Any human who can use magic starts their training as a novice. Not everyone can become one, and in most cases the ability is passed down through blood. My parents were novices, too.
Apprentice witches rank above novices, but they're one level below full witches. As the name suggests, the title of "witch" applies only to girls and women. I have no idea why, but women naturally have greater magical ability than men. That's why only women can attain ranks higher than novice.
There's only one way to become an apprentice: pass the magic exams and receive the corsage that proves your status. There is no alternative method. However, the exams are brutal, and many people drop out before they reach the end.
After becoming an apprentice witch, one undergoes a very specific training regimen to earn the title of "witch." This means long days of hard work under the watchful eye of a proper witch, until the apprentice finally wins her approval. The training might last a single day, or it might take ten years. It all depends on the individual's own
efforts and on the witch who is serving as her teacher.
When someone is officially recognized as a witch, she receives a star-shaped brooch with her name engraved on the back, and her teacher gives her a witch title. Mine is "the Ashen Witch."
That was a pretty long-winded explanation, but my point is that as a full-fledged witch, I should have ranked among the top magic users in this country. I had expected that people would look up at me with envy as I flew through the sky, that when I went to a restaurant they would tell me, "Madam Witch! Allow me to offer you a discount on everything on the menu! Please, eat to your heart's content!" and so on, but…
"Huh? A discount? We don't do anything like that. Are you saying
you don't have any money, missy?"
"..."
So that's how it is, hmm? I suppose if the restaurant gave special treatment to each and every witch, they'd go out of business.
I left the restaurant and went to the jeweler's next. I wanted to sell a jewel that I had picked up in one of the countries I had visited before this one, and I was expecting a considerable sum from it.
"Ah, this here's a total counterfeit, see? I can't give you anything for
it."
"Surely there's been a mistake. Take a closer look, please."
"I can look all ya want, but the answer's gonna be the same. Whaddaya wanna do? If you don't need it, I can get rid of it for you…"
"…That just sounds like you're scheming to steal it from me, doesn't it?"
"Of course not, sweetie! I'd never do that to ya. So what'll it be?"
"Give it back."
By the time I left the jeweler's, I was in a sour mood.
Well, I'm sure the owner of that jewelry shop is just a bit of a swindler, that's all. It's not like he was treating me specifically with contempt, right? …Right?
Feeling uneasy, I headed for an inn. The day was drawing to a close.
However—
"Hey. This isn't a place for kids like you. Go on, scram."
…Huuuh? What on earth? Is this some kind of upper-crust hotel exclusively for rich people? Hmm… Either way, I'm not staying here.
Let's go somewhere else. I hopped off my broom atop a very cheap-looking inn with a tattered sign. Surely this place won't turn me away.
I opened the window on the roof and descended the ladder that led inside. But halfway down I couldn't be bothered anymore, so I jumped.
Thud. The sound echoed through the building like a cannonball.
Hey, I'm not that heavy. Rude.
I had dropped into the reception area.
The girl seated behind the counter looked at me. "Welco—"
She stiffened.
So did I.
She had short black hair. Boyish, androgynous features.
Sitting there in front of me was the girl who had (literally) run into me several hours earlier.
"..."
"..."
She was the first to shake herself loose from the frozen moment in time.
"E-eeeeeek! I'm s-s-sorry! I'm sorry! Are you here for revenge? This
is revenge, isn't it?! I'm sorry! Spare my life! Spare meee!"
"No, uh…"
"Waaaaaah! I don't wanna diiiiiiiie!"
"Um…" No need for hysterics; come on.
She was grinding her head against the counter and sobbing. "Just spare my liiife…"
I touched her shoulder lightly.
"Eek! You're going to tear me limb from limb? Are you going for my shoulder first? Noooooo!"
Could you please be quiet for one second? —Wait, no, don't say that aloud. "Um, it's all right? I just came to stay at this inn tonight."
"Nooooo— Oh, is that all? In that case, please fill out this form."
"..."
There were several things I would have liked to say, but I refrained. Setting her off again would be more than I could handle right now.
I took the form from her and picked up a quill pen from its stand on the counter. It was a simple piece of paperwork, just asking the number of people and number of nights, plus the name of a representative. As an experienced traveler, I had quickly grown
accustomed to these kinds of forms.
As I moved the quill pen smoothly across the paper, the girl spoke up in a very bright voice. "I'm really sorry for what happened this afternoon. Whenever my mind wanders during practice, I seem to lose the ability to steer the broom…"
"I see." In other words, you're a bad flier.
"I really wanted to thank you properly, but you sped off— Ah, so your name is Elaina. I'm Saya." She smiled cheerfully at me as she watched me write.
"You don't really need to thank me," I replied as I continued filling out the form. "Besides, plenty of people get tangled up with others when practicing magic.
Come to think of it, I once set my house on fire trying to light a candle. My parents really chewed me out for that one. Oh, to be young again…
"But won't you let me do something for you? I caused all that trouble for you, and you even healed my injuries. I'd hate to leave things as they are."
"It's really fine, but…"
"Anything is okay! Please! Miss Elaina!"
I shook my head as the girl begged me to let her pay me back. I'm sure it would have been strange to watch.
Well, it's not as if she's asking me to go out of my way for her, so
there's no need to dig in my heels. I gave it a little thought as I was
writing.
"Hmm…well then, in that case—" How about I get you to give me a discount on the room? I was about to ask, then stopped myself.
An item on the form had caught my eye. SPECIAL DISCOUNT FOR
WITCHES (HALF-OFF ONE NIGHT) it read.
Oh-ho! What have we here?
"Ah, that discount doesn't apply to anyone who's not a witch.
Ordinary mages should circle the regular price option," she said, knitting her eyebrows.
"I see." I circled SPECIAL DISCOUNT FOR WITCHES (HALF-OFF ONE NIGHT).
"Eh? No, um… Huh?"
What's with that weird reaction? Sheesh, rude. "I am a witch, so…"
"Come on, you can't joke about that… Oh, well, but I did cause you a bunch of trouble… Okay! I'll go ahead and apply the discount!" She clapped her hands once.
I had a feeling that we were somehow talking past each other, which was making me nervous. I shook my head. "No, no, no, that's not it.
You see, I am a witch. Can't you see how I'm dressed?"
"Huh?" she said, pointing at my chest. "But you don't have a witch's brooch."
"I beg your pardon?"
Following her finger, I lowered my eyes to my own chest.
The brooch that belonged there had disappeared.