The news hit Vasida like a lightning strike out of nowhere. It wasn't just bad; it was terrible, especially for the other young witches.
From what Moran knew, there were only two first-year witches who could cook, her and Ais. That realization sunk in like a heavy weight, but Vasida, struggling to accept the grim news, needed confirmation. Without wasting a moment, she sought out Lilith, a senior who always seemed to know the truth.
Lilith nodded solemnly. "It's true. The Principal's Feast Magic, it's a one-time thing, used only on the night of the entrance ceremony."
Vasida's heart sank as Lilith continued. "Here at the academy, survival and combat training go hand in hand. For first-year witches, the top priority is learning how to manage food. Don't worry, you won't starve. There's no limit on the basic food supplies for first-years."
She paused, her lips tightening as if preparing for an unpleasant truth. "Many fruits and vegetables here can be eaten raw, but they don't exactly fill you up. And then, of course, there's the breadfruit. The academy has a grove of breadfruit trees that produce all year round, and the yield is huge." Lilith's face twisted into a grimace, her distaste clear. "But the taste… well, you'll find out soon enough."
The expression on Lilith's face said it all: breadfruit was not something to look forward to.
Vasida and the other first-year witches exchanged uneasy glances, the realization dawning on them. The grand feast they'd enjoyed earlier, it wasn't just a welcome dinner. It was the dinner, the last truly extravagant meal they would have for a long while.
Now it made sense why the older students had attacked the food like ravenous beasts the moment the feast began, their stomachs bulging as they stuffed themselves without hesitation. The younger witches' eyes widened with newfound understanding, and suddenly, the platters of food took on a new significance. Some began discreetly selecting the more long-lasting dishes, thinking about how they might save them for later.
But just as they began to stash morsels away, Senior Sister Tracy's voice cut through the din. "The magic that created this feast is extraordinarily powerful. The food can't be taken out of this hall, and the spell will wear off in two hours."
A collective gasp rippled through the room. Tracy checked the time. "There's only thirty minutes left."
In an instant, the room exploded with activity. The little witches scrambled back to their seats, diving into their plates like swallows returning to their nests. If they couldn't take the food with them, the only solution was to eat as much as possible, right now.
None were as determined as Vasida. While some witches could afford to miss a meal or two without much trouble, Vasida wasn't so lucky, she was in real danger of fainting from hunger if she didn't stuff herself.
Meanwhile, Moran sat back, her curiosity getting the better of her. Though the dishes were delicious, she had already eaten her fill, and the variety of strange and exotic foods, some of which she had never even seen before, fascinated her more than the thought of eating more.
She pulled out the "New Student's Guide" from her bag, a hefty booklet bound in hardcover, each page made of thick, sturdy paper. While the other witches gorged themselves, Moran couldn't help but wonder about the academy's teaching methods. She was ready to dive into her new life as a witch, but surviving on breadfruit wasn't exactly how she had imagined it.
Apart from the intricate cover, the booklet only contained three pages, but each one held more than it seemed at first glance.
The first page unfolded into a detailed map of the academy. Moran scanned it quickly and was pleased by its simplicity. The layout was clear, and it immediately showed her location: the grand auditorium where she currently stood.
Moran glanced over the instructions and understood the map's functionality in no time. It reminded her of the mobile maps from her previous life. She could zoom in and out, toggle between different layers, and even explore individual buildings, each with its own mini-map. A flick of her finger on the map, and the academy's vastness started to reveal itself.
At its center stood the towering academy castle, where the auditorium was located on the first floor. However, when Moran zoomed out, she noticed something peculiar. The "core area" of the academy, which housed the castle, was sharp and defined, but beyond that, everything was cloaked in a thick gray fog. The surrounding lands were nothing but indistinct shapes, almost as if the map was hiding them.
The instructions explained it: only the core area of the academy was visible until you ventured beyond it. The rest of the land would only reveal itself through exploration.
Moran marveled at the size of the Witch Academy. This massive auditorium was merely a part of the castle, and yet it already seemed larger than anything she'd seen. When she zoomed out to the map's smallest scale, the entire core area shrunk to the size of a fingernail, making even the sprawling castle look like a small speck, its name too tiny to read.
Zooming in again, Moran focused on the core area. The academy castle, at the heart of it all, had exits leading in four directions: east, west, south, and north, each connected to winding pathways. She followed the eastward path with her eyes, finding the dormitory area. Neat rows of small square houses were laid out in perfect order, each numbered from Dormitory No. 1 to Dormitory No. 100.
Moran smiled when she saw that each dormitory had a name attached to it. After a quick search, she spotted her own: Dormitory No. 69. Just in front of hers was Dormitory No. 59, where Senior Lilith lived. She noted that her friends Sylva and Vasida were right next to her in Dormitories No. 68 and No. 70. They were her neighbors! It was a relief to know she wouldn't be alone in this strange new place.
Though curious to see what her new living quarters looked like, the map was too abstract to offer any real details. Even when zoomed in as far as it would go, the dormitories appeared as nothing more than small, featureless squares. She would have to see them for herself soon enough.
Moving south of the dormitories, Moran noticed the breadfruit forest that Lilith had warned her about earlier. Just beyond it was the planting area, which included farmland, herb gardens, greenhouses, and food collection points. The academy's self-sustaining ecosystem was impressive, even on paper.
To the west of the castle, Moran saw the magic training grounds. This was where they would practice their spells and hone their skills. Nearby were the alchemy and potion laboratories, places she was particularly eager to explore. The thought of crafting potions and experimenting with magical ingredients excited her more than anything else.
With the map now memorized, Moran closed the booklet, feeling a mix of excitement and apprehension. The academy was vast, and there was so much to discover. But that was all part of the adventure, wasn't it? Exploring new places, mastering survival, and embracing the unknown.
To the north of the academy lay a vast crescent-shaped lake, its serene waters stretching out like a shimmering bow. Moran lingered for a moment, imagining the lake's reflective surface under moonlight, before turning her attention back to the "Freshman Handbook." She flipped to the second page.
This page detailed the course schedule. According to the handbook, the schedule for the upcoming week would be updated every Friday at 8 p.m. However, since today was Thursday, the page remained blank for now. Tomorrow, the magic of the academy would fill it with lessons and activities, but for the moment, it was simply a waiting game.
Curious to learn more, Moran turned to the final page, Things to Note for New Students. The first item listed immediately caught her eye, and her stomach twisted as she read it.
"1. After the entrance dinner, the academy will not provide three meals a day. First-year witches can collect any ingredients for free at the food collection point in the planting area to cook for themselves, or they may rely on breadfruit. Second-year witches can only receive free meat ingredients. For those above third grade, no free ingredients will be provided. You must plant, gather, hunt, or exchange points to obtain food."
Moran's eyebrows shot up. Not only were they expected to cook their own meals, but the older students couldn't even access ingredients as easily. By the time they reached their third year, they'd have to fend for themselves entirely. She thought back to the grand feast they'd enjoyed earlier, suddenly, the memory felt bittersweet. How could a place with such fine magical cuisine expect its students to become self-sufficient so quickly?
The second note on the list addressed their living arrangements.
"2. The academy provides free dormitories for first, second, and third-grade witches. You can check your assigned dormitory on the map and move in immediately. Fourth and fifth-grade students must find or arrange their own accommodations."
Moran felt a pang of sympathy for the older witches. The further along you got in your magical education, the less the academy seemed to provide. It was clear the Witch Academy expected its students to grow into independence swiftly; self-reliance wasn't just encouraged; it was a requirement.
The third note was more practical:
"3. The four-season school robes and daily necessities for first-year students have been delivered to their respective dormitories. If there are any damages, replacements can be obtained free of charge from the dormitory administrator. Witches in higher grades must either make their own or exchange points for materials."
Moran sighed. Even school uniforms became a responsibility after the first year. The academy's expectations were becoming increasingly clear: they wanted the witches to learn survival not just in combat, but in day-to-day life. The path to becoming a fully-fledged witch was paved with self-sufficiency. The structure made sense on paper, but that didn't mean it would be easy to adapt to.
As she continued reading, Moran realized just how much the academy's philosophy emphasized gradual independence. From food to shelter to even clothing, the students were meant to handle it all themselves, learning the skills necessary for survival along the way. While witches didn't possess limitless magical talent like sorceresses, they were expected to reach a level of proficiency that allowed them to solve basic problems independently. By the time they left the academy, they'd know how to feed themselves, create their own clothes, and secure shelter, all with the aid of magic.
After the three main rules, the handbook provided brief introductions to the academy's point system, which governed much of their trading and resources, as well as descriptions of the various buildings in the core area. There was even a stern reminder: no student was allowed to leave the academy's core area until after their third year. Exploration outside those boundaries would have to wait, at least for now.
Moran skimmed through the rest of the content quickly, but her mind was already racing with thoughts about the challenges ahead. Half an hour had passed without her noticing, and just as Senior Sister Tracy had warned, the moment the time was up, the lavish feast before them vanished without a trace.
One minute, the table had been laden with delicious dishes; the next, it was as if the meal had never existed. The sudden disappearance left the young witches blinking in surprise, their plates now empty, the reality of their new life setting in. It was a stark reminder that the academy, while magical, wasn't about indulgence, it was about preparing them for the tough world ahead.
Moran closed the "Freshman Handbook" with a determined nod. She had a lot to learn, and it seemed the lessons would begin sooner than expected.