Miss Witch Doesn’t Want to Become a Songstress

The specially designed door slid open, revealing a passage before Ranbell.

This was her seventh day in confinement. Apart from the initial interrogation, no one had visited or contacted her since. Just as she thought she might be left there indefinitely, she was informed that someone wanted to meet her.

Who could it be? Ranbell wondered as she rose and walked toward the passage.

The light gray corridor was lined with special engraved circuits. These not only reinforced the structure but also created a field that nullified the gathering of magical energy, significantly weakening any transcendent abilities and preventing easy escape.

At the end of the corridor, she entered a white room with an open door. Sitting on the designated seat, Ranbell saw the mirrored wall in front of her suddenly turn transparent, revealing the person opposite her. It was a black-haired girl seated on a chair. She wore a deep blue dress, her hands rested on the armrests, and her posture was poised and composed, lacking any trace of shyness or timidity.

Under the bright overhead light, her bangs cast shadows over her face, making it hard to discern her expression fully.

Seated across from her, Ranbell felt as if their roles had reversed. It was a stark contrast from that night.

Ranbell had done her research on Hestia and knew much about her: the tragic loss of her elder sister, the passing of her parents, and her behavior during middle school. However, the events of that night and what followed shattered her preconceived notions. Now, Hestia seemed shrouded in mystery, an enigma full of uncertainties.

“Is that you, Thilan?” Ranbell tentatively asked.

“Yes.” The familiar yet slightly cold voice answered. Ranbell grew more anxious. She wasn’t sure how Hestia would handle her. While her actions didn’t warrant severe punishment by law, she was well aware of how power and influence could shape legal outcomes. She couldn’t afford to be naive.

“Can you tell me about your plan and intentions that night?” the girl across from her inquired again.

Over the next half hour, Ranbell recounted her thoughts, the invitations she extended, and the ritual preparations she had made in the basement.

“What would have happened if the ritual had succeeded?”

“If it had worked, you would gradually change. You’d become slightly more lethargic, your age would cease to increase, and you’d remain as you are now. You would gain exceptional aptitude for the Blood Eye Sequence but develop an aversion to the Light Feather Sequence. Your blood would also differ from that of ordinary humans…” Ranbell reflected on her own experiences as she explained.

“What about drawbacks and limitations?” Hestia pressed further.

“As for drawbacks, let me think. Perhaps your sense of time would differ from others. Your hearing might become overly sensitive, making noisy places uncomfortable. And, of course, there’s the need for periodic long sleep cycles. Honestly, Thilan, it’s not a bad trade. I didn’t mean any real harm,” Ranbell said, her tone almost pleading.

The black-haired girl seated in the shadow remained silent, watching her intently. Her long black hair and dark eyes exuded an eerie calmness, as though they could peer through time itself into Ranbell’s past and hidden intentions.

A songstress is not a witch, yet sometimes they are far more terrifying— a saying circulated in secret around the Federation.

“What about the ‘test’ you mentioned that night?” Hestia asked, referencing Ranbell’s unfinished words.

“Oh, that… I was genuinely conflicted at the time. You seemed like someone in desperate need of help. So I thought if you could withstand three of my attacks, I’d consider you worthy of passing the test.”

“You’re a Sequence 6 Blood Eye, correct? A particularly unusual one.” With her unique bloodline, Ranbell’s strength was close to Sequence 7, which explained why Hestia had been caught off guard that night—her speed was extraordinary.

“Yes, that’s correct.” Ranbell nodded, her face flushing with a hint of embarrassment as she looked away, knowing she’d overstepped her bounds that night.

“If you were to agree to assist me for the next ten years, how would you prove that you’re not deceiving me?”

“That…” Ranbell hesitated. Swearing an oath seemed futile, it wasn’t likely to convince anyone.

“I could swear an oath before other members of special bloodline families,” she offered. Among such families, reputation and credibility were highly valued due to the need for mutual assistance, even though they usually lived discreetly.

“That might work, but it’s not entirely reliable,” the black-haired girl said with a slight shake of her head. While she was young, she wasn’t naive enough to believe that an oath alone could bind someone.

“Perhaps we should sign a contract witnessed by the Federation. Don’t worry, this contract won’t be easily invalidated.”

“If you break the agreement or if I die under suspicious circumstances, countless investigators and ancient forces will hunt you down.”

Hestia didn’t elaborate on why the consequences would be so severe, but her calm, confident tone made Ranbell believe it implicitly.

The voice of the girl seated in the shadows seemed to carry a magical quality, compelling trust.

The room fell silent for a long time before Ranbell finally raised her head and solemnly nodded.

“I agree. After all, this was part of the deal from the beginning.”

As the screen before her reverted to a silver mirror, cutting off her view, Ranbell caught a final glimpse of Hestia’s eyes in the shadows. They were like obsidian crystals—clear and tranquil. Her unease melted away.

Although the girl hadn’t given her an answer outright, Ranbell felt reassured.

…

Two weeks later, Ranbell was released. Upon returning to Edess Academy, she told her classmates that she had been on a month-long vacation. The explanation didn’t raise any eyebrows, many students often took breaks for various reasons.

Some were even celebrities who regularly missed classes for filming or variety shows. Thanks to remote learning tools, they could still keep up with their studies.

Over time, her classmates noticed subtle changes in Ranbell. Though they couldn’t pinpoint exactly what, she seemed less lazy and more diligent. Occasionally, she could even be seen tagging along with Hestia for gatherings and outings.

The first to notice these changes was Hestia’s closest friend at the academy, Dolores.

“When did Thilan and Ranbell become so close? Should I invite her to visit my house for a few days too?” Dolores occasionally mused to herself.