Chapter 3: 3. Chapter 3: Independent and Free

Chapter 3: Independent and Free

Although witches are evolved from human females, their ideologies are vastly different from those of humans.

Human virtues such as devotion and self-sacrifice are completely unpopular among witches.

What witches believe in is individual independence and freedom.

As long as the interests of other witches are not harmed, a witch’s personal will is supreme.

This can be seen in their concept of reproduction.

Every witch will only have one child in her lifetime, and regardless of which race the father belongs to, the offspring will always be a witch.

Not every witch manages to leave behind descendants.

Therefore, the witch population has never experienced explosive growth.

If it weren't for the fact that human females continue to awaken and evolve into witches in the face of adversity, the witch race would have likely gone extinct long ago.

Under these circumstances, the Witch Council only issues various maternity benefits to increase the survival rate of young witches.

They have never forced witches to bear children due to population concerns.

Since the Witch Queen descended and designated the Wilderness as the territory of the witches, only those of other races who have signed the Wilderness Pact—guaranteeing with their lives that they will never betray the witches or the Wilderness—are allowed to enter.

The Wilderness Pact is fatal if violated, so few of other races are willing to sign it.

Thus, most pregnant witches choose to return to the Wilderness to raise their children alone.

Little witches like Moran, who have a mother but no father, are very common in the Wilderness.

It is rare for a little witch to grow up under the joint care of both parents.

Even with only a mother, supplemented by the Witch Council’s maternity subsidies, it is almost unheard of for a little witch to die prematurely.

Yet, even under these conditions, the witch population has only maintained itself at around thirty thousand.

Witches love their daughters, but they will not view their daughters as their responsibility forever.

A witch is only responsible for herself.

Generally, only young witches under the age of thirteen have their witch-mothers by their side at all times.

The Witch Council also regularly provides subsidies and childcare assistance to every witch-mother caring for a young witch.

The "Young Witch Series" books in her home were a gift from the Witch Council.

Entering the Witch Academy at thirteen marks the beginning of a little witch’s journey toward independence.

At this time, the witch-mother lets go and allows the little witch to leave home.

For the next five years, the little witch will study magic and survival skills at the Witch Academy.

The expenses during the little witch’s time at the academy are all covered by the Witch Council.

After the little witch starts school, the witch-mother can also collect a one-time parenting reward from the Witch Council to begin a new life.

After graduating at eighteen, they become adult witches who must stand on their own two feet.

They must find their own ways to provide for all their survival needs.

It can be said that regardless of whether they have a father of another race willing to sign the Wilderness Pact, all little witches have a common "father"—the Council.

In a witch family, the Council is often even more important than a father of another race.

All growth and educational funds for a little witch from birth to adulthood at eighteen are covered by the Council.

After graduating from the Witch Academy at eighteen, a witch must take responsibility for her own life.

There is no obligation to support her witch-mother, no duty to repay her "father" the Council, and certainly no need to sacrifice her life for a future daughter.

Always free and equal, unbound by any relationship.

Even if the race were to perish, a witch would never allow anything to override her own will.

This is the witch, who awakens from adversity and suffering, with freedom and independence as her lifelong pursuit!

All of this was clearly explained in the first chapter of the first volume of the "Young Witch Series."

Therefore, Moran knew clearly that Mother Shana would not wait for her in the small cabin in Green Creek Plain forever.

She is not just a mother; she is herself.

Moreover, this home in Green Creek Plain was originally just a temporary residence prepared by Mother Shana after she became pregnant to raise her; it was not a witch’s home in the true sense.

It was a cabin that had been abandoned for who knows how many years, simply repaired with magic before they moved in.

Every year, they had to hire a witch to reinforce it with magic so it wouldn't collapse.

Even the money for reinforcing the cabin was paid for with the Witch Council’s "Young Witch Rearing Subsidy."

Once she started school, this subsidy would end, and since Mother Shana didn't know construction magic, this house wouldn't last much longer anyway.

Mother Shana is still very young.

For a witch with an average lifespan of over five hundred years, these thirteen years of raising a child are just a small interlude in her life.

After this, Mother Shana’s life will return to its normal track.

The house may be a bit old now, but many of the items inside were things Mother Shana had collected bit by bit during her past travels to decorate her future witch’s home.

They were well-maintained; after all these years, they were still in great condition.

Mother Shana intended to take them all.

The things she still liked, she would take to continue using; the things she didn't like much but were still worth something, she would sell at a second-hand market for gold coins.

Then she would continue her journey, accumulate wealth, and when she wanted to settle down again, she would find a place to her liking and build a true witch’s home that belonged to her...

And the small cabin in Green Creek Plain would be abandoned once again.

The house gradually became empty, leaving only some broken tables and chairs, and the atmosphere of parting grew increasingly heavy.

Even though Moran knew that Mother Shana deserved to have her own life, she still felt sad in her heart.

After all, this was the first time in two lifetimes that she had a home and a mother.

Perhaps this is the downside of transmigrating with memories; deep down, she is still human, lacking even a shred of a witch’s freedom and detachment.

Not wanting her emotions to affect Mother Shana, Moran simply went outside.

She lay on the grass in the shade of a tree and closed her eyes to rest.

Inside the house, Shana saw this and tapped her wand lightly.

Moran’s breathing became long and steady.

...

"Little Moran! Wake up!"

She didn't know when she had fallen asleep, but Moran opened her eyes abruptly to find the sun setting behind the mountains.

"Oh no! Mom, what time is it?"

"Seven o'clock. I've heated the water for you, go take a bath! The ceremony is about to start," Shana said unhurriedly.

Moran rushed to the bathroom.

The water temperature was just right, and her academy robe was hanging on the rack.

She washed quickly and put on the robe.

When she came out, her hair was still dripping wet.

Checking the time, there were only ten minutes left until eight o'clock.

"Watch this!" Shana used magic to dry her hair.

Then, from somewhere, she produced a black silk ribbon adorned with purple gems and placed it on her head.

"Hmm... let's go with hairstyle number two!"

The ends of the ribbon unfurled like two little hands, combing through Moran’s long hair. In less than three minutes, it had braided her hair into a half-up style, with the ribbon tied into the braid.

"This is...?" Moran touched the tassels of the ribbon curiously.

"A classic magic ribbon from a beauty witch. It can tie eighteen classic hairstyles; it’s simple and beautiful. Little Moran, congratulations on your enrollment!" Shana said with a smile.

Moran felt a pang of bitterness in her heart: "Thank you, Mom!"

Mother Shana was not well-off and had always lived frugally; magic items for witches were not cheap.

The magic clock, the only thing in the house that hadn't been packed away, chimed.

"Clang, clang, clang!"

It was eight o'clock.

Moran immediately felt a slight heat on her hand and saw that the mark of her enrollment notice had begun to glow.

She only had time to remind Mother Shana to remember to send her letters before the mark whisked her away.

Shana had intentionally used magic to keep her daughter asleep until now because she didn't want her to dwell too much on the atmosphere of parting.

Her daughter was gone, and it was time for her to continue her journey.

(End of chapter)