Back in the room, Hilxi took off her outerwear, revealing the white shirt underneath.
She let out a sigh for some unknown reason, pulled a chair over to sit by the window, clasped her hands together, and rested her head on them, her azure eyes gazing at the stars in the sky.
A gentle breeze stirred the golden hair at her forehead, cool and carrying a hint of chill.
Speaking of which, how many days has it been since she crossed over? About half a month, more or less.
Looking at the bright moon in the night sky, she always felt a sense of confusion, as if everything was unreal to her.
Everything from before had become fleeting as bubbles, like an elusive, ungraspable Dreamscape.
Lonely?
Of course—after all, she was all alone.
In this vast, unknown world, there could never be anyone exactly like her… someone from that Homeland she could never return to.
“So annoying, sadness, agitation, gloom—enough already, just die off…”
Hilxi took several deep breaths, then closed the window, no longer letting the cold wind whip her face.
There was nothing to be done.
Alone in a foreign land as a stranger, all she could do now was study more Magic, learn stronger Magic.
Maybe then, perhaps…
Swoosh.
A plain brown Magic Wand suddenly appeared in her hand. Magic power surged within Hilxi, and the tip of the wand began to glow.
The next moment, a marvelous scene unfolded.
The single bed in the room, under the effect of Magic, actually floated up, hovering one meter above the ground.
This was one of the spells she had learned from Elaina—Control Objects.
Of course, the denser or heavier the object, the more magic power it consumed. For now, she could only control objects under a hundred jin.
“To become a Witch within a year, I need more Magic…”
And so, she went to acquire more spells.
Bang—a loud sound, and the door swung open.
Elaina and Saya sat up in confusion, staring at Hilxi who stood outside the door.
What happened?
“Hilxi…san? Eh? Why are you carrying a bed over here??” Elaina seemed to have a bad premonition.
Hilxi said nothing, using her Magic Wand to control the single bed once more, merging it with the bed they were sleeping on.
“…”
“…”
Saya hugged her hat, as if she had guessed something.
“…You two sleeping together is way too cramped, so your considerate me is bringing you another bed.”
Hilxi’s face was shrouded in shadow, and she smiled.
“Hilxi-san’s smile is so dark…”
“So scary.”
“That’s right, I’m a bad person!”
Ignoring Saya’s attempts to push her away, Hilxi sprawled right onto the bed, even demanding that Saya switch places with her, which of course was refused.
Just as they were about to start bickering, Elaina gave in.
Lying in the middle, staring at the ceiling bathed in silvery moonlight, Elaina’s expression was unreadable.
A faint sound came from her side, and her right hand was grasped by the orange-white-gold-haired girl.
As always, it made her feel somewhat helpless.
“Elaina-san is leaving tomorrow, right?” Hilxi lay on her side, looking at Elaina’s profile as she asked.
“Now that I’ve found the badge, of course I have to leave.” Those glazed eyes turned slightly, catching the deep reluctance in Hilxi’s gaze.
“…I’m a Traveler.”
She emphasized once more.
Hilxi turned her eyes away and said nothing.
Such a good sheep leaving—how was she supposed to safely fleece wool in the future?
“And Hilxi-san?”
“Huh?”
“If Hilxi-san becomes an Apprentice Witch, will you go back to your Homeland like Saya-san?”
“I won’t.”
Hilxi shook her head slightly.
The original parents had suffered an accident and gone to Heaven; in this world, she had no real family. And the original’s Homeland, after all, was not her own—there was no need to return.
Traveling, though—maybe there’d be a chance to visit someday.
“I see.” Elaina didn’t ask why.
The room fell silent.
In this peaceful, cozy environment, Hilxi felt her eyelids grow heavier and heavier, and gradually drifted off into an illusory Dreamscape.
The sound of even breathing filled the room.
The next morning, the dawn filtered in through the window, illuminating the dim room.
Her eyelashes trembled slightly as Hilxi opened her eyes. The scene before her blurred for a moment, then slowly cleared.
Elaina was gone.
She didn’t know when she’d left.
Sitting up with the help of the bed, Hilxi felt an unusually sharp headache—like she’d drunk fake liquor. After a while, the feeling finally eased a little.
“To think she left without even saying goodbye. Ugh… Why does my head hurt so much? Did she secretly use some kind of sleep Magic on me?”
Shaking her head, Hilxi glanced at Saya, who was still sound asleep beside her. On her youthful cheeks, tears still glistened at the corners of her eyes.
She reached out instinctively and gently wiped away Saya’s tears with her thumb.
Glancing at the Triangle Hat Elaina had left behind, Hilxi didn’t wake Saya.
She got up and left the room quietly.
Rooftop.
Whoosh—
The wind howled, and Apples on the nearby tree swayed gently, but none fell.
Unfazed, Hilxi swung her Magic Wand. A rush of air surged up once again.
Knocking down the Apples without hurting the branches was still pretty difficult.
Whoosh—
This time, she used too much force—the Apple was blasted right off, and its rosy form seemed doomed to be smashed into pulp on landing.
But just before it hit the ground, it suddenly stopped in midair.
Then, it floated gently into Hilxi’s hand.
Apple: You jerk.
Crunch!
Juice spattered as Hilxi chewed the fruit, one hand holding her wand, one hand holding the Apple, and began practicing Wind Magic again.
By the way, she had originally just wanted to take a nap.
An hour later.
Saya finally opened her eyes, staring blankly at the empty bed beside her.
After a moment, she got up in silence.
Even with Elaina’s encouragement yesterday, now that she’d really left, Saya still felt deeply sad.
Her gaze suddenly caught on something.
She paused, then picked up the Triangle Hat by the bed and hugged it to her chest.
Bang.
The door burst open.
Saya was startled and quickly hid the hat behind her, looking toward the intruder.
It was a girl with orange-white-gold hair and deep blue eyes.
“You’re sure up late…”
“Hilxi-san, Elaina…”
“Ah, she’s gone.”
“…”
“Why do you look like you’ve just been dumped? It’s not like you won’t get another chance to meet again, you know.”
“…”
Saya had no energy to bicker with her.
Hilxi rapped her knuckles against her head and said:
“Alright, enough with the sadness. She’s a Witch and a Traveler. There’s no way she’d stay with someone who’s not even an Apprentice Witch forever. Get real.”
“…If you can’t comfort people, just shut up.”
“Ara, but I’m just telling the truth. Anyway, I’m hungry, go cook me breakfast!”
“…?”
Saya froze for a moment—what are you even thinking?