Chapter 80 - 76: Shackles Unlocked

Chapter 80: Chapter 76: Shackles Unlocked

Night fell, and the stars, like diamonds scattered across a deep velvet curtain, twinkled with a mysterious and distant light.

The moon hung high in the sky, its cool, silver light spilling across the land, draping the Bone Forest in a glow as thin as gauze.

The trees in the forest swayed with the night breeze, their leaves rustling.

The young man and woman ran through the woods, their shadows stretching long in the moonlight.

Sophie suddenly felt as if the chains that had always bound her had been broken. She heard the phantom sound of locks opening—CLANG, CLANG—as all the heavy shackles were cast off behind her.

In truth, Lian had removed the physical Shackles from her a month ago, freeing her from the need to wear any restraints to control her Magic Power.

But while the Shackles on her body were gone, the ones on her heart had remained firmly in place.

She was like someone who had been trapped in a cage for over a decade; even when her body was freed, her spirit remained imprisoned.

The duty of a Guardian, weighing down on her, destined her to never be an ordinary person.

She longed to be what Lian had described—someone who could tend to flowers, raise fish, read books, go shopping with friends, chat, and host tea parties. But she knew nothing besides combat. She had been forged into a living weapon.

Everyone respected her, but they also feared her.

No one dared to get close to her, which meant no one was there to protect her, either.

Her relationship with others was not one of equals.

She fulfilled her duty to protect everyone, yet not a single person would approach her when she lost control.

Until Lian appeared. He broke the rules and brought a ray of sunlight into Sophie’s dark world.

That single ray of light illuminated the night and warmed Sophie’s lonely heart.

It made Sophie feel a stirring she had never experienced before.

It was hope.

It was fun.

It was an emotion called joy.

For the first time in her life, Sophie felt as if she had done something wrong.

Because she had run away.

But the experience of running away wasn’t so bad.

It turned out she, too, could defy her principles and flee.

It was like escaping her own inevitable, fatal destiny.

She didn’t dislike the feeling. In fact, she was even a little happy.

Because Lian was running away with her.

And that was one of the reasons Lian had chosen to flee with Sophie.

He could have easily compensated the blacksmith or used his status as Lord to settle the matter. The blacksmith certainly wouldn’t have chased them relentlessly then.

But he chose to run.

He wanted to show Sophie that she was allowed to make mistakes, that she was allowed to run, that she didn’t have to be constantly bound by responsibility.

With him, Sophie could be a willful young woman.

As long as she was willing to open her heart and accept change.

She could escape the Imprisonment of her own heart and find true freedom.

The two fled deep into the forest until the blacksmith was forced to give up. He turned back, grumbling as he pulled his wife along.

"Darling, if I weren’t naked, I would’ve chased them right into the Bone Forest and made those two pay up!"

"I know, my love. Let’s hurry back. Everyone is still asleep, so we can go for another round. Your performance just now was thrilling. You were like a real Warrior."

"Haha, I am a Warrior!"

Their voices drifted on the wind and reached Lian’s ears.

’So my act of running away ended up spicing up the blacksmith couple’s love life?’ The corner of Lian’s mouth twitched.

’I really deserve a "nice guy" award for this.’

"This is far enough. They won’t catch up now."

Lian stopped, deciding not to waste any more Physical Strength running.

Sophie also stopped and looked up at Lian.

"Did we... get away?"

"We got away."

Lian said with certainty.

A smile appeared on the young woman’s cool face, as bright and pure as the moonlight, flawless and pristine.

Lian froze for a moment.

"Sophie, just now, you..."

"?"

Sophie looked at Lian, confused.

"You just smiled."

Lian said, "This is the first time I’ve seen you smile like that."

The Sophie of the past didn’t know how to smile. She could only imitate others, forcing a stiff, fake grin.

But this time, Sophie’s smile was genuine and natural, coming straight from the heart.

"I... smiled?"

Sophie touched her own face.

"Mhm. You should smile more often. You look beautiful when you smile."

Lian patted Sophie’s shoulder, showing his appreciation for her smile.

Sophie nodded emphatically, then broke into a wide smile, revealing her pearly white teeth.

Such a hearty smile was an extremely rare sight on the face of the Ice Witch.

"Yes, just like that. A real smile shows your teeth. Like this."

Lian also opened his mouth and let out a big laugh.

The two of them stood there, looking at each other and grinning like fools.

Their laughter filled the air, even seeming to infect an owl in a nearby tree.

The owl let out a bizarre hoot that sounded like laughter, breaking the spell between them.

Without hesitation, Lian drew his long sword, Snow Walk, and sliced through the branch the owl was perched on.

The owl flapped its wings and flew away.

Lian felt like his face was stiff from smiling. He rubbed his sore muscles and asked, "Sophie, are you happy?"

Sophie nodded obediently, showing that she was very happy.

"If one day you face an opponent so powerful that you can’t possibly win, I hope you’ll remember today."

Lian placed his hands on Sophie’s shoulders and said seriously,

"There’s no shame in running away. Surviving is what’s most important. Only by surviving can you smile so happily."

"But..."

Sophie said hesitantly, "A Guardian can’t run."

"You are more than just the Guardian Witch; you are Sophie. The Guardian Witch can’t run, but my Sophie can."

Lian looked into Sophie’s clear eyes.

A layer of mist slowly formed in those eyes.

"Remember my words."

Sophie nodded.

Lian breathed a sigh of relief. He’d had a feeling ever since he saw Sophie throw herself recklessly at the King of Tree Monsters during their battle.

No matter how dangerous it was, she would always charge to the front lines without any regard for her own safety.

Lian hoped that his words today might one day save Sophie’s life.

After all, if the Green Shade Territory had faced destruction countless times under Old Moria’s rule, how could he completely prevent the same from happening on his watch?

Even though he had planned everything with great care, it was just like the fight with the Tree Monsters—no matter how meticulous you are, you can still overlook something, like the colossal King of Tree Monsters hidden underground.

If that day ever came—if the Green Shade Territory and he himself were to face an unprecedented danger, and Sophie were to encounter an enemy she could not possibly defeat...

Lian hoped that this girl would be able to abandon her responsibility and escape.

Because her smile was truly beautiful.

RUSTLE, RUSTLE, RUSTLE—

A dense rustling sound came from the woods.

Lian’s ears twitched. He pinpointed the source of the sound: fifty meters directly ahead.

A monster was approaching them—