She Is Not a Witch

Many years ago, that family in her memory was accompanied by unpleasant recollections. From childhood, her parents seemed to be constantly arguing. Whether it was about money, food, or trivial matters of daily life, anything could become a trigger for disputes.

The child, not knowing how to face this situation, could only hide fearfully in the corner, concealing her existence to avoid being caught in the crossfire. Thus, from a very young age, this child learned to be sensible and restrained her childish willfulness. She wouldn’t run around carelessly or cause trouble for her mother, instead staying quietly at home, playing with her building blocks.

But this peace was only temporary. When her father was away at work, her mother became strict with the child. Academic performance became the sole standard of judgment. Every day, not only did she have to complete the teacher’s assignments, but she also had to work through various supplementary workbooks. Moreover, her mother frequently called the school teachers to inquire about the child’s performance at school. If there were any shortcomings, she would harshly interrogate the child.

Faced with her mother’s wide-open eyes, the child could only fearfully put down the remote control and obediently return to her room to study. Days passed like this, one after another. She wasn’t allowed to go out and play freely, for fear she might visit arcades. Gradually, this child had few friends at school and became introverted, rarely speaking to others.

Yet her mother was still not satisfied. She began to reproach the child, asking why she didn’t go out to make more friends, why she was like a clam every day, as if speaking a single word would cut her tongue.

The child remained silent, not knowing how to refute. Perhaps she really wasn’t as good as others, she thought. Looking at her cheerful and lively friends around her, the child felt a bit inferior.

Her mother’s demands for academic performance grew even stricter. At home, if she caught the child not studying, she would scold her, saying, “Your mother works so hard every day, all for you. Why can’t you be like so-and-so from another family? Good grades, articulate, and helping their mother with chores. Look at you, as stupid as a pig.”

Life seemed to have no room for breathing. The mother’s extreme desire for control permeated every corner of life.

Until one day, the child borrowed a comic book from a classmate, and a door to fantasy was secretly opened. It started with various comics: “Doraemon,” “Old Master Q,” “Oriental Heroes,” “Dragon Ball,” “Yu Yu Hakusho,” “Red River,” and so on.

All the comics in the small bookstore next to the school were borrowed one by one. After finishing the comics, she quickly moved on to novels, and an even broader world of fantasy unfolded before her: “In Search of the Supernatural,” “Legend of Stars and Moon,” “Journey of Ethereal,” “Extraordinary Heroes,” “Tale of Wind and Grace,” and many more.

Accompanied by those fresh and fantastic words, she entered incredible realms, experiencing thrilling adventures with the protagonists, achieving supreme feats. The pressures of the outside world found full release in this fantasy world. Life seemed to become much more lovely, and the shadows in her heart lightened considerably.

From then on, the child became obsessed with reading novels, and later with anime as well. It could be said that these spiritual nourishments supported her, allowing her to endure the various discomforts in life. Those beautiful things ultimately prevented her from taking a crooked or extreme path, finally becoming a normal and kind person.

After graduating from high school, the child went far away for university, and it was at that moment that life finally welcomed the blossoming of freedom.

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“Lacy, Lacy…” Rachel’s voice sounded in her ear, and Loranhil finally came back to her senses.

“I’m sorry, I was just recalling something from long ago.”

“Lacy, what did you remember?” Rachel asked curiously.

“Probably about escaping from parental oppression,” the young woman said with a nostalgic smile.

“Rachel, you could discuss with your family, or maybe talk with your fiancé about studying at Emenas for a few years before returning to get married.”

Emenas, the central continent, the academy at the pinnacle of the world, Ivar’s permanent neutral ground where all races were equally accepted. Nine great supernatural sequences, countless advancement paths all available, a legendary school yearned for by countless talented youths. It was a living legend since the Third Era, built after the ‘Chaos War’.

In the 210th year of the Third Era, the Chaos Calamity erupted worldwide. Shadows from another realm invaded the world of Ivar. At that time, nearly half of the Western Continent fell, and the remaining races had to set aside their prejudices and unite to fight back.

The allied forces defended the mountains near Emenas, engaging in a prolonged 20-year stalemate. During this period, countless heroes emerged. After the war was won, the powerful beings of various races and supernatural sequences left their legacies at Emenas, with outstanding individuals serving as sages.

The sages advocated for the establishment of Emenas Academy. Apart from the central school building, four major class divisions guarded the four directions, which were also the four ancient battlefields of that time. This was to teach students history, cultivate the next generation of supernatural sequences for this world, and prepare for the next Chaos War.

It was also currently the place with the highest concentration of supernatural combat power in the world of Ivar. Records of almost all advancement paths could be found there, making it undoubtedly the number one academy in the entire world.

“Emenas…” Rachel murmured, gazing at the azure sky.

“I really want to go, but I’m also afraid of not being admitted.” After the emotional release, rationality began to return to Rachel’s mind. Emenas had extremely high admission standards; not just anyone could enroll.

Loranhil placed her hand on Rachel’s. “Even if you’re afraid, you should still try. At least you won’t leave yourself with regrets, right?”

“Thank you.” Rachel seemed a bit moved, blinking her slightly moist eyes.

“Lacy, you’re the first person to encourage and support me.”

“My father, my brothers, they always say I’m daydreaming, telling me to focus on getting married. They never care about what I want. Perhaps in their view, they’re doing what’s best for me, but I just feel misunderstood, not trusted.” The more Rachel spoke, the more her eyes blinked rapidly, desperately holding back the tears within.

Lacy, or rather Loranhil, stood up and gently stroked Rachel’s back, comforting her without saying a word.

She wouldn’t say any words of sympathy, nor would she say things like “everyone’s the same.” Her own experiences from her previous life made her understand that there was never such a thing as true empathy in the world. One should never expect anyone to fully understand one’s own pain. The occasional breakdowns and crying in life were not something that could be shared with just anyone.

So, when she saw someone nearby crying, she would quietly stay by their side, not saying a word, until the other person slowly released the emotions in their heart. She would only be a quiet listener, not a forceful comforter. Perhaps this, too, was a form of gentleness.