Vasida, a new apprentice witch, was puzzled as she leafed through her plain, unremarkable book; a mere slate bound with just two straw papers. "How am I supposed to use this?" she muttered, more to herself than to anyone else.
Sylph, her carefree companion, chuckled lightly, her eyes twinkling with mischief. "We'll figure it out by this afternoon, no rush!" she said, clearly less bothered by their predicament.
Lyra, ever the practical one in their trio, stood abruptly. "Shall we head to the castle warehouse?" she suggested with a sense of purpose.
Vasida, confused, tilted her head. "Why the warehouse?" she inquired.
Lyra's eyes lit up as she explained, "Didn't you hear what the dean mentioned during orientation? Our apprentice-level witch books can magically contain up to one hundred books! We might not know yet how to enchant them, but we can at least gather the materials; starting with the enchanted paper."
Her excitement was palpable as she continued, "Plus, have you considered upgrading your book? At the matriculation dinner, did you see any of the senior witches with a book as simple as yours?"
Convinced, Vasida nodded, her curiosity piqued. "Alright, let's go then!" she agreed, her voice filled with newfound determination.
Sylph grinned, "Wait up, I need to visit the restroom first!"
In a whirlwind of excitement and chatter, twenty-seven first-grade apprentice witches made their way to the castle's underground floor where the warehouses were located. Warehouse No. 1 was their destination, stocked with school supplies including paper, ink, pens, and notebooks; all vital for their magical education.
Upon entering, they found the place bustling with other students. Many rushed towards the notebooks only to express disappointment at the plain, soft-cover options available. "They're all so mundane!" one witch lamented, her voice a mix of frustration and longing.
"I've seen the witch books of the upperclassmen; they're far more interesting," murmured Amy , puzzled.
Alba, squinting at a figure by the ink shelves, suggested, "Isn't that a senior over there? Looks like a fourth-grader, but I can't recall her name."
Amy shrugged helplessly. "Let's ask Lyra, she remembers everyone!"
They found Lyra deliberating over which type of enchanted paper to choose with Vasida and Sylph. The rolls of paper, each measuring 1.5 meters by 10 meters, offered endless possibilities, needing only to be cut to size as required.
Hearing about the senior, Lyra glanced over and recognized her instantly. "That's senior Tracy! I'll handle this," she declared, a confident smile playing on her lips.
"Senior Tracy!" Lyra called out as she approached, her voice echoing slightly in the vast warehouse.
Tracy turned with a warm smile. "Lyra! How are you finding life at the academy so far?"
The young witches, their spirits lifted by the prospect of crafting their very own enchanting witch books, listened eagerly, ready to learn from their senior's experience. This simple trip to the warehouse was quickly turning into a crucial step in their magical education journey.
"I've managed to adapt! But honestly, the breadfruit is just awful!" Lyra grimaced, her expression betraying her distaste.
Tracy erupted in laughter, a bright sound that echoed off the warehouse walls. "Oh, seeing you all reminds me of my first year! It brings back so many memories. Cherish these good times while they last!"
As Tracy spoke, Lyra noticed the dark circles under her eyes, revealing her exhaustion. Concerned, she asked, "Senior, is life in the inner area really that tough?"
Tracy sighed, her gaze distant. "You'll find out when you reach third grade. Just focus on mastering your magic, especially the kind that makes daily life easier. We're managing, but the fifth-years who ventured out to the outer area have it much harder."
Lyra felt a pang of sympathy. Tracy had once cherished her beloved red tea tree, which had been destroyed by a rampaging beast. "I remember hearing about that," she said quietly. "Sounds like the upperclassmen face real challenges."
"Exactly!" Tracy replied, shaking her head. "By the way, do you need a magic card?"
"A card?" Lyra raised an eyebrow, intrigued.
"Yes! It reflects my magical potential! I can monitor my mana anytime, just like when I check my talent..."
Three minutes later, Lyra's magic reserve showed a notable increase: +16 mana.
Tracy smiled, "I'll pay 26 mana over the next two days."
"Wait, so if I inject 150 mana, I can upgrade to the primary level? Can I pay that in installments?"
"Absolutely! Just 1 mana interest per day," Tracy confirmed.
"Alright then! So about six days to upgrade," Lyra calculated.
"If you have questions about the cards, come by my dormitory! I'm in room 69," Tracy added.
"Room 69? That's right behind Lilith! I used to stay there!" Lyra exclaimed, memories flooding back.
"What a coincidence! By the way, do all your witch books come from your own hands? They look incredible!" Lyra couldn't help but ask.
"Didn't you see 'The Birth of a Beautiful Cover' on the first-year reading list? We all learned from that!" Tracy replied with a wink.
"Oh! Thanks for the tip, Senior!" Lyra beamed before bidding her farewell and rejoining her fellow first-years.
"'The Birth of a Beautiful Cover'? You made those yourself?" one of the witches exclaimed.
"Why do we have to read about books again?" another grumbled.
"Honestly, I think my bark book has its own charm. Maybe I'll keep it!" said a third.
"My slate book is solid! No thief would bother with it!" another chimed in.
"I think a simple softcover book is just fine. It may not look fancy, but it's tough! Plus, I don't want to waste time cutting and binding," another added, shrugging.
"Exactly! What matters is the content, not the cover! With the resources we have, we should just make the best of it. Once we graduate, we can invest in something nicer!"
With that, the little witches let go of their dreams of fancy notebooks.
The reality of their situation set in: if pre-made items weren't available, they had plenty of ways to create their own!
Some headed for the plain softcover books to use as placeholders, while others opted to make entirely new witch books, gathering paper and cutters.
Lyra and Sylph chose the latter, while Vasida selected the former.
Everyone collected what they needed, though it was less glamorous than they had hoped.
"Let's head back and start infusing our notebooks and papers!" Lyra urged.
This time, there was no need for her to rally the group. The little witches eagerly returned, spurred on by Tracy's warning. They all knew that if they didn't put in the effort now, they might find themselves struggling and alone later on.