Chapter 20: The Worthy Master
Before Noah's body could even hit the ground, Ester was already there.
She caught him.
The moment her hands touched his broken body, a violent shudder ran through her. Her red eyes widened—shock, horror, and something deeper gripping her all at once.
Noah…
His condition was worse than anything she had imagined.
Blood.
So much blood.
Deep gashes from wind slashes. Brutal bite marks. Wounds ripped open not just by enemies, but by his own power. His hands were torn apart, raw and ruined from forcing two SSS-rank affinities far beyond what his body could handle.
And his face.
Not the noble heir of the Weaverheart family.
Just a soldier—a bloodied warrior who had fought until the battlefield broke him.
Ester sank to her knees. She pulled him onto her lap, her fingers trembling as she uncorked a vial and pressed it to his lips.
S-rank healing potion.
It took seconds before his wounds started to close. His breathing steadied. The blood stopped flowing.
But Ester couldn't stop staring at him.
Her mind was chaos.
Her heart—
BADUM. BADUM. BADUM.
Her fingers curled around his torn sleeve. Her body shook.
"W-What have I done?"
The words echoed in her skull, over and over, louder each time.
What have I done?
WHAT HAVE I DONE?
If she had been a minute late—**just a single minute—he would have died.
Died.
Noah.
Dead.
Noah—gone.
Her chest tightened. Breathing became impossible. Her vision blurred.
A shadow. That was what she had sworn to be.
The one who would protect him from the world's gaze.
The one who would keep his secrets.
The one who would stand in the darkness for him.
What kind of shadow lets its master fight alone?
What kind of shadow lets its master suffer wounds beyond his limit just to protect them?
Her body trembled harder.
A-Am I even worthy?
A rational part of her whispered, It's not your fault. You were ascending. You had no choice.
But that didn't matter.
Because when your devotion reaches 100%, the priority is no longer yourself.
Noah had fought for her. Noah had broken himself for her.
And what had she done?
Nothing.
It hurt. Gods, it hurt.
Her chest clenched with something far worse than pain—guilt.
And that when she realized.
Noah wasn't just a good companion.
Not just a strong master.
He was more.
The kind of leader who never abandoned those under him.
The kind of master who would break himself before letting others fall.
The kind of man who would fight a being two ranks above him just to protect her.
Something shifted inside her.
A deep realization—like a weight settling in her soul.
Loyalty is not enough.
Not for a master like him.
Noah Weaverheart deserved everything.
Not just her loyalty.
Not just her protection.
Her entire being.
To live with him.
To rise with him.
To fall with him.
To laugh with him.
To cry with him.
To die with him.
And with that—
CLINK!
A sound rang through her soul.
{Ding! Ding! Ding!}
{Your voice has been heard.}
{Your resolve is worthy of praise.}
{Your devotion is worthy of praise.}
{You are worthy.}
{Congratulations, Ester.}
{You have received a unique title created only for you.}
{You have received the title: The Bounded Shadow.}
Ester's breath hitched.
Something shifted inside her.
A presence. A bond unlike anything before.
She could feel him.
Noah.
Like a thread connecting their very existence.
Not just loyalty. Not just a vow.
Something absolute.
She looked at the title's description—
⸻
{The Bounded Shadow: You no longer have a shadow of your own. You are a shadow. The shadow of Noah Weaverheart—literally. You die with him. You grow stronger with him. You weaken with him. Betrayal is impossible. If he wills it, he can share his skills with you— only talents and acquired abilities.}
⸻
Ester stared.
Then, she smiled.
A content, peaceful smile.
Forever.
That's how long she would walk with him.
After all, she is his shadow now. Literally.
Her gaze returned to his face—calm, peaceful, sleeping.
She brushed his bloodied hair back gently and whispered,
"Even with scars… you're still so beautiful, Master."
⸻
Hours Later
Noah stirred.
His mind was hazy, his body aching but no longer on the verge of collapse.
The first thing he noticed—
His head was resting on something warm and soft.
He blinked up.
And saw Ester.
Black hair. Crimson eyes. That small beauty mark by her lips.
He grinned.
"Oh, Ester, what a pleasure to wake up and see your beautiful face first thing."
Ester blushed.
Even after nearly dying, his shamelessness remained intact.
Noah sat up, rolling his shoulders. The pain had lessened considerably. His body wasn't fully healed, but at least he could move.
"Did we clear the dungeon?" he asked, glancing around.
Ester nodded. "You cleared it, Master."
He smirked. "Cool, then I guess I can—"
He froze.
Because suddenly—
{Ding! Ding!}
⸻
{Congratulations, Noah Weaverheart.}
{You have received a title: The Worthy Master.}
⸻
His heart skipped a beat. A worthy master ?
Then—
{Ding! Ding! Ding!}
{EXCEPTIONAL!}
{Your shadow has transformed.}
{Your shadow is now Ester.}
{You are the first being to have a human as a literal shadow.}
{You are worthy.}
{You have received the title: Master of a Shadow.}
{Your existence has been exceptionally strengthened.}
{You have passed the first threshold.}
{You will be presented with a series of Aura choices upon reaching B-rank.}
{Existence Level: 750}
{Next Threshold: 5000}
⸻
Noah stood there, eyes wide.
He turned his head mechanically.
Ester was watching him.
Smiling.
Noah blinked.
Then blinked again.
Then, finally, he muttered the only words that came to mind.
"Bloody hell… what the fuck happened while I was asleep?"
—End of chapter 20—