and curious about everything. It’s a little endearing.
You tell me first, Toge turns the question around, not letting his guard down completely.
“I’m headed toward the capital city,” Yuuta reveals. “My mentor lives there,” he explains. “What about you?”
Toge isn’t sure what possesses him to tell Yuuta the truth, but he does. I’m headed there as well, he signs, blushing when he sees Yuuta’s expression light up.
“Really?” Yuuta smiles, cocking his head to the side. “What a coincidence!”
The sight reminds Toge of a hellhound puppy; it’s cute.
Yuuta rests his elbows on the table and leans closer, gesturing for Toge to follow.
Toge does, curious to see what Yuuta could possibly want.
Rika ignores them and starts pecking at Toge’s leftovers.
“Little witch,” Yuuta whispers, as if afraid someone will overhear. “Do you think it’s possible I could join you on your journey to the capital city?” He asks. His expression turns worried. “I don’t know if it was obvious, but I haven’t been on many trips alone, and after my encounter with the rangers, it left me feeling…uneasy,” he confesses, furrowing his eyebrows together. “Of course, I wouldn’t want to inconvenience you or anything.”
Toge frowns, heart heavy at the sight of Yuuta’s expression. He knows he should deny the sorcerer, but then again, Yuuta hasn’t done anything to cause mistrust between them. He’s been kind, and he appears trustworthy.
Besides, Toge would like to think that he’s a good judge of character. His coven would disagree, always claiming he chose to see the good in people and ignore the rest, but they were and are still wrong. They don’t know him.
In an act of defiance and wanting to prove his coven wrong, Toge agrees to have Yuuta join him. It could be fun to have a companion. Besides, it sounds like Yuuta has been to the capital city before, and well, Toge never has, so it doesn’t hurt to have someone experienced join him.
It might also be fun to have someone to mentor. Sure, they’re not the same type of class, but surely, Toge could teach Yuuta a thing or two. He’s practically been forced to study magic and everything that being a witch entails since he was placed with his coven when he was young by his family. This is his chance to pass on that knowledge to someone still learning.
You can join me, Toge signs, making Yuuta beam in delight, and Rika happily chirps. But you have to listen to me and do as I say on our way there. You can’t ask me personal questions or anything. We’re just going to stick together until we get to the capital city, and then we'll go our separate ways.
Yuuta nods, accepting all of Toge’s terms with no pushback. “I can do that,” he promises, looking over when the rangers start to depart after one too many drinks.
Rika starts squawking and manages to knock Yuuta’s beverage on him and soak his top that’s not covered by his cloak.
Yuuta sighs and looks to where the rangers left. “I’ll be right back, I’m going to go dry this off, don’t go anywhere without me, little witch.”
Wait, Toge signs, stopping the sorcerer from leaving. Will you be fine on your own?
Yuuta takes off his necklace. It’s a silver chain with a ring dangling from the middle. “Here, if I need you, I’ll use this to summon you.”
Do you know how to summon someone? Toge asks, not wanting to doubt Yuuta’s potential but also knowing fully well the limits of someone who’s still learning.
“Trust me,” Yuuta reassures him.
Toge takes the necklace and clutches it in his palm. It’s as light as a feather, and there’s hardly any cursed energy coming from it.
To his surprise, Yuuta grabs it and puts it around the witch’s neck. “Wear it just in case I need you,” he justifies his actions. “Don’t take it off, okay?”
Toge nods and watches Yuuta go with Rika in tow.
He should’ve argued more to go with Yuuta, just in case the rangers cause any trouble, but Yuuta seemed confident he would be fine on his own.
Toge clutches at the necklace and tries to ignore the anxiety bubbling inside him. The necklace is a warm weight around his neck, helping keep his nerves at bay. It’s almost like there’s a presence wrapped around him, embracing him tightly.
Momo appears at Toge’s side once Yuuta has departed, almost starting the little witch. It makes Toge feel uneasy because no one should be able to sneak up on him like that, not when he’s on the run. He wishes he were at full power so things like this wouldn’t be happening to him, but alas.
He just has to endure this for a little bit longer. Once he reaches the capital city, he’ll pay someone to break the seals. He’ll do whatever it takes to free himself from them.
“Sorry, I wasn’t trying to be nosey, but I overheard the sorcerer asking to join you on your journey,” Momo says, glancing toward the back door Yuuta departed, as if expecting him to burst through it at any second. “I know we just met, and I don’t want to overstep, but are you sure that’s a good idea?”
Toge frowns in confusion. Why would it be a bad idea?
Momo leans closer. “I have a bad feeling about your friend, and I’m rarely wrong about these kinds of things,” she confesses. “His aura is unbelievably strong, I felt it the moment he arrived at the town’s entrance,” she explains. “It’s rare someone wields that much power, and rarely is it ever a good thing.”
Toge thinks back to when he met Yuuta and recalls how weak the sorcerer’s power felt. He would’ve recognized someone with an unusually powerful aura. He’s been around people like that his entire life, and until recently, he was one of them. He knows power, and Yuuta hardly possesses any of it. No one around these parts is anywhere close to the power Toge has seen and known others to possess.
Momo must’ve sensed someone else, perhaps one of the rangers, and thought it was Yuuta by mistake. That makes more sense, especially since the cursed forest is so close to this town, and its creatures are kept sealed within it by a number of powerful spells. It must be easy to get things mixed up because of that.
Are you sure it was him you sensed? Toge asks her. I didn’t feel anything when I met him earlier, and still haven’t, and he’s been sitting close to me since we sat down.
Momo looks at Toge as if the little witch has suddenly become a gnoll before her very eyes. “What do you mean?” She gets closer, and her expression turns frazzled. “Everyone in this tavern has felt it, it’s the reason people are avoiding—”
Suddenly, Yuuta appears behind Momo with Rika perched on his shoulder. He places a hand on Momo’s shoulder and looks down at her, canting his head to the side.
“What’s going on?” He asks, glancing between Momo and Toge. “Is everything alright?” Rika chirps as if repeating his question. “It’s not time for the tavern to close, is it? That would be a shame.”
Momo tenses and keeps her eyes on Toge. Her fingertips switch faintly at her side, casting a spell, and suddenly, her voice fills Toge’s head.
—Be careful, don’t trust him, no matter what he says—
—A good friend of mine, Mai, warns about a strong sorcerer souring these pasts as of late—
“I was just asking him if he enjoyed the food,” Momo lies, snapping back to her friendly demeanor. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to get back to work.”
Toge watches as Momo walks away with haste. She doesn’t meet Yuuta’s eyes once.
Yuuta sits down and gets Toge’s attention. His top is now stain-free and dry, but his posture is uneasy.
“Is everything okay?” Yuuta asks, drumming his fingers on the table. “Did she say something to you? You look tense, little witch, talk to me.”
Toge shakes his head. It was nothing important, he signs. She could just tell I was passing through. She must not see other witches that often.
He doesn’t know what to think of what Momo said because part of him doesn’t believe her. She has to be confusing Yuuta with someone else. Toge would’ve sensed it if Yuuta were dangerous. It’s probably silly to trouble Yuuta with her worries.
Could it be that Momo was accidentally sensing Toge, but the concealing spell he put on himself and his seals kept him hidden? That could be it.
If anything, Toge feels relieved because someone like Momo would’ve known he was a coven witch immediately. That could’ve led to some serious trouble. There’s no telling what people out here will do for gain. For everyone’s sake, he hopes Momo’s friend, Mai, was wrong.
Yuuta frowns, almost looking pouty. He leans on the table. “Are you sure?” He asks again. “You’re not lying to me, are you?”
Toge snorts, once again seeing that hellhound puppy expression on Yuuta’s face. Before he can stop himself, he reaches across the table and pinches Yuuta’s cheek. It’s hard to resist. He’s never had a kohai before, and this is filling that experience for him wonderfully.
“Ow,” Yuuta laments, but doesn’t move away; if anything, he presses further into Toge’s touch.
Rika chirps and darts up to hang from one of the beams that support the roof.
What’s she doing? Toge asks, watching Rika’s eyes scan the room with a fierce concentration.
“She’s making sure we stay safe,” Yuuta explains.
Toge laughs. She’s so little, though, how could she ever keep us safe?
Yuuta smiles, not taking his eyes off Toge for a second. “You’d be surprised.”
Toge insists on paying for the inn they’re going to stay in tonight, despite Yuuta offering to pay numerous times.
It’s the least Toge could do after Yuuta paid for dinner at the tavern. Besides, Toge feels oddly responsible for Yuuta, so he’ll do whatever he must to take the sorcerer under his wing. All the mentors he had at the coven weren’t ever kind or compassionate, and Toge won’t ever let that be him. He’ll make sure to take care of his pseudo kohai for the time being.
The inn in the town isn’t too big, but it has beds, and Toge’s back has been aching from sleeping on the hard ground of the cursed forest. He doesn’t even care what kind of bed he gets at this point.
All he wants is a warm bed and somewhere to wash up and relax. He’s been using little bursts of magic to clean himself, but it’s been taking its toll on him since his power is extremely limited.
The owner of the inn is a warlock, Higuruma Hiromi, who is apparently very well-liked in the town. He’s the one who takes care of any creature that manages to escape from the cursed forest and come to cause trouble. The man cannot contain his delight at the number of travelers who await to purchase a room for the night.
It’s a busy night for the tavern and inn, from the look of things.
Ahead of Toge, another traveler whispers about the band of rangers that vanished after leaving the tavern to a companion. They seemed concerned, but Toge is just glad the rangers are gone and won’t be bothering Yuuta anymore.
It’s possible the rangers decided to keep moving since there are a few more towns going in the opposite direction of the capital city that don’t require going through the cursed forest or traveling close to it. Well, no path requires going through the cursed forest; that’s the only route taken when someone is on the run, like Toge.
Still, how weird that the rangers just vanished without a word to anyone.
Two single rooms or one room with two beds, please, Toge signs when it’s his turn at the counter, rangers long forgotten. Two tokens for the hot springs as well.
Yuuta and Rika stand behind him, the sorcerer pouting because he doesn’t get to pay. Toge makes sure to ignore that.
“I’m afraid I only have a single room with one bed left for the night,” the warlock laments. “Bed is plenty big though, it should fit the two of you just fine,” he reassures the little witch, sliding over two tokens for the hot springs. “No need to pay for the tokens, those are on me for the lack of accommodations.”
Toge looks over his shoulder at Yuuta, unsure of what to do. He isn’t opposed to sharing with the sorcerer, but he’s not sure how Yuuta will feel about it. The last thing he wants to do is make Yuuta uncomfortable.
Yuuta nods at the warlock, not even meeting Toge’s eyes. “We’ll take it,” he expresses, paying before Toge has a chance. “Thank you very much.”
Toge makes sure to shoot a heavy glare at the sorcerer for that. Yuuta makes sure to ignore that.
The room they’re given doesn’t consist of much, but it’s more than enough for Toge. He almost lets out a moan at the sight of the bed and knowing he can bathe and soak just down the hall. He can not imagine a better place after spending days traveling through the cursed forest.
The coven might’ve offered some of the greatest luxuries in the world, but a room as plain as this comes with the luxury of freedom, something Toge will never take for granted after having tasted it.
Yuuta assures him that he doesn’t mind sharing the bed, but Toge still feels weird about the situation. He tries to offer to take the floor, but Yuuta won’t hear it.
Well, if Yuuta insists that it’s fine, it’s probably fine. Besides, the bed is big enough for both of them. It shouldn’t be a problem. It’s just for tonight, after all. Exceptions can be made.
“I promise, I don’t mind sharing the bed,” Yuuta swears, taking off his cloak and letting the heavy material drop to the floor. “Besides, when else will I get to chance to share a bed with someone as powerful as you, little witch?”
Toge tries to roll his eyes at the teasing but gets distracted getting a first-hand look at Yuuta now that there’s no cloak to obscure him. It was obvious, even with the cloak concealing most of Yuuta’s body, that Yuuta was in relatively good shape, but seeing it for himself takes Toge back a little.
Sure, Toge is in good shape as well, but he’s nowhere near as tall or broad as Yuuta. The difference between them is quite obvious now, causing Toge to feel a little shy about it.
Yuuta’s clothes hug his body and leave little to the imagination, making Toge blush and look away. It’s not as if this sorcerer is the first attractive person the little witch has ever met, and he certainly won’t be the last. Toge has to pull himself together and remind himself that he has more important things to focus on.
He has come to learn, through lots of trial and error, that a lot of things are not in the cards for him, such as love and being with anyone in the romantic sense. It’s best not to get his hopes up and have everything crushed in the long run.
Toge turns around and takes off his own cloak to try and cool down. He closes his eyes, rolls his shoulders, and stretches his arms over his head, enjoying the relief it brings after such a long day. He lets out a sigh of contentment and almost jumps out of his skin when he opens his eyes again and is met with Yuuta’s intense stare piercing into him.
“I’m going to bathe and then soak in the hot springs, come with me,” Yuuta offers, already missing his shirt. “I’m afraid to go alone.”
Toge nods, knowing he’ll sleep best after a bath and a soak. It’ll help distract him from the lustful thoughts currently invading his mind. He takes a moment to recast the distortion spell to help conceal his appearance, just in case the hot springs are full of other travelers. He can never be too careful now that he’s made it this far.
Yuuta doesn’t comment on the spell, and Toge breathes a sigh of relief at that. It’s not lost on Toge that the sorcerer wears his own spell of distortion, although Toge sees through it quite easily. He wonders if anyone else can or if their power level isn’t nearly as high.
“You seem tense,” Yuuta points out, chuckling and following after Toge once the little witch turns around to head to the baths.
I’m fine, Toge signs, relaxing when he notices that the baths seem empty.
He’d expected the baths to be full of travelers since the inn is all booked up, so it’s nice to get a moment of privacy. Thankfully, the stalls are divided to help give travelers a sense of privacy, so he doesn’t have to share with Yuuta. He does his best to ignore the fact that Yuuta is close by, bathing in the stall next to him.
Eventually, he manages to distract himself after thinking of every boring lesson he endured at the coven. Bathing does wonders for his sore muscles. It’s heavenly, actually getting to wash his hair and body and not having to rely on spells to keep himself clean.
He rubs at his nape, moaning as he works out the kinks there.
Yuuta makes a sound from the stall over, distracting Toge once again.
He’s not sure why he’s acting like a schoolboy with a crush when it comes to Yuuta. It’s silly considering that they just recently met.
It’s probably because not many people have ever been so…genuinely kind to him before, given his upbringing, and this is all still brand new to him. He supposes that it's hard not to latch onto someone like Yuuta when he’s been scrutinized his entire life. Most of the people Toge has met have always wanted something from him, let it be because of his status within the Inumaki coven or because of his family.
“I’ll meet you at the hot springs,” Yuuta says from the other side of the wall, voice heavy with something Toge cannot pinpoint.
With Yuuta gone, Toge finishes bathing, now without the distraction of having the sorcerer so close by.
He dries his hair with a quick spell and wraps a towel around himself so he can make his way to the hot springs that are located outside of the inn.
Luck seems to be on Toge’s side once more since there seems to be no one there but Yuuta when he arrives. It does wonders for the nerves he felt earlier since he doesn’t have his cloak to hide his appearance, and the spell is starting to wear off. He doesn’t have to worry about hiding here.
He would’ve assumed the travelers would’ve been swarming the baths and hot springs, but he tries not to jinx himself, not when things are finally starting to look up for him on his journey. They probably went to bed early so they could head out before dawn.
For now, Toge smiles as he looks around the hot springs. They’re big enough for a crowd of people and divided into different sections to give travelers privacy. It’s more than enough for Toge, though.
His eyes stop once they land on Yuuta, who sits in the water, leaning against the edge, with his arms spread out. His eyes are sharp and glued to Toge, looking as if he could eat the little witch alive as he enters.
It’s a little unnerving, but Toge blames it on his shyness, given that he’s only wrapped in a towel after bathing, only wearing Yuuta’s necklace. Back at the coven, it was rare to bathe and soak with anyone else, not unless you wanted to be reprimanded. Toge, especially, was expected to obey, given his family.
There’s no reason to be nervous about this. It’s not as if Toge has not done worse things in his life.
Close your eyes, Toge signs at the sorcerer.
Yuuta smiles and does as he’s told. “Sure, whatever you want, little witch.”
Toge shakes his head and strips, slowly stepping into the hot spring until the water hits his waist. The water is hot, and his sore muscles immediately begin to relax. He sighs at the sensation, causing Yuuta to inhale deeply from where he sits.
He wonders what the witches of his coven and his family would think of him now if they could see him. Here he is, in a random hot spring, with a sorcerer he only just met today, naked, as if he were nothing more than a commoner.
A smile tugs at the corners of his lips at the thought as he waddles through the water until he gets to where Yuuta sits. Carefully, he sits down next to the sorcerer and reaches over to touch Yuuta’s bicep to let him know he can open his eyes.
Toge sinks into the water, keeping just his head above it. He blushes when Yuuta’s eyes open, and the sorcerer grins down at him.
There’s something enthralling about the way Yuuta stares. His eyes are heavy, and they bear into Toge with the weight of the world at times. Toge wonders if Yuuta looks at everyone like that whenever the mood strikes him. It must be the case because Toge is nothing but a stranger to the man.
“Feels good?” Yuuta asks.
Toge nods before sitting up and leaning against the edge. You have no idea.
“You look like you’re about to fall asleep in here,” Yuuta teases him, reaching over to poke Toge’s side. The touch makes the little witch jump. “You must’ve been traveling for a while then, if you were needing a soak this badly.”
Toge nods but doesn’t elaborate, knowing he shouldn’t tell Yuuta anything that could give him away or possibly get the sorcerer into trouble if his coven were to find them. It’s for the best to keep Yuuta in the dark.
Momo’s warning back at the coven still lingers in the back of his mind for some unknown reason, and it also keeps him from sharing too much. They’re only going to be traveling together for a short time, either way, then the chances of them seeing each other again are slim to none.
He turns to look at Yuuta, and his mouth goes dry for a moment at the sight that greets him. For a moment, he forgets his apprehensions, too busy focused on the sight of the sorcerer’s wet, toned chest.
Yuuta’s chest is covered in scars, only adding to the man’s appeal. The scars look angry, and they make Toge wonder what kind of life Yuuta has lived up to this point to have gained those scars, but he can’t ask because then the sorcerer would ask about his life in return.
It’s best to wonder and let his imagination race than risk bringing danger into the sorcerer’s life.
“What are you thinking about?” Yuuta asks, poking at Toge’s side again. “You look deep in thought.”
The touch burns hotter than the water ever could.
Toge swallows again and takes a moment to regain himself. He’s better than this. It’s not fair to Yuuta that the little witch is having such thoughts, considering they’ve only just met and Yuuta is placing a lot of trust in Toge.
“There’s no need to hide anything from me, little witch,” Yuuta promises, letting his hand rest on Toge’s bare side. His fingers tickle. “Just in case you fall asleep, so I can catch you,” he justifies. “I can’t have you drowning when I need you to protect me on our journey.”
I won’t drown, Toge signs as he rolls his eyes, but doesn’t push Yuuta away.
He’ll let himself be this selfish just once on his journey; that’s it. It’s rare he can allow himself to have things he craves since it goes against everything he was raised to believe, but just this once, he’ll let himself have. Yuuta’s touch is far too enticing to turn away, even if the sorcerer means nothing by it.
Yuuta isn’t wrong about Toge wanting to fall asleep. The water here makes him feel weightless, and sleep is quickly seeping into him.
They settle into comfortable silence, with Yuuta’s hand still resting on Toge’s side, when the little witch notices something amiss as he listens out for noise outside of the hot springs. He only hears Rika’s chirps somewhere in the inn.
It’s kind of weird how empty the hot springs are right now, isn’t it? Toge asks, focusing his hearing to see if other travelers are in the baths. To his surprise, the baths are still empty. The owner of the inn said he only had one more room when we checked in, and this inn is plenty big. I would’ve assumed this place would’ve been packed since it's the first town you cross heading toward the capital city.
Yuuta, who’d been meditating, opens his eyes and frowns.“Did you want the other travelers to join us in here?” He asks.
No, of course not, don’t be silly, Toge signs. It’s just weird.
“My feelings are hurt, little witch,” Yuuta laments, squeezing Toge’s side for emphasis. “I would’ve thought I was enough company for you tonight.”
You’re more than enough company for me, Toge tries to reassure the sorcerer. It just makes me feel uneasy for some reason.
He doesn’t go into further detail, not wanting to scare Yuuta for no reason. It could just be his paranoia since he’s on the run.
“Remember earlier, when we checked in? You heard what the people in front of us were talking about,” Yuuta points out, not even asking. He’s right, Toge did hear since he was eavesdropping. “They might’ve gone searching for the rangers that left the tavern.”
Toge nibbles on his bottom lip, suddenly deep in thought about the rangers again. It’s not that he’s worried about them, of course not, they were ganging up on Yuuta. It’s more like he’s worried about how and why they went missing.
He knows very well that the chances of his coven and family hiring a mercenary or two to come hunt him down are extremely high. They’re most likely already on the prowl for him, and the rangers may have learnt of his bounty when they stumbled upon the mercenaries after leaving the tavern.
Mercenaries and those looking to make quick coin, like rangers, have been known to fight to the death over a good bounty. This isn’t good considering Toge is lounging here as if he has all the time in the world when he should be focused on getting to the capital city.
Suddenly, the hot spring doesn’t feel so good anymore.
Was it foolish for Toge to stop for the night here? Should he have kept moving? If the mercenaries his coven and family possibly hired did run into the rangers, is it possible he’s actively being hunted right now?
Yuuta squeezes Toge’s side again, this time gently digging his fingers into the little witch’s skin. It’s not nearly enough to help ground Toge.
“Why are you so worried?” Yuuta asks, but his words are barely audible in Toge’s ears right now. “Most likely, those rangers decided to keep moving.”
Toge’s fingertips heat up as his emotions create a tsunami inside him.
“Little witch.”
“Hey.”
“Little witch!”
Toge blinks and his vision refocuses.
To his embarrassment, he finds that he accidentally used his limited magic to heat the hot springs to an insane degree, making the water bubble as if hot, volcanic lava had just dropped into it. The room has turned hazy from all the steam evaporating from it, and the rocks burn to the touch.
He hisses from the water’s temperature and the embarrassment, looking over Yuuta to make sure the sorcerer is fine. It’s been years since he lost control of his magic because of his thoughts and emotions. He thought he was better than this.
This entire journey has been about proving his coven and family wrong, yet he goes and does this. It’s the worst blow he could’ve dealt to himself.
Are you okay? Toge weakly signs as his hands shake from the embarrassment and how overwhelmed this entire situation has made him.
“I’m fine, it’s you that needs to get out before you burn yourself,” Yuuta expresses with urgency, pulling Toge into his arms and standing up with ease in the water.
Once again, to Toge’s embarrassment, he finds his skin a bright pink from where the hot water affected him. This cannot be happening to him right now, it absolutely cannot be happening.
“Yuuta!” Toge manages to squeal through the seals on his face as he frantically covers Yuuta’s eyes with his pink hands. His throat begins to burn instantly at having spoken, but for the time being, he ignores it.
He cannot let the sorcerer see him like this, absolutely not; the situation is already embarrassing enough considering that they’re both naked.
Yuuta, in all naked glory, holds an equally naked Toge with no struggle and lets Toge cover his eyes.
The skin-on-skin contact is nice. It’s the most intimate touch Toge has felt in ages. It makes him flustered, and he tries to ignore the feeling of Yuuta’s hard chest pressing into him and the man’s arms wrapped around him.
He hopes that Yuuta cannot smell emotions yet, like some experienced sorcerers and powerful magic users, given that the sorcerer said he’s still learning a lot of the basics. If he could, Toge’s lingering arousal would smack him in the face. It would only add to Toge’s embarrassment.
It’s a good thing Toge covered the man’s eyes because one glance between Toge’s legs would also be a clear indicator of his current state of emotions.
“What were you thinking about that freaked you out that badly?” Yuuta asks, pressing his head against Toge’s hands and tightening his hold on the little witch. “Were you worried someone might walk into the hot springs?”
Toge hums in confirmation, keeping his hands pressed to Yuuta’s face. He’d never admit the truth of what truly set him off. How embarrassing.
“Don’t worry about that,” Yuua reassures him, walking through the water until he reaches a higher part where a wooden bench is located. There, he gently sits Toge down on it while he remains standing in the water.
In this position, they’re eye level, so Toge pulls his hands away, knowing Yuuta won’t be able to see anything. He hates to admit it, but now that he’s out of the water, he feels a million times better.
He wants to ask Yuuta to get out as well, but the sorcerer doesn’t seem bothered by the water’s hot temperature.
“No one will come in here,” Yuuta promises. “They’re too busy looking for the rangers or minding their own business. Trust me, I know travelers like them, and I’m hardly ever wrong.”
Toge rubs at his face, hoping his worry isn’t evident before using his hands to sign. You’re not worried?
He unintentionally opens his legs so Yuuta can step in between them and get closer. Thankfully, his arousal has gone down.
Yuuta shakes his head and reaches forward, giving Toge a moment to pull away. When the little witch doesn’t, Yuuta gently thumbs at Toge’s temples and pushes his hair back. Toge starts to cool instantly.
“No,” Yuuta admits. “I have you to protect me, after all,” he says, sounding amused. “If anything, it’s a good thing no one has come to bother us, cause then, they’d have to get through you to get to me.”
His touch is nice and cool, helping Toge regain himself after the embarrassing ordeal. He leans into it, shaking his head when he processes Yuuta’s words.
You put too much faith in me, Toge signs.
“My faith isn’t misplaced,” Yuuta argues. “I know you’ll keep me safe.”
Toge nods. He would try his best to keep the sorcerer safe; that much is true, but in his current state of only having access to limited magic, he doubts he could do much.
Still…he would do whatever it took to protect Yuuta.
Gently, he reaches up and grips Yuuta’s wrists for a moment, squeezing them before dropping them.
Just promise me you’ll run and do as I say if something bad happens, Toge signs. It’s important to me that you promise.
Yuuta smiles. “Of course, don’t worry, I’ll do exactly as you say.”
Toge breathes a sigh of relief at that. Good, he signs.
Yuuta steps closer, and Toge lets him, despite knowing he’s playing with fire right now. He shouldn’t indulge the sorcerer so much, it’ll spoil him rotten.
“As long as you promise to always trust me in return,” Yuuta whispers, placing his hands on either side of Toge’s waist.
Toge nods, knowing he’s not telling the entire truth, but what Yuuta doesn’t know can’t hurt him. I can do that.
“Good, I’m happy then, little witch,” Yuuta confesses with a grin. “I might not be as strong as you, but I’ll do what I can to keep you safe in return.”
Toge smiles as endearment fills him. That’s sweet, but don’t push yourself too hard, not when you’re still learning. It’s important to know your limits.
“I’ll try to do my best, just for you,” Yuuta promises.
Toge starts to laugh but ends up coughing, hard enough that his chest begins to ache and his throat burns. Within a moment, blood fills his mouth, and he can’t breathe as it seeps out from between his lips.
Of course, the seals. They’re infused with strong magic meant to keep him silent and weak.
He’d concluded that speaking even one word would hurt him back when his coven first bestowed the seals on him, but in the franticness of making sure Yuuta wasn’t hurt by the boiling water, Toge forgot himself when he called out the sorcerer’s name.
He covers his mouth and keeps coughing, flushing from the mortification of having Yuuta see him like this as the blood stains him. It’s hard to control the coughing once it starts. So much for vowing to protect Yuuta.
The scene must look horrific to Yuuta because the sorcerer’s eyes widen in a panic. He reaches up, cupping Toge’s face in between his hands, and staining his hands with Toge’s blood in the process.
Toge attempts to push him away, but the man won’t budge. It’s as if Yuuta were made of stone.
“Let me help you,” Yuuta says, pressing his hands against the sides of Toge’s face with force. “I want to help you.”
Toge attempts to shake his head, but more blood starts coming up his throat, choking him once more. It’s not that he doesn’t want help; it’s more that he isn’t sure Yuuta knows how to help him or has enough power, given that he’s still learning. It would be unfair to expect the sorcerer to help him with something this advanced. The Snake and Fangs seal is a powerful spell.
“You trust me, right?” Yuuta asks, expression tense.
This time, Toge doesn’t deny himself the man’s help and barely manages to nod as another coughing fit takes over him. The pain is insufferable now. His vision is getting clouded with tears.
Yuuta closes his eyes and presses harder against Toge’s face. He leans in until their foreheads are pressed together, and for a moment, the world stops.
A strong flow of cursed energy seeps into Toge, making goosebumps rise on his skin, and within seconds, the blood has vanished, and Toge’s throat no longer burns. It happens so quickly, the little witch almost misses it.
“Better?” Yuuta smiles, caressing Toge’s face. “You scared me there for a moment,” he admits, smile fading as he pulls his head away. “Did that happen because of your seals?”
Toge nods, eyebrows furrowing together as he tries to understand how Yuuta knows how to do that. He knows what it’s called, it’s reverse cursed technique, and it’s something only a handful of powerful sorcerers know how to do.
It’s a strong technique. There are rumors of a sorcerer who once used it to bring someone back from the dead during an infamous sorcerer battle royale, the culling game, where the man ended up coming out on top, but Toge doesn’t believe it.
There are a lot of rumors that circulate this particular sorcerer, some claiming he was mentored by one of the strongest, and through his veins flows old, powerful, cursed energy descended from one of the most ancient bloodlines.
His confusion must be evident on his face because Yuuta answers without being prompted.
“My mentor taught it to me recently,” the sorcerer reveals, dropping his hands from Toge’s face. “It’s not as strong as it could be, since I’m still learning, but I think I’m getting the hang of it,” he goes on. “I’m just glad it was enough to help you, little witch.”
Toge frowns, suddenly overcome by guilt. Did you exert yourself just now, helping me? I’ve heard that technique can take a lot of cursed energy to use.
Yuuta cocks his head to the side. “It was worth it, so don’t worry about it.”
Well, thank you, but don’t do that again, not when your cursed energy is limited, Toge signs.
Yuuta leans in again so their foreheads are once again pressing against one another. “You could always share some of your magic with me, little witch,” he points out, like it's the most obvious solution. “A little would go a long way for me from someone like you, you know.”
Toge contemplates it for a second before deciding that he should do it. He can spare some of his limited magic for Yuuta. The sorcerer went out of his way to help Toge just now. It’s the least Toge could do. Besides, Yuuta is right, Toge’s limited magic is more powerful than anything Yuuta has ever wielded. It comes from an ancient, powerful ancestral bloodline.
There are a few ways to exchange power; some take longer than others, while certain types prove to be more effective. Toge isn’t sure which way they should go about this, but through his indecisiveness, Yuuta seems to have already decided for them.
“You could just kiss me to share some power with me,” Yuuta offers, sliding his hand around Toge’s side. “I wouldn’t mind, and it’s the easiest way for us to go about it,” he expresses, sounding genuine. “I trust you.”
Toge digs his fingers into the bench as he contemplates the sorcerer’s words. Yuuta isn’t wrong; that is the fastest, most effective method, but it’s rather… intimate. He’d never want to accidentally take advantage of the sorcerer, after all.
“You trust me, right?” Yuuta asks, as if sensing Toge’s hesitation. “You said you trusted me before.”
He nods because he does trust Yuuta, that’s true, maybe a little more than he should.
“Good,” Yuuta whispers, leaning in, and just like that, Toge’s restraint breaks, and he decides to give in and meets the sorcerer halfway. This is for a good cause, after all.
Toge parts his lips as Yuuta descends on his mouth. He expects a soft kiss but gasps at what he receives once their mouths collide. The kiss is hungry and urgent, as if Yuuta were a beast finally released for the hunt.
Yuuta kisses him with exigency, licking into Toge’s mouth with greedy swipes. He presses Toge closer to him with the grip he has on the little witch’s waist.
Toge’s mind turns to mush as they kiss, easily matching Yuuta’s speed and desperation. He reaches forward and steadies himself by placing his hands on the man’s biceps, digging his fingers in while he tries to remember why they’re doing this in the first place.
For a moment, Toge forgets why they agreed to do this, too busy sucking on Yuuta’s tongue and letting out soft sighs as the sorcerer keeps kissing him. He’s been kissed before, but never like this. It’s addictive.
Toge lets his greed take over before he remembers himself and tries to concentrate. It’s a difficult affair, given that Yuuta is actively sucking on his bottom lip as he starts transferring small bursts of power into the sorcerer. The transfer makes Toge’s body tingle, and Yuuta groans in response, kissing the little witch deeper.
The air around them changes, becoming almost electric. It’s a good sign, it means they’re extremely compatible. It’s rare to meet someone who causes such a reaction, especially from different classifications like theirs. It’s scary, but it’s equally as alluring.
Toge has shared power with plenty of people before, but never using this method, and it's never gone so smoothly; it must be their compatibility that’s causing it. He finds that he quite likes it, likes the high it gives him. He likes it a little too much because he keeps forgetting why they’re doing this in the first place, too busy indulging himself.
He tries moving closer before remembering that they’re both still very much naked in the hot springs, and with much reluctance, sends one more burst of power into Yuuta before pulling away.
To his surprise, Yuuta chases after him. “Are you sure that’s enough power?” He whispers. “Are you sure I won’t need any more than that?”
Toge opens his eyes and tries to catch his breath. He nods and licks his lips, finding them bitten raw as he looks at Yuuta. He knows he must look like a mess right now with his eyes glazed over and his face sporting a fierce blush. He hopes Yuuta doesn’t notice it.
Yuuta doesn’t look very affected. It’s probably for the best.
Better? Toge signs, looking between Yuuta’s eyes and lips.
Thankfully, he managed to contain his physical arousal with a lot of concentration and a little bit of magic.
Yuuta grins and finally releases Toge from his hold. “So much better, you have no idea,” he professes, licking his lips. “I feel like a new person. You’re the best, little witch. Thank you for helping me.”
Toge shakes his head. You were the one who helped me first, it’s the least I could do. I wish I could’ve done more for you.
“So, if I ever need power, you’ll lend it to me?” Yuuta asks, expression looking like that one of a hellhound puppy again.
Toge smiles and nods. Of course, all you have to do is ask me.
“You should know, I’m a little greedy,” Yuuta teases, making Toge laugh. “We should head to bed so we can get an early start tomorrow,” he suggests. “It’s been a long day, and sharing power must’ve taken a lot out of you.”
Toge agrees, and after making Yuuta close his eyes again, he grabs a towel and they head back toward their room.
They end up encountering one person, a mage, on their way back to their room.
Toge tries to greet the mage but doesn’t get a response. Her eyes are locked in, looking behind Toge with an apprehensive expression, like she’s just seen something concerning. Her fingertips start glowing, acting as if having been cornered by an enemy.
He turns back to look, unease flooding through him, but only finds Yuuta standing behind him, offering the little witch a smile. Immediately, the limited magic he’d been summoning goes dormant since there is no visible threat anywhere close by.
What is going on here?
“I—” the mage mumbles before looking away from them. “—you.”
“I what?” Yuuta responds, words void of emotion.
For a split second, his entire demeanor changes.
The mage doesn’t respond; instead turns around and disappears down the hall with a newfound sense of urgency.
It’s weird, but Toge chooses not to comment on it. It could be that the mage felt uneasy because of Toge’s seals, or she sensed the power he’d transferred into Yuuta, since the sorcerer doesn’t have anything to restrict it. It wouldn’t be the first time someone has felt that way around the little witch.
“She must’ve been in a hurry,” Yuuta comments as they arrive at their room once the mage has long vanished down the hall. “Strange, huh?”
Toge nods in response. It’s very strange.
Sharing a bed doesn’t turn out as awkward as Toge had feared, even after sharing a kiss in the hot springs. Toge creates a barrier of thin pillows between them and leaves a small lantern burning just in case someone needs to get up in the middle of the night.
“Goodnight, little witch,” Yuuta whispers, reaching over the barrier for Toge’s hand once they’re settled in. “Get some sleep.”
Toge, once again letting his greed control him, takes Yuuta’s hand. The sorcerer’s hand is bigger, and it wraps around Toge’s hand like a greedy snake. It’s nice and comforting.
“Just in case you wake up earlier than me and decide to ditch me,” Yuuta defends his action. “Don’t leave without me, okay?”
Toge snorts and squeezes Yuuta’s hand in a silent gesture of reassurance. He doubts he could ever do such a thing, not after what happened with the rangers. He would be leaving Yuuta to an unknown fate. He could never do such a cruel thing. Besides, Yuuta has been good to him. He’s been more of a friend than people Toge has known since he was young.
Also, with Rika perched on one of the beams in the ceiling, red eyes glowing in the night as she looks down at them and all around, Toge doubts he could leave without anyone noticing.
She would alert Yuuta instantly if Toge left or something was amiss. There’s an aura to her that lets Toge know she’s extremely faithful to the sorcerer, not that it’s a bad thing. Toge is happy there’s someone loyal and fierce in Yuuta’s corner. She shows a lot of potential to be a powerful tool one day.
Toge sleeps better than he’s slept in years that night, dreaming of a place he’s never been to but finds himself longing for at the same time. It’s a nice place, somewhere his coven cannot find him, and his seals do not exist, letting him have free rein of his magic.
In his vivid dream, he finds Yuuta there, and for a moment, it feels real, like when they were in the hot springs, with electric air flowing around them.
“Would you stay with me forever if you could?” Yuuta asks him, eyes once again piercing. He’s greedier here than in real life, touching Toge as much as he pleases. Toge doesn’t mind it. “Just the two of us, together, no one else. You wouldn’t have to run from anyone here.”
Toge nods, knowing this is only a dream. He can do and say whatever he wants to here. “I would,” he whispers, breath catching in his throat when Yuuta leans in to kiss him.
The little witch lets it happen, finding himself frantically climbing into the sorcerer’s lap and kissing back with urgency. He does what he wishes he could’ve done back at the hot springs and lets himself have as much as he wants.
Yuuta’s hands settle once again on Toge’s waist, just like before, except this time, he’s pulling him in close. Yuuta feels different here than in real life; he feels powerful, and the cursed energy practically vibrates off him from how much he possesses.
It seeps into Toge’s mouth as they kiss, into his skin, and hair, leaving Yuuta’s mark everywhere, making Toge’s magic feel replenished tenfold. His seals vibrate, almost as if overwhelmed by the cursed energy, and threaten to shatter. It leaves Toge, once again, feeling hazy like he could remain forever nestled on Yuuta’s lap.
It’s selfish to dream of such a thing, but Toge has never once believed love or anything close to it is for him, not when he is who he is. For now, his desires live in dreams and take the shape of Yuuta.
His life has consisted of living up to such a lonely prophecy because of his coven and family. It would be a dream to change it, but he’s a fool for believing such a thing is possible.
“Mine,” Yuuta whispers as they pull apart, connected by a string of saliva.
“Yours,” Toge promises, letting the delusion take control of him as Yuuta pushes them back and climbs over Toge, caging him in.
The cursed energy wraps around them, shielding them from the world.