City of Witches

Chapter 464: Perfume (5)

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Just like how the scent of damp, burning firewood could make her think of the warmth of the cozy fire in her cabin’s fireplace...

Or the earthy smell, mixed with the freshness of grass made her mind go back to the times when she went to the picnic with her master...

Smell, more than any other sense, was deeply tied to one’s memory.

Her master’s final letter...

Wasn’t just a sheet of paper covered in words.

The fragrance infused into the paper worked like a spell, solidifying the link between scent and her memory, conjuring up a remarkably clear recollection.

Amelia had to wipe her tear-blurred eyes again and again, struggling to see what was in front of her clearly.

“Amelia.”

It was only after she brushed the tears from the corners of her eyes with her sleeve, she saw the master she had been missing so dearly sitting there in front of her.

Donning a simple witch’s robe, not overly fancy, paired with a hat adorned with plain flowers, and a cloak that was now a keepsake...

Her soft golden hair and kind eyes radiated a natural elegance.

She was sitting on the same sofa where she used to welcome Amelia home from her brief adventures outside with her gentle, knowing smile.

It was as if she had come back to life again.

Amelia bit her trembling lips.

Her master’s eyes, though fixed straight ahead, didn’t meet Amelia’s, as if they wandered somewhere distant.

After all, this was just a phantom of her master—she wouldn’t run to hug her or whisper words of love in her ears.

This wasn’t a miracle that rewound time.

It was a mere fleeting illusion, a fleeting moment of happiness conjured by magic, nothing more than a trick.

But, to Amelia who was longing to see her master again, this felt like a small miracle.

“Master...”

The woman before her looked far younger than one Amelia remembered.

She wasn’t the perfectly kind, flawless figure of a saint that she always held in her memories.

Behind her soft smile, her tongue slightly stuck out playfully, while her gaze wandered with a faint restlessness that betrayed her composed exterior.

A really, really long time had passed since then.

Amelia had lived through more years than her master ever had.

“I don’t know when you’ll finally read this letter.

“You’ve always had a bit of a habit of running away from things you dislike. How many springs and winters have come and gone since then?”

Her master’s voice, hesitant at first, finally found its rhythm, came out much more fluently after the first time she called her name.

“There are so many things I want to ask.

“Are you eating well? Are you sleeping properly, even without me there? You don’t eat too much cocoa, do you? Are you getting along with Sophia? Are you studying magic diligently? Hehehe, what am I saying...?

“Oh, you’re not an apprentice anymore. You’ve grown into a full-fledged witch. My worries must seem silly now.

“Still, I hope you understand. Parents always see their children as little ones, no matter how much they grow... I guess that’s how a mother feels.”

Her master wasn’t just reciting a pre-written letter.

She was piecing together thoughts she had suppressed, as if remembering each thought in real-time. She even smoothed her hair nervously even though she was aware that she was talking to herself while recording this.

“You must’ve been so angry with me, right? Leaving like that without explaining anything. You probably think I was selfish. And honestly, you wouldn’t be wrong. I’m sorry. You must’ve hated and resented me so much.”

Amelia had hated her.

She resented her master more than anyone in the world.

Why did you leave me all alone?!

She wanted to cry out, shout, demand answers from her, and let her anger loose.

Not only that, she had even sworn that if she ever met her master again, she’d confront her about this no matter what.

“I don’t hate you... I don’t resent you... .”

This was just an old recorded video message; her master hadn’t really come back.

Even so, Amelia stepped toward her master.

Knowing it was pointless, she still wrapped her arms around her.

But, at that moment...

Her master wrapped her arms around her. Warmth and gentleness exuded from her movements, as if she was real.

When the startled Amelia widened her eyes, her master just smiled softly.

“Yes, by now, you must be hugging me. I tried my best to timing it. Pretty amazing magic, don’t you think?”

From her master, who was clearly an illusion, she could still feel the warmth, the familiar scent, even the faint rustling of fabric.

It was the same touch she remembered, the one that soothed her to sleep as a child with soft whispers of, ‘Good girl, good girl,’ as she stroked her back gently.

“Master, I missed... you so much...”

Amelia had been struggling to hold back her tears to begin with, and now, she finally broke down and buried her face in her master’s neck.

“If you’re blaming yourself, then, stop.

“Amelia, do you know what kind of joy you’ve brought me?

“I still remember you scratching yourself on raspberry bushes just to bring me beautiful berries.

“Just looking at your angelic sleeping face when you slept in my arms could make all my fatigue melt away like magic. There were nights when I stayed up just to stroke your hair.

“Whenever I forced you to do your homework, you’d puff out your cheeks and pout like a chipmunk. But one cookie was all it took to turn that frown upside down. It’s almost unfair how effortlessly you could be so cute...

“The times you begged me to sleep together with you when it rained. That one time you set the oven on fire baking a birthday cake. Even that time when I scolded you for throwing your homework in the fireplace and then pretending you didn’t do it. Every single moment with you felt like a blessing to me.”

Her master’s hand gently stroked her head.

“Amelia, you were a miracle to me. A precious miracle. That’s why...

“I won’t ask for forgiveness for my decision to leave you without a word. You can call me selfish if you like.

“Even if I had the chance to do it again, I’d do it again. I don’t regret my decision at all.”

I’ve already forgiven you.

I don’t hate you anymore.

I just wanted to hug you like this.

Those words that were stuck in her throat spilled out as tears instead.

“My only regrets are... That I failed to show you a bigger word... Always pushed you to study magic... Not spending enough time with you...”

Amelia shook her head fiercely.

She understood why it had to be that way.

Just as Amelia loved her master, her master loved her just as deeply.

Though the world she faced alone was dark and colorless, the time spent with her master wasn’t like an imprisonment in a small cage.

Every little moment had been a cherished memory that helped her endure her pain.

“The farewell will be short. I won’t be able to say much. I’m not great with words to begin with, and honestly... I’ll probably be too busy holding back my tears.”

Her master steadied her trembling voice.

Meanwhile, her hand kept patting Amelia’s back, softly soothing her tears and regrets.

“So, I’ll leave these words for you now. Will you listen?”

Amelia nodded slowly, accepting her master’s long-awaited message.

As if waiting for her response, her master’s voice whispered softly near her ear.

“Don’t be too sad. Just like sprouts break through the frozen winter soil, beautiful flowers will bloom from your sorrow. I hope you find happiness, at least half as much as the joy you’ve given me.

“This cabin must’ve felt too cramped for you, right? The world is vast. Go elsewhere and explore it all. Border Town, Ars Magna Town, all the nameless places you’ve never been. The world you haven’t yet experienced will give you new opportunities. I’ve never been there, but go out to the Modern World when you can. This world is such a beautiful place; devoting your life only to studying magic would be such a waste, don’t you think?

“Make lots of good friends. Sophia might be a bit mischievous, but she’s a thoughtful child. Don’t be too harsh on her and spend time together with her. Treasure your friendships, and one day, they’ll pay you back in ways you don’t expect.

“Get enough sleep. Witches may not need it, but it helps clear your mind. If you hit a problem you can’t solve, lay your head on a soft pillow and close your eyes. Sometimes, stepping back lets you see things more clearly.

“Don’t neglect taking care of your looks. People say inner beauty is what matters most, but in truth, people rarely look past the surface. Keep your hair tidy, and when you attend important events, dress up and show off. And...”

The earlier hesitation was gone.

Her master’s words, left unsaid at the proper time to hide the truth about the succession, poured out without pause.

Amelia nodded at every word and hugged her master tightly.

“I think...that’s enough...? Did I drag on too long? I thought I’d keep it short, but... I just had so much left to say.”

Her master’s bitter smile was followed by another tight hug.

“You don’t have to push yourself to become an extraordinary witch. You’re already amazing and precious to me, Amelia.

“But don’t go overboard. Living recklessly would tarnish the name of your predecessor. Live with the grace of a witch and the dignity of a noble, and lastly...”

Her master’s final words were accompanied by the gentle touch of her hands on Amelia’s cheeks.

Their foreheads touched, as if conveying something profoundly important, even if it wasn’t visible.

“Fall in love.”

Her tear-filled eyes seemed to say, ‘You’re listening, right?’ as they locked gazes with Amelia.

“Have the kind of love that makes your heart feel like it’s about to burst with happiness, the kind that brings a smile to your face just by thinking of that person, warming you like a cozy fire...

“Whether it’s with another witch, or maybe a wonderful man if you can find him.

“My other regret is that I won’t be able to see the one who takes my dear Amelia away.

“But, I know that if it’s someone you choose, they’ll surely be kind and amazing.”

Tears finally began to flow, dripping onto Amelia’s hand.

“Not every moment will be sweet. Sometimes, the clumsiness of a heart might get you hurt or get you to hurt the other. It might even end in emptiness without fulfillment. There may come days when you have to part ways, even if you wish otherwise.

“And that’s why, if you meet someone who makes your heart race, embrace them with all your might.

“Even when they make mistakes that anger you, don’t hesitate. Slap them hard, then kiss them.

“Don’t leave room for regret. Fall in love with them so deeply that you won’t look back and think, ‘I should’ve loved them more.’

“Even if you’re scared or unsure, brace yourself and move forward.”

Her master touched her forehead against Amelia’s, finally letting out a sigh of relief, as though she had no regrets left.

No lingering regret remained on her face.

“I love you so much, Amelia. My proud daughter, my reason to keep breathing, my precious miracle.”

She hugged Amelia tightly one last time before releasing her arms.

A bittersweet smile appeared on her lips, as if she was about to tell her to leave the nest and soar freely.

“I hope you’ll be happier than anyone else in this world. With all my love, your mother, Malika.”

For the first time, she ended her letter without the witch’s title she always attached to her name.

Because she didn’t need it anymore, as the name Marigold was passed on to Amelia.

And that was where the letter ended.

Like flipping through an old photo album, the lively memories of the cabin faded away, and the place returned to its original state.

In the now barren, desolate cabin, the only thing left was the charred remains of the fireplace logs.

And yet...

Even in the freezing room, where her breath turned to mist, Amelia felt warm.

Because her master’s deep love and encouragement remained in her heart.

“I love you too, Master. I love you...so much...”

Those were the words she couldn’t say when she parted with her master.

After belatedly whispering those words, she burst out of the cabin’s door.

She didn’t bother to look back.

Because she could feel it; the gentle push of her master’s hand.

And now, she ran toward the one she wanted to see most at this moment.