This is still from the perspective of the Little Witch in her White Bird form.
I am Rufe, a witch.
Several months had already passed since I, an orphan, first came to live at the Village Chief’s house. I had grown accustomed to the daily routine, but the villagers still directed eerie, suspicious looks my way whenever they caught sight of my white hair. Living without my father and mother was both lonely and painful.
However, I had found a new reason for living: the cultivation of the Alraune, also known as the Talking Flower. At this point, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to call her my Alraune. I was determined to raise her into a truly magnificent flower.
Then, winter arrived.
A Great Cold Wave struck the land this year. The Village Chief ranted that this was a blizzard the likes of which was seen only once in a century. Between the summer droughts and this turbulent winter, everyone lived in fear that the erratic weather was a harbinger of some impending Cataclysm.
Even in the heart of these heavy snows, I would stretch my wings and fly out to see the Alraune. While the weather might have grounded any normal bird, I could travel with ease using Levitation Magic. I didn't even need to flap my wings to stay airborne. Though the snow made the air biting, a bird’s feathers were as warm as a blanket. Thanks to that, I continued my visits to the Alraune without any issues.
But one day, a problem arose.
Out of nowhere, the Talking Flower spoke to me. "Hey... Bird," she said.
I stared at the Alraune, wondering what on earth could be wrong, only for her to move her mouth with visible effort and ask a question.
"Bird... don't you... chirp?"
—Chirp?
That was right. Normal birds chirped. I had completely forgotten! Even though I had transformed into a bird, I hadn’t felt the need to act the part so convincingly. Up until that moment, I hadn't mimicked a bird’s cry even once.
What should I do? If I didn't chirp now, would she think I was strange? The very fact that she was asking meant she was suspicious of my silence. I desperately wanted to build a good relationship with the Alraune, but if she discovered I was a human rather than a forest animal, that dream would crumble. To a monster, humans were the enemy. If she knew the truth, she would become even more guarded than she already was.
I had no choice. I had to do it. I had to perform a Bird Mimicry.
But what did birds actually sound like? When I stopped to think about it, I realized I had no idea. Come to think of it, the birds that perched on the trees near the house seemed to go "Chun-chun."
So, would a simple "Chun" suffice?
I couldn't believe this. It was so embarrassing. Did I really have to go through with this? Never in my life had I expected to be commanded to chirp like a bird. I wasn't cut out for Bird Mimicry! But if I refused, the Alraune would suspect something was wrong.
Could I even do it? Could I sound like a bird?
I just had to try!
"Chu-un."
Ah, no, that was impossible. It was too embarrassing. I failed miserably. Was she suspicious? Regardless of how bad I was at it, I had technically fulfilled her request to chirp like a bird.
And yet, the Alraune looked at me and demanded an encore. "One... more... time."
What was with this flower? She was far too demanding for a bird. Did she have some kind of personal grudge against the avian race?
"…………Chuin."
It was no use; I was too mortified to chirp properly. Besides, I had never seen a human try to chirp like a bird before. I felt like I was engaging in an incredibly pathetic act.
"Didn't... hear... you."
I couldn't believe her. She definitely heard me that time! Was she doing this on purpose? Was this flower the type who enjoyed inflicting mental anguish on birds? Did she have a sadistic streak?
Fine. I had to see this through to the end.
"……………………Chun."
I emptied my mind and chirped. It was my most bird-like cry yet. I felt like I had become a bird so completely that I was starting to lose track of my true identity. Perhaps transforming so often was starting to have side effects.
Yes... it was time to go back to the village. I didn't want to chirp like a bird for another second. And so, I left, burdened by the trauma of my forced Bird Mimicry.
However, my personal embarrassment was a trivial matter compared to the harshness of the natural world. Because of the heavy snow, the Alraune was on the verge of withering. She couldn't withstand the freezing temperatures. After all, her upper body had the appearance of a naked woman. Wrapping a few Vines around her chest wasn't exactly proper winter gear. She had tried wrapping Vines all over her body to keep warm, but it wasn't enough to fight off the blizzard.
Being cold is miserable. I learned that day that it doesn't matter if you're a person or a plant. The Alraune was desperate to survive, and as proof, she pleaded with me.
"Get... flower... for me."
The Alraune had the ability to assimilate the properties of the plants she consumed. That meant she was looking for a species that thrived in winter. If she ate a flower that could bloom in this cold, she would surely be able to survive the snow.
I worked myself to the bone. I scoured the freezing forest until I found a healthy-looking flower. My hard work paid off; the Talking Flower consumed the cold-resistant plant and survived. I felt like I deserved a medal for how hard I worked!
But my labors didn't end there. No matter how much she resisted the cold, she was still just a flower. Before I knew it, she was completely buried in snow.
The Village Chief was shouting that this once-in-a-century blizzard was the work of One of the Demonic Path, but I just thought she was an unlucky flower for blooming during such a winter. I had no choice but to shovel her out. Honestly, she was such a handful.
I couldn't shovel snow in bird form, but since she would be wary of a human, I decided to do it when she couldn't see me. I finished the job while the Alraune was tucked away in her Bud, sleeping. Using Levitation, I could work without my feet ever touching the ground. Furthermore, my Levitation Magic allowed me to push the snow aside with ease. I could make anything I held float as light as cotton.
I had secretly brought a shovel from the village, so my preparations were perfect. No matter how heavy the snow was, it was no match for the power of a witch. Because I worked while floating, I didn't leave a single footprint behind. I felt like I had done a truly splendid job as her caretaker.
Still, shoveling every time it snowed was a chore. While flying around to see if there were any other useful plants, I found a flower sprouting unnaturally through the snow. When I touched it, it felt warm. It was a heat-producing plant. If I gave her this, the Alraune would be able to melt the snow herself.
Just as I planned, the Alraune gained the ability of Heat Generation after eating it. The Selective Breeding of my flower was progressing quite well. She was becoming a Talking Flower I could truly be proud of. This was exactly what made raising her so rewarding.
Perhaps she finally noticed my goodwill through all my hard work that winter, because the Alraune actually seemed to grow attached to me. From that day forward, she stopped trying to eat me. Good girl. I even thought about bringing her some water next time.
However, after that day, I was never able to go back and water her.
As winter drew to a close, the villagers caught me. Someone had witnessed the moment I transformed from a bird back into a human.
I had seen a woman once who had been caught in a Witch Hunt and killed for a crime she didn't commit. The army had captured her and nailed her to a cross. Then, they set it on fire and burned her alive.
Now, I was to be killed the same way.
They struck me across the face, demanding to know if I was the cause of the Great Cold Wave. No one would listen to me when I said it wasn't my fault. As the adults of the village pinned me to the ground, I could only imagine myself being burned at the stake.
I’m sorry, Alraune. It looks like I won’t be able to take care of you anymore.
I hate humans. I hate how they try to kill me the moment they have the chance.
As I wept into the dirt, I felt nothing but hatred for the world.
A few days after they locked me in the village barn, my execution date was set.
I am to be burned tomorrow.
As a witch.
Thank you for reading. Next time: The Little Witch’s First Plant Nurturing Activities – Spring.