Episode Three

“Rizett! Sorry — have you been waiting long?”

I called out to the familiar figure, still catching my breath.

“Ha, you look exhausted. Don’t worry, I barely just got here—”

Rizett turned around, her deep red hair swinging from its tie.

“Hang on, let me guess…”

She broke into a grin and ran her eyes over me from head to toe.

“Did the fans get you? The Black Witch — on her rare day of rest. Don’t miss the chance to see her out of that imposing robe, looking unexpectedly adorable—”

“Something like that!”

She laughed, slapping my shoulder repeatedly.

It had been about three years since we graduated from the academy. I’d like to think we’d grown up at least a little — but her particular brand of noise hadn’t changed at all, and I let out a sigh.

“Nobody chased me, nobody called out to me.”

“No way, that can’t be right.”

The Black Witch is only the Black Witch when she’s standing beside the White Witch. On my own, almost nobody recognises me.

“It can be right.”

I walked ahead of her, leaving Rizett to her exclamations.

She’d picked a café a little out of the way from the city centre. I’d taken a wrong turn getting here since I never come to this part of town — but it was quiet, and the moment I stepped inside, something in my chest settled. She always seems like she isn’t thinking about anything, but she’s always had this kind of thoughtfulness. I’d like to be more like her, but I doubt I ever will be.

I watched her light footsteps carry her past me to the door and softened despite myself, then stretched my arms up once under the open holiday sky.

　　　　◇

“Here — latest issue.”

The White-Black Bulletin was thrust at me the instant the teacups arrived.

“I don’t want that. I never know what face to make when I read it.”

I handed it back along with my sigh.

If Selene saw that reaction, I’d never hear the end of it. Not that it mattered — Rizett had booked us a private room, so there was no one to perform for right now.

“Lady Selene has a new robe. It sets off her fair complexion beautifully. Lady Selene out shopping — candid photos inside. She picks her tea leaves with a gracious smile. Lady Selene—”

“It’s nothing but Selene…”

The deadpan recitation drew a pitiful sound out of me.

I already knew. It’s not like I want to be famous. But having the gap laid out in front of me like that still stings a little.

“Ahaha. That’s not quite true — look at this.”

Rizett gave a wry smile and pointed to one page.

“The Black Witch in a stand-off with plush toys at a gift shop. After much deliberation, purchases two.”

“You didn’t need to read that one out…”

I exhaled and let my head drop.

“You were like this back in school too, but — the Witches’ popularity really doesn’t fade, does it.”

“We’re just regular adventurers taking guild jobs.”

That’s all we’ve ever been. But Selene’s appearance and the way she draws people to her had conjured the Witch legend around us, seemingly of its own accord.

“I know it’s a nuisance. But it’s not exactly a bad thing, is it?”

“…I know.”

The people who put out this bulletin, the ones who call out to us on the street — none of it comes from malice. I know that. I just feel strangely itchy about being celebrated alongside her.

“Anyway — that’s enough of this. Time to have a proper talk.”

Rizett closed the pamphlet and left a brief pause, her voice dropping.

She’d gone to the Magic Association rather than becoming an adventurer. Moments like this, her face became someone entirely different from the girl I knew at school.

The face of a researcher — someone who studies magic and mana. The breezy, scatterbrained Rizett from a moment ago was gone.

“I’ve been looking into your condition. Went through everything I could find that seemed even vaguely relevant.”

“Just to confirm, one more time.”

She met my eyes, serious.

“Sion has no means of replenishing mana except through supply from Selene. That’s correct?”

“Yes.”

“Potions, food, sleep — all the normal methods. None of those work either?”

“None of them. I’ve even had other mages try to supply me. That didn’t work either.”

Nothing worked. I’ve tried everything there was to try.

“…I see.”

She paused, choosing her words.

“I’ll be direct. I found nothing at all resembling your case. Having no means of taking in mana except from a specific person — I’ve never heard of anything like it.”

Rizett murmured it, her eyes lowered. There was something in the way her voice sank — something that sounded like frustration held back.

I already knew. But having the reality pressed into me made my chest ache.

“…I know. I’m sorry for all the trouble.”

“Don’t apologise. When you told me about it, you looked so pained. I wanted to find something for you.”

“I thought if anywhere had a record of it, the Association archives would.”

She was still talking quietly, eyes down, and the sight of her — the quiet defeat in it — made me press my lips together hard.

Why do I have to be the only one to feel this way.

If it were allowed, I’d cry. Loudly. Just pour out everything that was pressing against the inside of my ribs and finally breathe. The thought moved through me before I could stop it.

Rizett had given up her own time for this — her own research time — and here I was having thoughts like that. I was ashamed.

I stretched my expression into a smile, as warm as I could make it, to ease the slump in her shoulders.

“Truly, don’t worry about it. I’ve had this condition since I was little. I’ve honestly come to terms with it.”

“Since childhood… yes.” She looked up. “And how does Selene actually give you the supply? Like — holding hands? Something like that?”

“…Um… yeah. Something… like that.”

There was no possible way I could say it. That every time my mana runs out, she—

“Hmm. But it’s strange — mana is like air, isn’t it? Something that’s everywhere. And you can’t take it from anywhere but Selene. That’s what I genuinely can’t work out.”

“But,” she added, and gently took my hand.

“I haven’t finished looking. That was only one line of inquiry — mana supply specifically. There are books I haven’t read yet, people I haven’t spoken to—”

She was working so hard to lift me. Rallying, putting brightness into her voice for my sake. I apologised to her silently, then picked up the menu and talked over her.

“No — I’m alright, really. You’ve done so much research when you’re already busy. Thank you.”

“How about we start with something sweet? A cake?”

I pointed to the colourful illustrations of cakes in the menu.

I’m fine. I’m smiling right. I’ve already asked too much of her.

“No. I’m having the cake, but I’m still looking into you.”

She kept talking, eyes on the menu she’d taken from my hands.

“You’re allowed to lean on me more, you know. I’m annoyed, actually.”

She peered at me from behind the menu with a pointed look.

“You should have told me back at the academy. I couldn’t have done much more than listen back then, but I could have listened.”

“…Sorry. It just — felt hard to say.”

“Fine, fine. I’m getting this one!!”

She pointed to the largest cake illustration in the menu.

After that we talked for a while over our cakes — her complaints about the Association, stories about Selene. Sitting here with her after so long, the heavy air from earlier thinned, just a little.

“…Hey, Sion. Can I ask one more thing?”

Unusually for her, her eyes shifted slightly before she spoke.

“Of course. Anything.”

“With a condition like yours — why don’t you stop being an adventurer?”

Something lurched in my chest.

That. The question I hadn’t wanted asked. I’d known it would come eventually, but I still didn’t know how to answer it.

“Because — what if your mana runs out when you’re alone? What if something happens to Selene?”

“You could die, Sion.”

Cold sweat across my back. My throat went desperately dry, but I didn’t trust my hands not to shake if I tried to lift the cup.

I wanted to say something that would set her at ease. But whatever words rose in my mind knotted somewhere in my throat and refused to become sound.

“…I know.”

A thin, scraped voice came out.

“The reason — I’ll tell you one day.”

I’d like to know the reason myself, if there is one. I couldn’t tell her about what Selene and I were to each other. Not this. Not the twisted thing between us.

Silence moved through the space between us. My gaze wandered — the cup, the edge of the table, nowhere in particular.

“Okay.”

Rizett lifted her eyes from where they’d been lowered, let out a breath, and stretched her arms above her head. Her usual bright smile was back at the corners of her mouth.

“I suppose the mystery is part of the Witches’ appeal, isn’t it. Tell me eventually!”

“…Yeah. I’m sorry — you’re helping me so much and I can’t even be honest.”

Her kindness went deep. And alongside it, an equal measure of guilt for not being able to tell her the truth.

“I’m going to keep digging for a while anyway. Give me some time again soon. Maybe Selene could come next time too.”

“Selene too… I’ll mention it to her.”

We kept talking after that, and Rizett was as warm and lively as always — but I couldn’t tell you what we said. The words she’d spoken had lodged somewhere and kept sounding, over and over.