The Witch's Unintended Proposal
Vivian recovered quickly.
It was hard to believe she'd slept for so long.
Now, if I held her hand, she could stroll around, taking in the scenery without any trouble.
She still flinched a bit at mana, but the agoraphobia had eased up a lot. That was a huge improvement.
Still, one thing hadn't changed.
"Vivian, you're all better now, right? Doesn't hurt anymore."
"Yeah."
"Then how about we... "
Yesterday, I'd clearly tucked Vivian into bed and laid out my own bedding on the floor.
But when I woke up, there she was on the floor again.
"Huh? Good girl, my Vivian. Time to sleep separately, okay?"
"No."
"No isn't an option. We can't keep doing this forever."
"Ack...!"
Vivian suddenly scrunched up her face and clutched her chest.
I jumped in surprise and scooped her into my arms.
"Vivian! What's wrong?!"
Only then did her expression relax, looking satisfied.
She buried her head in my chest like nothing had happened.
"It's nothing."
"You little... "
I had no idea where she picked up such cunning tricks.
But it was cute, so I let it slide.
I started to say something but stopped myself.
She was probably only like this because it was just us. Once she started meeting people, it'd fade.
As I worried about Vivian's future, she tugged at my collar.
"Dojun."
"Yeah?"
"I can do this now."
Vivian sat up and summoned a shimmering feather on her palm.
It sparkled with rainbow hues, just like Thousand Changes.
I touched it lightly, and the texture felt real.
"How'd you do that?"
"Just did, and it worked."
Must be the influence of the Thousand Changes I implanted in her heart.
I hadn't expected this.
Guess Thousand Changes shares properties with the origin, so it rubbed off on her.
"Can you change its shape too?"
"Change the shape?"
"Yeah."
Vivian frowned and stared at the summoned feather.
I smoothed her furrowed brow with my finger, and she relaxed.
She seemed to like it and gave a small smile.
"Here."
I took the round orb she'd turned it into.
Just as I thought—part of Thousand Changes had been transplanted into Vivian.
"You can shape it however you want, huh."
"This too?"
I summoned Thousand Changes as a feather on my own hand.
Vivian's eyes went wide.
"You can summon it too, Dojun?"
"This is the same stuff you've been carrying around."
I morphed the Thousand Changes in my hand into various shapes.
She stared in fascination, then said,
"So you and I can use the same power?"
"Yeah."
"You and I..."
Vivian buried her head in my chest again.
Her hair hid her face.
I stroked her silky hair.
It had been a week since I left the dorm.
With the weight off my mind, the weather felt great, and so did my mood.
Probably helped that Kim Ye-eun, who'd been clinging so annoyingly, had vanished.
Feeling light-hearted, I headed to meet Ji-ah at the fork in the path when my smartwatch buzzed.
It was a message from Dean Han Myeong-sin.
That single line shook me.
Clouds gathered over my clear mind, anxiety bubbling up.
What now? I couldn't think of any reason for the dean to summon me.
"You called for me?"
"Ah, you're here. Sit down first."
Only Dean Han Myeong-sin was in the office.
I steadied my nerves and took the guest chair.
The moment I sat, she hit me with a question.
"Anything going on with Olivia lately?"
"Pardon?"
Why bring up Olivia?
I hadn't seen her since last weekend, when she'd checked on Vivian.
"Students say she hasn't been seen for days. Didn't you say you attend her lectures? Just checking."
"Oh... I had some circumstances, so I skipped this week. No idea myself."
"I see. Probably not related to cadets then."
The dean frowned in thought.
Perfect timing—I had questions about Olivia too.
"Dean, I have a question. It involves Instructor Olivia too."
"Ask away."
She leaned in eagerly.
Most fired up I'd seen her since she trashed the Hero Association.
Olivia must mean a lot to her.
"I don't know much about witches. Could you tell me about them?"
"Witches, huh..."
"Tried the library, but barely any info. You worked with her before, so I thought..."
"Of course. I'll explain."
She began recounting in her warm, storytelling tone.
The more she spoke, the more something felt off.
"Ha..."
"What's wrong?"
"So, giving a gift to a witch is basically a marriage proposal?"
"Exactly."
"And she marks the recipient with a stigma as acceptance?"
"Yes. Witches call it a stigma."
"And she can only carve it once in her life?"
"You got it."
Something was seriously wrong.
I'd had zero intention of that.
What now?
"Why the long face?"
"No... even for a heteromorph race, attaching that much meaning to a simple gift? Doesn't make sense."
"Witches are insular. Aggressive and strong. Who'd dare approach one easily?"
"Fair point..."
"They take what they need by force or trade. Gifts? Rare, and usually refused. It's their pride."
"One more thing."
I wet my dry lips.
Not sure if I should ask the dean, but...
"Hypothetically. Say a guy who already has a girlfriend accidentally gives a gift to a witch, and she accepts. What happens?"
"One of them dies—the guy or his girlfriend."
"Really?"
"Never heard of a witch accepting that situation."
"Ugh..."
I slipped out of the office quietly.
Just when I thought it'd blow over.
My life was on the line now?
Right before the door closed, Dean Han Myeong-sin's voice rang out.
"Rest in peace."
I had two options.
Go to Olivia, come clean, and hash it out.
Or get Latynia's help and flee to the Imanitus Continent.
Easiest was running to the otherworld.
A little sweet-talking, and Latynia would take me no problem.
She knew about Ji-ah, said Vivian could come too. No issues.
Except Olivia.
Everything fine except Olivia.
Olivia was willful, hard to reason with, but she'd helped me big time.
Even if born from her misunderstanding, the help was real.
My conscience nagged.
Uneasy, I headed to the Basic Magic Theory classroom.
Didn't feel like doing anything, but I couldn't ditch lectures entirely.
Instructor Nephrian said he'd do a final test today and pass me.
Grateful, since I'd barely attended.
Only Nephrian remained in the classroom.
"You're here. Late."
"Sorry. Dean summoned me urgently."
"Can't be helped then."
I sat front row.
He explained the final test.
As announced: theory or practical.
He added details.
"Practicals are done in the lab. Theory cadets submit research. What'll it be, Cadet Shin Do-jun?"
"Hm... For theory, what do I need?"
"Submit your semester research."
"Theory then. Deadline?"
"Before semester ends, via smartwatch."
"Got it."
Plan was to summon Thousand Changes as unique magic.
But now we know it's mana-like but different. Can't pass as magic.
Can't demo other spells either.
Theory it was.
Lucky I had origin research notes—from Olivia.
Olivia again...
Cadet cafeteria as usual, but no Ji-ah or Latynia.
Guess they don't eat together without me.
Ate alone, headed to Understanding Heteromorphs.
"Dojun? Thought you'd dropped out or something."
"Hey, Latynia. Long time no see. Had some stuff."
"I see."
"No Ji-ah?"
"Ji-ah? Yeah... haven't seen her much since you vanished. Busy, I guess."
Ji-ah swamped too.
Chatted with Latynia, scanned the room.
Classroom had empty spots—Olivia really hadn't shown.
"Instructor really missing classes?"
"Yeah. Some cadets even suspect she ran off with you."
"Who said that?!"
Me and Olivia weren't anything special.
...What were we?
I sank into thought.
Lecture time passed; no Olivia.
Latynia and I left together.
"Plans now?"
"Dunno..."
"Um! If you're free..."
"Hm."
Moment of truth.
Her hesitant tone said it all.
Ditch one for easy street,
Or own my actions and take the thorny path.
Even picking Latynia, with Ji-ah and Vivian, it'd still be thorns.
Postpone the hard stuff, huh...
"Latynia."
"Yes?"
I made my choice.