Mirror, Mirror on the Wall, Who's the Witch of Fate’s Great Call - Chapter 1
Prologue
“What’s a witch hunt?”
Kalynia, who was peeling a potato with an old spoon, asked.
Emily, who was preparing a large pot to boil water, froze. A hint of tension spread across her face.
‘I wish Kalynia only knew the good side of being born a witch. At least until she’s ten, so she doesn’t hate witches…!’
It was their late mother’s dying wish. As the eldest of seven sisters, Emily had done her best to honor it.
Thanks to her, the youngest, Kalynia, had no idea that outside the house, witches were hung upside down and stoned to death or burned simply for being witches.
She’d even warned their other sisters to be careful with their words in front of her, but where could she have heard about this to ask?
Emily hesitated, unsure of how to respond.
“I’m askiiiiing! What’s a witch hunt!”
When Emily didn’t answer, Kalynia clung to her arm, abandoning her spoon and potato.
“Where did you hear that?”
Emily glanced sideways at Catherine. The sister just above Kalynia, Catherine had recently entered adolescence. Lately, she’d been prone to saying things she shouldn’t, in sharp, sullen tones. Emily’s suspicion grew.
As she fixed her gaze on Catherine with a look that seemed to ask if she was the culprit, Catherine shook her head in protest.
“I heard the adults in the village whispering about it.”
Kalynia replied.
See! It wasn’t me!
Catherine protested silently to the eldest sister with her eyes.
“And when I asked what it meant, they just said it’s nothing for kids to worry about and wouldn’t tell me.”
I’m not a kid, though. I’m already nine!
Kalynia insisted she might be the youngest in their family, but she was still older than the little kids next door.
Emily, dodging her innocent sister’s eyes, finally thought of a response and smiled.
“It’s when witches gather together to go hunting. Lots and lots of witches gather for it.”
Kalynia tilted her head, clearly not understanding her sister’s explanation.
“But I’ve never seen you or the other sisters go out to ‘witch hunts’.”
If it’s a big gathering of witches, wouldn’t my sisters have to go too? Did they go without me knowing? Why didn’t they tell me?
Kalynia launched into a barrage of questions. She had her reasons for sounding so accusing.
“Catherine, have you ever seen them go to a witch hunt?”
“Uh… umm…”
Emily seemed composed, but Catherine’s reaction was strange.
Usually, as the one four years older, Catherine enjoyed flaunting her knowledge, especially when Kalynia had something she didn’t know. It was one of her favorite things.
But now, Catherine was barely answering her sister’s questions, let alone boasting.
Is she hiding something?
Sensing something suspicious, Kalynia pressed Catherine to tell the truth.
“Kalynia.”
Emily knelt before Kalynia, holding her face so she’d look directly at her.
“The reason you haven’t seen us is because we sneak out to go hunting.”
“Sneak out? Why?”
“Think about it, Kalynia. Would we gather so many witches just to hunt ordinary animals?”
Kalynia’s eyes darted back and forth as she thought it over. True, it didn’t seem like they’d be after ordinary animals. But then, what were they hunting?
As curiosity sparked in her eyes, Emily lowered her voice.
“We hunt prey that ordinary humans can’t catch. Very dangerous prey!”
“Dangerous prey… like werewolves?”
Kalynia’s voice lowered too, as if even saying the word might summon a werewolf. She whispered softly.
“Exactly. Creatures like werewolves. How could humans handle werewolves? They’re too dangerous, so only witches can deal with them!”
Is it okay to tell such lies? What about dealing with it afterward?
Catherine shot a worried look at the eldest sister, who was spinning lies with ease.
“Why didn’t you tell me about something so exciting?”
“Because I thought if I told you, you’d want to come along!”
Kalynia glared at Emily, then grinned.
“You’re right. I would’ve.”
“That’s exactly why I didn’t say anything.”
“I’m a proper witch too, so I have the right to participate in the witch hunt.”
Kalynia patted her chest with pride. Recently, she had even learned how to ride a broomstick. Though still clumsy, she insisted she’d master it before the hunt.
Above all, she dreamed of becoming a great witch someday.
“I’m going to be a powerful witch. If you don’t take me along, you’ll be the ones missing out!”
Emily shook her head, saying it was out of the question.
“Witch hunts are still too early for you, little witch. The requirement for participating in a witch hunt is being an adult witch.”
“That’s not fair! How petty!”
“It’s not petty; it’s just necessary because it’s dangerous!”
Emily gently stroked her little sister’s head with a kind smile. Though it was awkward for her to hear Kalynia pleading to be taken along, her little sister’s pout was endearing.
How shocked would she be when she learned the truth someday…
Emily was already worried about that inevitable day, hoping it would come as late as possible.
She comforted Kalynia by promising to take her along in the future. Just then, one of the sisters who had gone to town burst into the house.
“Something’s wrong! The villagers are coming with torches!”
Unlike humans, witches do not follow any religion. They don’t worship gods, nor do they expect gods to solve their problems.
Maybe that’s why. Emily’s hopes went unfulfilled, and their poor but peaceful lives collapsed in an instant.
