“What?”
Uh-oh. I’d been staring too much, and now she was looking directly back at me. I froze up and let out an awkward “Ha-ha-ha” as a nervous habit.
“Sorry, I was just thinking about how pretty you are. I love your blue hair.”
“I see.”
And then there was silence—awkward silence.
“It must be tough for you this time of year, with all the parades going on. You know, I actually saw a video of your last one. Wow, it sure was awesome. It’s crazy to think we’re both the same age. I guess geniuses are just built different, eh? Ha-ha-ha-ha.”
“Yeah.”
Nothing I said got a reaction out of her.
“Hey, Spberry.”
“It’s Raspberry.”
“Do you have your witch name yet?”
“My witch name? I’m still a rookie.”
“The Rookie Witch, Spberry.”
“That’s not my witch name or my real name,” I jokingly retorted.
But without the slightest hint of a smile, Sophie tonelessly responded, “Oh.” If that was how she was going to react, it would’ve been better if she didn’t ask at all. This sentiment must’ve been written on my face, because as soon as she turned and saw my expression, she continued. “Seeing as you’re the witch Faust’s apprentice, I simply thought it wouldn’t be out of the realm of possibility for you to have one.”
“Do you think they’re all that necessary?”
“There are many witches who don’t have their names yet, but having one is proof that people value your ability.”
This wasn’t untrue. Having a witch name was a high honor, but they were usually only given to people on par with the caliber of the Seven Sages, who had incredible accomplishments under their belts—not something I was even close to having yet.
As I pondered over it, a motorbike traveling the opposite direction came up on us. We got out of the way, but instead of passing us, the bike slowed to a stop.
“Hello, Miss Meg. Funny running into you here like this.”
It was the son of the town’s baker, Onnet.
“Oh, it’s you. You helping your parents? Well, aren’t you a good son?”
“Heh, yeah.”
Onnet bashfully rubbed his nose but then noticed Sophie next to me.
“Who’s your friend?
“It’s our guest. Well, my teacher’s.”
“Lady Faust has a guest?”
Onnet’s expression lit up. With a quivering arm, he pointed straight at Sophie.
That’s rude.
“She has blue hair and red eyes… She doesn’t happen to be…Sophie Hayter…?”
“You bet she is. My teacher hurt her back, so we need her help opening the portal this year.”
“Whoa, you’re the real thing!”
Onnet looked at her and then back at me; his eyes twinkled with envy and respect. Sophie, on the other hand, seemed somewhat uncomfortable with the exchange. She probably wasn’t a fan of having people recognize her.
“Could I, uh, shake your hand?”
Sophie hesitated at first but slowly extended her hand for a shake. He grabbed her hand, and his face lit up like a Christmas tree.
“Geez, I just shook Sophie’s hand! The Sophie! I’m never gonna wash this hand again.”
“You’re a baker, so I hope you wash it for your customers’ sake. Aren’t you supposed to be on the job?”
“Oh crap! I have a delivery to make! Well, I’ll see you later, Miss Sophie! I’m gonna make you some delicious bread, and then—”
“All right, all right! Just hurry up and get back to work already!”
“On it!”
We watched as Onnet drove his motorbike away, becoming smaller and smaller as he went on.
“He’s like a bull in a china shop, he is. Sorry, us country folk get pretty excited when we meet famous people.”
“It’s fine.”
As she said this, Sophie was staring at the hand she’d used to shake Onnet’s. There was a somewhat sad look in her eyes.
“You okay? Miss Sophie? I don’t think you have to worry about his hand. He probably washes it after using the loo ’cause he’s a baker and everything.”
“I’m not concerned about that. It’s fine… Let’s go.”
“Oh, okay.”
I watched as Sophie quickly continued down the path.
It wouldn’t be later until I learned the truth behind her sad expression.
As soon as we reached the town, Sophie suddenly stopped walking.
“Something wrong?”
“I just need a moment.”
She then began running her hand through her hair like a comb. I watched as in an instant, her hair turned from blue to brown. The same went for her red eyes, which lost their hue and changed to a much duller color.
I was astonished; it was a technique I’d never seen before.
“Because of that boy from before.”
“You mean Onnet? I guess if people realized you were in town, it could draw a crowd. We’re all country bumpkins around here… But isn’t it a bit of a shame? To have to dye your pretty blue hair.”
“The effect is only temporary. It doesn’t even last long.”
After she said this, she pinched a lock of her hair.
“There’s no escaping this hair and eye color of mine.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
She didn’t answer this question. Instead, she opted to leave me standing there confused over the remark, which sounded like something an emo teenager would say.
When we made our way to the market, we were met by an endless stream of people who called out to me.
“Hey, it’s Lady Faust’s apprentice. You out on an errand?”
“Yup.”
“If it isn’t the disciple! Are you here with your friend?”
“Heh-heh. Sure am!”
“It’s the witch! Hey, let’s play!”
“Sorry, but I have something I need to do. Next time, okay?”
“It’s the apprentice witch girl! Nanny-nanny boo-boo, you’re uuuugggllllyyy!”
“Listen here, you little brats! I’ll gather all the human and cow poo in this town, boil it in a big pot for three days, and throw you in it!! What do ya think of that, huh?!”
I continued to exchange salutations with everyone we met as we made our way to the town square, and just as Sophie intended, not a single person paid any attention to her.
“Sorry about all the chatter.”
“Is it like this for you whenever you come to town?”
“Yeah, I guess. It’s a small town, so you can’t take a few steps without running into someone you know.”
“Is that so…?”
Sophie said this, then turned her attention to the marketplace.
“Uh… Something catch your interest? You seem lost in thought.”
“It’s nothing. I was just thinking about the name they were using.”
“Did you want to know one of their names?”
“No. Your name. Not a single person called you Spberry.”
“Huh? Well, now that you mention it…”
I never really thought about it, but people around here never called me Meg Raspberry. It was always Lady Faust’s apprentice.
“I guess my teacher is one of the Seven Sages, after all. But it has its upsides, too. Thanks to that, I know pretty much everyone around here.”
“Is that right?”
Sophie gave me a look that could only be described as entirely disinterested.
“I understand now why you’ve yet to acquire a witch name.”
“Huh?”
“It’s because no one recognizes you as a witch.”
Sophie muttered this before continuing to walk toward the town square. I, however, stood in that spot, alone.
“What’s her deal…?”
She’s so abrasive. It’s like she’s judging me. I wonder what she doesn’t like about me. I can’t tell what she’s thinking or read her face at all.
As I pondered this, we eventually made it to the town square.
“This is the largest open space in the entire town and where we’ll be opening the portal.”
The town square was smack-dab in the center of Lapis and was a popular spot for events and lounging about. There were often flea markets and live shows held during the weekends, and it was where many elderly citizens gathered to socialize, young people danced, and…well, a lot of people used this space. Our job was to connect this world with the other worlds by constructing a giant portal here.
Sophie then walked forward and began using her hand to draw an arch in the air. As her hand moved through the air, light followed it, which made me audibly gasp.
“Whoa! What are you doing?”
“I’m creating a hypothetical construction of the portal.”
“What? Already?”
We hadn’t even been there for a minute yet. I still needed to tell her about various intricacies needed to make the portal, such as the type of magic in the dirt. I could only imagine what was going on in that head of hers; it astonished me.
Sophie and I were cut from fundamentally different cloth. This was what it meant to be a genius. To be born with natural talent.
After she finished drawing her magic circle in the air, she activated it. An illusion of the portal then appeared. It was like a real-life hologram, showing a portal large enough for three or four people to pass comfortably through at a time.