When I was young, I loved books.
I can't even remember when I started reading, but I've been a bookworm for as long as I can remember. Whenever I had free time, I would pull a book from the shelf at home and read, and nearly every time my family went out, I would pester my parents for a new one.
Maybe that's why I didn't have many friends my age. I didn't play outside much, choosing instead to spend my time holed up in my room. My parents worried about me, but I had everything I wanted in life. After all, I always had a book by my side.
Among my books, I had a favorite novel series called The Adventures of Niche. A short story collection in five volumes, it contained the adventures of a witch named Niche who traveled to various exotic locales across the globe.
The author's name was Niche, same as in the title. But that was simply a pen name; her real name was something completely different. In the afterword to each volume, she wrote, "I penned these novels based on my own experiences."
To young Elaina, a girl who had not taken a single step outside of the Peaceful Country of Robetta, the hero Niche, who wandered from place to place as she pleased and saw the wide, beautiful world, was a shining beacon. I loved those books maybe a little too much and read them all many times. The books started to fall apart.
And eventually, I decided I wanted to be just like Niche.I want to try traveling like that, too, I began to think.
And so young Elaina made an announcement to her mother. "When I grow up, I'm going to go on an adventure like Niche," I said.
Gently patting my head, my mother answered, "All right, when you grow up." She smiled and added, "But if you want to travel, first you'll have to become a witch like Niche, okay?"
"If I become a witch, I can become a traveler?"
"Yes. That's why you must try your hardest at your magic studies."
"Study hard, become a witch, and then I can travel?"
"Of course."
"Really?"
"Yes, really."
"Really, really?"
"Yes, really, really."
"Yay!"
It all started from such a small thing, but my desire to see the world spurred me on through the years I spent working to become a witch.
I spent almost every day studying alone.
My mother kept me company while I practiced my magic.
My mother was so skilled at magic that you would be surprised to know she had never had any formal training. She was a good teacher, and before I knew it, I was quite good at using magic. So good, in fact, that I was able to become an apprentice witch at the
age of fourteen.
It was a long, arduous path, but never once did I think of quitting. I simply continued working hard.
Then I completed my training with Miss Fran and became a fullfledged witch.
I believe it happened several days after I returned to my parents' home with the star-shaped brooch on my robe. I was sitting across from them at the table after we had finished breakfast, and I said, "I'm a witch now, so please allow me to travel."
My father lifted his head from his newspaper and frowned. My mother didn't look particularly surprised and calmly sipped her afterbreakfast tea.
My father glanced at my mother's reaction, then cleared his throat forcefully, folded his newspaper, and laid it on the edge of the table. "D-don't you think it's best not to rush into anything?" he asked, acting as neutral as possible.
I was a little miffed. "That's not what you said before, is it? Didn't you promise me that when I became a witch I could go traveling?"
"Well, we might have promised that, but…we never thought you'd become a witch so soon…"
"What does that matter? I worked as hard and fast as I could so that I could go and see the world when I finished."
"…Humph."
Defeated, my father slumped back, and after grumbling a bit, clapped a hand on my mother's shoulder. She was still gracefully sipping her tea beside him. "N-now, you say something, too, Mama."
My mother set down her teacup. "Goodness. You're the only one who's against Elaina setting off on her trip, Papa. I think it's just fine for her to go traveling."
"But…"
"And besides, haven't we been telling her this since she was a little girl? We said we would allow her to travel once she became a witch."
"Maybe you made that promise—"
"You agreed to it, too. Have you forgotten?"
"But…"
"You agreed, didn't you?"
"..."
My father was silent. Well, more like silenced, really.
"Elaina, you're serious about this, right?" my mother asked me.I nodded. "Of course."
"Then go see the world."
"Okay!"
After a brief pause, my mother said, "However, I want you to make me three promises."
"…Promises?" I tilted my head in confusion.
My mother turned to me and held up three fingers. "Yes. If you can't keep these promises, there's no way I can send you on a journey, witch or no. After all, it's a dangerous world out there."
"…What do I need to promise you?" I sure wasn't giving up now.
"Well, listen up." My mother folded her ring finger. "First, when it seems like you might be heading into a dangerous situation, that you will run away whenever possible. Don't go poking your nose where it doesn't belong. Otherwise, you might end up dead."
"Got it."
That's just common sense. I'd do that even if you didn't make me promise. I'm not ready to die, you know.
My mother continued, folding her middle finger. "Second, never begin to think you are above everyone else; you may be a witch, but you will still be a visitor. You must not get arrogant, and never forget that you are the same as anyone else."
"Okay." Thanks to my experience training under Miss Fran, the weirdly arrogant version of Elaina was already a thing of the past. I didn't think there would be any issue with keeping this promise, either.
"Third…" My mother dropped her loosely folded fist to her side and smiled. "…You must come back. Return, and let us see your smile again."
"..."
"Promise?"
"…Yes." I nodded slowly.
That's when my father started crying. "A-are you really going, Elainaaa…?!"
"Papa, she's made her decision. Let's give her a little push, okay? Besides, we're the ones who promised her that she could go. Parents don't break promises."
"I was sure Papa was going to a minute ago…," I mumbled. Luckily, he didn't seem to hear me.
Wiping away his tears, my father said, "My precious only daughter is already leaving the nest, huh? I can feel a hole opening in my heart already…"
"I mean, I'll come back sooner or later."
"You're going to die of shock when Elaina gets married, aren't you, dear?"
"Stop it! Don't even talk about her getting married; it's too early!"
My father started crying again.
...
So that's roughly how it went.
It was officially decided that I would set off on my journey.
The following day, I dressed myself in a new outfit.
"Yes, the size is perfect."
My black pointy hat and black robe were hand-me-downs from my mother.
"Isn't it a little too plain?" I did a twirl in front of the mirror.
"Goodness. A plain appearance is perfect for a traveler. Plus, it suits you."
"Thanks."
"You have money?"
"Plenty."
"Don't waste it."
"Of course not."
"And then…ah, that's right. Just in case, take this with you."
"…?"
She plopped a pointy hat down into my hand. It was exactly the same design as the other hat my mother had already put on my head a moment ago. …But why?
"Just in case your first hat blows off in the wind, you can use this one," my mother said to me as I stood there in confusion.
In other words: "A spare?"
"That's right."
Okay, I'll take it.
And then, my preparations complete, I stood in the doorway.
The two of them were standing there when I looked back.
"Safe travels, Elaina." My mother was waving good-bye with a smile on her face.
"Uu, guw…waaahhh…" My father had burst into tears again.
Stroking my father's head, my mother spoke to me with a gentle smile. "Whenever you come back, be sure to tell us all about the Journey of Elaina."
"You can look forward to it while you wait."
"We will. Safe travels."
I tipped my hat, gave them my biggest smile, and said:
"I'm off."