TWLW 10

chapter 10

He growled, staring sharply at Lucel, who had shifted from a black panther to a black cat.

Out of instinctive fear, Lucel lowered his tail and ears, looking at him with a pitiful expression.

“What are you supposed to do then! Cry on the spot? Ludels Ifin, the pride of the world, smiling and acting cute in front of a witch! Who in their right mind can control their expression in that situation?”

Ludels quietly cracked his fingers as he watched Lucel’s fidgeting mouth. He was an assistant who desperately needed mental training.

Breathing heavily, I arrived at my dorm, slammed the door so hard it made a loud bang, and exhaled in exhaustion.

The assistant’s gaze, still lingering on me, felt like the same disdainful look I had felt in the witch kingdom, and fear surged through me like a wave.

“Trash.”
“What face do you think you’re showing?”
“An incompetent witch who shames her parents.”

The mocking laughter of the witches pointing fingers at me seemed to replay automatically in my head. I sat down with my back to the door and covered my ears tightly with my hands.

“Calm down. They’re already gone, haha.”

I repeated it countless times, trying to steady my trembling body. When my breathing returned to normal, I covered my face.

“Really pathetic…”

Yes, utterly pathetic.

How could I still cling to the past foolishly, even now?

Yet I couldn’t discard it, and seeing myself bleed from the thorns I had embraced was exhausting. I wanted to erase these painful memories with magic completely.

However, I was a witch who could never dare attempt high-level magic like mental spells and was called a failure even at the academy.

Sniffling, I lowered my hands and looked at the room filled with boxes with tear-filled eyes.

There weren’t many boxes, but I felt I had to organize them. I wiped my tears roughly with my sleeve and cast a spell.

[Colloco]

The flow of air shifted as the spell, imbued with magical energy, took effect.

The boxes wobbled, their lids opening as they began to scatter around.

I stared blankly at the books, household items, and clothes flying through the air, placing my hand over my puffy eyes and softly chanting another spell.

[Sanesco]

A cool sensation spread across my eyes as the swelling gradually subsided. It was the first spell I had learned when I realized my magical attribute.

I remembered the first time I discovered this magic as a child—casting it on injured or broken plants and animals, and feeling joy and amazement at the visible effects. It felt like yesterday.

Lost in those memories for a while, I was startled by a knock at the door and turned around.

“Eriel? Are you in there?”

It was Ludels’ voice.

Realizing he was at the door, I slowly turned around. Items still hadn’t returned to their places, floating midair, showing the lingering effects of my magic.

‘Ah, this isn’t good.’

Only five seconds passed before I fully realized the danger.

This is bad, really bad! What am I going to do? I stomped my feet in panic.

I lost my mind! Why am I casting magic in a house full of beast-people? I’m already at risk of being scrutinized for being a witch! Beast-people are hypersensitive to magical energy, some even hate it!

Scolding myself, I glanced at the door with trembling eyes. Thankfully, there was no hurried knocking, but a dark muttering voice reached my ears.

“Should I break down the door?”
“I-I’m in here! Just a moment!”

Break down the door, sir? Isn’t this made from the rare Lurehill wood from the Ice Mountains—wood worth the price of a house?

I questioned his sense of money as I anxiously watched the flying objects and the door.

Some items still hadn’t found their proper place.

Outside, Ludels called to me.

“Eriel? Is something wrong?”
“Nothing at all!”

Yes, nothing at all! Please just stay outside for a moment.

Clinging to this anxious feeling, I checked the items that had finally settled into place. Good, everything was back where it belonged!

I cleared my throat and opened the door. Ludels, standing with his arms crossed, lowered his head and smiled at me.

“Seems like you’ve had a busy time, Eriel…”

He trailed off, slightly furrowing his eyes.

Why is he reacting like that when he suddenly looks at my face? I continued staring at him.

But as if nothing happened, he looked at me with a gentle smile, raising the corners of his mouth.

“Were you organizing your things?”
“Uh? Yes, yes. There was so much stuff that it took a while, haha.”

I scratched my head and laughed awkwardly. Even while laughing, my nervousness hadn’t disappeared. The residual magic in the room caused it.

Beast-people are more sensitive physically than any other species, and they can especially detect magical energy.

I worried about how Ludels would react upon sensing the lingering magic. Would he just warn me, get angry, or deal with it secretly?

Though he knew I was a witch, feelings could change instantly, so I avoided his gaze and looked down.

Ludels’ low voice reached me.

“Eriel, it’s okay.”

I lifted my head. Ludels looked at me with affectionate eyes.

Smiling more beautifully than any woman, he cupped my face with both hands, resting his forehead against mine, whispering softly.

“You don’t have to be afraid. It’s okay.”

I stared at him, stunned, as he softly whispered with closed eyes.

His face, framed by long, even eyelashes, was breathtakingly beautiful.

Watching him, I felt tears welling up and bit the soft flesh of my mouth.

My heart ached like waves, not from fresh pain, but from the lingering pain finally surfacing to disappear.

Ludels gently held my trembling shoulders to calm me and spoke.

“It’s okay to use magic, Eriel. You don’t have to be afraid. You’ve done nothing wrong.”
“Uu…”
“Shh. It’s okay, it’s okay. You must have been really scared.”

Holding me naturally, he comforted me as if I were a child. I sobbed several times in his warm embrace.

After a few hiccups, I finally calmed down enough to remove my face from his shoulder.

My eyes, previously treated, felt dry and swollen again, accompanied by a creeping embarrassment. Looking at his shoulder, I saw it damp with my tears and snot.

‘Wow… I really lost it.’

I wished I could faint.

Getting tears and snot on my employer’s clothes! As a worker, no, as a woman, this was the worst!

Blushing furiously, I covered my face with my hands to hide it.

“Eriel? Lift your head.”

No! I can’t! Don’t! My face is a mess, I can’t!

I turned my head stubbornly. Ludels said nothing, letting me cool down.

‘Think of something else, think of something else! Sleep-inducing recipe: 3g iceflower from the Ice Cave, 30g mountain rosemary, 5g Quis extract… and the method for a sedative…’

I recited the recipe silently to overcome my embarrassment. Slowly, my hands lowered as tension eased.

A large hand gently covered mine, letting light reach my face. He spoke softly.

“You don’t have to be afraid, Eriel. I know why you’re like this, so no need to hide.”

Staring at him, wide-eyed, I felt dazed.

Ludels smiled.

“What we dislike is a witch’s arrogance, not a witch using magic. If we hated magic, we’d hate elves and wizards who use it too.”
“How… did you know?”
“Hm…”

He didn’t answer but mischievously twisted a strand of my hair.

I felt deflated—he already knew I used magic despite my efforts to hide it.

Ludels slightly bowed his head and spoke softly.

“You can use magic openly. Others will pretend not to notice.”

He grinned mischievously, resting his hands on his waist like a playful boy. He wiped the tears from my face with his right hand and said:

“So don’t cry, Eriel. It hurts my heart when you cry, as your employer.”

Pouting, he looked at me, and then licked the tears from his fingers with a “smack.”

“Ugh… gross.”

I screamed in shock.

“W-Why are you eating that?! It’s salty because it’s tears!”
“I was curious if the taste of tears varies by person.”

He said casually, licking his lips and squinting his slender eyes at me with a smile.