Chapter 4

“!”

Declan gasped. Sara stammered, holding back tears,

“I just… suppressed it for a moment. What do we do…? What should we do…?”

Would Declan die? Right before her eyes? She started to sob uncontrollably. Then she snapped back to her senses. Sara grabbed Declan’s arm and shouted,

“Let’s get out! Let’s go to the Mage Tower! My master can fix this!”

Sara’s master, the Mage Tower’s owner, possessed tremendous magical power. Surely, he could save Declan’s life.

“……”

But Declan’s expression didn’t improve. He glanced at the top of the stairs and rubbed his neck.

“I’m not sure…”

“This is no time to hesitate! Let’s go, now!”

Sara dragged Declan up the stairs. Declan followed reluctantly, making it clear he wasn’t eager. But then—

Clunk, clunk-clunk.

“What’s this!”

Sara shouted, shaking the handle. The door wouldn’t open.

“What’s going on…”

Sara pounded on the door with a trembling voice. Her small fists quickly turned red and swollen. Unable to watch, Declan gently took her hands and stopped her. Sara turned to him, pale as a ghost.

“Declan… the door…”

“Yes. It’s locked.”

Declan let out a shallow sigh. He knew it was useless, so he didn’t even bother touching the door. Sara rambled,  

“It was fine until we came in. Why? Oh, there was that loud bang earlier, right? Was that the door closing…? But how? Why?”  

Sara pressed her hand to the door and channeled her magic, closing her eyes to concentrate. After a moment, she opened them.  

“It’s magic. A spell sealing this place… Who could’ve done something like this…?”  

Sara looked at Declan with troubled eyes. He stared back at her in the dim light and spoke slowly.  

“So, can you open the door?”  

His voice was laced with fear, uncharacteristically for him.  

“That…”  

Sara bit her lip. Unfortunately, the mage who cast the sealing spell was of a higher caliber than she was. If she committed herself fully, she might be able to break it, but it would take at least three days. But Declan didn’t have that kind of time.  

“What should we do…?”  

As hope faded, Sara’s vision blurred. Despairing, she hung her head and tears began to fall. Declan, startled, pulled her into his arms.  

“Sara, are you crying?”  

“Hic, uh-huh-huu… haa…”  

Hearing him ask if she was crying was like a child realizing they were hurt only after someone pointed it out—her sobs burst forth. Sara opened her mouth wide and cried like a child. Declan flustered, tried to comfort her.  

“I’m not dying right now. See, you stopped the red light, didn’t you? I’m fine, so stop crying, okay?”  

“It’s only temporary… I told you… hic…”  

Once Sara started crying, she couldn’t stop easily. Declan was at a loss, frantically trying to soothe her. He kissed her head repeatedly, looked at her with gentle eyes, and stroked her back with warm hands. Thanks to him, Sara’s sobs gradually subsided.  

“Let’s go downstairs and sit for a while, or you’ll collapse.”  

When Sara reluctantly nodded, Declan quickly lifted her up. She hadn’t been held like this since she was a child, so she stiffened in surprise. She was so startled that even her tears stopped. Declan, thinking she was scared, spoke softly.  

“Don’t worry. I’ll carry you like you’re a precious treasure.”  

“Uh… okay.”  

Sara felt her heart pound for no reason and turned away from him. Why does he have to be so handsome…  

As she was carried gently down the stairs, sadness welled up again. Their relationship had been strained, but she never wished for him to die like this.  

At that moment, Sara felt something was off. The situation was strange. She furrowed her brow, trying to grasp the clue, when Declan, now at the underground chamber, carefully set her down. Then, he kissed her lightly on the lips.  

“!”  

Sara was so shocked her mind went blank.  

“Wait here for a moment, Sara.”  

He spread his cloak on the floor, gently pulled her hand to sit comfortably on it, and sat beside her. Still shaken, Sara stared blankly at Declan.  

“Why? Are you cold?”  

Declan asked, worried, moving closer. Sara, startled, stammered,  

“…No. If I get cold, I can use a warming spell…”  

“Ah, right. You’re a very skilled mage.”  

He smiled and tousled her hair. Sara blinked and quickly turned her head away. His gentle side felt unfamiliar.  

‘I only saw this when we were kids… Is this because of the curse?’  

Sara sighed, then suddenly remembered something.  

‘Wait… the report!’  

One person died soon after, but another survived for a whole day. The reason for the longer survival was probably…  

‘S*xual *ntercourse with a spouse!’  

Sara swallowed dryly, her throat tight, and her heart raced.  

‘Should I tell Declan about this?’  

Telling him would mean they’d have to have s*x. Sara clutched her head and groaned.  

‘It’s to save a life, so of course… But still, how could I do that… But his life is at stake…’  

Sara was torn, unable to decide, when Declan suddenly spoke calmly.  

“At least it’s not you.”  

“…What?”  

Sara looked up at Declan. He looked at her, smiling as if he’d let go of all his worries and concerns.  

“I’m glad I was the one who touched the cursed offering.”  

“How is that a relief…”  

Sara stammered, trying to refute, but Declan smiled wryly.  

“It is. Your parents and brother dote on you, don’t they?”  

“If you think about it, you’re precious to your family too.”  

At this, Declan scoffed.  

“Me?”  

“…Ah.”  

Sara finally remembered that Declan’s parents hadn’t gotten along. She recalled how difficult things had been for young Declan…  

“I’m sorry…”  

Sara apologized, looking downcast. Declan patted her head as if to say it was okay.  

“There’s nothing for you to be sorry about.”  

“…”  

Sara felt a mix of sadness and nausea, as if her stomach was churning. Ten years ago, before she cut off her feelings for him, Declan used to pat her head like this…  

Declan spoke in a slightly wistful tone.  

“When I was young, I was really glad to have your family. I was lonely on my own… You and your brother spent a lot of time with me.”  

“…”  

Hearing that, memories from back then resurfaced. The three of them would play in the hills and sometimes get lost, or spend days at each other’s mansions, having fun. Their childhoods were inseparable.  

Sara bit her lip hard.  

‘Even if things went wrong later, we were so close… I can’t just let him die like this.’  

Just then, as if in response to her thoughts, the red light began to flicker from Declan’s body again. No, so soon? Sara was startled, but Declan just sighed softly.  

“Still… if I’m going to die, I’m glad it’s in front of you.”  

“…What?”  

Sara’s eyes widened at Declan’s words. What was he saying? He blushed and continued,  

“We’ve had a bad relationship for a long time. It always bothered me, but I’m thankful that before I die, I get to see you again.”  

Declan smiled at her, dazzlingly.  

“…You’re grateful for the strangest things!”  

Sara shouted, then squeezed her eyes shut and quickly started talking.  

“According to the reports, of the two people who touched the offering, one died within a few hours, and the other survived for a full day. The difference seemed to be whether or not they had *ntercourse with another person. The one who survived for a day kept thinking they would die soon and so kept… kept… doing that with their spouse.”

She started off boldly, but having never even kissed anyone, Sara found the topic too much to handle. Her face turned even redder than the light coming from Declan’s body.  

Declan stared at her blankly, then slowly spoke.  

“So you mean…”  

“…”  

“So if I do that too, I can survive?”

Sara swallowed and nodded.  

“Probably. With a high probability.”  

“…”  

Declan blinked a few times, lost in thought. The silence didn’t last long.  

“Sara, the fact that you brought this up means……” 

Declan looked at her very carefully.  

“Does that mean… you’re willing to help me?”  

“!”  

Sara clenched her teeth, knowing this moment would come, then slowly relaxed. She spoke curtly,  

“Why ask? Did you think I’d just let you die?”  

“…Sara…”  

Declan, moved, opened his arms and pulled Sara into his embrace. Sara let herself be drawn in and rested her face against his firm chest. Her heart pounded so hard it felt like it would burst through her ribs.  

“…What about marriage?”  

At Declan’s words, Sara felt her strength leave her. She tried to sound casual.  

“If we keep quiet, no one will know. And I gave up on marriage when I decided to become a mage. My parents and brother know, so don’t worry.”  

The answer came after a pause.