Miss Witch Doesn’t Want to Become a Songstress

On Monday morning, Hestia returned to her routine at Swallow Garden Academy. Carrying a bag filled with notebooks and textbooks, she descended the stairs with a light step but paused midway when she noticed a girl with deep purple hair waiting for her.

“Hestia, you’re finally back!” Mel exclaimed, her voice tinged with relief and joy, almost as if on the verge of tears.

“Yes, I’m back,” Hestia replied with a slight nod.

“I was occupied with other matters, so I couldn’t attend school.”

“Ugh, I’ve been going to class all by myself, and it’s been so scary,” Mel whimpered, hugging her gray moon cat close and using its fur to dab at the tears gathering in her eyes.

“There, there, it’s okay now,” Hestia reassured her, patting her back. Such a crybaby, she thought fondly.

“Will you stay with me today?” Mel asked hesitantly, holding up the cat in front of her as though to shield herself.

“Of course,” Hestia answered softly.

“Really?” Mel tilted her head, peeking out from behind the cat to look at her friend.

“Mm-hmm.”

“Yay!” Mel’s face lit up with happiness as she picked up her own bag and joined Hestia on the way to class.

Their class that day was held on a hill on the eastern side of the academy, where tall, straight redwood trees formed a canopy. The teacher led them under the shade of these towering trees.

After gathering at the meeting point and ensuring everyone was accounted for, their golden-haired teacher guided them up the hill. The climb took several minutes, and the students were slightly winded by the time they reached the top.

At the summit was a clearing in the woods, dotted with large tree stumps.

“Find a spot and sit comfortably; we’ll begin today’s lesson shortly,” the teacher said with a warm smile.

Hestia and Mel found a tree stump and sat side by side on its wide surface. Even sitting together, they occupied only a fraction of its space.

“Today, I’ll be teaching you about the process of terraforming barren planets and how this very planet we’re standing on gradually became habitable,” the teacher began.
“Understanding this framework will help you analyze the roles and behaviors of various organisms within the ecosystem more effectively.”

“Let’s start by discussing why terraforming barren planets is so crucial.”

The teacher’s voice softened as he began recounting history.

“During the Twilight Era’s final years, human civilization reached its peak after recovering from its first decline. This was the Age of the Divine Thrones, a near-divine constructs that propelled humanity into the Aijeka Sea, a state of transcendent existence.”

“Despite humanity’s technological mastery and conquests across the universe, few habitable planets were colonized, as mechanical bodies rendered such environments unnecessary.”

“Then came the early Fourth Epoch. Following prolonged dormancy through the First, Second, and Third Epochs, humanity once again emerged to claim the stars, marking another peak of civilization. In this era, countless natural habitable planets were utilized and exhausted as various factions and organizations established territories across the cosmos.”

“The Fifth Epoch, however, brought ruin and decay. A dark period riddled with radiation, mutations, and death, leaving countless once-vibrant planets desolate.”

“The Sixth Epoch represents a new flower blooming from the cracks of ruin, inheriting the legacy of the Fourth Epoch while pioneering a path of recovery and renewal.”

He paused, letting the weight of his words settle before continuing.

“In the Sixth Epoch, we rarely stumble upon untouched, habitable worlds. Instead, we must create them through patient terraforming—a process taking hundreds, even thousands of years, despite the assistance of AI and autonomous systems.”

“Yet such long-term projects are often unattractive investments, as the results come centuries after one’s death. Consequently, even as civilization regrew, the universe remained sparse with habitable settlements.”

His tone brightened slightly.

“Then came the turning point: the rise of our Federation’s founder, the ‘Golden Flame Rose’ Isanisha.”

“With her unique abilities as a Songstress, she united scattered mega-corporations and factions, bringing forth unparalleled terraforming technologies. Many followed her lead into cold, barren constellations, dedicating their lives to transforming desolate planets into thriving, oxygen-rich worlds filled with forests and oceans.”

“Her leadership lit up the universe, creating countless vibrant worlds. Population growth flourished, and societal tensions eased with the availability of new habitats.”

“This is why the Rose Federation now holds the largest number of habitable planets and boasts the universe’s greatest population.”

He raised his voice as though addressing the stars.

“Hundreds of billions, trillions, tens of trillions—all driven by humanity’s efforts. Engines roar across the universe, reviving a cosmos once falling silent.”

“With such strength, we can face any threat—even remnants of the Fifth Epoch, the so-called ‘Higher Humans.’ Our fleets blot out the sky, unmatched by any number of artificial suns. Even if the Fifth Epoch’s survivors replicate their Sun Crowns, we will annihilate them.”

Returning to a calm tone, he concluded, “Now, you understand why terraforming barren planets is such an essential and noble endeavor. The more people we can support, the greater our strength.”

His words echoed through the forest, startling a few napping birds into flight.

Soon after, a round of applause broke the stillness, and the students began their studies in earnest.