"I heard you collapsed with a nosebleed?"

  When I opened the door, there stood Alicia, holding a large basket. I was stunned, my mouth dropping open. This was the first time she had ever visited my home. Instead of her usual fine dress, she wore something simpler and more practical—similar to what Mother might wear for gardening.

  "If you'd told me you were coming, I would have met you."

  "Please forgive my unexpected visit, Miss Cumaill," Alicia said with a refined bow, carefully wiping her feet on the mud scraper by the entrance. "I ought to pay my respects to your parents, but today I'm merely delivering a medicine box."

  Her smile was sculpted to perfection, her gestures and manners exemplary.

  "Um, Mother and my sister have gone to help with canvas sewing. Father's at work. It's just me here now," I finally managed to reply after blinking several times, unsure how to respond.

  "Is that so, Sith? That's fine then! I only came to bring you something. Don't trouble yourself. May I come in for a moment?" This was the Alicia I knew.

  "O-of course!"

  "I'm sorry I couldn't visit you sooner. It's been difficult to go out lately. You know... with the rumours of the hunter?"

  As I moved toward the kitchen to prepare a drink, Alicia motioned for me to stay seated. She placed her basket on the dining table. A sharp, herbal scent filled the room.

  "This is nettle infusion, steeped for exactly twelve hours. It will replenish your iron. According to legend, nettles gathered three days before or after a full moon are particularly potent. So says Pliny in his 'Natural History'," Alicia explained, producing a tin medicine bottle filled with a deep forest-green liquid. "And here's yarrow and lady's mantle. They're known as women's friends. I've also included some rare spice blends that Mother acquired from an East India Company merchant."

  "W-wait! Yarrow... women's friends? I can't remember all this!"

  "Don't worry. I'll leave you notes. Drink the yarrow as tea when your stomach hurts and you have no appetite, or when you have a fever. Though it tastes dreadful. Alchemists are particularly fond of lady's mantle. Look at these leaves. The morning dew forms like droplets of mercury... But more importantly, how are you feeling now?"

  She efficiently questioned me about my condition: my monthly cycle, appetite, what I'd been eating. As I answered, she sorted through herbs with practised movements.

  "Herbs can be either poison or medicine depending on what you normally eat and your physical condition. Just like Socrates in Greece."

  I remained silent, watching Alicia's precise, delicate fingers, still feeling slightly dizzy.

  I still retained that strange sensation from when I'd perceived the light flowing through the world. Though not as clearly as when I collapsed, if I concentrated, I thought I could see light flowing over the surfaces of both our bodies.

  "You're amazing, Alicia."

  "I'm just repeating what Mother taught me," she replied, comparing small pouches of herbal infusions.

  Light gathered at her fingertips. Each time she pinched a leaf or opened a hemp bag, a faint light danced in the air.

  "I'd like to meet your father, mother, and Hannah someday."

  "Mother is... well, she can be difficult. I'm always being scolded. For how I drink soup, how I use words. Yet she's always praising Hannah."

  When I said this with a pout, Alicia tilted her head and asked, "Really?"

  "Yes! Once, when Hannah and I picked flowers for Mother's birthday, she said Hannah's flowers were beautiful. But my flower crown was ugly. Hannah is certainly clever. She started attending Mr. Edwin's lessons after me, but she learned to write everything and read much faster than I did."

  "That sounds enviable. I'm an only child."

  "You think so? But we're constantly compared. I'm clumsy and always spilling water from buckets. I think Mother dislikes these things about me."

  "She has expectations for you."

  "Maybe..." I pictured Mother's face but wasn't convinced. "What's your family like, Alicia?"

  "Father trades in spices and textiles. Mother helps compile... botanical encyclopaedias."

  "Wow! Amazing! Is she like a teacher like Edwin?"

  "Unfortunately not. Mr. Edwin is here conducting university research, isn't he? Mother sends letters and specimens to such professors."

  "Hmm?"

  I wondered what the difference was between university research and what Alicia's mother did.

  "I don't quite understand, but like you, your mother must be very intelligent!"

  "Yes. She was... my role model..."

  We chatted for a while longer. Around the time the town hall clock struck eleven, Alicia left, saying, "It wouldn't be good for your health if I stayed longer."

  Alone at home, I suddenly felt drowsy. Perhaps the conversation had tired me after so long. After arranging the herbs Alicia had given me on the table, I crawled into my bed. As soon as I closed my eyes, I fell asleep.

  ***

  When I woke, the room was pitch dark. How many hours had I slept? I was drenched in sweat, my shift soaking wet. I felt much better than this morning, though terribly thirsty.

  After tucking the blanket around Hannah, who had kicked it off exposing her stomach, I slowly dragged my body, heavy as wet cloth, toward the stairs.

  Halfway down, I heard Father and Mother arguing about something in the kitchen.

  "Stacey, I really think we should pack our things," Father said in a gentle, calm voice.

  "Leave town? I... can't! Alfred. What about Sith? This is such a crucial time for her!"

  Though Mother was trying to keep her voice down, it betrayed her anxiety.

  "Calm down. If you feel that way, I'm sure there's good reason. But listen," Father cleared his throat and continued. "This is still just tavern gossip... A citizen in the western district has fallen ill with a high fever. Several dead rats have also been found."

  "No!" I heard Mother gasp.

  "Keep your voice down! It's just a rumour. But that's not all," Father drummed his fingers on the table.

  "Beth's letter mentioned something concerning. You know her, right? My sister is helping at a farm in the neighbouring town. She shared plenty of flour with us last year. But things aren't going well this year. The growing rice has developed reddish spots like rust, and it's not thriving at all. And it's not just Beth's farm. A crop disease is spreading throughout the town. This year's harvest was terrible. It might not even reach half of last year's. It's going to be a harsh winter... What's worse is that many shipments from Ravensbrook have been transported to that town. Since last year, in fact."

  A tense silence followed.

  "Are you saying it's our town's fault? That something in our town is spreading disease? Is that what you're suggesting?"

  "Stacey, please calm down. Nothing is certain yet. These are just rumours. But... if a witch hunter has truly come to town... these 'rumours' might be more than enough bait."

  I heard a chair being pushed back and footsteps. Father must have gone to Mother's side, rubbing her back as he usually did.

  "In my homeland too... Alfred," Mother's voice trembled. "In my homeland, there were many children who were 'late in opening the door.' Waleriana, who lived in the neighbouring house. She was my age. Even at sixteen, people said she had no power at all, that all she could do was smile politely at what others said or scrub floors with a rag. But..."

  "What are you talking about?"

  "Please, listen. One day, Waleriana went into the forest alone. That year, bears had attacked several of the village's cows, so everyone stayed away from the forest. Perhaps it was because of the extreme cold. The wheat wasn't growing well either. Waleriana went to the forest and didn't return by nightfall. While her mother cried until her face was crumpled with grief, some crude men even whispered that they were saved the trouble of having one less mouth to feed. I wanted to punch them. Waleriana was my friend. The girls close to her age gathered by the hearth, rubbing each other's backs, waiting for her return. And so, morning came... Waleriana returned as if nothing had happened. Her clothes were slightly muddy, yet she looked more beautiful and vibrant than before. She walked slowly out of the forest as if taking an early morning stroll, her thick braids dancing in the air. Even the squirrels that usually nipped at my boots were quiet, watching her pass. The trees and grasses seemed to part, making a path for her. And you know what? Can you believe it? After that, bears never attacked the village again. As if she had made it so. I thought she had 'opened the door.'

  But Waleriana was burned alive that winter. Right in front of her mother. She was tried for using witchcraft to wither crops."

  "How... tragic. Let us pray for the peace of her soul."

  "Thank you, Alfred. What I wanted to say is... about the 'catalyst.' Surely, a catalyst is needed to 'open the door.' If Waleriana had awakened earlier, she might have escaped that dull village and lived peacefully in the forest with the bears. Or she might have fled before being tortured by the inquisitor... Even though I might be one of the few girls who did that and survived."

  Mother sniffled.

  "Alfred, I don't know. What should we do? I don't want our daughters to... become like Waleriana or me. Why do we need to live in fear of petty rumours? Why us?... Sith has found her 'catalyst.' I can tell her power is growing stronger. Can't we stay in this town at least until she... develops the power to protect herself?"

  Their voices grew softer.

  "...Can't you rely on...? The Twilight Coven...?"

  The Twilight Coven? I'd never heard the term before. Just as I leaned forward from the stairs to listen more closely, a hand was placed on my shoulder. My heart leaped into my throat.

  "Big sister."

  It was my sister behind me.

  "Hannah, did you wake up?" I whispered, making sure the kitchen couldn't hear.

  "I woke up needing to poo. But you weren't in the room. But now I don't need to poo anymore."

  Hannah said, rubbing her eyes. Her usual demeanour made me sigh with relief.

  "I'm sorry I worried you. Let's go back to our room."

  If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

  I stroked Hannah's head and slowly dragged myself back up the stairs, taking care not to make any noise.

  After tucking Hannah into my bed, I stroked her forehead.

  "Big sister," Hannah mumbled drowsily. "Were Dad and Mom fighting? Is something scary happening?"

  "They weren't fighting. It's okay, there's nothing to be afraid of. I'll be with you, Hannah."

  Before I could finish speaking, Hannah was already breathing peacefully in sleep. Moonlight from the window quietly illuminated her face. Her round face glowed in the dim room. It reminded me of freshly baked bread, and I couldn't help but smile.

  As I closed the curtains, I reflected on the conversation I'd overheard.

  "Why do we need to live in fear of petty rumours? Why us?"...

  It wasn't just me.

  Father and Mother felt anxious too. So did Hannah. Of course they did. And the townspeople had been gossiping all along. Everyone was afraid.

  If, if I had power.

  If I had the power to drive away a witch hunter. Could I protect everyone?

  I drew the curtains, darkening the room. Though I was thirsty, I decided to wait a little longer before going for water.

  ***

  In the days that followed, I gradually regained my mobility. Suddenly, my appetite returned, and at lunch I devoured plenty of barley bread and warm soup.

  Mother prepared the herbs Alicia had brought me. Sometimes they were simmered in soup, other times mixed into salads. Though some had a bitter taste, when eaten with salted pork, they developed a surprisingly rich flavour. Mother's cooking was so delicious that I always thought I could never replicate it myself.

  After dinner, she served warm tea steeped with herbs. It seemed to contain dried ginger and citrus peel fragments.

  Father wasn't particularly fond of herbal remedies, but occasionally he joined us for a cup. When Father drank herbal tea, it was customary to add mint gathered on holy days, and make a small sign of the cross before pouring.

  Once my strength returned, I resumed my training alone in the storage shed. Mother must have noticed me sneaking out each time the night bell tolled eight times, but she said nothing.

  In the shed, I continued reading by candlelight and moonlight.

  Upon rereading, I realised the first half of the first book described the streaks of light flowing through my body and town, the sources of power. In the book, they were described as "air," "angels," and "demons." They seemed similar to the terms Edwin had taught us when Alicia and I visited his house. What were those words again?

  Two days passed this way. I would read a page, go back, then become confused by the content ahead and return again.

  This day I was feeling rather tired and gradually growing drowsy. Just as I was about to doze off and drop the book, a voice suddenly spoke.

  "Hey, stop drooling on me."

  Startled, I wiped my mouth with my sleeve.

  "I'm sorry! But Hannah ate my portion of lamb too!"

  After apologising instinctively, I looked around. I was alone in the storage shed. Who was that?

  "I don't know what you were dreaming about, but if you want to sleep, you should return to your own bed."

  There was a faint sound like paper rustling in the wind. Yet it was fluent speech with a distinct accent, coming from very close by.

  I lifted the dish containing the candle and moved the light around.

  "Where are you looking? Not there. Trust your eyes and ears."

  Very close. Right in front of me. I nearly spilled the candle in my panic.

  The book I had been holding open on my lap was turning its own pages. "Needless to say, don't bring the fire too close. I appreciate the light, but I'm not fond of smoke."

  It was the book. The book I was reading was speaking to me.

  Though the mechanism by which it produced sound was a mystery, that was definitely what was happening.

  "...In other words, our world manifests itself through three different overlapping realms. Humans typically can only perceive one of these worlds. The body you currently believe to be yourself, the limbs you think you're moving, that slovenly mouth hanging open in bewilderment, and the book you think is me. These physical forms aren't actually the essence of existence. They're merely one manifestation of existence itself," the book continued to speak as smoothly as water flowing over a board. "But that's just one aspect of the world. From another perspective, the world is inhabited by torrents of energy, creatures invisible to humans, and souls released from life."

  Confused as I was, I felt slightly offended at the "slovenly mouth" comment.

  "I was just taking a break because I was tired!"

  "I'm offering to help with your understanding. You've barely progressed through the pages since yesterday."

  The book rapidly flipped its own pages, stopping precisely at a certain page mid-air. After a pause, the page gently fell. The gesture resembled a sigh.

  "First, arrange the candles. The pink, purple, and blue ones. Place them in an equilateral triangle on the floor. Do you know which way the North Star is? Align the apex toward it."

  Still bewildered, I followed the book's instructions and arranged the candles. When I lit them, the scent of dried herbs filled the air.

  "Inhale slowly, then exhale over twice that time. Repeat this while focusing your gaze."

  I did as instructed, breathing in and exhaling slowly. As I continued, I gradually felt calmer. Continuing further, I began to see a thin blue light around me—the same light I had seen in town days before.

  The light circulated along the surface of my body, from head to toe. And the talking book before me was wrapped in a similar glow.

  "That's it. Be very careful not to quicken your breathing. Slower. Yes, more. Disturbed breathing leads to disturbed power."

  As my breathing steadied, I could see the light circulating through my body in quiet but wave-like, rhythmic patterns.

  "A world where only physical things exist. Most humans can only see or touch such a world. But those who have opened the door are different. What do you see?"

  "A blue, faint light...?"

  "Your concentration is insufficient. Find the appropriate words."

  "Water... this might be water. I see now, luminous water flowing. It flows through my body and emits light outward..."

  "Correct. The flow of energy circulating through you, in your language, is called 'pneuma.' Pneuma is one type of biological energy. It gives vitality to your body and can produce phenomena and creatures unbelievable in the physical world."

  "Creatures... like the small beings I saw in town?"

  "Possibly."

  I repeated what the book was saying in my mind several times.

  "So, the fact that you, a book, are speaking... is that also because of this 'pneuma'?"

  "More or less."

  From that day on, my study method advanced to the next step. Instead of reading the book alone, I began receiving lectures from the talking book.

  ***

  On the first day of lectures, I proposed giving a name to this imperious talking book. I considered various names, but the book said I could choose whatever I liked. After trying a few out loud, I finally settled on "Baron."

  Baron's voice resembled that of an intellectual and eloquent adult male. How could he produce a voice without a throat or mouth? Had he been lonely or uncomfortable in that narrow box all this time? Did he ever get hungry or sleepy?

  I never did figure out how his body worked, but his voice conveyed an intellectual, refined atmosphere. His manner of speaking resembled Mr. Edwin's, but he was more caustic and sarcastic.

  When he spoke, his pages would flip of their own accord, and the speed increased when Baron was hurried or excited.

  Besides speaking, he seemed capable only of simple movements like turning his pages forward or backward, or opening to specific pages.

  While closed, he appeared to be sleeping, neither speaking nor emitting the faint light that typically covered his cover. Therefore, to converse with Baron, I needed to "open" him each time.

  Baron apparently attempted to explain what was written in himself to me in sequence. We began with learning to recognise the "pneuma" in my own body.

  When I tried breathing as instructed before, I could see the pale blue light flow just as before. Baron called this state "opening the door to pneuma." However, the door wouldn't stay open indefinitely. With the slightest mental lapse, the door would close, and I could no longer see the light.

  "You mentioned collapsing in town earlier. That's probably causing psychological resistance to opening the door."

  Baron explained this to me, but his advice essentially boiled down to repeating the process until I got used to it.

  Several days later, I finally managed to open the door at will. The next lecture focused on controlling the flow.

  I was taught various methods for increasing the amount of "pneuma" flow or changing its speed, but I didn't understand more than half of it.

  Throughout the days of practice, I failed several times. When this happened, I would become dizzy and collapse, get nosebleeds, or see hallucinations (usually of Mother scolding me). Fortunately, I never lost consciousness, but such incidents would interrupt training, postponing it until the next day.

  According to Baron, the "pneuma" flowing through a human body was like the remains of a candle burning. If you burn too much at once, it quickly depletes; if the shape is irregular, it won't burn completely. A candle's shape must be refined, its flame stable and appropriately bright, and by the next day, sufficient fuel should be replenished. The goal of this training was to replicate this ideal form in my body.

  In my opinion, two things were crucial:

  First, breathing. I can't explain it well, but instead of breathing at the surface of the body, you need to inhale and exhale more deeply into your centre. As you get used to it, bring the breath even deeper, down to your lower abdomen, and circulate it throughout your body. Continue this while awake and asleep. This stabilised the "pneuma" flowing through my body.

  Second, accepting what you see with your eyes, hear with your ears, and feel with your skin. Don't be surprised if small creatures play in the harbour corners, or if books and plants suddenly speak to you. Indeed, sometimes I heard things that weren't there, or saw shadows of creatures I'd never seen before. But "that's just how it is." It might be "pneuma," or a fairy, or just a talking mouse...

  Thinking this way, even familiar sights took on an otherworldly quality, which was somewhat interesting.

  After several more days, I rarely became dizzy or got nosebleeds during training.

  Whether from the training fatigue or not, I began falling asleep quickly at night and waking refreshed in the morning. I no longer dreamed of that unknown town.

  ***

  "It may be time to move on to the next stage. If you're so inclined," Baron murmured while turning his pages. At the time, I was practising cleaning the shed while keeping my door open (which Baron insisted was also practice for stabilising "pneuma").

  "The next stage?"

  By now, the door that once opened and closed erratically could be controlled completely at will.

  "Those who have sufficiently stabilised their 'pneuma' are ready to learn about its applications."

  "By applications, do you mean using 'pneuma' to do things?"

  "Rather than 'using,' 'causing mutual interference' would be more accurate."

  I wanted to ask Baron "What's the difference?" but restrained myself. In such situations, it was better not to interrupt. Over the days of training, I had gradually learned how to handle him.

  "The mutual interference of 'pneuma' exerts similar influence on the physical realm. In your language, this phenomenon is called magic."

  I recalled images of "witches" from regular worship and what I'd heard from Edwin.

  "...You mean making the weather bad or transforming into animals?"

  "That too might be possible. If you're so inclined."

  My previous excitement suddenly deflated, replaced by a feeling like my heart was being grasped.

  Me? I decide? Whether to use a witch's power?

  Emotions I had deliberately avoided confronting mixed together within me. The desire to move forward versus the anxiety about entering forbidden territory. These feelings seemed to have become a part of my body, expanding and contracting with my heartbeat.

  "What now? Are you getting cold feet?"

  Baron's voice sounded exasperated.

  "It's not that..."

  "There should be a paper with the 'Tree of Life' in the box."

  "You mean this?"

  Thanks to my earlier organisation of the contents, I quickly found a bundle of parchment. It had three large circular diagrams connected by lines to form a triangle. Inside each circle were intricate decorative characters I didn't recognise.

  "Why is this called a 'tree'?"

  "Try it and you'll understand. There should have been a knife with it. Touch the tip of that knife to your left index finger, just barely."

  The blackened knife had almost no edge. It might more accurately be described as a child's toy or a dining spoon. On its side were faint engravings resembling letters.

  "What does it say?"

  "Latin. 'To him who sees the invisible.'"

  I touched the blade to my finger as instructed. The fingertip glowed slightly red.

  For a moment, I thought I had cut myself, but that wasn't the case. On my index finger, a small droplet resembling blood emitted a faint light.

  "Quietly drop it in the centre of the 'Tree of Life,' that is, in the middle of the triangle."

  "Triangle? Centre? W-where? Do you mean these circular patterns?"

  "Can't you tell the difference between a circle and a triangle? I said triangle. The centre of the parchment."

  After several exchanges, I finally dropped the droplet as Baron instructed. After the light left my finger, I examined the fingertip the knife had touched, but there wasn't a single wound.

  "Watch."

  From where the red droplet fell, a pattern spread like an ink stain. From the centre of the parchment, it expanded outward. The stain spread uniformly to the edges of the triangle, then stopped. However, the stain that touched the circle in the lower right didn't stop there but continued to spread. This expansion settled after about two breaths. It was an irregular pattern, as if the ink stain that had fallen in the centre of the parchment had been pulled only toward the lower right.

  "Strange paper."

  "This is a simplified ritual for determining magical aptitude, called the dendritic method. The entire paper is made of a material that extracts and diffuses biological pneuma. Meanwhile, the areas represented by each circle are coated with special agents that deactivate the reaction with pneuma. In other words, it visualises the mutual reaction between the experimenter's pneuma and the Ideal Realm, Material Realm, and Phenomenal Realm, judging the practitioner's tendencies from the completed pattern."

  "Um...? Can you explain it more simply?"

  "It's a ritual to determine what magic you might be capable of. Tell me what pattern emerged."

  I described the stain that had spread toward the lower right circle.

  After hearing my explanation, Baron didn't immediately respond.

  "Baron?"

  "Ah..." Baron's voice sounded somewhat hollow. "Pardon me. That's a rather unusual form. I've roughly determined the prototype of your qualities.

  Your pneuma seems to have an affinity with the Ideal Realm. That is, the power to interact with invisible energies and beings, such as vitality."

  "Invisible beings... Like domovoi, or like you?"

  "Yes. In the human world, they're called spirits, fairies, ghosts, angels, demons, and so forth."

  Demons. Yes, demons.

  Even in my ignorance, I knew this word. The priest teaches us during Sunday worship.

  Demons tempt us, corrupt us, make us something other than human.

  "If you're so inclined."

  The faces of my family and Alicia appeared in my mind.

  "With this, could I...? Could I even... fight someone who frightens everyone?"

  "If you're so inclined..."

  "I am!"

  My voice came out louder than I had expected. It bounced off the walls of the storage shed, resonating through my body from the outside. The sound from within and its echo from without reverberated, causing the words to bounce repeatedly inside me.

  Indescribable fear and anticipation competed within me. I pressed my hand against my chest, trying to contain my heart that felt ready to burst.

  I'm scared. No, that's not it. What am I afraid of? I have power. Baron says so too. I'll do it. I'll protect everyone.

  One of the candles was about to burn out and glowed more intensely than usual. Large shadows were cast on the shed walls, but mine and Baron's shadows overlapped, making it impossible to tell which was which.