"We should come up with as many questions as possible, cover everything we don't understand, and get them all answered in class. Maybe then, we'll have no homework!" one of the little witches suggested with determination.
"Yes! Let's surprise Ms. Amisha today!" another added, eyes bright with excitement.
"Let's ask questions in waves, all the way until the end of class, so she won't have time to ask 'us' any questions in return!" someone else proposed, and a chorus of agreement followed.
"Exactly! Write down every single question on parchment in advance so we don't forget any!" another witch advised as they all nodded eagerly.
When they finally entered the History of Witches class, the little witches felt prepared and energized. Ms. Amisha instructed them, as she had the previous day, to read the first chapter on their own and then bring their questions forward. The witches, armed with their pre-prepared lists, couldn't hide their anticipation. They quickly began writing down their questions, making sure to capture every thought they'd prepared.
Ms. Amisha watched them from her desk, swirling a glass of wine in her hand. She noticed the frenzy of activity, but she made no comment, her expression unreadable.
As soon as the question-and-answer session began, every witch's hand shot into the air. The eagerness was palpable.
"Well, it seems everyone is enthusiastic today," Ms. Amisha remarked with a wry smile. "Alright, let's go one by one. We'll take turns asking a question each. Wahida, why don't you start?"
Vasida, eager and prepared, stood up and asked, "How long have witches existed? Who was the first witch? The book doesn't give a specific time."
Ms. Amisha nodded. "Good question. The 'History of Witches' was compiled after witches first gathered in the wilderness. Unfortunately, there's no precise record of who the very first witch was or when she appeared. However, we do know that witches have existed for as long as humans have."
When Lyra's turn came, she asked a question that had been on her mind for some time. "The book says witches are human women who awaken from adversity and suffering. Are adversity and suffering the keys to awakening as a witch? And is there any difference between witches who awaken this way and those who are born into witch families?"
Ms. Amisha's gaze softened as she considered Lyra's question. "Historically, many witches indeed awakened during moments of life-and-death crises. But ever since witches established themselves and gained power, the other races on the continent have stopped hunting them openly. As a result, fewer witches awaken purely from suffering now.
"However, what truly defines a witch is not just the adversity she faces. It's the courage, resilience, and compassion of her soul. All women who awaken as witches possess a spirit unwilling to be oppressed by systems of power; they have the will to fight back. These qualities; more than any hardship, are the essence of a witch's nature."
She paused, and the room fell silent as the little witches hung onto her every word.
"When the church held power, angels and demons targeted witches not only to strengthen their rule but because witches could not be brainwashed, could not be made to offer their faith or their souls. If witches have any faith at all, it is in the world that gave them life."
Ms. Amisha's eyes met Lyra's as she continued, "There is no difference between those who awaken from hardship and those born into witch families. Both possess the same noble qualities and are chosen by the world's consciousness, blessed with the same powers."
Lyra nodded thoughtfully as she sat down. Ms. Amisha's explanation resonated with her, and she couldn't help but reflect. It made sense why, even with the freedom and power witches had, there had never been traitors among them. The courage, perseverance, and kindness Ms. Amisha spoke of were more than just traits; they were embedded in the very souls of witches, carefully chosen by the world itself.
'Could it be,' she wondered, 'that I, a soul from another world, have been accepted by Valen's consciousness as well?' The thought stirred a deep sense of belonging within her.
"Lyra! It's your turn again," Ms. Amisha called out, breaking her thoughts.
This time, Lyra couldn't hold back her curiosity. She stood up and asked, "Is it possible for a soul from another world, one that reincarnates as a witch, to be recognized by the world's consciousness?"
Ms. Amisha's gaze softened further, and a small smile touched her lips. "Of course. Every witch, regardless of where her soul originated, is recognized and embraced by the world. Once she awakens as a witch, she becomes one of the world's beloved."
A wave of relief washed over Lyra. "Thank you, Dean. I understand now."
As she sat down, Lyra felt a warmth she hadn't felt in a long time. She, a wandering soul far from her original home, now realized that she had truly been accepted by Valen. For the first time, she felt like she belonged, this world had become her second home.
The little witches kept the momentum going, firing off questions one after another until the bell rang, signaling the end of class. The session was lively, and by the end of it, every witch looked exhilarated, their eyes fixed on Ms. Amisha, brimming with hope. 'Surely, there won't be any homework this time, right?' they all thought.
Ms. Amisha glanced around at the eager faces and smiled slightly. "I must say, you all asked very thoughtful and comprehensive questions today. It was clear that you came prepared, and your engagement was excellent. I have no further questions for you."
"Yeah!" The little witches couldn't hold back their excitement and let out a small cheer, thinking they had finally outsmarted the system.
But then, Ms. Amisha raised a hand to quiet them, her expression becoming more serious. "However," she began, "although there were many questions, and you explored a lot of knowledge points, it's still unclear how much of it you've actually absorbed and understood."
A murmur of apprehension rippled through the room.
"So, after class, I would like each of you to write a summary paper covering all the questions you asked today. There's no word limit, but it must be thorough. Please submit it during class next Tuesday. Class dismissed."
The cheer that had filled the room vanished, replaced by groans of dismay. Ms. Amisha, true to her word, never held them late, but she always found a way to leave them with a challenge.
"Why do we 'still' have homework?" one witch muttered, clutching her parchment.
"It's like no matter what we do, there's always a paper," another added with a sigh. "If the questions aren't comprehensive enough, we have to research and write. And if they 'are' comprehensive, we have to summarize it all. There's no escape."
"I should've asked fewer questions," Amy groaned, shaking her head as she stared at the long list of questions she'd prepared. "How long is this paper going to take?"
Vasida looked equally distressed. "I was so focused on asking questions that I barely paid attention to Ms. Amisha's answers! How am I supposed to write this now?"
Sylph chimed in, "I only remember the basic idea of each response. I don't think that's enough to fill a whole paper." She bit her lip, looking worried.
The other little witches nodded in agreement. They had been so caught up in their plan of overwhelming Ms. Amisha with questions that they hadn't retained much of her answers. Some questions had even gone off-topic, straying far from the content of the chapter.
Seeing her friends' distress, Lyra spoke up. "If you don't remember something, you can ask me. I remember everything Ms. Amisha said."
Vasida's eyes lit up. "Here! Lyra, look at my list!" She thrust her parchment forward. "I barely remember any of this."
Lyra took the parchment and scanned it. "The first question was about how 'The History of Witches' book was compiled after witches gathered in the wilderness…" she began, recounting the explanation word for word.
Vasida's eyes widened. "Wait, slow down! I need to write this down." She quickly grabbed a piece of parchment and scribbled as Lyra recited Ms. Amisha's words. When they finished going over the list, Vasida finally looked relieved, nodding as she pieced together her paper.
"Does anyone else need help?" Lyra asked.
Instantly, the other little witches swarmed around her. "Me! Me! Over here!" they chorused.
Lyra remained calm, answering each question as if she had a perfect transcript in her mind. The witches scribbled furiously, grateful for her detailed memory.
By noon, none of them had even stopped for lunch. On their way down the mountain, they grabbed breadfruits from the forest, taking quick bites as they walked. Even then, they didn't waste a moment, brainstorming solutions to the rest of their unanswered questions.
"What are we going to do if this keeps happening?" one witch wondered aloud, chewing thoughtfully on her breadfruit. "We managed to get through today, but what about next time?"
"Yeah, we can't always rely on Lyra to remember everything for us," another witch added. "We can't keep asking her to reteach the lessons after every class."
"Wait, what if we take notes?" a witch suggested. "When the dean answers questions, we could ask her to slow down so we have time to write it all down."
"That way, we'd have fewer questions to ask and less homework to do."
"Perfect! Let's do that from now on!" the group agreed, determined to turn things around for future classes. With their new plan in place, they felt a glimmer of hope; maybe, just maybe, they could finally manage to stay ahead of the game.