Chapter Text
A big yawn escaped me as I woke to the morning sun peeking through the window.
I blinked in surprise.
The sun was already high in the sky, bright golden light spilling across the floorboards. For a moment, I just stared. It wasn't like me to sleep in this late. There was already so little of the day left for practice.
Throwing the blankets aside, I hurried to get dressed before rushing downstairs to see what chores still needed doing.
As I reached the bottom step, I paused.
It felt... quiet.
Not peaceful quiet, comfortable kind that settled over the atelier when everyone was focused on their work. empty.
The house was usually bursting with magic. Pens scratching against parchment. Someone practicing spells outside. Laughter drifting down the halls. Doors opening and closing. Voices carrying from room to room. Today it felt strangely hollow.
Like an empty nest. I rubbed at my eyes and shook the thought away. Agott was probably already awake.
She was always practicing. Whenever I passed by, she was usually sitting at a desk or near a window, drawing the same symbol over and over with fierce concentration. Sometimes she'd glance up and give me a small nod or smile before returning to her work.
Other times she became so focused that I didn't dare interrupt her. I usually just shuffled away and came back later. Thinking of her, I headed down the hallway toward her room.
The floorboards creaked beneath my feet. I frowned at the layer of dust gathered along the edge of the wall. We really needed to dust more often. Reaching the door, I rested a hand against the frame and peeked inside.
The room was exactly as I remembered. The books stacked neatly in the corner. Everything was in its place.
And yet...
It felt different without the other witch inside it. I stared for a moment before forcing out a small laugh. The words sounded oddly loud in the empty room.
I was sure, she was around here somewhere. Maybe finally taking that rest we all nagged her about at one point or another.
Richeh would usually be doing her crystal magic. It was her specialty! And she seemed like the best at it. Nowadays, she was practicing other forms of magic too. To help a friend one day. She was just as determined as everyone else to learn more.
But she wasn't at the table for a meal.
And she wasn't in her secret cave decorated by all her hard work either. In fact, it seemed she was in the middle of construction. Half of it had been taken down, and new supplies were going up in its place.
I sighed.
Even Tetia was missing! Not even a strand of her pink hair around the house. She was usually the first to greet me, waiting in the kitchen just as eager as I was to begin another lesson in cooking and magic. Every day we greeted one another like we hadn't seen each other in days instead of hours.
It seemed unbearable otherwise. But she wasn't here either. It was all so strange.
Had I missed something?
I tilted my head, trying to remember yesterday. But everything seemed the same. We all wished one another good night. And Master Qifrey...
Oh! Master Qifrey! Maybe he knew where everyone was.
He had to be around here somewhere. My teacher never left without a word. I just had to look harder.
“Good morning!” I shouted, hoping someone would answer.
No one did. The lack of response made my heart grow cold. The atelier’s usually welcoming atmosphere felt off. It had felt that way since I woke up.
“Coco, there you are.”
Qifrey emerged from outside, dusting off his hands and adjusting his glasses, which had slipped halfway down his nose. His smile was warm today. Soft. His hair was fixed neatly, and yet…
Something felt slightly different. But that had to be because I hadn’t found anyone yet. My hands moved rapidly as I tried to explain.
“Agott! Richeh! Tetia!” I shouted, trying to ask where they were.
Qifrey gave me that knowing smile. Then, for a single moment, his expression twitched. Only a little. Before I could think too hard about it, he reached out and pet my head.
“They’re fine,” he said gently. “All fine. The girls simply returned to the Great Hall. There’s an event going on, and I thought it best they didn’t miss it.” He said it all calmly, like he was trying to ease every worry out of me.
Oh. That was good. I placed a hand against my chest and sighed.
I did wonder why this was the first I was hearing of it. And why Master Qifrey and I didn’t go with them. But he didn’t explain.
Instead, I asked,
“When will they come back?”
“At the end of the week,” he promised.
The answer came easily. But I was already smiling. A week wasn't that long.
Qifrey turned and headed toward the kitchen, long robes swaying behind him. Even if it was an odd day, it would begin like any other. Just less hands to make a meal. A lot less plates to set on the table. I couldn't help but get excited. I'd get to hear all about whatever adventures my friends had gotten themselves into. What exactly they were up to. Then they'd come home and fill the house back up with that warmth I was missing.
“That means, you get teacher's attention all week,” he said. His hand found my head again. Careful fingers brushed a stray strand of hair behind my ear before giving my shoulder a gentle squeeze. “So let's make a meal, and afterward we can work on anything you'd like together.”
My eyes brightened.
Anything?
I'd have so much to tell the girls when they got back! I laughed and nodded quickly, nearly bouncing on my feet as I followed him toward the kitchen. As we passed through the hallway, I glanced toward the wall.
Then blinked. The mirror where I checked my hair every morning was gone.
“Where are all the mirrors?” I asked, puzzled.
Teacher was standing over a pot of stew while I carefully lifted the lid. Qifrey didn't look up.
“They broke a bad spell,” he explained quickly. His pen never stopped moving across the page.
That got another laugh out of me and a touch of curiosity. “What kind of spell?”
The question almost slipped out. I wanted to know what had gone wrong. Who had cast it. How many mirrors it had broken. But something told me master Qifrey had probably already explained it a dozen times.
So instead I wandered over and stood beside him. His hands moved carefully across the parchment, precise in every little line that seemed to appear exactly where it belonged.
I rested my chin in my hands and watched. Even after all this time, watching magic being made felt like a dream. A dream I was lucky enough to keep receiving every single day.
“Want to help me cook? I'll need a lot of help,” the Master asked with a tilt of his head, looking a touch happier.
“Yes please!” I hurried over immediately. “How old is this stew?” I asked, my nose wrinkling in offense at the smell. It was a question I never got tired of asking.
I still didn't understand why Master Qifrey liked making giant pots of stew and storing them away for random days like today. I couldn't exactly call it laziness. Then again, maybe he did it so his students could spend more time practicing their magic.
“Not that old,” he said.
Though he sounded a little unsure himself.
I narrowed my eyes.
Teacher narrowed his eyes back.
Neither of us believed that answer.
Still, I carefully began drawing the symbol to turn back time. My tongue poked out slightly in concentration as I checked every curve and line. The circle had to be perfect. At least my straight lines didn't need nearly as much work anymore.
“How did you learn to cook?” I asked.
Qifrey's gaze drifted from the stew to the window. “Being alone with Olruggio does that.” There was something nostalgic in his voice. His eyes lowered for a moment too long. As if he wandered somewhere far away.
He took a slow breath, holding onto whatever memory had found him before gently letting it go. When he looked back at me, he was smiling again.
“We were terrible cooks together. And we learned together.” A small laugh escaped him. “Life at the Great Hall spoils you. That's why I want to make sure my students..."
His hand settled on top of my head.
"...know more than we did when we started out.”
I couldn't contain my smile.
“Wow.” I stared at him. “Even you're bad at something.”
“Of course,” he laughed.
The sound was warm. The kind of laugh that made it hard to imagine Master Qifrey ever struggling with anything at all. So naturally, I immediately wanted to hear more stories.
Before long, he was recounting some of the truly awful meals they had made together. But from the way he smiled, you would have thought they were the tastiest ones. We began to eat across from one another at the table. It felt strange, only two bowls set out. Only two spoons. Too much empty space between us.
I stirred my stew before asking, “Where is Master Olruggio?”
Qifrey paused. Only for a moment. Then he lifted his spoon again.
“With the others,” he said. “I couldn’t send them alone.”
“Oh.” I nodded, because that made sense. “What are they doing back at the Great Hall anyway?”
“I’m sure everyone will be happy to tell you when they return home,” he said Vague.
He smiled at me over his bowl, like that should be enough. After I took the last bite of my stew, I set my spoon down and smiled.
“So what are we practicing first?”
+++++
“Here looks nice, Master Qifrey!” I waved the white-haired man over as he carried the picnic basket toward me.
The grass swayed gently beneath the afternoon sun. Unlike our last picnic, which had been interrupted by rain, today was warm and bright. It was nice. Getting to run around together was nice. Though it was still a shame, I was the only one here to enjoy it. Teacher was here, of course, but I doubted he wanted to run through the grass with me.
I adjusted my coat as I waited. Ever since this morning, my clothes had felt wrong. My shirt rode up a little higher than usual, my pants seemed closer to my shoes, and even my witch’s coat felt a bit small around my shoulders.
I could still wear it, but maybe I was just outgrowing it. I had been at the atelier for a while now. Was I having a growth spurt? Mom used to complain about those. It meant buying more fabric and making new dresses. And yet she always looked so happy while saying it. Telling me I’d be grown up before she knew it.
Before I knew it too.
“You’re growing,” Master Qifrey said, pulling me from the memory. I looked up. He had stopped walking, the picnic basket hanging loosely from one hand. For a moment he looked exactly like my mother had. Proud, a little surprised, then something else crossed his face. Something sad. Painful. Gone so quickly, I almost thought I imagined it.
The feeling hit my chest all the same. I rubbed the back of my neck and laughed nervously. “I swear this fit me yesterday!”
The joke felt funny. For some reason, it didn’t seem funny to him. His eyes lingered on my sleeves, on the coat, on me like he was measuring something. Counting down? Up? Then he smiled. A small one. And nodded.
“Yes,” he said quietly. “ I remember…”
He hummed in thought.
“It’s fine. We can go into town and pick up some clothes for you.” He sounded almost sad about me growing up. Or maybe it was the cost.
“No, it’s fine!” I said quickly, shaking my hands to refuse the generosity.
But Qifrey, already seeming to know where my thoughts had gone, only smiled.
“I’m your teacher and guardian. I can’t have my student running around in uncomfortable clothes.” He said it like a parent scolding his child, but the care in his voice made my heart feel full.
“Thank you.”
“No need for thanks, Coco.” His smile softened as he set the basket down and began taking out the food. “Please, eat up. Something tells me you… have a lot more growing to do.”
I took a bite and agreed.
+++
Master Qifrey held my hand rather tightly as we wandered through town. Since the last time I had been here I was transported to another world, I held on just as tight. Though I doubted there would be another dragon waiting to pull us in. At least, I hoped not. I didn’t want to have another story about one.
The thought made me smile as people passed us on the street. The master and his apprentice. Witches and wizards were far more common here than in my small town, but people still seemed eager to look at us as we walked toward the tailor. Master Qifrey kept me close to his side. Not in a way that hurt, just enough that whenever someone walked too near, his hand tightened around mine, and he gently pulled me closer before they could brush against me.
At first, I thought it was because the street was crowded. Then I noticed his eyes. They weren’t looking at the shops, or the fabric stalls, or the spell signs, or the busy witches carrying bundles of paper and ink. They were looking at people. Watching them. Measuring them. Like every person who came too close was something he needed to decide about.
I almost asked if something was wrong, but then we reached the tailor’s shop, and the thought slipped away. The moment I stepped inside, my chest tightened. Fabric, yarn, needles. Everything familiar. A small glimpse of my old life. It should have made me happy. Instead, it made something in my heart ache.
Near one of the tables, a mother was helping her daughter choose fabric. The little girl turned, spotted my hat, and gasped. “Mom! Mom, a real witch!”
“Apprentice, sweetheart,” the mother corrected softly.
I smiled back and waved. The little girl’s face lit up like I had made her entire day. Before I could wave again, Master Qifrey’s hand settled on my shoulder. Gentle, but heavy. Keeping me beside him.
“Stay close, Coco,” he said, his voice soft enough for only me to hear.
I nodded quickly. I didn’t mind. It was nice being protected. Still, for a moment, his fingers curled around my shoulder like he was afraid someone might take me if he let go.
“What can I help you with, sir, and little witch?”
Qifrey gave a quick nod, placing a hand on my back as he gently pushed me forward. “My apprentice is growing faster than I could have anticipated. I was hoping to get her some more clothes in her size.”
“Ahh,” the ma’am began, looking me over before reaching for a measuring tape. Her hands were careful as she measured my shoulders, then my arms, humming softly to herself. “I believe we have a few things in stock.”
“That would be greatly appreciated.” Master Qifrey looked down at me, his hand still resting between my shoulders. “Coco, is there any color you like?”
“Anything is fine! Thank you again, Master Qifrey!”
“Like I said, no need to thank me.” His fingers brushed lightly over my hair, fixing a strand that had fallen into my face. “Just keep being safe… and don’t fly too far away when you get your wings.” He spoke with a smile, but his voice told another story.
The mother laughed softly from across the room. “I think your master is worried that once you become a real witch, you might not have time for him anymore.”
I blinked, then quickly held his hand and looked up into his blue eyes. “Don’t worry, Master! I’ll always come back and visit you! We all will, so you’re never lonely.”
Something changed in his face.
Only for a moment. His smile stayed, but his eyes softened in a way that made my chest ache. Then he kneeled down and pulled me close, holding me a little tighter than usual.
“I so hope that is true, Coco,” he whispered.
I held him back, sure he needed this just as much as me. When he pulled away, it was almost like it had never happened. His smile returned, gentle and easy, as he picked out a few colors and made sure the clothes would be a bit big. Certain I would grow even more before the season ended.
The tailor listened and made a few suggestions from experience she had with her own child, and Master Qifrey accepted the advice with the kind of energy a new father would have. A mixture of happy, tired, and grateful all at once. I watched the seamstress at work, adjusting the sizes and giving tips for when I returned home to my own mother one day.
Qifrey held the bag once everything was done. “Thank you again, ma’am.”
“No trouble at all. You and your daughter have a good day.”
I opened my mouth to correct her, sure she had mistaken us for something more when we were clearly master and apprentice. If the hats and the fact that we were traveling together weren’t clear enough!
“Thank you,” Master Qifrey said, completely unbothered. “We shall.”
Maybe he got this reaction a lot. With all of us. He gave me an easy grin before suddenly lifting me up onto his shoulder.
“Aren’t I heavy!?” I asked, worried for my poor master’s back.
“Not even the slightest bit,” he assured me.
I held my hands up for a moment, unsure if I could hold around his neck or if I dared touch his white, silvery hair. He only adjusted his hold under my legs, steady and careful, as though carrying me was the easiest thing in the world.
“Are you ready to go home?”
I nodded. After my pestering, Master Qifrey went back to holding my hand. It made me miss the days with my own mother.
I yearned for those days. Sure, I might not have known magic at all if that day had never happened, but I would trade it for her. For the simple time of cutting fabric and watching her hands work. For the sound of scissors gliding through cloth. For being beside her and not having to wonder if she hated what I had become.
What would she say now if she saw me?
About the person I was now.
Would she be upset I went so far away from home? Happy I got to realize my dream? Disappointed I was doing magic in the first place?
I guess I would find out one day. I promised I would help her. And hopefully, when that day came, she wouldn’t be too disappointed by the person I was, or the person I would be.
“Qifrey!”
Someone shouted across the town, their voice nearly blending into the noise of people walking by. Master Qifrey’s hand tightened around mine before I even turned my head.
I glanced over and saw a man.
Before I could get a good look at him, my eyes caught on the odd chair beneath him. It moved with deer-like feet, guiding itself carefully through the street as he came closer.
But one glance up at my master made my me feel odd. He had gone cold. His grip tightened around my hand, his breathing stopped, and his eyes didn’t dare look back at the man calling his name. Instead, they fixed straight ahead, already searching for another path through the crowd.
Then he looked down at me. The moment his eyes landed on me, something eased, like he was assuring himself I was still there. Before I could ask what was wrong, he scooped me into his arms and dashed down the street.
“Qifrey! Qifrey! Stop this instant!” the voice shouted behind us.
I twisted around, trying to get a better look, but Qifrey pulled off his hat and dropped it over my head. The brim slipped over my eyes. “Hey!” I grabbed it before it could completely blind me. The inside was covered in a strange design. Magic I had never seen before, and had certainly never been taught.
By the time I pulled the hat off, Qifrey was smiling. The same gentle smile as always. Yet something about it felt wrong. Why was he running? The question burned on my tongue. His smile wasn’t worried, but his eyes were. There was an anxious feeling hidden behind them. One he was trying very hard to keep me from seeing.
Qifrey wasn’t even slightly out of breath by the time he slipped behind another building and finally stopped. The town noises became distant, and for a moment, neither of us spoke. Instead, he held me tighter and tighter. Like if he loosened his grip for even a second, I might disappear.
His arms felt less like warmth and more like ice.
I pulled my face back enough to look up at him. “Master? What’s wrong?”
“Why did we leave so fast? That person was chasing you. Teacher?”
I asked, and if not for his outright running from that person, I wouldn't have guessed something was wrong. He kept up his smile, though a small flush of embarrassment colored his face. Behind his glasses, he still seemed stressed.
“That is an old acquaintance, is all,” he said, adjusting his glasses. “If I stayed, they would have wanted to talk for hours. I didn't want to spoil your day.”
I slowly blinked. So instead, he ran. That seemed rather childish. But coming from my teacher, who also pouted every time he got wet, I decided to go easy on him.
“Ohh.” I nodded in understanding. “Teacher, thank you, but that's quite rude. Make sure you apologize properly next time.”
For a moment, he simply stared at me. Then a genuine chuckle escaped him, some of the tension finally leaving his shoulders.
“Of course.”
His hand settled on top of my head, ruffling my hair lightly.
“Coco, you're a sweet girl. Don’t ever change”