Chapter 15: A Promise Beneath the Black Mountain
One day had passed since the battle between Vlox and Astraith.
The first thing Astraith felt was warmth.
Slowly, her golden eyes fluttered open.
For a brief moment, she thought she was still dreaming.
The cold stone ceiling of the Black Mountain Cave was gone.
Instead, an enormous crystal chandelier hung high above her, illuminating the room with a gentle golden glow.
Polished marble floors stretched across the hall, while elegant silver pillars supported a magnificent ceiling decorated with intricate dragon carvings.
Luxurious silk curtains swayed softly in the breeze coming through towering windows.
Astraith froze.
Her mind went completely blank.
"What...?"
She immediately sat up and looked around.
The dark cave where she had spent countless years alone had completely transformed into a luxurious castle.
Astraith rubbed her eyes once.
Then twice.
Then a third time.
Yet the magnificent castle remained.
"This is real..."
Disbelief filled her voice.
She slowly stood from the enormous bed and walked through the room, touching the smooth walls and expensive furniture as if afraid everything would disappear.
Then a realization struck her.
Vlox wasn’t there.
Her heart skipped a beat.
She searched every room she could find.
The dining hall.
The balcony.
The library.
The garden.
But Vlox was nowhere to be seen.
Silence answered her.
And for the first time since meeting him...
Fear crept into her heart.
Meanwhile...
Deep within the Black Mountain Forest.
Vlox walked through the ancient woods with his hands casually tucked behind his back.
The giant trees towered like mountains themselves, casting long shadows over the forest floor.
"Hmm..."
"Let’s see if I can find something delicious for Astraith"
After all...
She was his wife now.
Taking care of her wasn’t exactly difficult.
Closing his eyes, Vlox extended his senses throughout the forest.
Countless lifeforms instantly appeared within his perception.
Then he found it.
A massive wild boar nearly the size of a house.
Its tusks were as large as swords, and its muscular body radiated enough strength to crush ordinary beasts.
Vlox smiled.
"Perfect"
The giant boar suddenly sensed danger.
Before it could even react—
Vlox appeared directly before it.
A single finger moved.
Slash.
The boar collapsed instantly.
Dead.
Not because it was weak.
But because Vlox existed.
With a wave of his hand, the enormous beast vanished into spatial storage.
"That should be enough"
And in the next moment—
He disappeared.
Back at the castle...
Astraith sat alone on the edge of the bed.
Tears slowly rolled down her cheeks.
"He left..."
The words trembled from her lips.
"He left me alone..."
More tears followed.
For thousands of years she had lived in isolation.
No one stayed.
No one cared.
No one understood her.
Then Vlox appeared.
He defeated her.
Protected her.
Accepted her.
And for the first time in her long life...
She experienced something she had never felt before.
Love.
"I finally found the person I love..."
Her voice cracked.
"But he left me..."
Astraith hugged herself tightly.
"Because I’m weak..."
Another tear fell.
"I love him..."
"But for him..."
"I’m probably just a weak girl..."
The moment those words left her mouth—
Space distorted.
A familiar figure appeared before her.
Vlox.
Astraith froze.
Vlox blinked.
Then he noticed the tears.
"...Why are you crying?"
Before she could answer, he immediately pulled her into his embrace.
Astraith’s eyes widened.
The warmth.
The scent.
The heartbeat.
It was real.
Vlox was here.
Not gone.
Not abandoned.
Here.
And that realization shattered the last of her composure.
She buried her face into his chest and cried even harder.
"Don’t leave me..."
Her voice trembled.
"Don’t leave me alone"
She clutched his clothes tightly.
"You’re the only person I can relax around."
"Please..."
"Don’t leave me..."
Vlox looked genuinely confused.
"Why would I leave you?"
He gently patted her head.
"You’re my wife"
"The only wife I have"
Astraith immediately looked up.
Her eyes were red and filled with tears.
"That means if I die..."
"You’ll marry another girl and forget about
me?"
The tears started again.
Vlox nearly sighed.
"Don’t say something so stupid."
He gently wiped her tears away.
"You are the only one for me."
"The only wife I have"
"How could I leave you?"
"How could I forget you?"
Their eyes met.
And for a moment, the entire world seemed
silent.
Vlox smiled softly.
"So stop crying"
"I won’t leave you alone"
Astraith stared at him.
Then finally asked,
"Then where did you go?"
Vlox lifted a finger.
"I went into the Black Mountain Forest."
"To hunt a boar"
Astraith blinked.
"A boar?"
"Yes"
Vlox nodded.
"I wanted to make boar meat for you"
The Astraith tears immediately stopped.
"Really?"
"Yes"
Astraith pouted.
"Idiot"
"If you’re going somewhere, tell me first"
Vlox chuckled.
"Okay, dear"
"Now stop crying and be a good girl"
Astraith immediately looked away in embarrassment.
"And after that," Vlox continued, "I’ll make something delicious"
A short while later...
An incredible aroma filled the castle.
Astraith sat at the dining table while staring at the steaming plate before her.
The dish looked unlike anything she had ever seen.
Tender slices of meat glistened beneath a rich sauce.
Fresh ginger released a fragrant aroma.
The scent alone was enough to make her mouth water.
"What is this called?"
Astraith asked curiously.
Vlox proudly placed the plate before her.
"It’s called Ginger Pork"
"Go ahead and try it"
Astraith carefully took a bite.
The moment the food touched her tongue—
Her golden eyes widened.
Then began glowing.
The tenderness.
The flavor.
The warmth.
Every sensation exploded inside her mouth.
For several seconds, Astraith completely froze.
Meanwhile, Vlox watched her reaction.
Then smiled.
"Cute"
"Very, very cute"
Astraith didn’t even hear him.
She was already taking another bite.
Then another.
Then another.
Her cheeks became stuffed with food as she continued eating.
She looked like someone afraid the meal might disappear.
For someone who had lived for countless years...
She had never tasted anything like this.
Not even once.
Minutes later, the plate was completely empty.
Astraith leaned back in her chair.
Still stunned.
"What was that?"
She looked at Vlox with shining eyes.
"I’ve never eaten anything this delicious before."
Vlox laughed.
"It’s a special dish from another world"
"A human created the recipe"
Astraith immediately became interested.
"I want to meet that person"
"And try more of their food"
"Of course"
Vlox nodded.
"You can try all kinds of food"
"But first..."
He gently tapped her forehead.
"You need to recover your full strength"
Astraith crossed her arms.
"Fine"
But the smile on her face betrayed her happiness.
Later that night...
The castle was quiet.
Moonlight poured through the windows like silver water.
The stars shone brightly above the Black Mountain.
Vlox sat peacefully on a balcony overlooking the endless forest.
Beside him sat Astraith.
Their fingers were intertwined.
Holding each other’s hands.
Neither spoke.
Words weren’t necessary.
For the first time in countless years...
Astraith felt safe.
Slowly, she rested her head on Vlox’s shoulder.
Vlox glanced at her but said nothing.
A small smile appeared on Astraith’s lips.
And beneath the silver moonlight..
Astraith peacefully closed her eyes.
Knowing that the person she loved was still beside her.
And that he wasn’t going anywhere.