A train stopped at the station in the town of Lapis, and when its doors opened, a single old woman peered out.
Her name was Faust, and she was one of the top three witches in the world.
Everyone in town knew she was a great witch. They respected and revered her.
“Oh dear, my shoulders ache from today’s travels.”
Her shoulder cracked loudly as she moved it gingerly. Though she could stop herself from aging further, she couldn’t hide her age.
She had been off performing her Sage duties for a long time, and her house had been empty while she was gone. Though magic kept the house dust-free, she never liked leaving her house vacant for too long. She enjoyed living alone, but it was inconvenient that there was no one to watch her home while she was away.
Faust walked out of the station and through the town. There was no need to walk, really—magic could take her where she needed to go, after all—but she wanted to look around. Taking in the town every now and then was important to her.
As she walked through the streets, many people saw her, but no one approached. They all watched in silence as she went by. Faust could tell they were distancing themselves from her, not to open up a path for her but out of awe and fear. Faust, the great witch, was unapproachable.
“Their stares always make these walks uncomfortable.”
Sighing to herself, she continued down the street.
This was when a young child ran and overtook her from behind. He had to jump out of the way to avoid her, but in doing so, he fell over and twisted his ankle.
“Are you all right?”
Faust squatted down and offered the child a hand, but then…
“Boy! What do you think you’re doing?! I’m so sorry, Lady Faust! Children can be so clumsy and rude!”
…a woman appeared and groveled on the ground in front of Faust.
“Ah, it’s quite all right. No one was harmed, and that’s what…”
Before Faust could finish, the mother got up, grabbed her kid, and ran away, leaving behind a crowd of people who saw only Faust standing there.
“My, what a ruckus.”
Faust stood slowly, looking forward once again, and all gazes averted from her.
She then continued her walk home with a hint of gloom in her expression.
By the time she got home, it was completely dark outside. The only thing there to greet her was the manor itself.
“I’m home.”
She called out, though there was no one to answer. Just a dark, quiet home.
“Maybe I should prepare dinner…”
Faust ate alone, with nothing but the clinking of her knife and fork on the plate and the ticking clock on the wall to keep her company.
As she enjoyed her stew, a dish she made often, she thought to herself.
When was it that I set out to become a great witch?
It was a long, long time ago. I believe it started when the witch who became my teacher paid me a compliment.
“Faust. You will become a great witch one day, I know it. I want you to become a witch who helps others, who makes people happy. A witch who is a friend to the people, who makes them smile…”
Though her memory was becoming clouded, she still remembered her teacher’s words clearly. She recalled feeling happy about the recognition and how infatuated she got with learning all she could about magic.
How much time has passed since then? Since I’ve become a great witch recognized by all? The people depend on me, and I’ve helped them. I honed my skills and learned all I could, building up the experience I needed. But no one smiles when they see me. They look at me like that mother from earlier did—with fear.
When…did I become a witch everyone fears so much?
“It appears I’ve lost my appetite…”
The plate full of stew had gone completely cold.
It was chance that brought Faust and the girl together.
The Council of Magic had taken in a young girl, and Faust saw a light deep within her eyes. She could tell the young girl had hope—the sort of hope that could bring people together.
“Come. From today, we are family, Meg Raspberry.”
Over ten years had passed since that day.
A train stopped at the station in the town of Lapis, and when its doors opened, a single old woman peered out.
She was one of the top three witches in the world.
“My, I’m having to leave town more and more these days.”
It was a long trip, but the woman had nothing to worry about—save for the off chance that her apprentice was up to her antics.
Tired from the journey, the woman thought about how she might have her apprentice massage her shoulders when she got home.
“Welcome back, Lady Faust.”
As soon as she stepped through the gate, a man who worked at the train station approached her.
“I saw Meg today. She was being chased by a stampede of animals.”
“What did she do this time…?”
Evidently, antics were on the schedule that day. Faust’s apprentice always found a way to get into trouble when she wasn’t around. It kept her young, though.
Faust walked out of the station and through the town. There was no need to walk, really—magic could take her where she needed to go, after all—but she wanted to look around. Taking in the town every now and then was important to her.
As she walked through the streets, people who passed her acknowledged her with respectful nods.
“Welcome home, Lady Faust.”
“Meg was at the market today. She bought a boatload of groceries. She said there was going to be a feast tonight.”
“Thank you for the other day. How’s Meg?”
“Lady Faust, you need to teach young Meg some manners. She keeps trying to haggle me out of my bread.”
People were approaching Faust much more in recent years.
They all talked about Meg, letting the woman know whenever they saw her larger-than-life apprentice running around town. Faust thought about how Meg connected her to this town and its people.
As she thought this, she noticed a young girl fall over up ahead. It looked like she’d hurt her foot.
“Are you all right, young one?”
Faust approached the young girl carefully. She helped the child up, and it looked like the girl was uninjured.
“Lady Faust! Thank you!”
She knew this girl, and her identity became evident when a man came running up to the two.
“Oh, Lady Faust. Thank you.”
“Hendy. Is this your daughter?”
“Yes. Her name is Anna. Are you all right, Anna?”
“I’m fine! Hey, Lady Faust. How’s Meg?”
“She’s doing well. Almost too well… She’s become quite the celebrity around here. To think a girl as young as yourself would know her.”
“She really helped us the other day, after all.”
“Yeah! She showed us the bestest flowers in the whole wide world!”
“Is that right…?”
Faust saw Dr. Hendy and Anna off and breathed deeply while she took the town in. She felt like the town was beginning to change. The fearful looks had turned into smiling faces.
It’s all thanks to her. Like the wind, little by little, Meg breathes new life into this town wherever she goes.
That wind was blowing on Faust now. The road home that was once a difficult trip for Faust was becoming easier every day.
Before long, the sun was setting. Faust could see her home as she made her way through the forest. There was a warm light coming from within, waiting to welcome her home.
She opened her front door, and sure enough, there was Meg, cooking food in a large pot and surrounded by animals, there to greet her.
“Welcome back, Teacher! You’re late! I made soup for dinner tonight! You’re gonna love it! Hey! C’mon, guys, give me some space! I’m cookin’ here!”
Meg and the many familiars were there to greet her.
The home had cheerful voices and warm light coming from it… It had family. This sight alone brought joy to Faust’s heart.
“Yes, I’m home.”
Faust smiled softly.
I bet she doesn’t know yet—that she will someday take on the name of Eternal Witch.
I don’t have much time left.
If what I saw that day is the truth, then I have very little life remaining.
Faust was the only one aware of the truth, at this point.
But that is a story for another day.