Ren woke up slowly, as if emerging from a long, dark dream.
The first thing he felt was warmth — incredibly soft, pillowy warmth surrounding his head. He was lying on his back with his head resting in Elizabeth's lap. Her massive, heavy breasts hung just above his face, blocking most of his view of her. The deep valley of her cleavage was mere inches from his nose, warm and fragrant with her natural scent mixed with night-blooming flowers. Every time she breathed, her soft tits gently rose and fell, brushing lightly against his cheek.
The garden around them was alive with quiet magic.
Violet and indigo twilight hung over the Whispering Woods. Black roses with silver edges glowed faintly, releasing tiny sparkling motes into the air. Deep crimson and royal blue flowers swayed gently in the cool breeze. The air was fresh after the rain, carrying the rich scent of wet earth, sweet herbs, and ancient magic. Fireflies — or perhaps tiny floating spirits — drifted lazily between the blooms, casting soft, multicolored lights.
Elizabeth's fingers were gently stroking his hair, slow and soothing.
Ren sat up carefully, cheeks burning as he realized where his head had been resting. He shifted to sit properly on the stone bench beside her.
"I'm sorry…" he said quietly, voice hoarse from days of isolation. "For what happened that night. For losing control and… attacking you like that."
Elizabeth looked at him for a long moment, her crimson eyes soft with guilt.
"No, Ren," she replied gently, shaking her head. "I should be the one apologizing. This curse was mine first. I dragged you into this world with that kiss. I infected you. And now you're suffering because of something that should have remained my burden alone."
She reached out and gently touched the crimson mark on his cheek.
"I feel responsible. You're just a boy — a kind, ordinary soul who never asked for any of this. Yet here you are, fighting the hunger alone in that room for two days, refusing to hurt me even when your body was screaming for release. That took incredible strength."
Ren looked down at the stone bench between them. Various kinds of sweets were arranged beautifully on a dark platter — small cakes, cookies, and confections in striking colors: deep black, vibrant blue, blood red, and glowing violet. They looked almost poisonous, like something from a witch's spellbook rather than something meant to be eaten.
Elizabeth noticed his gaze and smiled faintly.
"I made these for you. They may not look very appetizing, but they are made with ingredients that help stabilize the curse's influence and restore strength."
Ren hesitantly picked up one of the black sweets. It looked like a small piece of midnight. He took a bite.
The taste exploded across his tongue — rich, velvety dark chocolate mixed with sweet berry, warm spices, and a mysterious floral note that somehow felt comforting. It was unbelievably delicious, far better than it had any right to be.
His eyes widened.
"…It's really good," he said, surprised.
Elizabeth's smile grew wider, a hint of playful smugness returning.
"Praise me more."
Ren let out a small, tired laugh.
"I thought they'd be bitter… but they're actually amazing."
She raised an eyebrow teasingly.
"Am I bitter now?"
"No, no!" he quickly said, waving his hands. "I was just surprised. It was fun teasing you a little."
Elizabeth chuckled softly, the sound warm and genuine in the glowing garden.
The two of them sat together under the strange, beautiful sky — a cursed boy and a lonely witch — sharing sweets and quiet conversation as the flowers glowed around them.
For the first time since arriving in this world, Ren felt just a little less alone.
---
Ren took another bite of the mysterious black sweet, savoring its unexpectedly rich flavor, before setting it down. He stared into the glowing garden for a long moment, a faint frown creasing his brow.
"I feel something off here," he said quietly. "Like… something isn't right. The air, the flowers, even the sky. It feels too perfect. Too still. Like we're inside a painting."
Elizabeth was silent for a few seconds, gently swirling the remaining tea in her cup. The night wind brushed through the black roses, making their silver edges shimmer like tiny blades.
"Nothing is right here, Ren," she finally said, her voice low and heavy with truth. "You feel it because you are not yet fully part of this world. Your soul still remembers what 'normal' feels like."
She set her cup down on the stone bench and looked out across the glowing garden. The violet sky above them seemed to pulse faintly, as if breathing.
"This place you see — this cabin, this garden, this peaceful little sanctuary — is not the true world. It is an illusion. A dream woven from my magic and sustained by ancient barriers. A fragile bubble I created many years ago to protect myself from what lies beyond."
Elizabeth turned her crimson gaze toward him, her expression solemn.
"Behind this barrier lies the real forest. The Living Forest. Its true name is Noctiflora — the Forest That Dreams and Devours. It is alive in every sense of the word. The trees have hearts that beat. The flowers whisper secrets and lies. The ground itself hungers. It feeds on memories, on desires, on fear. Many who enter Noctiflora never return as themselves. Some become part of the forest. Others… become something much worse."
She reached out and gently touched one of the glowing black roses beside the bench. The flower leaned into her finger like a living creature.
"This garden, this cabin — they are my cage and my sanctuary. A pocket of controlled illusion inside the madness of Noctiflora. As long as the barriers hold, we are safe. But the forest is always watching. Always testing. Always waiting for the smallest crack in my magic."
Elizabeth looked back at Ren, her voice softening but remaining serious.
"You are safer here with me than anywhere else in this world. But never forget — what you see around us is only the surface. The dream. The real Noctiflora is far more beautiful… and far more terrifying."
The wind picked up slightly, carrying distant, haunting whispers that could have been the trees themselves. The glowing flowers swayed in unison, as though agreeing with her words.
Ren felt a chill run down his spine despite the warm night air.
He was not just in another world.
He was living inside a fragile dream, protected by a witch, while an ancient, living forest waited patiently just beyond the veil — hungry and aware.
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[Don't read Farther.... You Won't understand the storyline..... This story is rewriting.... Stay patience... Next Chapters will be updated soon]