Allure Of The Witch

Was She So Unlikable?

Aria was diligently applying the medicinal paste to Rayan's wounds. 

She focused intently on her task, making a concerted effort not to look at him, especially not into his captivating eyes. They were a shade of slight blue, reminiscent of her favorite flower that blossomed at the top of the hill—a color that brought her a sense of calm and beauty. Yet, she couldn't help but notice the anger that flickered in those striking eyes when she had touched him. 

He had seemed so fierce in that moment, and all she had been trying to do was check if he had a fever due to his injuries.

When she woke up and realized that she had been sleeping for the entire two days, panic had surged through her. The first thought that rushed to her mind was whether he was alright. But she had not anticipated that he would react with such hostility.

Perhaps he simply didn't like to be touched, she reassured herself as she finished applying the paste and stood up. It was a reasonable assumption given his fierce demeanor.

She glanced around the hut and realized he must be hungry. She herself was very hungry. A thought formed in her mind, and she decided to cook something for him.

As she began her preparations, the sound of thunder rumbled ominously outside, and soon the rain began to pour.

Rayan had been watching her cook in silence, a mix of curiosity and confusion swirling within him. He wanted to ask if anyone else lived here, but he struggled to find the words that would convey his thoughts. 

He didn't know anything about her language.

When the rich aroma of the food wafted through the air and reached his nose, he couldn't help but sigh. His stomach grumbled in protest, reminding him just how long it had been since he had eaten. Fortunately, his years as a martial artist had taught him to endure hunger. 

And there had been times when he had to survive without food for an entire week.

As he reflected on his current predicament, thoughts of his subordinates began to creep in. Were they safe?

"Wuye" (Eat) she said suddenly, jolting him from his thoughts.

He looked up to see her standing in front of him, offering a bowl of cooked vegetables floating in a savory broth. The simplicity of the dish only seemed to heighten his appetite.

Rayan sat up slowly and took the bowl from her hands.

"Thank you"

He said earnestly, even though he knew she likely wouldn't understand him.

As expected, she stared at him with wide eyes, silently trying to interpret his words. 

Rayan lifted the spoon and began to eat, while Aria returned to the stove to fill a bowl for herself. She was feeling quite hungry!

On the other hand, Rayan took his first sip, and a wave of satisfaction washed over him.

Five minutes later, he had finished every last drop in his bowl.

Aria, busy with her own meal, gathered her courage to glance at him. Her eyes widened in surprise when she saw him putting his bowl aside, clearly done with his meal. She then looked at her own bowl, which was still less than half finished.

Did he really eat that quickly?

However, she quickly reminded herself that he was injured, nodding in satisfaction.

'Good, he needed energy to recover.'

Thinking this, she filled another bowl for him and approached once again, presenting it to him.

"Wuya" (Eat)

She said firmly, encouraging him to eat.

Rayan looked at the bowl in her hands and then back at her. This time, he decided to try and learn her words.

"Wuya... food?" He asked, pointing toward the bowl.

Aria blinked in surprise, a small smile creeping onto her lips as she realized he was making an effort to understand her.

"Wuya..." (Eat)

She repeated, gathering her fingers together and mimicking the motion of eating.

"Ohh..." Rayan whispered, understanding what she meant. 

His cold blue eyes, however, was fixated on her lips as she smiled gently. Something flickered in them again and he frowned when he felt the weird feeling inside his chest looking at her smile.

With the same frown he looked away, pressing down the weird feeling.

"Wuya" (Eat)

She urged again, extending the bowl toward him once more.

Rayan took the bowl silently, not looking at her again.

In the quiet of the hut, they finished their meals in comfortable silence. For that brief period, Rayan managed to forget all of his worries. The past few months had been fraught with difficulties, and the stress over his people weighed heavily on him. But that night had been different; he felt an unexpected sense of relaxation, and even though he had slept for two days, he found himself wanting to doze off again after his meal.

Aria yawned after finishing her bowl, the fatigue of the past days catching up with her. She stood up and collected the two bowls he had placed on the nearby table, washing them with care. When she turned to look at him again, she was met with the sight of him already asleep, his face peaceful in slumber.

A small smile played on her lips as she returned to her room, feeling a sense of accomplishment.

As she laid down on her bed and closed her eyes, Aria felt an unfamiliar sense of safety wash over her. For the first time in a long while, she didn't feel scared in the hut. It wasn't just Rayan who slept soundly that night; it was Aria, too. After three months of mourning the loss of her grandmother, this was the first time she truly rested well, her stomach full.

---

The next morning, Rayan was stirred awake by the cheerful sound of birds chirping outside. Sitting up slowly on what he had come to think of as his makeshift bed, he glanced out through the only window of the hut. The rain had finally stopped.

Rayan stood up and retrieved his outer robe from the nearby table; it was dry now. Though it carried a faint odour and was torn from the place where he had his wound, he knew it was unwise to step outside without it, especially given his injuries. Placing his hand on his wound, he walked toward the door of the hut and removed the latch, feeling somewhat satisfied by its sturdiness. After stepping outside, he carefully closed the door behind him, ensuring it was secure against any wild animal.

As he walked forward, a frown creased his forehead. All he could see were trees, tall grasses, and distant hills. Where exactly was he?

---

Meanwhile, inside the hut, Aria had just woken up. She looked out the window and realized it was already late morning. Biting her lip, she felt a wave of self-reproach wash over her.

She was supposed to have woken up early; after all, she had an injured person to care for.

Worry clouded her thoughts as she adjusted her dress and climbed down from her bed. However, her concern quickly morphed into sadness as she gazed at the empty wooden board where Rayan had been lying. The blanket lay askew, and there were no signs of him anywhere.

Her eyes drifted to the securely closed door, and her heart sank further. Had he left? Had he departed without even a word?

But why wouldn't he have said goodbye? She questioned herself. Perhaps she had offended him with her touch. He must have been unhappy with her presence.

"It's alright," she whispered to herself, reminding herself that she had been strong before. She had lived on her own for a time, hadn't she?

Yet, despite her inner monologue, her eyes brimmed with tears, and soon fat drops rolled down her cheeks.

"Hi Li Ya Noyemda?" (Am I so unlikable?) she sobbed softly, covering her eyes in despair.

Just then, she heard the unmistakable sound of the latch being lifted.