After learning how to collect books, the little witches were buzzing with excitement. Their eyes gleamed with anticipation as they glanced at the rows of bookshelves, eager to dive into their studies.
Amisha noticed their enthusiasm and handed each of them a long list. "Here's the first-year reading list," she said, her tone brisk but encouraging. "Start by adding the required readings to your Witch's Book as soon as possible. You'll need them for your classes."
She paused, then added, "Don't overlook the optional reading list. These books are crucial for building your extracurricular knowledge, and they'll give you a real edge if you study them when you have time."
The little witches scanned their lists eagerly as Amisha continued, "If you're looking for a specific book, use the index on the first bookshelf. Now, go ahead and choose your books! If you have any questions, you can find me in the reading area."
As soon as she finished speaking, the witches rushed toward the shelves with the same fervor as hungry beasts scenting a meal. Their excitement filled the air as they scrambled to collect their first books.
Lyra, however, remained calm. She took her time, carefully following Ms. Amisha's instructions, methodically pressing the spines of each book to her Witch's Book and copying the contents. No need to rush; she was determined to do this right.
She looked down at her list and read the titles:
First-Year Required Reading List:
1. 'Learning the Magic of Cooking from Scratch'
2. 'Learning the Magic of Sewing from Scratch'
3. 'Guide to the Cultivation of Broom Grass'
4. 'Housework Magic: Clean, Organize, and Repair'
5. 'Ignition, Lighting, and Water Generation'
6. 'Two or Three Things About Growing Vegetables: Introduction to Plant Magic'
7. 'Common Magical Plants and the Refining of Basic Magical Potions'
8. 'A History of Witches'
9. 'The Changes of Time in the Continent of Valen'
10. 'What is Magic?'
She counted the titles; ten books. From the list, she could already tell what they'd be learning this year. Each title hinted at the practical skills they'd need to master, from basic household magic to plant cultivation and potion refining. It wasn't just theory, they'd be hands-on witches by the end of the year.
Lyra's eyes drifted to the optional reading list. These were the books that would take her knowledge beyond the classroom. Titles like 'The Witch's Way', 'Traces of Energy', and 'The Birth of a Beautiful Cover' all recommended by upperclassmen, caught her eye. Then there were 'The Witch's Contract' and 'Lifelong Learning Companion: The Witch's Book', personally suggested by the dean herself. The list was extensive, including everything from cookbooks like 'Valen Continent Food Picture Book' to more specialized topics like 'Magic Wands' and 'The Art of Flame'.
"This should be enough for the blank pages I've prepared," Lyra thought to herself, confident in her careful planning.
But as soon as she approached the shelves, her confidence wavered. The first book on her optional list, 'Valen Continent', wasn't a simple single volume, it spanned multiple shelves, consisting of hundreds of volumes! This wasn't just a book; it was an encyclopedia, covering the entire continent's topography, climate, culture, language, politics, and history. Lavishly illustrated and filled with detailed descriptions, it was an immersive dive into the world of Valen.
Lyra's eyes widened. "How can anyone fit this into a Witch's Book?" she thought, realizing how naive she had been. It would take up the entire book and leave no space for anything else!
As she scanned the shelves, she noticed many of the optional books came in multiple volumes as well. 'The Birth of a Beautiful Cover' alone had fifteen volumes, while 'Traces of Energy' had two.
Suddenly, her options narrowed. Her Witch's Book could only copy a maximum of 33 volumes, and after the ten required books, she had only 23 spaces left. Choosing carefully, she picked the most valuable recommendations; those from the seniors and the dean.
Balancing between practicality and curiosity, she added 'The Birth of a Beautiful Cover', despite its numerous volumes, along with 'Traces of Energy' and 'The Witch's Contract'.
As the magical transcription runes glowed, copying the books into her Witch's Book, Lyra sighed. There was so much knowledge here, and so little space. She'd have to be smart about what she copied and make every page count.
As she glanced around, the other little witches were still eagerly gathering their books, chatting excitedly about the discoveries they were making. The atmosphere was charged with energy, but Lyra remained focused, methodically completing her selections and contemplating the wealth of knowledge at her fingertips.
Most of the little witches had only prepared enough blank pages to copy down their required readings, but Lyra, ever the forward-thinker, had made sure to set aside extra space in her Witch's Book. She eagerly approached the shelves, picking her chosen books one by one.
Following Ms. Amisha's instructions, she carefully pressed the spine of each book, marked with the transcription rune, against a blank page in her Witch's Book. With a soft flash of light, the contents of the book transferred seamlessly onto the page. Lyra marveled at the magic, each book was not only copied but could also be searched through with ease, as if her Witch's Book were a magical e-reader. Turning pages and searching for keywords was as simple as a thought, making it a perfect mobile library.
As Lyra collected book after book, a wave of regret washed over her. 'If only I had more blank pages!' These books were more than just words: they were her spiritual nourishment. She had spent so long worrying she'd never have enough to read, but now, faced with a library of thousands of volumes, her worry shifted. How could she possibly collect and savor them all equally?
Even though copying was quick and efficient, it wasn't instant. Each book's rune needed time to recharge before it could be used again. By the time Ms. Amisha called the class back, Lyra had just finished copying the thirty-three books she had carefully selected.
"That's all for today!" Amisha announced, her voice cutting through the chatter. "Don't stress about copying the rest of the books right now. We'll start using some of the required readings in class next week, so you've got the weekend to finish preparing."
Lyra tucked her Witch's Book under her arm, feeling accomplished. But then Amisha added, almost casually, "There is homework for today, though. Listen up, little witches: after class, I want each of you to break off a branch and bring it with you tomorrow!"
The room fell into a confused silence.
"Branches? What kind of branches?" Lyra called out, her brow furrowed in confusion. "What are they for?"
The assignment seemed bizarre; what use could they have for a random branch? There had to be more to it than that.
Amisha smiled cryptically. "Any branch will do. The length and thickness are up to you, but it must be freshly broken; no older than three days. The fresher, the better. As for what it's for... you'll find out in class tomorrow." And with that, she turned and walked away, leaving the witches to speculate.
Lyra narrowed her eyes. 'What is she up to?' she wondered, watching Amisha's retreating figure. "I bet this branch is going to be important," Vasida said with certainty, her arms crossed.
"Of course!" Sylph agreed, rolling her eyes. "Ms. Amisha wouldn't give us homework just for fun. There's definitely a reason behind it."
"The fresher the better, huh?" Vasida mused. "Let's head to the woods outside the dormitory tomorrow morning and grab a branch."
"No, no, no," Lyra interrupted, shaking her head. "We need to be smarter than that. Tomorrow morning, we should take our knives and go to the castle gardens; not the woods."
"Knives? Why would we need knives?" Sylph and Vasida looked at her, puzzled.
Lyra grinned. "Because we're not just getting 'a' branch, we're going to cut several. Thick, thin, medium; you name it. We'll gather a variety of branches, so when we get to class, no matter what we need, we'll have it."
Sylph raised an eyebrow. "Isn't that a bit... excessive? Ms. Amisha only said we needed one branch, and it didn't matter how thick or long it was."
Lyra crossed her arms and asked, "Do you remember what Ms. Amisha said during the first class this week? Tomorrow is Friday; think back."
The two witches exchanged confused glances. "What are we missing?" Vasida asked, scratching her head.
"Ms. Amisha mentioned that this week's introductory alchemy class would teach us how to make our own Witch's Book 'and' a magic wand!" Lyra explained. "We've made the Witch's Book today, but what about the wand?"
Sylph's eyes widened. "Wait; you're saying we're going to make our own wands tomorrow? But a wand is a magical item. Can we really just break off a branch and use it to make one?"
Lyra tapped the cover of her Witch's Book. "Take a look at our Witch's Book. It's made from basic materials, but it's functional, right? I think we should be prepared. Even if the branches aren't all for wands, having more options is always better."
Sylph and Vasida shared a look. "You've got a point," Vasida admitted. "It's better to have extra branches just in case."
"Exactly! We don't want to end up with an unsuitable wand because we didn't prepare properly," Lyra said with a smirk.
"Alright then," Vasida said, determination in her voice. "We'll head to the castle garden early tomorrow morning. There are plenty of trees there, and we can cut off some fresh branches without causing too much damage."
"Agreed!" Sylph added, her excitement returning. "Let's meet at dawn and get everything ready!"
With their plan in place, the three witches left the classroom, their minds racing with excitement and anticipation for the challenges of the next day. Tomorrow's class would reveal the mystery behind the branches; and perhaps, the start of their journey in creating their very own magic wands.