Chapter 291: A New Beginning
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 291: A New Beginning
"Mmm... is it morning already?"
I stretched lazily, only to glimpse the pitch-black sky outside the window. Clearly, morning was still a long way off.
Checking the time on my phone, I saw that the dead of night had only just passed; it was somewhere between one and two in the morning.
Even though I had gone to bed quite early yesterday, I found myself brimming with energy. It seemed I was truly becoming one of those witches who required very little sleep.
When Sister Bai first told me that witches were nocturnal creatures, I hadn't quite believed her. Now, I was a convert.
After getting out of bed, I wasn't sure what to do with myself. Previously, I might have hesitated, spacing out for ten or fifteen minutes while trying to decide on a task. Now, however, I had a clear goal: to make myself stronger.
What did Teacher Ji Niang tell me was the foundation of everything?
Mental Power, of course. Spellbooks and mana sources were all external; the only transcendent power one truly mastered was Mental Power. Meditation was the root of it all.
As I prepared to begin, I realized I was out of meditation incense. I had only bought it once, back when I first started. At the time, I thought it was a bit pricey, so I didn't go back for more. I figured meditation was meditation regardless, so I hadn't paid it much mind.
But now, I understood the role of incense. It was the most direct way to assist meditation and ensure the session was efficient.
Efficiency was the key. While one shouldn't be impatient when doing something, it would be foolish to ignore the most effective method available.
It was a matter of mindset. I was starting to feel grateful to Mentor Dinah. Whether her actions were unintentional, or if she—or even the Academy Dean—had orchestrated things this way, I didn't care. As long as the result was good, the intent didn't matter.
Perhaps even Dinah herself didn't realize how much her cryptic, riddle-like guidance had changed me.
No... it wasn't a "change." It was allowing me to be my true self. This was the real me. Having cast aside my mask, everything I did now furthered my evolution. I understood that this kind of incremental change couldn't be achieved overnight.
Others might think I had changed drastically, but that was just their subjective perception. I knew I had simply stopped pretending.
* * *
Meditation ended.
By the time I finished, morning had arrived. I hopped into the shower. Habitually, I used to prefer evening showers. The idea was to return to a place of peace, wash away the dust and unhappiness of the day, and present my cleanest self to my only sanctuary—my bed. It was one of the few ways I treated myself well.
Now, I was changing that. While one shouldn't overindulge in "toxic motivational fluff," sometimes listening to it can be beneficial. Trying things you're afraid of, things you dislike, or things you've never done—that is true change.
If a person wants to change but lacks the courage to even shift their worldview, then their "change" is nothing but talk.
A morning shower to get my head in the right space gave me more energy to engage with the world.
Once I reduced my internal mental exhaustion, I discovered I had a staggering amount of energy to burn. Is this what the "normie" headspace feels like?
It’s both terrifying and fascinating...
Terrified of the unknown, yet fascinated by it. Ultimately, that feeling stems from a lack of confidence—specifically, confidence in my ability to express myself.
Maybe I should try taking some language or communication courses to learn how to better articulate my thoughts.
Then again, maybe I don't need to. In every conversation I have, the person I'm talking to is my teacher. The entire Witch Academy is my classroom. They are teaching me something every second; the key is simply realizing it.
I tidied my hair and adjusted my clothes. Now that I was actually paying attention to my outfit, I realized the clothes Sister Bai had helped me pick out were actually quite nice.
I also stopped using the Disguise Spell. My original reason for using it was to avoid notice and stay out of trouble.
But if people recognized me, was that really "trouble"?
To my old self, yes. When a person is suffering from severe internal friction, their resilience is pathetic. Anything that deviates from the plan can cause a total breakdown; the slightest hiccup feels like the sky is falling. I saw that clearly now. Looking back at my past self as an outsider, I could see just how fragile I had been.
Confidence is built on the foundation of the power one wields.
Back then, facing Tan Han, I was constantly worried about gains and losses once she surpassed me, eventually leading me to just give up.
Even now, I still feel those impulses, but now I try to make a change. Only through change can there be feedback, and only through feedback can I know if I'm on the right path.
I had an appointment today with Betty to practice brewing wound healing potions in her mentor's laboratory. I wasn't sure if she was even awake yet.
I decided to call her directly. I hesitated for a split second, wondering if it would be inconvenient or if she was still asleep.
But I forced myself to push past those thoughts. Whether someone feels disturbed is their business. When people call me, do they worry about whether they're disturbing me?
Regardless of what the other person thinks, the moment I pick up the phone, I've been disturbed. That's just a fact.
When I got through to Betty, we settled on a time and place. She was thrilled that I'd agreed to brew potions with her, though she did make sure to complain about how early I was calling.
See? The "consequence" was nothing more than a bit of light ribbing. I stood there with a silly grin, holding the phone, feeling like I’d forgotten something else.
After a moment of contemplation, it hit me!
I was going to the lab with Betty to try alchemy, but I’d forgotten to tell Sister Bai!
"Hello~ Sister Bai, are you up~?"
As soon as the call connected, I offered a greeting, my tone carrying a hint of playfulness.
"Hmm? Xiao Han? Is there an emergency?" Sister Bai clearly hadn't expected a morning call from me; her first instinct was that something was wrong.
"Hehe~ Can't I bother you even if there isn't an emergency? I'm going to have to throw that line back at you~"
"Oh? Xiao Han, if you're free, should I come over?"
"I'm not free~ I mean, I have things to do, so I can't spend the day with you like we have been lately."
"So there is something. Well, let's hear it."
"I've made plans with a senior sister today to try some alchemy research. I'm just letting you know in advance so you don't get jealous~"
"Jealous? Why would I be jealous? Wait... which senior sister? Is it... legitimate research?"
"Eee~ and you say you're not jealous~"
"Fine, fine... I just wanted to remind you to be safe."
"Don't worry, I'm pretty sure I could take her in a fight, so there's nothing to worry about. I just wanted to make sure you knew, so you wouldn't feel like I was hiding things from you."
"How could I? I'm happy you're willing to share your plans with me, Xiao Han. Why would I find that troublesome?"
"Glad to hear it. After all, it'll just be me and that senior sister alone in the lab. Two girls all alone... I was just worried you'd misunderstand. If you came sniffing around later, it would be hard to explain, wouldn't it?"
"Wh-what? Xiao Han, did you call me this early just to tease me?"
"Nothing of the sort. I'm just glad to see you're so energetic this morning, Sister Bai. Bye-bye~ hanging up now~"
"Hey! You! Xiao Han..."
I could only imagine the look on Sister Bai's face. It must have been priceless.
As for me?
I certainly wasn't going to change my plans. I was doing legitimate work, not something I needed to feel guilty about, so what was there to fear?
However, I still had plenty of time. Even if I’d woken that senior sister up with a phone call, it would take her a while to get ready.
With time to spare, I decided to buy some incense. I needed meditation incense, of course, but I also wanted to get some regular aromatherapy for the dorm. It would benefit me and my roommates as well.
I chose not to fly there on my broom. While I admit the broom is the most efficient choice, taking the bus is a valid option too. I chose efficiency for meditation because there was no alternative, but traveling to a destination offered many possibilities—including the scenery along the way.
Since getting my license, I had spent all my time looking down at the world from the sky. I figured I should take the opportunity to slow down and see the Witch Academy from a different perspective. Even if the bus ride got boring, I could always read; I still had the alchemy books I’d borrowed from the library yesterday.
When I reached my stop, I closed my book and stepped off the bus. Though the ride was bumpier than a broom, it was still steady enough for reading.
I wasn't sure what time the senior sister who sold the incense opened her shop. Speaking of her... what was her name again? Gongxi Huanxin?
Regardless, I remembered her talent vividly!
That... "lesbian magnet" talent was terrifying! She was basically a walking aphrodisiac!
I’d seen how low the probability of talent awakening was back at the start of the semester. With a talent like that, she must be incredibly popular at the academy.
Yet, it seemed she hadn't succumbed to the easy life. She was still running her little incense shop in an obscure corner... or rather, an aromatherapy specialty shop. Thinking about it now, if she didn't have real skill, she wouldn't be able to keep the shop running.
She certainly wouldn't be the one everyone recommended. Come to think of it, I’d first heard about this place from Senior Sister Tang Yihan, hadn't I?
It had been a while since I’d visited the bakery to see them...
And the Shopkeeper—her private stash still owed me one opportunity.
I arrived at the familiar storefront, which still bore the sign "Aromatherapy Specialty Shop." Aromatherapy was the main focus here; the meditation incense seemed almost like an afterthought.
Even from a distance, I could smell a faint, pleasant fragrance. It was the scent of diffusing aromatherapy—not as potent as burning incense, but long-lasting and slow to evaporate. One bottle could last for days.
"Hmm... a new customer... or rather, a familiar one." A familiar voice drifted out. Gongxi Huanxin was wearing a pale dress today. Seeing someone enter her shop, she set down her work and walked toward me.
Even though I had mentally prepared myself, my heart still gave an involuntary thud the moment I saw her. It was that racing sensation, like a deer caught in headlights. Even now, I couldn't immediately suppress that biological instinct.
However, it was much better than the first time. Even though I knew I should be the master of my own emotions, I still fell for it.
"Senior Sister Gongxi Huanxin, I came here once before to buy incense."
"You still remember my name... Ah, I remember now. The little junior sister who bought a single pack of incense... and looking at you now, I remember who you are. Yang Yuehan~ Your name was quite the legend throughout the academy not too long ago." Gongxi Huanxin reacted quickly upon seeing me.
"I'm surprised you remember me, Senior."
"Of course. I don't get many customers, and most are regulars I know well. Plus, with your appearance... though I am curious why you vanished after the Exchange Competition. I thought it was quite a pity."
"There's nothing to be pity about. I didn't come to the Witch Academy for fame. Reputation and prestige should belong to those who need them more than I do." I replied with a smile, then moved straight to the point. "Senior, do you still sell incense? The kind for meditation."
"I see... Fair enough. Since you're here for incense, let me go get it for you." Gongxi Huanxin didn't waste time on small talk. Seeing that I was focused, she knew what she had to do.
She walked over to the storage area and brought the incense out, just like last time.
"How much do you want this time?"
"Um... just out of curiosity, how long can this incense be stored before the effects start to degrade?"
"If stored properly, it can last for several years. If you want to be precise, it's best within the first month after production. But as you know, I haven't had many customers lately, and I have plenty of stock, so I haven't made much in the last month."
"I see..." I nodded. Gongxi Huanxin had mentioned making the incense, which piqued my interest. More importantly, if the freshest incense was the most effective...
"Um... I wanted to ask, is the barrier to entry for making incense very high?"
"What? Thinking of trying it yourself? The quality of incense can vary wildly. There are different branches based on effect, scent, and purpose. You could say the barrier to entry is very low, but the ceiling is incredibly high."
"I see... and is it made through alchemy?"
"Yes. Alchemy has a very low entry threshold, and incense is a very basic alchemical product. Plus, the raw materials are cheap; otherwise, it wouldn't be so widespread."
"Right."
I nodded. Since it was an alchemical product that could be bought for a few hundred yuan, it was indeed quite cheap. Many high-end alchemical products, like certain potions, required Red Copper coins. Even if you could pay with regular money, they were never cheap.
"So... where can I find recipes for this kind of incense?" I continued.
"You really want to try it... Alright then. There are many recipes for incense. Most are public and can be found in the library. Rarer types might require you to pay for the recipe, sign contracts for authorization, and so on. Some recipes are even developed by alchemists themselves—the kind where they don't teach the method and only sell the finished product."
"Is that so?" Hearing that I could get them for free at the library gave me some confidence. But since this senior sister mentioned secret recipes...
"Senior, you must be one of those amazing witches with a special recipe, right? Do you have one? Do you?"
"Eh? You... it's not very polite to go prying into people's secrets like that, you know?"
"No, no~ Senior, I'm not trying to steal it. But your answer just now kind of gave you away, didn't it? I just want the finished product. Is that okay? I feel like the regular incense isn't... 'fragrant' enough anymore~"
"Sigh... fine. But I have two pieces of bad news for you. I don't have any in stock right now. And also... that kind of incense is very expensive."