NOVEL ONLINE FREE Chapter 2 Part 1
A witch apprentice’s morning starts early.
Waking up with the sunrise has become second nature to me.
“Ahh… so sleepy…”
As I sluggishly sit up in the dim morning light, two creatures approach me—my familiars, Carbuncle and the white owl.
Carbuncle is a phantom beast summoned by my master. For some reason, it took a liking to me, and my master simply said, “Looks like it fancies you,” and left it in my care.
The white owl was a chick I found after its mother had passed away. I took it in and made it my familiar. My master once said, “Creatures clad in white are messengers of the gods.” Or something like that.
Not that it really matters!
My master has countless small animal familiars, but I only have these two. According to my master, they are both incredibly intelligent and possess strong magical power.
“These ones have wisdom. They’re much smarter than you.”
“Haha, good one.”
My master didn’t look like they were joking at the time.
No way, right?
“Good morning, you two.”
As I pet them, both narrow their eyes in delight. The soft fur and feathers are soothing, and I nearly drift back to sleep. But before that can happen, my two familiars urgently nudge me awake.
This is my morning routine.
“Fwaaaah…”
Releasing a grand yawn, I set a pot of water to boil. After making some tea, I head to my master’s study.
I knock on the door, and a familiar voice answers from beyond.
“Come in.”
“Excuse me.”
When I open the door, I find my master already reading, glasses perched on their nose.
How long have they been at it? In all my time here, I’ve never seen the great witch Faust asleep.
Maybe once you become a first-class witch, you no longer need sleep?
I can’t even begin to imagine that kind of life.
“Good morning, Meg.”
“Morning’. Here, some tea.”
“Much appreciated.”
My master slowly sips the tea I prepared and lets out a satisfied sigh.
While they drink, I move to feed the small animals that have woken up. Every morning, they gather around my feet, waiting for their breakfast.
They must think I’m some kind of automatic feeder.
As if to confirm my suspicions, they immediately start munching on industrial-sized sunflower seeds and corn.
“Alright, alright, food’s coming. There, there, eat up.”
After taking care of them for so long, I’ve developed my own… unique feeding methods.
At times like this, I wonder if I’m really a witch or just some kind of zookeeper.
Leaving the study, I let out a breath before heading to the kitchen.
With an owl on my head and a Carbuncle on my shoulder, I start making breakfast.
Bread, salad, bacon and eggs, and some fruit.
The same meal I’ve been making for years.
By the time I finish, my master has appeared, as if from nowhere.
The two of us sit across from each other, eating in quiet contentment.
Our meals are always peaceful.
“Meg.”
“Yeah?”
“I’ll be out for a bit today.”
“Oh? Where to this time?”
“The West. There’s a meeting between politicians and sorcerers. It’ll last over ten hours.”
“Wow. Sounds exhausting.”
“They mentioned it on the news. You should pay more attention to politics and economics.”
“Thinking about what to have for lunch suits me better than all that.”
“I won’t argue with that.”
“At least try to deny it.”
After breakfast, I see my master off at the door.
“I’ll be gone for two or three days, so take care of things.”
“Two, three days, two months—leave it to me.”
“If I were gone that long, the house would probably disappear.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
I blink—and my master is already gone.
“Well then, time to clean.”
As if responding to my words, the owl and Carbuncle let out small cries.