Chapter 64: A History of Witches

Chapter 64: A History of Witches

"Let's think of more questions and ask about everything we don't understand. If we resolve all the questions during class, maybe there won't be any homework."

"Mhm! We must give Ms. Amisha a big surprise today!"

"Let's make the questions dense and keep asking until the bell rings. That way, Ms. Amisha won't have time to ask us anything in return!"

"Yes, yes, yes! Exactly! Let's organize all our planned questions on parchment beforehand so we don't miss anything!"

...

During the History of Witches class, Ms. Amisha followed the same pattern as yesterday's Basic Magic Theory class: she had them read the first chapter themselves and then ask her questions.

The little witches, prepared with a mountain of questions, were eager to try. Not wanting to waste a second, they began scribbling their prepared questions onto paper one after another.

Watching the little witches writing feverishly, Amisha swirled the wine in her glass, offering no comment.

When the Q&A session began, every little witch raised her hand.

"Everyone is very enthusiastic about asking questions today! Then let's take them one by one, in turns," Amisha said. "Starting with Vasida."

Vasida stood up. "How long have witches existed? Who was the first witch? The book doesn't seem to mention a specific time."

"This *History of Witches* was summarized only after witches gathered in the Wilderness. There are no accurate written records of who the first witch was or when she was born. But what can be certain is that witches have existed for as long as humanity has."

When it was Moran's turn to ask, she posed a question that had been troubling her

"The book says that witches are human women who awaken through adversity and suffering. Is adversity and suffering the key to awakening a witch? Is there a difference between an awakened witch and a witch born through reproduction?"

"In the past, many witches indeed awakened during life-or-death crises. But since the emergence of witches and the rise of the Wilderness, when the various races of the continent no longer dared to hunt witches openly, the number of witches truly awakening from suffering has decreased. However, all women who awaken as witches are those who refuse to submit to the oppression of systems and power, and who possess the courage to resist. Rather than adversity and suffering, it is a brave, unyielding, resilient, and kind soul that is the key to becoming a witch. Only such a soul can hold onto its true nature and remain indomitable in the face of hardship. When the Church was dominant, angels and demons targeted witches not just to consolidate their rule, but because witches could not be brainwashed by the Church to offer up their faith and souls. If a witch has a faith, it can only be the world that nurtured us. There is no difference between an awakened witch and a witch born through reproduction; both are excellent souls selected by the world, endowed with the same bloodline abilities."

Moran sat down, but her mind kept racing with Ms. Amisha's words.

No wonder even if the clans imposed no restrictions on witches, a traitor had never once appeared among them.

Brave, unyielding, resilient, and kind—these were qualities inherent in the very souls of witches.

The world's selection process was rigorous; it wouldn't be wrong.

Had her soul, which had wandered from Planet Blue, also been recognized by the world consciousness of Valen?

"Moran! Your turn!"

After one round of questions, it was her turn again. Moran couldn't help but ask

"Are souls from other worlds who are reincarnated as witches also recognized by the world consciousness?"

Amisha understood her intent. "Of course. Every witch is the same. No matter who they were before, once they become a witch, they are the darlings of the world."

"Thank you, Headmistress. I understand."

A wandering soul had found its second home.

The little witches' questions came one after another, only ending when the bell rang to signal the end of class.

*Surely there won't be homework this time, right?*

The little witches looked at Ms. Amisha with bright, expectant eyes.

"Today, everyone read with their own thoughts. Your questions were dense and well-considered. I have no questions to ask you all."

"Yay!" The little witches couldn't help but let out small cheers.

Amisha signaled for them to be quiet.

"However, because there are many questions, there is also much knowledge. It remains to be seen how much you have actually mastered and gained. Therefore, after class, please write a summary essay regarding all the questions you asked today. There is no word limit. Just hand it to me when we meet for class next Tuesday. Class dismissed!"

Ms. Amisha never ran over time, leaving behind a classroom of devastated little witches.

"Why is there still homework?!"

"If the questions aren't comprehensive, you research and write an essay. If the questions are comprehensive, you write a summary essay. In short, there's always an essay, right?"

"I really regret preparing so many questions. How long does this essay have to be to finish it!" Aes said, her hands trembling as she held her list of questions.

"I'm doomed. I was so focused on asking questions today that I didn't listen carefully to the Headmistress's answers! How am I supposed to write this essay?" Vasida felt as if the sky were falling.

"I only remember the gist of each question. A single essay might not be enough," Sylph said, her face full of sorrow.

Little witches like them were everywhere.

Everyone had focused their energy on asking questions, and some questions were even forced, straying hundreds of miles away from the content of the chapter.

"If you don't remember something, you can ask me. I remember everything," Moran said.

"This! This! Moran, look at this!" Vasida pointed at her question list. "I can't remember a single one."

"The first question: Ms. Amisha said this *History of Witches* was summarized after witches gathered in the Wilderness..."

Moran remembered exactly what Ms. Amisha had said in class. She took the list from Vasida's hand and began answering them one by one.

"Slow down, slow down! Let me write it down!" Vasida immediately pulled out a piece of parchment and began recording rapidly.

After Moran reviewed everything for her, she finally had a plan for her essay.

"Anyone else want to ask?" Moran asked.

The little witches immediately swarmed her. "Me, me, me!"

Moran truly remembered—word for word!

That noon, the little witches didn't even have time for lunch. They only managed to grab a few bites of breadfruit as they passed through the breadfruit grove.

They even utilized the time spent walking down the mountain to figure out the answers to all the strange questions they had thought of.

"If this keeps up, what are we going to do!" Even after solving their immediate problem, the little witches couldn't help but worry about future classes.

Aside from Moran, who could remember everything Ms. Amisha said in class word for word?

They couldn't exactly rely on Moran to give them private tutoring every time, could they?

"Take notes! When the Headmistress is answering questions, we can just ask her to slow down so we can write down the answers."

"That way, we can ask fewer questions, and the essay won't be as long."

"Exactly! Let's do that!"

...

(End of Chapter)