Chapter 347: The Fuel of Witch Magic

—

“A witch’s magic circuits are not like those of ordinary humans, existing as separate organs. They are closely linked to our blood, our emotions, our spirit, and that is what makes them powerful…”

Lis sat down, inviting Leah to sit opposite her, in her old spot.

“To feel the pulsation of magic circuits so clearly, that must be a sensation witches can’t give up, right?”

“Is that why we become like this after losing someone?”

“Perhaps. After all, someone once mentioned a romantic theory: the fuel of witch magic isn’t natural mana, but—it’s no fun if I tell you. Can you guess?”

Leah sat down, in her childhood seat. She hadn’t grown much taller since the last time she sat there.

“I can’t guess.”

“Alright, just like when you were a child, you answer ‘I can’t guess’ without even trying. Back to magic circuit depression, this is something every witch experiences.”

“You mean, you too…”

“Once, in a place similar to this hut, decorated like a fairy tale mushroom house. I sent off your birth father—though you probably don’t remember that, do you?”

“…That happened?”

Leah was surprised. This was the first time Lis had ever mentioned… the part of her lineage that was “human.” It wasn’t surprising, as witches were a special race born from a “magic circuit” left behind by the witch Arya five hundred years ago, but physically, they were still human. Countless witches had intimate contact with humans and bore offspring, otherwise the number of witches wouldn’t always remain constant.

“At that time, I was also a student at a magic academy—though the Entark Empire wasn’t unified yet, I think.”

“He and I researched ancient magic together, very absorbed. In just a few years, we reached the point you saw earlier… deciphering how Nourish with Warmth and Radiant Silence combined to create the wax block.”

“Later, you were born… I wanted him to have a long life like me, so, with his consent, I injected him with witch’s blood. Right here.”

“…And you accuse me? Don’t you also inject witch’s blood into others’ veins so casually?!”

Leah’s mood seemed to improve slightly. She had thought she was the only one who did such things. Now it seemed, “witches” all over the world would often fall in love so passionately, part so dramatically, and then grieve quietly alone.

“He wasn’t as ‘lucky’ as Will. The rejection after the blood injection was severe. It was so painful that, even though he had begged for eternal life, he ended up holding my hand and asking me to kill him.”

“Well, I guess I’m better off, after all… after all, Will seemed quite comfortable!”

Leah, in this small place, found a point of pride for herself for some reason.

“That’s because the magic and device you used for the blood injection have been modified many times!” Lis didn’t lose the argument either.

“Then… did you kill Father in the end?”

“I didn’t. Witches are like that. Like every witch who left her name in human history, domineering, unyielding, and crazy. I watched his blood vessels slowly turn red under his skin, surfacing. I kept transfusing blood into him—because I always felt like it wasn’t enough.” Lis let out another wicked laugh, telling a dark joke about her “lover,” yet still managed to smile. Perhaps it was because it had been a very long time ago. Or perhaps, she no longer cared? Of course, it could also be…

“To be honest, after that experiment, even I became anemic.”

It could also be that every witch has some unbelievably rubbish elements in their bones.

“Serves you right! Witch blood can be cultivated outside the body, are you stupid?”

“But that was blood for someone I loved, of course I had to draw it from my body. Did you cultivate yours back then?”

“Well… no, it was drawn the night before…”

“Then don’t talk about me.”

“But, when he was completely red, wouldn’t wake up no matter how much I called, and even woke you up crying, I was still a little sad and scared…”

“Just a little? Alright, to be able to feel ‘a little’ means you’ve made progress.”

“Don’t be like that. I was quite gentle and innocent back then.”

Leah had never heard “gentle Mother” tell these stories. It seemed… the outside world’s… well, human legends about witches were quite accurate. Witches did often stir up trouble, but they were also people who clung tightly to their loved ones.

“He died, of course. For a long time after his death, I also felt the depression of my magic circuits. It was from that time that…”

Lis pointed to Leah’s hand, which was tightly gripping the wax block.

“My research never made any new progress. It stagnated there.”

Leah looked down at the ice-blue wax block in her hand. This was something she had obtained according to the “quest” Will had left. Although… the “endpoint” of that series of quests, to shine brightly in the eyes of the one she loved… she probably couldn’t achieve that anymore.

“Then what happened? Mother, did you break free from that state?”

“Not back then,” she paused. “Perhaps because of that, for a very, very long time, I didn’t want you to interact with humans.”

“I see. So that’s why I encountered such a beautiful yet cursed fate.”

“For every witch, perhaps it’s different. Some break free, some fall deeper. But…”

Lis rested her hand on her chin, looking at Leah. Witches have long lifespans. Although Lis should still be in her youth, her appearance had remained that of a fourteen-year-old child. But, for the first time, Leah saw a hint of maturity in her expression.

“Emotions like loss, regret, and sorrow are also part of a life worth savoring.”

“You should have told me these things earlier. You made me… for a long time, I didn’t even dare to speak to people outside, you know?”

“Oh? You had times when you didn’t dare to speak to people? That’s rare.”

“But how did you go from not wanting me to interact with humans to being like this?”

“Later…”

Lis adopted a storytelling tone, pouring herself a new cup of hot tea. She truly resembled an old woman now, holding a warm cup of tea.

“I tried to find more ancient texts. Slowly, I recalled every evening I spent with him. Slowly, those feelings of loss, regret, and sorrow settled into my memories…”

By now, the sky was late. The reach of the sunset, controlled by the dungeon, had receded from the room, making the candlelight inside shine brighter.

“So, Mother, during those years you were missing, you were doing all this?”

This had been a long-standing mystery for Leah. Lis had left without a word. What had she done, and why had she left Rimefrost Phalanx as a clue for Leah?

“That was one reason, but more importantly, I was representing the witches to look for clues about Arya.” Lis smiled.

“Oh… I see… Wait, Arya?!”

Arya, the first witch, who created the special witch race, who created such unique bloodlines?! Leah had always thought Arya was dead. But…

“She’s still alive? And why would… why would you be looking for her…?”

“She’s certainly dead. I was looking for her, dead, in the dungeons.”

“How could a dead person be…?”

“Shhh. That’s a long story. It involves witches and ancient magic. For now, let’s go back to our story…”

“One day, even though I had forgotten his face. But, well… when I opened a certain page of ancient magic, I remembered the feeling I once had. And so, on that day, the depression of my magic circuits also disappeared.”

When Lis said this, a rare, girlish pink glow appeared in her eyes.

“Ms. Lis, you… you actually want me to let go, don’t you?”

“No, no, you’re wrong.”

Lis tapped the candlestick on the table. After a layer of witch’s fire, it seemed to glow brighter.

“Whether it’s losing or settling these emotions, you have to experience it yourself. I once thought that those who have gone through it could teach you something, but I was wrong…”

“You should enjoy these experiences. Every one of them makes up your life.”

“Witches should pursue that burning feeling in their magic circuits! To follow your magic circuits, to be passionate, straightforward, and true to yourself—that’s what makes a super cute, super invincible, super beautiful witch!”

“Mom, you…”

Leah never thought that one day, Lis would say something so similar to Will’s descriptions.

But… Leah gripped the wax block in her hand.

“Alright, alright. Witches really are useless at healing. They’re only good at making things crazier and crazier.”

She nodded.

“In that case, from now on, I will continuously strive to complete the quests he left behind, to reach the future he described.”

She understood. She didn’t want to cure this feeling. She could live on, sustained by this emotion. As long as her magic circuits could even slightly pulse because of it, she would keep going.

“I see. So, you’ve been working so hard in the lab to complete his quests? I feel like that’s quite dangerous for you…”

“Wait, I think I remembered a very important part he wrote in his quests.”

At this, Leah hurriedly picked up the staff by the table. Scientific inspiration always came to mind unexpectedly.

“Right, Lis. I might… go out for a trip.”

“Where to?”

“To see the dungeons he mentioned.”

She said, opening the door.

Lis sighed. Leah had indeed grown up. Now, her drive was so strong that she didn’t even wait for her mother to finish speaking.

“She doesn’t seem to have gotten the answer yet.”

“The fuel of witch magic is actually…”

—