Final Selection

It’s been a month since I arrived here in the enchanted forest. It wasn’t as beautiful as they say.

The trees were dead and lifeless, the flowers and the other plants were all withered. The sparkling clear water that was stated from the books I had read together with Sir Greg at the royal library, was polluted and nowhere to be seen. Everything was just too sad and dreary.

They said that the forest was supplying all living things the mana they need. And in return, the mana of the forest was almost depleted. When I arrived, everyone was so against it because the condition of the forest cannot sustain it anymore.

“Sir Eisen, it is true that it is our duty to provide stray witches and wizards their home but this woman is not a stray. She’s a noble, isn’t she?” The one who said that was a witch who had this fiery short hair, matching her bluish eyes. She looked at me fiercely like she was telling me to leave.

“Instead of looking for more people, we should be looking for a way to help the forest. Bringing her here is just a waste of mana.” She added while staring at me like I was a pest.

“Winona…” Eisen called her name.

“Yes?” All of a sudden, she blushed while fidgeting in front of Eisen.

It felt like I was the third wheel and I kept glancing on both of them. Honestly, I wanted to lie down and sleep. That romantic moment was ruined by Riri though.

“Meow.” Riri circled around me while rubbing its face on my feet. He was the cutest thing ever, so I picked him up and hugged him.

“I’m sorry. My cat has ruined your conversation.” I humbly apologized.

“You have already summoned a familiar?” She asked. She was very surprised.

“It was my decision to bring her here. Earlier, you said we should be looking for a way to help the forest. I believe she can help.” Eisen looked at me seriously. “She have made the flowers grow using her mana.” He added and turned to Winona.

“Well, any witch can make a flower grow. How can she be—!” She cut her own words and added, “Impossible. Is it an ancient one?”

I couldn’t really follow.

“This girl… I will make her my disciple. I will teach her myself.” Eisen decided without even asking for my opinion.

“What?” She reacted as if she just witnessed a miracle.

Well, as long as I can sleep and eat freely, it’s fine.

***

“I’m going to live with you?” I was very surprised. “I am the daughter of Duke Evergreen, unmarried and you expect me to live with a man?” I absolutely couldn’t tarnish Valkyrie’s image. Plus, I didn’t want others to say something about us. I was still coping with my environment and it’s evident that some witches were not fond of me, so I had to earn their trust. If I were to live with him, every witch in this forest will hate me for sure! Handsome men are the worst!

“You throw away your title the moment you became a witch. In this place, everyone is an equal. Be a woman or man, all are the same.” He sat down and explained while sipping tea. “And you should be proud that I’m your master. You’re the first student that I handpicked myself.” He added.

Does he really not know how popular he is?

Are handsome boys really that oblivious?

“In the first place, our age is not that far from each other so it’ll be awkward to call you ‘master’!” I pointed at him.

“Isn’t it normal to call me ‘master’? I will be teaching you from now on.” After saying that, he took another sip from his tea again.

“And by the way, your house is very messy!” I looked around and everything was so out of place.

“Well, now that you are my student. You have to do the chores. You’re not expecting me to provide you with shelter and food for free, right?” He took a glimpse of me.

Ugh, he has a point. Damn it!

“Yes, Master.” Even if it’s against my will, I just smiled.

He’s a monster.

***

“I work to provide you of your needs. When I’m in verge of extreme sadness and emptiness, I cried and leaned only to myself… because I only have myself. I have no one to defend me or help me. Even if people were to look down on me, I tried to keep it in and endured and endured until it killed me. I never hated the world for making me feel this way. I died not because of the darkness of this world, but because of the light that can see all the evil in this world.”

“Just because you are the darkness and I am the light, others were convinced that we are enemies. It’s ironic. If I were to fall in your arms again, I want you to embrace me in darkness. Because in darkness… I can be imperfect and flawed. I only wanted that one thing, and this world can’t allow me to have it.”

***

I woke up from a dream with my eyes filled with tears. “Hah.” I took a heavy breath and then, keep having deep breaths.

“Whose voice was that?” I touched my chest so hard. It was painful.

I heard my voice when I was Klea Reynold but I didn’t recognize the second one in my dream. It’s not Valkyrie’s too.

“Growl.” Riri, which was supposed to be a cat, turned into his original black panther form when I woke up. He was circling around me as if he was very worried about me.

“Riri, your form—!” He cut me off by licking the tears I had on my face.

Then it occurred to me. Ah? Because the enchanted forest is helping me regain my mana from leaking, mostly of my mana came back and Riri was starting to regain his original form because of it.

“I’m sorry, Riri.” I caressed his head and leaned mine to his. “Because I can’t control my mana, you have to suffer.” I was happy that Riri was with me. He makes me comfortable and at ease.

“Meow.” It was then he reverted again into his cat form and licked my hands.

I was really bothered by that dream.

After minutes of calming myself down, I went down the stairs.

“Were you crying in your sleep? Did you miss your house and your family? Or did you miss your fiancé?” Eisen teased me early in the morning. He was having another tea.

“Why would I miss that idiot?” I asked myself. He had already prepared our breakfast and asked me to sit down and eat by making eye contact. “I’m sorry I overslept, Master. Next time, I’ll handle the cooking and everything.” I sat down and started eating the sliced bread he prepared.

“Well, I look forward to that.” He smiled and said.

“By the way, you said you will teach me, Master. What will I be learning first?” I asked while I was having food on my mouth.

“Talk or eat, pick.” He looked so embarrassed of me. “You’re a princess, right? How come you’re so casual to me?” He questioned while pouring my glass some milk, using magic.

“Wow, you can do that too?” I was in awe. Magic is really amazing.

Then, he sat down in front of me.

“First, you must know that mostly of the amateur witches are now attending the School of Witchcraft and Wizardry called Allegria. Allegria is the only place where you can learn magic. In your current state, you cannot even enter the grounds of that school.” He calmly explained.

I knew that it’s not that easy here. I was already aware of that.

“I will be teaching you how to control your mana and the basics of magic. But in a month, there will be a final selection of new witches. You have to take the test and pass. If you cannot pass, you’ll be sent home immediately.” He added.