Dandelion the Witch

Earthtear.

A world whose primary characteristic is its lack of a continuous planetary crust. Instead, most of the world’s landmasses exist as millions of floating islands --- or “torn earth” --- above the warm, glowing haziness called “the Heart”. With such a peculiar composition, it is difficult to say what kind of planet Earthtear is, or if it can even be called a planet at all. But one thing is certain: Earthtear, despite its name, bears no connection to Earth, the world I was born and raised in. If you ask why…

“Young man, have you found your answers in the heavens?” The raven-haired woman asked.

…the answer lies in the heavens, was what I would say.

-------------------

I looked away from the antique-looking, brass-and-glass telescope the woman had lent me. The sun had already set, and the stars revealed themselves; violent winds during the day had calmed down to a gentle breeze, gracing the grassy garden with its cool presence. I turned towards the raven-haired woman; she was still wearing her pure white hat, standing like an upright statue next to her garden’s black walls.

“Thanks for lending me the telescope. No, thanks for letting me stay the night despite my trespassing. I can’t remember anything and I am still confused, so I would’ve died if not for your help. I am really grateful.”

“Don’t worry, young man. It’s not like I can just kick you, an innocent wanderer, out of my estate; not when your memory is still a mess. I might be the landlord here, but I am not a heartless person. Besides, you even showed me your unorthodox astrology methods. That was worth the troubles already.

“But you haven’t answered my question yet.”

“…Yes, I found my answers. My astronomical observation indicates that this is a completely different world compared to my own. Not only are the stars’ positions completely different from those on Earth, even the planets are missing or different. Not even the Moon or Jupiter can be seen. There’s no mistake --- at the very minimum, Earthtear cannot be orbiting the same star as Earth.”

“Interesting. Instead of looking at the feet to understand the ground on which you are standing, you seek your answers in the ungraspable heavens above, even if you don’t remember who you are. An odd one you are.” The raven-haired woman sighed. “Well, I suppose being a wanderer from another world was odd enough.”

“I can only blame my old job for this. This habit is almost like an affliction at this point… I think. I can’t remember it clearly. All I remember are my past skills, I think.”

“Is that so, innocent child.”

The woman sat down next to me, and I followed the suit. A gentle night breeze grazed her long, silky hair, sending it swirling in the air; under the subtle starlight, I caught her fleeting, mysterious, almost ethereal smile. For a moment, I wondered what was behind that smile; my benefactor had been elegantly secretive so far.

I did not expect my answer to come in the next instant.

“Hey. You say your habit to gaze the stars is because of your work, so does that mean you were an astrologist? Then what are the graphs and symbols you just scribbled on the paper? Are they some sort of magical formulae? If so, then what sort of magic is it?” The woman’s eyes brightened as she interrogated me, her once dignified expressions quickly fading behind her passionate gaze. In some ways, she resembled a mad scientist who just got their hands on a new toy.

“…I thought you were an elegant and responsible elder. Where did your dignity go?” I replied.

“Come on, it’s common for people like us to be excited about exotic magic! It’s something close to an affliction by this point.” The woman complained. “I know you might want to hide your research, but since I sheltered you, shouldn’t you at least show me some basics? Please?”

“I am afraid that it’s not something so grand and magical. The charts here are, as you can see, sky charts and observation sketches. Although those are not very accurate, since they were hand-drawn, they were enough to prove that this world is different from Earth.”

“Hmmm… I’ve never seen such accurate astrological sketches before, though. And I swear to the Goddess I felt magical value from your sketches, similar to how a magic circle is constructed...”

“You flatter me, miss. I must’ve done my astronomical sketches so many times, and I’ve never seen a spark of magic.”

The woman was not satisfied by my answer. “Don’t lie to me. What are those formulae, then? They are not complete, but I can sense its unique power from afar. Such a combination of Celestial Magic and Elemental Magic is unheard of; it’s even got a bit of Divine Magic weaved into it. What exactly is it?”

“…It’s my attempt to estimate Earthtear’s weight by applying Earth’s physics.”

“That sounds very grand and magical to me.”

“It was just a failed attempt. I should’ve known that there is no way that Earth’s physical laws work here.” I pointed at a floating island afar. “If they worked, then there is no way that should exist.”

“Is that so. I think it worked well enough, though. As a magical formula that is.” The woman seemed slightly disappointed, but quickly found something to get excited about. “Hey, young man. If you don’t need your sketches and formulae anymore, then can I have them?”

“I don’t mind. But what are you going to---”

The woman in white suddenly snapped her finger. My sketches and notes, which were messily scattered around the telescope, were thrust into the air by some mysterious force, as if they were caught by an intangible tornado. The soot black ink on the paper then started to glow, emitting seven-coloured particles that neatly aligned themselves in layered, concentric circles. “Amazing!” the woman exclaimed, then started shouting what could’ve been magic chants or inexplicable gibberish due to her excitement. Her odd speech lasted for a few seconds, before she took out a mirror from her pocket and threw it into the air.

Without looking at my gobsmacked face, the woman snapped her finger again. The circles expanded, as if they heeded to her command, leaving behind ornate patterns that resembled drawings and written characters. The mirror in the air then shone brightly, so much so that I struggled to keep my eyes open. Seeking an explanation, I called out to the woman, in what must’ve been confused gibberish.

“Look below, young man.”

I looked at the ground, but the fresh grass was nowhere to be seen. In its stead was an image of a young man, no older than 30 but certainly older than a teenager, with a confused expression that was the same as mine. With a head of short, silver hair that imitated the graceful starlight and eyes of crimson, the young man’s appearance was striking enough that I did not dare to associate with my own. Yet when I waved at the young man, he simply waved back at me, the starry sky behind him quietly extended beyond the horizon.

“This is… a mirror?” I asked.

“Correct. It’s a sort of illusion magic, though I usually it is not this powerful. Your formulae must’ve augmented it quite a bit.”

“Does that include a beauty filter? There’s no way I am this handsome.”

“I am not sure what that is, but you shouldn’t compliment yourself, young man.”

“I am just stating facts.”

“That’s what I like about you.”

Abruptly, the woman smiled at me, her mysterious, doll-like features dimly illuminated by distant starlight above and below. Like a frame in a film, she offered her hand, as the mild wind carried her words, the words that were my destiny:

“Become my assistant, wanderer. In the name of Dandelion, the Witch of the Origin and the owner of this Viridescent Tower, I promise you a bright future.”