Chapter 33: The Witch Begins to Learn Magic

After adopting the witch, your life has undergone some changes.

In the past, aside from delving into magic, you were busy with various magical research. After adopting Cressa, part of your time is now spent teaching her.

You don’t find this to be a bad thing.

Your expertise in magic has already reached an extremely high level, and improving your strength is just a matter of time. Teaching the girl helps you pass the idle hours.

The girl’s comprehension is surprisingly high, far beyond your expectations.

Although what you’ve taught her are just basic life skills and social etiquette from the human world, she mastered them all within a week.

Due to her tragic past, she still seems a bit odd, but she can now hold a normal conversation with you.

You feel pleased and praise Cressa.

However, while you’re pleased, you also worry about the witch’s future. Through daily interactions, you’ve noticed that Cressa is missing something crucial.

It’s not just the impurity of her demon bloodline, the broken horns on her head, or the incomplete scales on her skin.

What’s more critical is that the girl has lost her emotions.

She doesn’t understand joy, doesn’t know sadness, and can’t feel anger—only fear remains.

In her turbulent past, the girl endured countless insults, beatings, and heart-wrenching pain, which taught her to numb herself and forget unnecessary emotions.

She doesn’t smile, doesn’t cry.

Only the instinctive fear of being beaten remains, causing her to cower in terror.

Once, when you and Cressa were in the same room, you reached out to take a cup of tea, but she screamed in terror, thinking you were going to hit her, and curled up in the corner.

Since then, you’ve consciously softened your movements, and gradually, the young witch has grown accustomed to being around you.

Time flies, and in the blink of an eye, you’ve been raising the witch for half a month. During these fifteen days, through your careful guidance, the girl has become more well-behaved and even helps out in daily life.

After much thought, you’ve considered many futures for the girl but ultimately decided to let her choose her own path.

1. Let the girl stay at home and continue living as a maid, taking care of your daily needs.

2. Have the girl acknowledge you as her mentor, teach her magic, and let her become a true witch, changing her life.

3. Leave and start a new life, giving the girl a sufficient amount of money for her journey.

On a chilly autumn afternoon, with the cold wind howling, you call Cressa over and present her with the three choices, letting her decide for herself.

City of Allenson.

The autumn wind is fierce, easily sweeping up fallen leaves.

In the courtyard, slightly closer to the city center and far from the slums, an eleven or twelve-year-old girl stands with a vacant gaze, like a machine without will.

Before her are three items.

The first is a maid outfit.

The second is an apprentice mage robe.

The third is a bulging bag of coins.

These three items represent three different life paths.

Without hesitation, Cressa skips over the bag of coins, even though it could ensure a carefree life for her. She feels no temptation.

“Maid…”

She murmurs softly.

Her gaze lingers on the maid outfit.

She has no interest in supernatural powers and never thought of becoming strong.

To stay by Xu Xi’s side as a maid, as his personal possession, feels like the happiest outcome to her.

Thinking this, Cressa reaches for the maid outfit.

But suddenly, she notices a hint of disappointment in Xu Xi’s eyes.

More than her own desires, the witch doesn’t want to disappoint Xu Xi. So, she tentatively reaches for the apprentice mage robes instead.

This time, she sees it.

Xu Xi’s eyes show approval.

Without hesitation, the witch grabs the apprentice mage robes.

“Mentor, I’ve made my choice,” Cressa says flatly, her tone devoid of emotion. She puts on the black apprentice robes, which, paired with her silver-gray hair, give her a mysterious aura.

“Cressa, starting tomorrow, come to the meditation room. I’ll teach you the most basic meditation techniques.”

Xu Xi apologetically strokes the girl’s hair, which is regaining its luster.

He can tell.

Cressa didn’t choose magic for herself but because of his expectations.

Xu Xi feels a bit guilty but also relieved.

In this magical world, without power, one cannot control their fate.

Compared to humans, demons have long lifespans, truly a long-lived species. Even a half-demon witch like Cressa could live for hundreds or thousands of years.

Xu Xi doesn’t know how long he’ll live in this simulation, but it’s likely shorter than the girl’s lifespan.

To prevent her from being abused or killed after he’s gone, Xu Xi feels it’s necessary to teach her the power to protect herself—magic.

“With Cressa’s demon bloodline, using magic through divine faith is impossible. Fortunately, I’m an elemental mage and can teach her to sense the elements.”

Xu Xi mutters to himself, looking up at the courtyard tree.

The weather has turned cold, and the once-green leaves have all fallen, leaving bare branches swaying in the wind.

Flowers bloom and wither.

Trees flourish and decay.

If you wait until something happens to regret it, it’ll be too late.

“Let’s go inside, Cressa. The wind is strong, and you might catch a cold.”

“Yes, Master… Mentor.”

The girl follows closely behind Xu Xi, never leaving his side.

The next day.

In the deepest part of the courtyard house, in the meditation room, the light is dim, and candles flicker. Xu Xi and Cressa sit down together.

The meditation room is inscribed with a special magic circle.

It enhances focus and improves elemental perception, perfect for a beginner like Cressa.

“Cressa, empty your mind. Don’t think of anything. Feel the elements in their most natural state.”

In the meditation room.

Xu Xi holds a brown wand, waving it slightly. The cold, dark air becomes stifling, carrying a faint burnt smell.

Spirit-Clearing Herb, a magical herb from the fertile lands outside the city.

Legend says it’s a divine gift from the Goddess of Harvest.

For a novice mage apprentice, it has a miraculous effect, making it easier to sense and understand magic.

In Xu Xi’s plan, after a month of exposure to the Spirit-Clearing Herb and the focus-enhancing magic circle, the girl should be able to become a mage apprentice without relying on divine faith.

“Take it slow. There’s no rush,” Xu Xi says calmly, prepared for a long-term effort.

After all, in this world, elemental mages who don’t worship deities are rare.

A demon becoming a mage is unheard of.

In a way, Xu Xi is trying to create a miracle.

“Mentor, I’m ready.”

“?”