Chapter 47: Transcribing Books

Chapter 47: Transcribing Books

Having learned the method for collecting books, the little witches began to stir with excitement.

Observing this, Amisha handed out long reading lists to each of the little witches

"This is the reading list for the first academic year. Please transcribe the required reading titles into your Books of Witches as soon as possible; they will all be used in class.

Additionally, it is best not to overlook the elective reading list. It is very important for supplementing your extracurricular knowledge, so study them carefully whenever you have time.

To find books, you can consult the index books on the first bookshelf.

Alright! Go pick your books! If you have any questions, you can find me in the reading area."

The little witches immediately pounced on the bookshelves like predators seeing food.

Moran was in no hurry to transcribe books. After all, according to Ms. Amisha, one simply had to lean the spine of a book against the Book of Witch, and it would be transcribed.

She began by looking at the reading list.

"Required Reading for the First Academic Year

1. *Cooking Magic from Scratch* 2. *Sewing Magic from Scratch* 3. *A Guide to Broomstick Grass Cultivation* 4. *Housekeeping Magic: Cleaning, Organizing, and Repairing* 5. *Ignition, Illumination, and Water Creation* 6. *A Few Things About Planting Vegetables: An Introduction to Plant Magic* 7. *Common Magical Plants and the Refinement of Basic Potions* 8. *A History of Witches* 9. *The Changing Eras of the Valen Continent* 10. *What Exactly is Magic?*"

There were ten books in total. From these, one could get a rough idea of what would be studied during the year.

The elective reading list was much larger. In addition to *The Path of the Witch*, *Traces of Energy*, and *The Birth of a Beautiful Cover* recommended by the seniors, and *The Witch's Contract* and *The Lifelong Learning Companion—Book of Witches* recommended by the Headmistress...

There were also books such as *An Illustrated Guide to Valen Continent Cuisine*, *Selection of Ingredients*, *The Making of a Chef*, *Clothing Culture of the Valen Continent*, *The Encyclopedia of Popular Fashion*, *The Origins of Broomstick Grass*, *An Encyclopedia of Magical Plants of the Valen Continent*, *The Marvelous Uses of Housekeeping Magic*, *The Art of the Flame*, *The Tinkling of Clear Springs*, *Edible Plants and Their Cooking Methods*, *Wands and Wands*, *The Origins of Witches*, *The Valen Continent*, and so on.

They seemed to serve as supplements to the required reading.

"It looks like the blank pages I prepared are roughly sufficient," Moran thought to herself.

It wasn't until she took the reading list to find the books that she realized how naive she had been.

The *Valen Continent* series alone filled several bookshelves, totaling hundreds of volumes!

It was an encyclopedia covering the topography, climate, culture, language, factions, and history of all parts of the Valen Continent.

With rich illustrations and text, the claim that "one book allows you to see the world" was no exaggeration.

This single series alone would not fit into an apprentice-level Book of Witch.

Most of the other elective readings also consisted of multiple volumes.

Only the ten required reading titles were concise, each consisting of a single volume.

Moran's Book of Witch could currently transcribe 33 books.

Aside from the ten required ones, she didn't have many choices left, so she could only prioritize the books recommended by her seniors and the Headmistress.

Among these, *The Birth of a Beautiful Cover* had the most volumes, totaling fifteen, while *Traces of Energy* had two.

Most of the little witches had prepared only enough blank pages to transcribe the required reading.

Moran began by transcribing the elective portion first. Just as Ms. Amisha had said, she pressed the spine containing the transcription runes against the blank pages, and after a flash of light, the contents of the book appeared on the pages.

One could even turn the pages or search for keywords, much like using a computer reader; it was indeed very convenient.

A Book of Witch was practically a mobile library.

Moran transcribed them one by one, only regretting that she didn't have more blank pages. These were her spiritual sustenance!

In the past, she had always worried about having nothing to read; now, possessing thousands of books from multiple libraries, her only worry was that she wouldn't be able to read them all equally.

Although transcribing books was fast and simple, it still took a little time for the transcription runes to charge.

By the time Ms. Amisha called them, Moran had just finished transcribing her chosen thirty-three books.

"That is all for today. There is no need to rush with the book transcription. We will only use some of the required reading during next week's classes, so you have the weekend to prepare.

Additionally, there is extracurricular homework today... Listen carefully, all little witches: after class, snap off a tree branch and bring it to class tomorrow!"

"A branch? What kind of branch?" Moran pressed, "What is it for?"

This assignment was far too bizarre!

Why snap a branch for no reason? There had to be an intention behind it!

"Any branch will do. The length and thickness don't matter, but it must be freshly snapped—no more than three days old. The fresher, the better. As for what it's for, you will find out in class tomorrow."

After saying this, Ms. Amisha walked away quickly. Moran strongly suspected she was afraid they would press her for more details about the branches.

"I bet! This branch will definitely play a huge role tomorrow!" Vasida said with certainty.

"Of course!" Sylph added. "No matter how mischievous Ms. Amisha is, she wouldn't assign homework without a purpose."

"The fresher, the better! Let's hurry up tomorrow morning and go to the small woods outside the dormitory to snap one!" Vasida suggested.

"No! Tomorrow morning, let's bring knives and go to the woods outside the dormitory—no, let's go to the castle garden and cut some!" Moran said.

"Cut? Some?" Sylph and Vasida were puzzled.

"Exactly! Let's cut one thick one, one thin one, and one medium one. Let's make them all long, so that once we get to the classroom, we'll have whatever kind is needed," Moran said.

"Huh? Does it have to be that much trouble? Didn't Ms. Amisha say we only need one, and the thickness and length don't matter?" Sylph asked.

Moran countered, "Tomorrow is Friday! Do you remember what Ms. Amisha said during our first class this week?"

"What?" The little witches looked at one another, unsure of what they had missed.

"Ms. Amisha said that in this week's introductory alchemy class, she would teach us how to make our own Books of Witches and wands!" Moran said. "Our Books of Witches are finished today, but what about the wands?"

"We're learning to make wands tomorrow?" Sylph shook her head. "That's not right. Wands are magical items; can they really be made from just any random branch?"

Moran weighed her Book of Witch in her hand. "Look at our Books of Witches. Are they made of some rare material?

I think we should prepare more materials. Even if they aren't for making wands, it's always better to have more options when the time comes!"

One shouldn't settle for an ill-fitting wand just to save trouble.

"Then tomorrow morning, let's come to the castle early. I saw quite a few trees in the castle garden last time; we can just cut some branches. It won't be a major undertaking!"

"Alright! See you tomorrow!"