“You — “
“My name is Ai’er. Aier St. Misail — or you can call me Aier Arctis if you want? Never mind, surnames aren’t important! Just call me Ai’er!”
With her cheeks still slightly red and swollen, Ai’er abandoned her previous aggrieved expression. She replaced it with a somewhat silly smile and reached out toward Elena.
Seeing that Elena was still confused, Ai’er pulled her hand back slightly before extending it again.
“So, fellow jumper, what about you? What’s your name?”
Looking at Ai’er’s outstretched hand, Elena froze for a moment.
“…Elena. Elena White.”
Out of politeness, Elena responded to the girl’s question.
**[Host has consumed 1 System Point to check favorability progress]**
**[Please wait…]**
**[Witch of Time — Elena White, Favorability Progress: 0.47%]**
**[Current Remaining Points: 8]**
‘Tsk… why did it drop? I haven’t done anything to lower her favorability, have I?’
Ai’er grumbled inwardly but maintained her smile.
She shifted her position and patted the spot where she had been sitting, gesturing for Elena to come over.
The sand was much more comfortable than the cold stone slabs, especially since her body had already warmed it up. If she wanted to win over this Witch, she had to be a bit more thoughtful.
At that moment, Elena noticed the ball of flame floating beside Ai’er.
“You… are a Magic User?”
Following Elena’s confused gaze, Ai’er glanced at the fire ball beside her.
“I just know a little bit, a little bit.”
‘Actually, I don’t know any at all.’
She wasn’t from this world, after all, and she couldn’t use the magic of this world. Fortunately, the System could help her cast spells. Otherwise, she had no idea how a defenseless girl like her would survive in a world where magic existed.
“Since you’re a Magic User, aren’t you afraid of me?”
‘Huh? What is this girl talking about? Why should I be afraid of her just because I’m a Magic User?’
‘Shouldn’t it be the people who can’t use magic who are afraid of her? Facing a Witch, those who know magic can at least protect themselves. It’s those who can’t use it who are truly beyond saving.’
‘Besides, she doesn’t look like she’s grown into that Supreme Witch the System described yet. What’s there to be afraid of?’
‘More importantly, there’s no reason to be afraid of a target you’re trying to win over.’
“I’m not afraid. You’re so beautiful, why would I be afraid of you?”
Ai’er tilted her head slightly and smiled at Elena.
However, the fire beside Ai’er didn’t seem warm enough. Since her clothes weren’t dry yet, her body couldn’t help but shiver again.
Seeing this, Elena silently looked away.
She was a Witch. The Mana leaking from her body should naturally instill fear in anyone capable of using magic. But this girl named Ai’er said such frivolous things and even insisted on lying to her despite being at her limit…
Look at her trembling body…
Look at how she kept moving closer to the flame, trying to pretend she was only shivering because of the cold…
Elena felt a twinge of guilt over the slap she had given earlier.
Elena looked back at Ai’er, staring at the girl’s somewhat silly smile. She felt a tightness in her chest and remained silent.
The magical fire Ai’er summoned continued to burn steadily. There was no sound of wood crackling in the flames; there was only a quiet warmth.
After a long silence, Elena looked at Ai’er again, only to see the silver-haired girl swaying her head gently. Ai’er was smiling as she stared into the magical fire, softly humming a melody and swaying her body to the flickers of the flame.
“Miss Ai’er, you mentioned earlier… chatting?”
“Oh, you’re finally willing to talk to me? Great! Also, just call me Ai’er. Adding ‘Miss’ makes it feel so formal.”
Seeing Ai’er constantly scooting closer while smiling and speaking in such a familiar, lighthearted tone, she certainly didn’t look like someone who wanted to die.
Elena looked at Ai’er out of the corner of her eye, watching the firelight reflect on the girl’s face.
“Then… Ai’er. Earlier, up there, you asked me for my reason for jumping. What about you? Honestly, I didn’t feel any of the resolve to die from you.”
“Hm? That’s because I didn’t plan on dying.”
Elena: O_o?
‘She didn’t plan on dying? Then why did she jump into the sea??’
Seeing Elena’s growing confusion, Ai’er scratched her head gently and began twirling her silver hair with her finger, putting on the perfect expression of someone making up an excuse.
“It’s just… well, I was walking along and saw the silhouette of a girl about to jump, so I jumped in to stop her without thinking! As for why I jumped with her? It’s simple! As the saying goes, once you’ve experienced the feeling of falling, you’ll never want to jump again for the rest of your— Eek! Don’t hit me! >_<“
Seeing Elena raise her hand, Ai’er immediately shielded her head.
But the impact she expected never came. Elena only sighed and lowered her hand.
Elena slowly tucked her arms under her thighs and pulled her knees to her chest, her gaze fixed on the fire Ai’er had lit.
“…You really didn’t have to stop me. I had already resolved myself to die.”
“Really? I don’t think so. After all, Elena, you were clinging to me like an octopus when we were in the water.”
“You!”
A flush of red quickly spread across Elena’s face. But she didn’t raise her hand to strike the girl because she knew deep down that she didn’t truly want to end her life.
But what could she do?
Because of this innate, mysterious, and constantly leaking massive amount of Mana, she had already struggled for 18 years.
During those eighteen years, her mother had passed away, and the servants had gradually distanced themselves out of fear…
The once liveliest noble mansion in the Duchy of White now resembled a ghost house, with only a few elderly servants remaining to look after it.
Even so, those servants had to keep their distance.
If they got too close, ordinary people who didn’t know how to use magic to protect themselves would be frozen solid by the Mana leaking from her body!
‘And even for a Magic User like you, Ai’er, you’re still shivering from this cold Mana, aren’t you?’ — Elena desperately wanted to say those words to her.
Perhaps she should just be locked in her room at the mansion for the rest of her life…
“Elena, are you afraid to go out because of your Mana?”
Hearing this, Elena turned her head in surprise.
‘Was my expression… really that easy to read?’
Actually, it wasn’t. This was information Ai’er had obtained by paying the System 1 System Point.
She looked at Ai’er, watching the silver-haired girl reach behind her back as if she were taking something out.
**[Host has consumed 7 System Points to exchange for a ‘Beginner Magic Stone Ring’ that can absorb and store Mana]**
**[Current Remaining Points: 0]**
“If that’s the case… here! This is for you!”
It was a ring that couldn’t be called exquisite by any means. A pale gold magic stone, resembling amber, was set into a silver band.
Without waiting for Elena’s next move or a reaction, Ai’er directly took Elena’s hand and slid the ring onto her right pinky finger.
The moment she let go, Ai’er subconsciously gave a soft press at the base of Elena’s finger.
‘As expected of the System, the size is perfect!’
“What are you! Eh…”
The moment the ring was put on, Elena, who had been about to scold Ai’er, froze.
She could clearly feel her leaking Mana being gradually absorbed by the crystal on the ring. Soon, the surrounding temperature began to rise.
“This magic stone can’t absorb Mana indefinitely, but I believe that before it reaches saturation, you’ll definitely find a way to control your power, Elena!”
As Ai’er spoke, her silver hair seemed to glow under the reflection of the firelight in Elena’s eyes.
“You…”
But before Elena could finish her sentence, the loud sound of rain suddenly erupted outside the cave entrance.
“Ah, looks like it’s raining hard. I guess we’ll have to stay here for the night.”
After glancing at the entrance, Ai’er found a relatively flat, large rock and sat down. Then, she patted her thigh and looked at Elena.
“How about a lap pillow as compensation for dragging you into the sea?”
Elena’s gaze wavered between Ai’er’s smile and her snowy-white thighs. After a moment of hesitation, she finally made up her mind. She cautiously approached Ai’er and slowly lowered her body onto the rock.
It was hard and cold, not comparable to her bed at home or even the floor.
But the girl’s thighs were soft, and within that softness was a warmth that her heart had long missed.
It felt just like when her mother was still around, lying in her mother’s arms…
Elena closed her eyes on Ai’er’s lap. Seeing this, Ai’er gently stroked Elena’s long black hair and began humming a lullaby melody.
**[Attention: The time for this transmigration is about to run out]**
‘I know, don’t rush me.’
Ai’er kept her voice as low as possible until she heard the gentle sound of the girl’s breathing from her lap.
Ai’er slowly stood up and gently placed Elena’s head onto the clothes that had been dried by the fire.
“System, check the System Points.”
**[Current Remaining Points: 0]**
‘Fine. At least when I transmigrate back this time, I won’t be immediately executed by those knights for having Evil God Magic.’
‘Next, I just hope that Apprentice Saint isn’t the type of person who doesn’t listen to reason…’
“Then… see you next time, Witch Elena.”
Leaving those words behind, Ai’er turned into particles of light and vanished into the darkness as the fire died out.
**[System Settlement]**
**[Favorability Progress: 1%]**
**[Transmigration mission complete. Reward: One-time magic: Strike of the Time Witch (10% Power)]**
—
Elena had a nostalgic dream.
She was running through a pitch-black world, with the roar of cold winds and sea waves in her ears…
Just when she thought she was about to freeze, a beam of light suddenly pierced through the dark night sky.
The light gradually tore through the black clouds, allowing more and more white light to wrap around her gently, making the cold around her fade away…
“Lady Elena! So you were here!”
Elena opened her eyes.
A maid holding a towel ran over to her. Not far away, a carriage bore the emblem of the Witch of Time.
The word ‘Witch’ was no longer a derogatory term ever since Elena had saved the Duchy of White.
On the sea cliff, the morning sun after the rain was rising from the horizon. The newborn pale yellow would soon climb to the center of the sky and radiate pure white light.
The night had passed; a new day was now welcoming Elena.
“Please, if you’re going to stay the night on the sea cliff next time, you must tell us in advance!”
“Didn’t the Head Maid tell you? I come to this cliff every year at this time.”
“The Head Maid you’re talking about retired ten years ago! We only know that you come to this cliff every year, but we didn’t know you would stay here even in a heavy rainstorm!”
Since becoming the Witch of Time, Elena had made it a habit to spend the night on this specific cliff once every year.
She had maintained this habit for 300 years.
Generations of servants had come and gone, but no one knew why the Lady Witch came here every year.
It was said… that the Witch was waiting for someone? According to the stories passed down by the servants, that person’s name seemed to include ‘Ai’? Furthermore, the Witch had always worn a magic stone ring, never changing it for 300 years.
Even though the stone on the ring was pierced by a visible crack, Elena had never replaced it.
Many years ago, a nobleman had tried to court Elena. Initially, she had maintained a polite refusal, but when the man mentioned that “this ring is too defective and is unworthy of Lady Elena,” she had instantly torn him to shreds with her magic on the spot…
Elena looked at the ring on her right pinky.
She raised her hand and spread her five fingers toward the rising morning light.
The golden crystal glowed with the light that had banished the darkness.
“…Ai’er.”
Elena didn’t even notice how lonely her expression was as she whispered that name.
“When will we meet again?”
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