“No.”
“Eh, but there is. If you’re not unhappy, then smile a little.”
The purple-haired girl stopped walking, turned her head to look at her, her eyes void of any emotion:
“Do you need something?”
“So cold,” Hilxi said, stopping as well.
There was something about this girl that felt like she was troubled. Had something happened recently, or was this just her nature?
Could she be one of those problem girls?
The purple-haired girl turned her head, raised a finger, and pointed ahead. A clear and pleasant yet cold voice rang out:
“Straight ahead.”
“Straight ahead? And then?” Hilxi couldn’t help but sweat. Being taciturn is one thing, but this is another level.
“…”
The purple-haired girl said nothing, not even looking at her, instead turning her head toward a cluster of red spider lilies growing among the weeds.
The orange sunlight bathed her figure but cast a hint of sorrow over her.
“Hey, tell me, are you troubled by something?”
“No.”
“…That’s impossible.” Hilxi shrugged, then gave a sly smile. “Actually, I’m a diviner~ No matter what worries you have, I can foresee a thing or two.”
Only then did the purple-haired girl look at her, coldly rejecting:
“No need.”
“Are you doubting my skill?”
Hilxi wore a knowing expression as she pulled a sapphire-like blue crystal ball from her pocket.
“Though it’s a bit rude, I can divine your name. Believe it?”
“…”
The purple-haired girl said nothing, only staring at the crystal ball.
“Curious, aren’t you?”
“…”
Say something… otherwise, this is really awkward… Hilxi’s smile twitched slightly. Talking to herself, she continued:
“Since you’re so curious, I’ll show you.”
“…”
The purple-haired girl remained silent but shifted her gaze toward Hilxi’s face.
Hilxi cleared her throat, then began using her Divination Magic:
“Mirror mirror, please tell me the name of this lovely girl before me…”
As her words fell, the crystal ball in her hand glowed in response, its blue light reflecting on Hilxi’s face.
A mysterious gleam covered her blue eyes as her lips curled:
“I already know your name.”
A breeze stirred the fallen leaves, drifting away.
The purple-haired girl watched silently, like a mime artist performing without a sound.
Hilxi fell silent too.
No, I’m giving you a setup here—you could at least ask me something?
After a moment, feeling a bit defeated, she said:
“Your name is Saya, right?”
“…?” The purple-haired girl’s eyes widened slightly, confusion flickering in them.
Seeing this reaction, Hilxi, who had planned to reveal the real name after she expressed disbelief, paused.
She knows Saya?
Normally, if I’d said a name she didn’t recognize, she’d either be speechless, disdainful, scoffing, or show no reaction at all.
“You know Saya?” the purple-haired girl asked.
“You know her too?” Hilxi countered.
The purple-haired girl nodded lightly, then said her longest sentence since they met:
“She and I are both new to the Association, undergoing the same intensive training.”
“Oh, I see, I see.” Hilxi’s expression brightened as she smiled warmly.
“So you’re friends with Saya-san. Oh dear, how rude of me to even think about tricking you… cough, I’m her friend too.”
That was close—I almost revealed my true thoughts.
“…” The purple-haired girl said nothing again, simply stepping forward, walking along the street.
“By the way, where’s Saya-san? I met her in the Kingdom of Magicians. It’s been months since we last saw each other. She definitely wouldn’t expect me to be here, right? Hehe.” Hilxi caught up with her pace.
“She’s diligent. Besides the intensive training, she’s also attending special sessions.” The purple-haired girl glanced at her, then added, “She’ll probably leave the Association in about an hour.”
“You’re talking more now,” Hilxi smiled. “Looks like you and Saya are really good friends.”
“…”
The purple-haired girl neither agreed nor disagreed.
“Monica.”
A voice came from the side. Upon hearing that name, the purple-haired girl’s steps faltered.
“That’s your name, isn’t it? My Divination Magic isn’t just for show,” Hilxi said proudly.
The purple-haired girl Monica turned her head and stared into Hilxi’s eyes.
After a moment of hesitation, with an indescribable emotion, she asked:
“Licolis Disease… can you divine a cure?”
“An illness? Not really. If it’s just a disease name, divination success rate is low. If you let me see…”
“No need.” She interrupted Hilxi, seemingly unwilling to discuss the topic.
Hilxi closed her mouth, wisely choosing not to push further.
Licolis Disease… I’ve never heard of it before. Judging by the name alone, I can’t even guess what kind of symptoms it involves.
Why seek divination? Could it be incurable? If it were, surely she wouldn’t ask a novice diviner like me. She must know that… Hilxi thought as they walked.
Suddenly, an idea struck her.
Maybe it really is incurable, but not a common kind—perhaps a rare disease known only in a certain region. Since no divination had been attempted before, she asked me on a whim.
And when she realized the hope was slim, she cut off the topic quickly—not wanting me to know more.
Hilxi’s suspicion grew but, given the current atmosphere and lack of evidence, she didn’t pry.
She and Monica walked side by side along the sparsely populated street, flanked by trees and weeds.
After a while, Hilxi asked suddenly:
“Monica, do you know about demons?”
“A bit.”
“On my way from the Kingdom of Magicians, I encountered a demon.” Hilxi’s expression grew serious as she recalled the village where she met the demon.
“It can kill humans in their sleep… no, more precisely, its method is to make people fall asleep, then take their lives. Terrifying and eerie…”
Monica looked at her, suddenly asking:
“You’re not human?”
“…”
Hilxi nearly choked on the question, her thoughts freezing.
Are you insulting me?
Huh??
She grabbed her magic wand and conjured three colorful question marks in the air with magic to express her confusion.
“…” Monica’s lips parted slightly but ultimately said nothing.
“…”
“…”
After a blue-eyed stare from Hilxi and a purple-eyed response from Monica, and seeing Monica unwilling to explain, Hilxi turned her head in frustration.
So sad. I got insulted for no reason.
If you weren’t Saya-san’s friend, I’d definitely explain why that boy ran away in panic just now.
“Sorry.”
“Oh, it’s fine. I won’t want to hit you just because you insulted me once, really.”
“Demons are rare creatures, usually found in small to medium countries or remote regions. They don’t need to eat; they sustain themselves on absorbing magic. They see humans as livestock, with twisted worldviews. Their appearance is ever-changing—they can imitate humans, elves, demons, and other beings. Their abilities are strange. Even witches aren’t guaranteed to handle them perfectly…” Monica slowly explained.
Her voice was so nice… No, demons are so scary! Even witches might fail against them!
“But the demon I met didn’t seem hostile toward me…” Hilxi said in surprise.
“Demonic behavior isn’t understandable to humans; their way of thinking is different,” Monica glanced at her.
“…Hmm, maybe it thought I was too cute to hurt?” Hilxi pondered.
“…” Monica returned to her cold expression.
After some casual chat, the number of pedestrians increased and the noise rose.
“That’s the inn you were talking about,” Monica pointed to the building nearby.
It was an ordinary inn—neither fancy nor rundown—with prices probably within expectations.
“Monica, you’re from another country too, right? Where do you usually stay?” Hilxi asked tentatively.
“…I live here.”
“And Saya?”
“She’s here too.”
“Well, I’m staying here then!”
Entering the inn, happily paying the rent, Hilxi went to her room.
Clean and tidy, not too big or small, with a pot of pink flowers on the windowsill. The light was just right, and there was even a stove.
“Not bad.”
She casually hung her black coat on the nearby rack, closed the door, and sat on the wooden bed covered with a white quilt.
Using Flame Magic, she lit the coals in the stove, and the chill in the room gradually dissipated.
Monica had returned to her room next door.
Hilxi rubbed her slightly cold palms, then pulled something from the pocket of her robe.
It was a glass vial the size of a finger.
Inside the transparent bottle swirled black mist, along with ash-like particles.
She had discovered this while trying to collect emotions. Compared to positive emotions like happiness and satisfaction, negative emotions were somehow easier to absorb.
Hilxi narrowed her eyes and shook the bottle between her thumb and forefinger.
The ashes inside scattered, glowing with crimson sparks, oddly beautiful.
These were the fused essences of pain, sadness, hatred, and other negative emotions. She didn’t understand what exactly this was or its use.
The amount she collected was controllable, unlike Emotion Expulsion Magic, which drives out all emotions and leaves one in an unimaginable state.
“If used well, maybe… I could make a lot of money.”
Hilxi’s mind raced. Such magic could let people temporarily escape the pain of tragedy. If she opened a “House of Troubles Resolved”… yeah, that could be a business opportunity.
“But I’ve experimented too little. If there are side effects or trouble, I’d probably be invited for tea by a witch.”
She dismissed the thought for now, slipped the “Bottle of Pain Containment” back into her pocket, and stepped out.
It was about time to visit the friend she hadn’t seen for a while.
Knock knock knock.
She knocked on Monica’s door.
No response.
Just as she raised her hand again, the door opened.
“Something?”
Monica pulled the door open halfway, speaking coldly.
“I’m inviting you to dinner.” Hilxi sighed. She wanted to add, Could you stop looking like the world’s about to end all the time?
“…You’re inviting?” Monica considered.
“Yeah, and we’ll invite Saya-san too~”
“Okay.”
After the brief exchange, Monica put on a brown coat and followed Hilxi out of the inn.
They stood outside.
Looking up, they saw the evening glow—the sunset’s afterglow casting warm light on the streets and rooftops.
Hilxi put her hands in her pockets and asked Monica:
“Do you know any good restaurants?”
“No.”
“…Not a great recommendation.”
The two waited at the inn’s entrance, watching pedestrians chatting and hurrying by. Hungry, Hilxi bought some bread nearby and ate while waiting.
“Finally done… my magic’s all drained, and my bones feel like they’re about to fall apart…”
Saya, dressed in her mage’s robe, wearily stepped out of the Association. She glanced up at the sky and sighed softly:
“Training until sunset every day… becoming a witch is really not easy…”
Though she complained, she had never slackened off. Every day she diligently trained in various fields and practiced magic—all to become a witch as soon as possible and reunite with the traveler she admired.
She walked alone down the empty street, accompanied only by flowers and trees lining the road.
“Hmm, tonight I’ll go eat with Monica-san! But will she agree…?”
Thinking about dinner, Saya jogged toward the inn.
But just as she was about to arrive, her steps suddenly stopped.
A figure unfamiliar yet familiar, bearing a face matching a certain impression, stood before the inn.
It was the one who had accompanied her in loneliness.
Sun-like golden hair with orange-white hues, a cute, gentle face, and ocean-like eyes—all unmistakably hers.
“Saya’s back,” Monica said quietly.
“Oh…” Hilxi swallowed the bread in her mouth and tapped her chest to help the food settle.
Hearing the muffled thumps, Monica glanced at her but said nothing.
“Saya-san!”
Hilxi smiled, raising her right hand in a wave.
Saya seemed to confirm it was her, then hurried over, her figure somewhat rushed.
Her shoulder-length black hair fluttered as she approached, her smile genuine and heartfelt:
“Hilxi!”
Hmm? Hilxi’s smile faded a little as she watched Saya run faster and faster.
Was this going to be a big warm hug?
Monica instinctively stepped back a few paces.
“Hilxi-san! It really is you!” Saya’s smile broadened as she opened her arms.
“Yes, it’s me! Stop! You’re going to crash into me!”
Hilxi shouted hurriedly and summoned her wand, considering whether to cast a freeze spell.
After hesitating, she gave up on the impolite idea.
Thud!
Then she was knocked to the ground by Saya’s enthusiastic embrace, her head accidentally hitting the inn’s wall, pain twitching at the corner of her mouth.
“My head… Saya-san, are you trying to kill me?!” Hilxi held her bumped head and shouted.
“No no, I’m just too happy!”
Saya shook her head, hugging her tightly, smiling brighter than the flowers.
“Alright, alright, get off me. So many people are watching!” Hilxi pushed at Saya with her palm. If this continued, I’d die.
“I want to hug a bit longer~” But Saya clung on like a sloth, refusing to let go.
Seeing the bystanders’ strange, amused looks, Hilxi tilted her head and gave in.
“Ah, I hit my head and got knocked out. Let me die now.”
Monica’s lips curved slightly as she watched this scene unfold.