The white haired witch

“This is a pretty big town… It will be our last stop before the capital, right?” Marieka asked.

“....Yep, but no rush… We still have three months till Brynheint… Nothing to worry about…” Covering my mouth, yawning. As the three of us made our way to the market, moving through crowds and holding my hood in place, I suddenly realized.

Wow… It’s been six months since we’ve departed from Ryven… It feels surreal that we’ve been traveling for this long… I scoffed.

“....And three months, until we’ll be back to square one...” I pressed my lips in a thin line.

Marieka narrowed her eyes and tried not to frownーIt's hard for her to accept it regardless. “Mhm… Even though I feel sad about it… This whole journey was a blast… I don’t want it to end!!! Let it stay as it is!!! Hmphh!!”

“That’s not really… Good, you know…? I’m worried if your parents ever find out. Nine to eight months is your excuse limit. And nothing more.”

“It’s so unfair…” She slouched. “....I really want everything to stay this way. I’m worried… I don’t know when I’ll be able to visit you, nor see Annaliese again.”

Annaliese raised a finger in the air. “I can assure you Marieka, I’ll be around to visit Ryven when the time comes!”

I replied. “It's gonna be hard to get in contact with her due to her overprotective family, I’m not so sure as to be able to convince them either. I’m also gonna be at my desk overworking myself…”

“R… really…? Then… We might as well enjoy this to the fullest…” Annaliese scoffed, slouching her shoulders.

That… We probably will… Exhaling, I cleared my throat.

And just like that… In a breeze, we’re already in Vanhaert… And that to think, it felt like yesterday that Marieka suggested, or rather FORCED me to travel with her… Gosh, It’s been a pain…

Regardless, I never expected this journey to be a breath of fresh air…

Not only that but, I’ve learned many more things about Marieka, Annaliese, and Astrid... It was really a surprise how this little walk turned out to be.

Of course, we still have a long way to go until we actually part ways. And yet, I can’t help but cherish the moments we’ve had in this span of time…

Reflecting on myself through this journey, I slowly began letting go of the past, embracing my imperfections as a Pointed hatーThinking about how much it had been hurting me through these years, to the point where I continued to doubt myself over and over again….

However, like I’ve said, I don’t plan on ever coming back to my position… My past will still continue to haunt me, and I’m incapable of stopping itーall I could ever do is to keep on trying to embrace it, until to the point where it begins to subside.

It won’t be easy… But… At the very least I’ve tried, or did my best in that regard… And that alone is enough for me…

On that note, I hope that Lotea was able to contain the rumors of my presence…

“ーMarieka… Have the rumors around Friedenswald spread here yet?” I whispered to her.

“Uhm…. I don’t know… I’m not really sure…”

Well this is bad… I’m skeptical if a few went through…

There’s nothing I could do anyways… It was my choice and I chose it… Hence I’ll be paying the price…

Marieka leaned to me, her face filled with anxiety. “D… do you think you’re able to come back…?!! What if the word has already spread back home!?”

“I’ll… Handle that… Mhm…” I assured her, and yet I was still skeptical. “It’s probably fine… Yeah… Ryven is far away… It’ll take a while, it still has to pass through the Imperial Vascht.”

She exhaled in relief.

Still, I doubt people would know where I am… at least, if the rumors ever reach Ryven… they'll have an Idea that I’m still alive… Just not in position at the moment, and most likely never again.

I clenched my fist.

However… I wouldn't hesitate to save them this time… And it will not be because of my obligation as a Pointed hatーrather of my own decision. I've decided on it… It wouldn’t be only the people from Ryven but… Everyone…

“....To unify the people, some day you said. Miss Charlotte.” I quietly muttered to myself, looking at the ground and pressed my lips in a thin line. “Thank goodness you forced me to travel along… Marieka…”

“Uhh… You… Said something? Varieka…? Please don’t tell me you’re saying stuff again behind my back…” She crossed her arms.

I straightened my posture and waved my hands. “Of course not, I would never… I’m not a horrible person….”

“Pfftt…. I’m joking… It’s been awhile since I’ve joked to you like that.” She chuckled.

Exhaling, I rolled my eyes, yawning. “ーOh look, a book store… Catch you guys later…” I separated from the two.

“Varieka…!!! Not again…” She facepalmed.

Annaliese beside her chuckled. “That’s the person we all know and love~~.”

Walking along the cobbled street heading towards the buildingーI opened the door and entered through the small bookshop without hesitation… And there in front I saw a paradise…

The whole shelves were stacked, full of books that were labelled as grimoires, coupled with books dating back decades… My eyes lit up.

WOAAHH!!!! THERE'S SO MUCH!!!!! Letting out a squee on the insideーmy smile reached up to my ears.

And of course, what I was talking about were the unconventional, useless books that caught my eye like someone had cast Vuelies Araglia on me.

Smirking, I approached one of the shelves and took one to read.

Ehehehe… Let’s see, Let’s see….

“ーHello!! Welcome! Is there anything you’d like….? Any specifics or anything?” The worker on the other corner greeted me.

Because I was blinded by these gorgeous books, I was slow to realize that upon entering the building, I had looked like a complete fool…

I jolted, cleared my throat and tried my best to act normal. “Mmm…. N… not at all!! I’m satisfied with this!!”

“Is that so..? Then! Please, feel free to choose to your liking!”

“T… thank you…” I continued to read the book, slightly embarrassed by how I acted…

As I stood quiet reading the book in my hands, the worker eventually broke the silence.

“ーOh yeah!! Have you heard about this rumor of the Pointed hat from the Kingdom of Ryven being the one to prevent a horrifying tragedy…?” She paused before placing a finger on her cheek. “As far as I remember her name was… Lady Eilise! Yes!! To think that a different Pointed hat would dare step in another soil just to protect its kingdom… She’s really something else!”

I froze, before lowering the book.

Shucks… The rumors did spread…. Huuuuuu… Why!!!! Lotea!!!!!

Reluctant, I turned slowly to her and began acting like I’ve never heard such rumors.

“Really….? Hmm… Y… yeah, that was heroic of her…”

“ーRight??!! She’s the exact image of a Pointed hat if I’ve ever imagined!! Despite there being differences, she didn’t hesitate to save others… I’m sure she was probably an envoy? Which would explain why she’s in Friedenswald…? But, wow! She’s really really amazing… If I could be any person in the world… I would want to be like her…”

The worker chuckled, smiling at me. “Perhaps the people from Ryven might not be so bad after all? I’ve had the wrong idea all this time… Gosh!!” She exhaled, looking up at the ceiling. “....I’d love to visit the kingdom in hopes I could ever meet an amazing person like her.”

…

Ahaha…

Scoffing, my cheeks turned redーboth embarrassed and happy…

I turned to the worker, clasping the book to my chest, smiling.

“….Lady Eilise really is amazing! Isn't she?”

The End.