Volume 1 Chapter 9 (1/2)
Chapter 9: The Apprentice Witch Elaina
Part 1
I think the reason for the beginning of this story was surely because of this conversation
”Congratulations on passing the Magic Exam, Elaina”
”Isn't it aest Apprentice Witch? You are our pride”
I, who had returned with a bellflower corsage attached to ratulated by two of them without reserve However, I still remember just how complicated my mental condition was back then
If I':
”But, I don't have much sense of accomplishment”
It wasn't because I was hiding my embarrassment, but rather it was how I truly felt I didn't have the feeling that I had won, orat all
In other words, I wasn't particularly delighted
”H happen?”
To father's question, I answered as such:
”Everyone around ay too weak so it was a disappoint before I become a Witch either”
”Oh”
”Oh dear”
The two of them had difficult expressions on their faces
Perhaps it was because of this conversation, or perhaps the situation was called for because of the optiue I had back then
Because of it, I gained quite unpleasant memories
Today however, it is but a reminiscent story
Part 2
It was about four years ago from today
At that time, I didn't have black tricorne and robe like today, but instead wore a white blouse and black skirt──it is a story of the fourteen-year-old me
The ic Exam in one try, and immediately decided to apply as apprentice under a Witch-sama
However, for various reasons, I didn't make that request with the Witches that lived in the peaceful country of Robetta which was my birthplace──or more accurately, it would be useless even if I did
Therefore, I decided to use underhanded methods No, rather than underhanded, I should say that I just heard soossip
It was the following:
”There lives a mysterious woman called the Witch of Stardust in a forest near Robetta”
The moment I heard it, I immediately hopped on my brooht accept to becoht as such
According to that rurant who had settled in a deserted tree house located deep in the forest
I was half-doubting whether such person really existed
That's why, the moment I saw her demeanor in the forest, I was really surprised
”Ufufu Ahaha”
””
Her hair was dark as the dead of night, and as if to to match with it, she wore dark robe and tricorne with the star-shaped brooch on her chest
That woe──whose appearance was clearly Witch-like──was playing with the butterflies on the bush in front of the tree house
Shall I turn back, I seriously thought so
However, there weren't any Witches aside froe person before my eyes who I of that time could rely on
”Err, excuse me”
That's why, after so, I called out to her
She, who noticeda smile
”Ufufu Oh? Ohh? Could it be that you are Elaina-san?”
I was surprised After all, this person who I wasfor the first time knew my name
”Do you know of me?”
Considering her disposition, I had a foreboding premonition
And unfortunately, it hit the mark
”Yes, you are quite fa fourteen years old won easily won in the Magic Exaicians”
””
”Of course, that's not my personal opinion I'm sorry if I offended you”
”It's fine I'm used to it”
Since the Magic Exaate where only one person was accepted with each exae
Of course, in a bad way
It seeicians older thanin my homeplace All of them simultaneously rejected my request
That's why I bet on the mysterious Witch that lived in the forest
However, thinking that it would be hopeless since the gossip about me had reached this place, I had half-lost hope
”So then, what business do you have with me?”
”It's nothing”
I was about to take ht that it was already impossible
She, however, said this to me:
”Were you perhaps trying to ask about apprenticeshi+p? If that's the case, then I don't really mind I have spare time anyway”
”Eh!”
I was surprised
So much that for aat all
”Why are you so surprised? Oh, could it be that you had some other request?”
”No, I certainly came to request to be taken as an apprentice, however”
”Ohtoday, you are my apprentice”
”No, but uhhh, wha?”
With such an unexpected developrew all the more
I had thought that since she knew about me, she would reject me just like Robetta's Witches did
”Hm? You have quite co But be relieved For I'ile Witches from your hometown To me it's irrelevant whether the other party is just a cheeky brat or whatever”
She spoke in a way to settle the topic
Even to this day, I still remember how moved I was at that nized ht
”So then, are you going to beco to bow your head to the Witches of your hometown?”
Towards her, I bowed my head
” I── won't return home Please make me your apprentice”
This was how me and the Witch of Stardust──Fran-sensei──met
Then, a few days after the training started
Generally speaking about the training of Apprentice Witches, it would be their ic ability Naturally, I thought it would be the same with me
However, htly different
Rather, it was actually quite different
If I had to describe how a nor like this
”Good ”
”What would you like?”
Making food for Fran-sensei had become my daily routine
”Let's see I feel like eating a steak”
”It's , so wouldn't that be a bit too heavy?”
”Then so out there would be fine”
”Aren't you co a bit too much?”
In the end, it concluded by eating the bread I baked yesterday
And so, until lunchti soather some edible plants, and did as she pleased
”Sensei, I wanted to be taught Magic”
”Oh I'm sorry, I'm a little busy at the moment, can we postpone for some other time?”
Even if I earnestly requested it, she usually dodged it in such ic
But instead,
”Elaina, you will get worn out if you study too much How about you take rest from time to time?”
She kept saying such things
The condition for an Apprentice Witch to beconized by the person who becahtest idea whether she recognized me no matter what I did Because she didn’t teach me
Speaking of what one who had become an Apprentice Witch could do, it would be to work as hard as they can At what you ask? Surely, that would be at everything
Thinking that not teaching ic was so that I would become independent, I henceforth never asked a question even if there appeared so I did not understand
However, Fran-sensei's requests started to worsen by the day
“Elaina, we've run out of ingredients Please go and buy them”
”Elaina, please head to the forest and catch about five geckos I need them for research”
”Elaina, is dinner ready yet?”
”Elaina, there's a spider in bath Please get rid of it I'm scared of it”
”Elaina, please e my shoulders”
Tellinga Witch, I wordlessly complied with Fran-sensei's trivial requests day after day, just like a slave
I still think that I did well enduring it
I naturally had doubts of whether she simply wanted to use me However, while it is true that I doubted her, I had no reason to run away After all, there was no one at my home ould become my teacher even if I did return
Endure it, endure it
I just kept on studying and practicing by myself
One night, before heading to bed, I indirectly asked to Fran-sensei:
”Why won't you teach ic?”
To , ”It's because you don't require teaching,” lightly replied so
As expected, thebehind her words
As I continued to endure it, before I noticed, oneher Apprentice
It happened when I was doing ic, then setting fire to the created fireith Fire Magic and finally extinguishi+ng it with Water
”Oh my You are quite violent aren't you”
Fran-sensei stood behind me
Thinking about it, this was the first and the last tiic by myself
Stopping my hands, I ran towards Fran-sensei After all, I believed she finally felt like teaching ic
However,
”H to teach you, you know?”
My slight expectation was momentarily crushed
In the end, it seeic, and azed at the practice site behind me
Theresuch words in less practice
”It should be about time”
I had a feeling I had heard such a
On the next day
She clapped my shoulders and spoke
”Starting today, I will be testing you”
Perplexed by her crazy proposal, I seriously thought as this person even thinking However, more than that, I was overcome with happiness
If I fare well on this exaht so
Following Fran-sensei, we arrived on grasslands The vivid greenery fluttered to the wind and was spread as far as the eye could see
Facingher usual smile:
”Right noill have you fight with me”
I was at loss
She was obviously not so like that was obvious without even trying it
”Are you joking?”
”Oh dear There's no way I would joke at such serious scene noould I?”
She didn't even teach ht all of a sudden? This is insane
”But Fran-sensei, no matter how you put this”
”Alright, let's begin”
She easily disregarded my modest objection
As she clapped her hands to signal the start, she closed the distance between us in one go And then, released her Magic froe
I became flustered And panicked
Being told about the exa near and attacking Thinking about it now, she probably did that on purpose in order to disturb my pace
It was quite underhanded
”Kh!”
However, the me of that time was nicely toyed with those underhanded tricks
She used Magic attacks with a clear intent to kill Magicspear
The battle result was naturallyone-sidedly
At tirasslands, and at ti for the opportunity to strike back
”What's the matter? Is the ability of soic Exa much”
Without loosening her attacks, Fran-sensei calmly said so with her usual smile It was just too ominous
──It was as if she was enjoying tor me
Then I thought
In the end, this person is the same as the Witches of my birthplace
So that means, she took me as her Apprentice just so she could crushwould also be in order to shun me, wouldn't it?
During this one month, deep down I constantly had that doubt, but averted my eyes from it
This person alone is different It will be fine if I just believe I endured it while telling myself such words
And yet
”Tsk”
I felt like everything before me turned dark
Before I noticed, I stood still, dumbfounded
Fran-sensei also stopped her attacks, ”Oh my Is that all?” and sneered at me
That became the final blow