NOVPUB
Chapter 50: Elisse’s Apology
But before that, there was something more important he needed to check.
"System," he muttered, shifting to lie back on the bed. "Give me information on that mark the witch princess gave me."
There was a brief silence, and then the familiar blue screen flickered to life above him.
Text rolled across it, displaying the details of the mark that the Witch Princess had branded him with earlier.
[Witch’s Crest]
[A unique magical brand placed by the Witch Princess.]
[Allows the caster (Witch Princess) to track the bearer’s location.]
[Serves as an official mark of representation in the Witch Trial.]
[Grants bearer access to latent Witch Power (Limited Use).]
[Classification: Transformation-Grade Mark]
Zayn’s eyes narrowed as he read through the description.
The first part was expected. It was basically a tracking beacon.
That wasn’t surprising — after all, she’d told him she had to make sure he didn’t run away before the Witch Trial.
It wasn’t like he was planning to, but still, the fact that she could find him whenever she wanted was a little unsettling.
The second part wasn’t shocking either. She had chosen him as her warrior for the Witch Trial, so this mark was basically his entry pass.
But the last part?
Now, that was something interesting.
Zayn sat up, his curiosity piqued. "Latent Witch Power?"
The system responded instantly, expanding on the description.
[Witch Power]
[The bearer of this mark can draw upon limited magical energy granted by the Witch Princess.
This manifests as a Transformation-Grade skill, enhancing physical abilities for a short duration.]
Further details: Locked.
Zayn exhaled, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. This was unexpected.
A grin slowly spread across his face.
"Alright," he muttered to himself. "That’s kinda badass."
Of course, there was a catch — the system said the details were locked.
Meaning, he probably couldn’t use the ability freely just yet. But that didn’t matter. The fact that he had it at all meant that he could work toward unlocking it.
Lying back down, Zayn stared at the ceiling, deep in thought. He soon fell asleep.
...
Zayn had just slipped into sleep, his breathing deep and even, when the door to his room creaked open.
Elisse hesitated at the entrance, clutching the fabric of her dress nervously.
She wasn’t usually the type to do something so... bold, but after what had happened earlier, she felt like she had to make things right.
In the morning, she had been too shy. She wanted to apologize, but the words had stuck in her throat, and she had missed her chance.
And then there was Kara — seeing her all close with Zayn, teasing him, licking the smudge of pepper off his face without hesitation... it made something stir in Elisse.
She didn’t want to be left behind.
Swallowing hard, she stepped inside, closing the door softly behind her. The lock clicked into place.
Her gaze landed on him, fast asleep on the bed. His face, usually playful and mischievous, was relaxed in slumber.
The soft rise and fall of his chest, the way his messy hair fell across his forehead — he looked so peaceful. So cute.
Her heart skipped a beat.
Carefully, she tiptoed closer and lowered herself onto the bed beside him. The mattress shifted slightly under her weight, but Zayn didn’t stir.
She hesitated for a moment before reaching out, her fingers lightly brushing against his hair.
"Zayn..." she whispered, her voice barely audible.
There was no response.
She exhaled softly, gathering her thoughts.
"I wanted to apologize..." she continued, her fingers tracing through his blond locks. "For yesterday. I shouldn’t have slapped you."
A warm blush crept up her face as she recalled the moment.
Zayn had tried to cop a feel of her chest, and in her flustered panic, she had reacted on instinct.
But she had been thinking about it ever since.
He had been teasing, of course. That was just how he was. But... was it really so bad to let him touch?
Elisse bit her lip, her blush deepening.
"I-if you want..." she murmured, her fingers trembling slightly as they traced down to his cheek. "I’ll let you."
A smile tugged at the corner of Zayn’s lips.
Elisse froze.
Her breath caught in her throat, and a nervous chuckle escaped her lips as realization dawned on her.
"You’re awake, aren’t you?" she accused, her voice shaky.
Zayn finally opened his eyes, his golden irises glinting with amusement.
"Hmm?" He stretched lazily, shifting onto his side so he was facing her. "What was that, Elisse? I don’t think I quite heard you."
Elisse turned red.
"I-I said... nothing! You were asleep! Forget it!" She tried to sit up and escape, but Zayn’s arm shot out, wrapping around her waist and pulling her back down.
"Now, now," he said with a grin, resting his forehead against hers. "I think I deserve to hear that again."
Elisse squirmed, her entire face burning.
"You’re such a — "
Zayn chuckled, cutting her off. "A charming, handsome guy that you totally want to spoil?"
She turned away, hiding her face in the pillow. "Shut up."
But her heart was pounding.
Zayn reached up, brushing his fingers through her soft hair, and Elisse found herself slowly relaxing again.
"So," he said after a moment, his voice softer now. "You really came all the way here just to apologize?"
Elisse hesitated, then nodded against the pillow.
Zayn sighed dramatically. "And here I thought you snuck into my room for something more exciting."
Elisse elbowed him, making him laugh.
But the moment that followed was... quiet. Comfortable.
Zayn could feel the warmth of her body beside him, and Elisse, despite her nervousness, found herself feeling... safe.
He wasn’t just a pervert. He was a good guy.
Slowly, she turned back to face him, her lips parting slightly as if she wanted to say something more.
But Zayn just smiled. "You’re cute when you’re flustered, you know?"
Elisse let out a huff, turning away again.
"You’re annoying," she muttered.
Zayn just chuckled, tightening his arm around her waist. "And yet, you’re still here, In my room, waiting for this annoying man to kiss you."
Elisse didn’t argue.
Because he was right.
