Episode Seven

“Hm… where is this…”

An unfamiliar ceiling. Even the pillow was softer than usual, and there was none of the scent of home — just the faint smell of wood.

With eyes that hadn’t fully opened yet, I looked around the room, and found a figure with silver hair breathing quietly in sleep.

“Selene…”

Curled small, breathing softly — she looked nothing like her usual self. Childlike. Almost sweet. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d watched her sleep.

Looking at her like that, the memories of last night came back.

“…What is she like…”

The irritation I’d felt last night — somehow, looking at that peaceful sleeping face, it all stopped mattering. I might be too soft on her. But we’ve known each other so long, I suppose that can’t be helped.

It was still early to be up — but fresh air might do me good.

I shot the sleeping Selene one last look, changed quietly, and slipped out of the inn.

Outside, the sun hadn’t fully risen yet and the air was cool and dim. I hadn’t been able to see much last night in the dark, but the view — great mountains on every side — felt more open than the capital, and easier to breathe in. The air itself seemed cleaner.

“Are you an adventurer, miss?”

I turned toward the voice. A small girl and a woman who must have been her mother. The girl was giving me a tentative little wave, so I waved back, awkwardly.

“I am. I came to take care of something bad.”

I crouched down in front of her and gently patted her head.

“Good luck. I want to be like the witch ladies one day.”

She tried to pat my head in return, stretching up on her toes with all her effort. The earnestness of it was almost too much.

“I’m sorry — she heard a travelling bard tell the story of the White Witch and the Black Witch, and now she’s decided she’s going to be just like them someday, and nothing will change her mind.”

The mother spoke with an expression caught between exasperated and quietly proud.

I was a little surprised — I hadn’t thought word of us had spread anywhere outside the capital. Though a bard’s version of the story would have been dressed up with embellishments, probably.

“…Is that right. I wonder if they’re really all that impressive.”

I smiled thinly and straightened up.

“My husband — her father — was killed by a monster.”

The mother said it quietly, her eyes going slightly distant.

“After that, this little one was closed off for a long time. But then she heard about the witches going around defeating monsters everywhere, and she decided she wanted to become someone who could protect people too. That’s what she told me.”

“As a parent, I’d rather she didn’t put herself in danger, of course.”

She gave a wry smile, gently stroked her daughter’s head, and dipped her head to me.

“Forgive me for talking at you out of nowhere. We don’t often have adventurers in this village, so I’m afraid I got carried away. If you’re going out after monsters — please take care of yourself.”

“Not at all — I’m the one who asked an odd question. Leave the monster hunting to us. We’ll do our best.”

I pushed down the self-consciousness and said it looking them both in the eye.

I don’t know how much conviction was in it. I’m probably a long way from the witch this little girl is dreaming of. But I wanted to live up to it.

I watched the two of them go and walked on through the quiet village.

Since graduating from the academy, Selene and I had defeated a great many monsters together. The reason was simple: if I didn’t use magic, I wouldn’t receive the supply. That was all there was to it, for me.

I’d always had enough to manage just keeping myself going — I’d never once stopped to think about what defeating monsters meant. But perhaps the magic I’d been using all this time, struggling through it as I did — perhaps it had meant something, just a little, to someone.

I was leaning on the fence along the river, thinking vaguely, when a familiar voice reached me.

“Morning, Sion. You’re up early.”

Unfamiliar place — but hearing that voice, something in me settled oddly.

“For once. Selene’s way of sleeping — it’s the same as when we were small. Still sweet.”

“Mm. You remember.”

“More or less.”

After that we stood side by side in silence for a while, watching the river flow. The sound of the waterwheel turning, steady and unhurried — I could have listened to it forever.

After a moment, as if something had just occurred to her, Selene turned toward me and gently brushed my hair aside, laying her fingers lightly against my throat.

The place she touched seemed to warm instantly.

“They haven’t faded yet.”

She gave a small soft laugh, and traced each mark with her white fingers, one by one.

“…The worst.”

Whatever had felt clear and clean inside me was ruined.

I didn’t know what expression I was making. Only that I didn’t want it seen — and I left her standing there by the river and walked back to the inn at a quick pace.

When Selene returned a little later, she said nothing, and simply reached for my hair. Whatever awkwardness had been between us thinned, gradually, as the brush moved through it.

The innkeeper came to collect us while that was still happening, and Selene and I made our way together to the headwoman’s house — breakfast was ready, apparently.

The innkeeper’s expression, unlike last night, had taken on a peculiar warmth that I couldn’t quite account for. I hoped she wasn’t thinking anything strange.

I found myself smiling a little at Kiaran and Uno, neither of whom had made any attempt to tame their hair, and reached for something unfamiliar on the table. I wasn’t particularly hungry — but I ended up eating a great deal regardless.

“How come you’re wearing your hair down today, witch?”

On the way back to the inn after breakfast, Kiaran tilted her head and asked.

“Oh — just felt like it today.”

I meant to say it casually. I’m sure it sounded fine. The marks were hidden well enough — probably. I didn’t know whether Kiaran would understand what they meant, but if she did, it would absolutely become a nuisance.

“Hm.”

I held my breath and watched her from the corner of my eye — but she didn’t seem particularly interested. Kiaran gave a noncommittal reply and walked on ahead.

“…Black Witch…!”

Uno, by contrast, had been trailing behind me ever since, eyes bright with something unreadable. It was a little wearing — but driving her away seemed unkind.

Such a nuisance…

She’d been watching me all through breakfast too. It was probably safer not to address it directly. It would only turn into something complicated.

“I’m going to go find Selene. See you later!”

I said it and made my escape, speeding up toward the inn.

The moment Selene’s name left my mouth, I felt the gaze at my back intensify — but I didn’t turn around, and made it back to the inn.

After that, the four of us spent the remaining daylight hours looking around the village. Kiaran’s eyes lit up at every stall. Uno continued, faithfully, at my heels.

I wished this time could last. The ease of the village air made something in me want to go soft — but I had to collect myself before long.

For the villagers who were wishing us safe passage. For the three people I’d be fighting alongside. What I could do was simply not be a burden.

I gripped the hem of my robe tightly, and held that thought.