Miss Witch Doesn’t Want to Become a Songstress

Sleeping in her dorm room, Hestia had never felt this comfortable before. It was quiet here—no Annelie following her around, no maids attending to her, and no need to worry about others’ gazes.

Thus, she stayed in bed until 10 a.m., feeling a pang of guilt upon waking. This, of course, was due to Pranley’s teachings—a proper lady should not sleep in too late, as it might leave a bad impression.

Her long, silky hair cascaded down her back as she yawned in her pajamas, rubbed her drowsy eyes, and walked to the window to pull back the curtains.

Next came her morning routine.

She headed to the shower to bathe and wash her hair, then changed into a clean academy uniform. Standing in front of the mirror, she brushed her teeth.

After finishing, she sat at her vanity to tidy her hair and adjust the finer details of her outfit. Suddenly, a shadow dropped from the ceiling and landed on her hair, letting out a cheerful hissing sound.

Looking at the large spider in the mirror, Hestia simply patted its leg—by now, she was used to its sudden appearances.

“Alright, come down for now. At least let me finish doing my hair.” Holding her locks in one hand, she looped a hairband around them with the other, finally tying a ribbon of blue silk resembling larkspur. It added a touch of cuteness to her overall look.

Unlike the formal and elegant style of Edess Academy, Hestia’s attire at Swallow Garden Academy leaned more casual and relaxed.

Once she was properly dressed and groomed, Hestia moved to a corner of the living room, opened a cabinet, and pulled out a drawer. Inside lay an indigo serpent, still asleep. Picking it up, she hesitated briefly before finding a basket and placing the lazy creature inside.

Grabbing her sun hat, Hestia descended the stairs with a light step, holding the basket filled with small items and snacks in one hand while pressing the brim of her hat with the other.

Stepping outside the Skylark Tower, a breeze greeted her. It was late September, and the weather was no longer scorching.

Arriving at the shores of Leaf Fragrance Lake, Hestia opened the academy page on her personal terminal, found the cabin renting fishing equipment, and borrowed a fishing rod and a stool. She then walked along a leaf-strewn path, seeking a quiet spot by the lake.

After walking a few hundred meters, she stopped under the shade of a tree adorned with red leaves. The water here was calm, and the occasional bird flitted through the forest.

Placing the stool on the ground, she sat down, baited the hook, and cast the line, beginning her quiet wait.

Under the afternoon shade, she opened a book on her lap—a gift from the academy. It detailed the habits of various fish in Leaf Fragrance Lake and the birds that enjoyed them.

The book contained exquisite illustrations and little anecdotes, many left behind by former students. Sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting dappled shadows on the pages and illuminating her fingertips in a translucent glow.

Away from the competitive and watchful environment of Edess Academy, Hestia relished this rare, leisurely weekend. Sitting by the lake, fishing, and daydreaming—even napping—was a luxury without judgment or interruption.

“Huh…” Hestia’s eyes caught the bobbing float. She grasped the fishing rod with mild surprise.

Though she was fishing, she had heard much about the “air force” (catching nothing). She hadn’t expected to actually reel in anything today.

But luck was on her side. As she pulled up the rod, it wasn’t heavy, and when she stood up, a frog clamped onto the bait, leaping out of the water.

The creature, or rather, frog-like entity, had black skin with blue stripes. Landing on the shore, it puffed itself up.

Taking out her terminal, Hestia let it scan and identify the creature. A mechanical voice soon reported.

“Black-Bellied Frog, Blood Eye Sequence 2, venomous. While not always lethal, avoid contact. Capable of spraying venom and manipulating weak water currents…”

So it was one of the academy’s magical creatures. Hestia wondered if it was a release or an escapee.

She held down the spider, which seemed eager to pounce, and nudged the basket beside her with her foot.

“Wake up, Indigo. Time to work.” She called to the sleepy serpent.

Before long, a pale blue serpent head emerged from the basket, locking eyes with the black-bellied frog.

The two stared at each other, exuding a palpable tension. Though Indigo Serpent was Sequence 3, the frog showed no fear and even seemed ready to fight.

“Go on, teach it a lesson,” Hestia commanded with interest.

The Indigo Serpent slithered out of the basket, raising its head and looking down at the frog disdainfully.

Having received Hestia’s command, it decided to demonstrate its abilities.

The gem on its forehead began to gather sunlight, glowing brightly. Soon, a scorching beam shot at the black-bellied frog.

“Ribbit!” The frog let out a sharp cry, smoke rising from its body. Though Hestia couldn’t understand its words, she sensed it was cursing angrily.

The frog retaliated, spraying a jet of black liquid at the Indigo Serpent. Some of it evaporated under the intense heat, but some landed on the serpent, visibly irritating it.

Being a cleanliness enthusiast—Hestia had bathed it just last night—the serpent was infuriated by the mess.

The previously gentle beam intensified, forcing the frog to jump around frantically before it finally dove into the lake, disappearing into its depths.

With the frog gone, the Indigo Serpent extinguished its beam but refused to return to the basket, disliking the venom on its body.

It slithered around the grass before lifting its head to stare at Hestia as if asking, “Aren’t you going to clean me?”

“Alright, let’s get you cleaned up.” Hestia chuckled, carefully picking it up and placing it in the nearby water, washing away the venom.

Though the frog’s venom affected many creatures, the Indigo Serpent—one of the rare few with anti-venom traits—was unharmed, merely annoyed by the grime.

After cleaning, she set the serpent on a clean rock to sunbathe and dry off. Its scales soon reflected a faint iridescence.

With that little episode over, Hestia returned to fishing. Occasionally, she dozed under the tree, knowing the spider would alert her if she caught anything.

By the end of the lazy afternoon, she had reeled in three fish—two large and one small.

After registering the fish, she returned the gear to the rental cabin and waited by the lakeside cottage’s automatic cooking machine.

In about ten minutes, three grilled fish were served on paper trays. The small one was for the Indigo Serpent, while she and the spider each enjoyed a larger portion.

As evening approached, Hestia donned her sun hat again, picked up the basket with the Indigo Serpent, and began the walk back to the tower.

In the distance, the sunset bathed the three towers on the hills in golden light. Birds circled overhead, and cheerful voices drifted on the breeze.

Such a life was wonderful.

With a light heart, Hestia gazed at the blue-violet sky, where fiery clouds lit the horizon, and golden clouds drifted lazily.