A Witch and a Cat — Meilin

“Meilin……” Haokei’s voice called out to me, “We’re going to the forest to check out something. Wanna come?”

I gulped.

This has happened before. Yesterday, I refused, and Haokei died. According to the mysterious voice, I should be in Elysia… or whatever it was.

“What do you mean?” Haokei cocked her head, “Why are you saying such negative things? Of course, I didn’t die. I’m still here.”

Shoot.

Can she hear my thoughts?

“Mei, you’re spouting nonsense.”

But I’m not. I’m serious.

“Well, whatever happened was clearly fake— because I’m very much alive and breathing in front of you.”

Well. Was that all a dream, then?

“I guess. Then, will you come with us now?”

Was that just a dream?

No, it felt too real. But if Haokei’s alive again… maybe none of that ever happened?

Nevermind. I’m glad I’m with her now.

I ran over to Haokei, wrapping her in a tight embrace.

Don’t go. Please stay.

“What’s wrong?”

Just stay with me. You’ll be safe. And it won’t be the end of the world.

Haokei reluctantly hugged me back.

“You really are a weirdo, you know. I can’t get what is going on in your mind.”

The warmth of Haokei’s body faded. I found myself hugging a lifeless body.—-

Wait. Haokei!

I jolted awake as if an electric shock went through my whole body.

Of course. It’s just a nightmare.

I woke up in a room that didn’t belong to me.

Guess I’m in Elysia now.

It smells of wood and flowers. There was an enormous bookshelf at the corner of the room, and a weirdly shaped window right next to me.

It’s shaped…like a cat?

I was lying on a very comfy bed with red and white sheets. The sun shone through the window, spreading warmth to every corner. There was a table and a lamp shaped like a mushroom.

Next to the bed was a strange stick with a note attached:

“To Meilin, witch of Kazemura:

By the time you see this, you’ll be in Elysium. Best of luck and lots of love!

From Cecilia, your fairy godmother~”

Cecilia… right. That’s the voice that offered me the choice, isn’t it?

The stick had a split in the middle, with a golden cage installed. It was decorated with flowers. It didn’t look brand new, but the previous owner had taken good care of it.

I took the stick and went downstairs. A familiar smell entered my nostrils and brought me over to the kitchen, where I saw a cat.

A literal cat.

It was floating in the air.

And it wore a tiny red cape.

The cat turned to me and meowed, “Breakfast is ready, nya.”

My jaw dropped. I fell to the ground in shock—

The cat… It spoke. It spoke to me.

Guess this is a dream.

I was so childish that I believed other worlds even existed.

And fairy godmothers.

And flying and talking cats.

“Madame Meilin, did you hear me?” The cat sounded a bit annoyed, its golden-green eyes gleaming.

Now that I finally got a good look at its face, I noticed that it had a bright orange patch of skin on its right eye, contrasting with its black body, just enough to set it apart from a fairytale witch’s cat.

“Oh yes. You said that breakfast was ready?”

“Over there, nya.”

I walked over to where the cat was pointing and saw a plate with slices of milk bread.

“Milk bread exists in Elysia, too?”

“It’s Elysium, and yes. You can find loads in bakeries, but I made this myself,” The cat replied. “I heard from Madame Cecilia that they exist in your hometown back on planet Earth, nya?”

I took a bite of the corner of the bread.

It tasted amazing.

It tasted like home, like the times when everything was normal and fine.

I recalled the last time I had milk bread, on a school trip with Haokei. We were going to a place called Kamtin Wetland Park—a park full of birds, reptiles, flowers, and trees.

Haokei had made some milk bread so we could feed the ducks and birds, even though we weren’t supposed to. I remember having a great deal of fun that day. Haokei’s friends were so busy scaring the animals that they forgot to bother me. If only time could rewind.

“So? Is it good, nya?” The cat floated over to where I was.

“Yeah…It’s amazing. It… reminds me of home.”

The cat looked at me thoughtfully, then chirped in curiosity, “Madame Cecilia told me you decided to leave Earth when given the choice to stay. But you speak of your home planet so fondly. I really wonder nya…why did you choose to leave?”

I stared at the cat, then at the bread, “Well. It’s complicated.”

“That doesn’t explain anything, nya.”

“I’m still a bit lost. So I left Earth and went to Elysia— I mean Elysium?”

The cat gawked at me, waving its tail left and right. “Of course. You thought that was a dream?”

“I mean, those things only happen in fairytales, right—”

“You mean your planet Earth didn’t have magic like this, nya? You’ve never seen a guardian like Madame Cecilia?”

I nodded, and the cat looked at me intensely, as if I were an object from a museum.

“Well. You’ve got a lot to learn.” The cat meowed, “Most witches teach and take care of their cats, but since you are unfamiliar with magic, I guess I’ll have to teach you all that I know nya.”

The cat leaped up and flew over to a tiny room.

A witch? Of all the roles I could have in a fantasy world, I’m a witch?

Cecilia mentioned it in the note. I didn’t think much of it before, but now that the cat has said it, the role seemed unfitting for me.

But that explains why my cat can fly.

So this is not a dream after all.

Well, I have a good feeling about this.

As long as I don’t have to face exams, angry moms, or school without Haokei, I’ll be fine.

The cat came out of the room, holding a tiny orb.

“Nya.” It handed me an orb, which emitted a soft glow.

“This is Elysium. A world of magic and wonder, ruled by orbs like the one on your hand.”

The cat seemed to be proud of it.

“My name is Haruki Kaze-nya! And since many people get confused, I’m actually a boy! Allow me to introduce you to this world of laughter, joy, and things you never imagined possible— ”

Haruki Kaze…nya?

So that cat is a male cat…

Now I feel bad for calling him “it” for so long.