City of Witches

‘It is my duty to regain what has been lost.’

2.

Siwoo opened his eyes.

“What is this…?”

He guessed that he must have drifted off to sleep after tossing and turning in his bed for a while, but then he realized that he was standing in a dark space, similar to Ain.

There were staircases sprawled out like a maze, defying the laws of physics.

At the end of each staircase, there were doors of various shapes and colors.

Then he realized that he was in a lucid dream, a phenomenon when you were conscious inside your own dream.

Despite the unfamiliarity of the place, it carried an uncanny sense of familiarity. It was as if he had been here before.

Siwoo walked around curiously.

Until his attention was shifted into something he found peculiar.

Around 80% of the doors were opened, but 20% of them were bound by black ribbons.

“What is this…?”

He picked one of the doors wrapped in a ribbon and tried to turn the handle.

At that moment, all the ribbons began to unravel simultaneously.

One after another, familiar sensations enveloped his body.

This was the same feeling he experienced when he consumed Amelia’s potion, a sudden surge of memories rushing back in a rapid pace.

Amidst the dizziness and nauseating feeling, the locked doors suddenly were swung open with a loud noise.

Images and sounds started to burst forth, not giving him any time to be surprised.

Janitor, can’t you clean any better than this? You don’t have any complaints, do you? I want you to leave useless tasks like drain ditching. I believe that 5 years is plenty of time to change your mind. For the next week, clean my research building after finishing your afternoon work. That’s what a witch is. If you act like you did at Trinity Academy in your next department, you might die. Even making threats is bullshit. Is this what you like? Takasho, you fucking sick man.

As Siwoo crouched at the stairs while clutching his head, light burst out from his left eye.

Amidst the radiant glow, numerous scattered puzzle pieces began to reunite.

Do you miss your hometown, janitor? Yes, of course I do. Isn’t being a slave to Ms. Professor better than being a slave in this damn city? How the hell do you sleep in this wretched place? Even when I had a pet hamster, I think I provided it with a better home than this. Live like a witch and live like a noble. Those were the parting words my master left me. She always said those words as a habit. I still don’t quite grasp the meaning of living like a noble.

He rejected his recovery through other people’s assistance, forging ahead solely with his own strength.

Although Amelia could be a bitch at times, she didn’t deserve to be captured and killed. Moreover, trust in the promises of an exile to go outside? Frankly, he couldn’t bring himself to do it. Janitor, are you in good health? Are there any problems like an infectious disease or a skin disease? If so, please inform me beforehand. It’s really frustrating to hear such comments while I shower daily. By the way, she got me a suit tailored and I achieved some success in the world. No, but I have to live in the same house as Amelia? What kind of bullshit is this?

I turned down the offer. What? Because I thought you could be a useful assistant. You rejected that offer for just that reason? I’ve been putting up with it for 5 years just to escape this fucking place. Shin Siwoo, you belong to me. I can’t tolerate you wandering freely without permission. Therefore, appropriate steps will be taken to address your unauthorized escape plan. What kind of steps? Who brought you here against your will? It was you, Amelia, tormenting the person who was captured and brought here. Really, I tried to endure it all and get over it, but I couldn’t. You are a real bitch. What the hell do you want from me? I asked you to tell me! What do you want from me, why are you torturing me like this? I’m sorry for hurting your fragile pride 5 years ago, but if you’re going to subject me to this torment by doing this damn thing, wouldn’t it be better to just kill me? Answer me!

…

Unfortunately, there was no prior appointment. And as for our relationship…let’s just say we’re friends. Where’s Amelia, my friend? You bitch. As expected, you’re thoroughly a vicious bitch. At this rate, it feels like I’m going to die. Even the twins were captured and treated as slaves. Nonetheless, studying magic all this time has proven to be helpful in this situation. Bloom, bloom, bloom, bloom, bloom. Even if I struggle, there seems to be an insurmountable barrier. Yes, yes, it’s beautiful. Cry even more cutely. How the fuck is it possible to dig into a person’s eyes without anesthetizing them? Hold on, wait. Rest well.

It felt like his brain was soaked in soda instead of cerebral fluid.

Thoughts resurfaced in his shaken mind like a melody.

Shin Siwoo, the one who offered himself as a sacrifice, Sadalmelik, who was at the edge of the fountain. I’ll make you cum on my face. I want to drink cola. How does human thirst get quenched? There’s always a full moon in Gehenna. The beauty of creation, the value of intricate circles – pi: 3.14159165355820…3025… What came next? Ah… Did I memorize up to 152674450? Finally I reach the first 999999, Feynman’s point. I open my eyes, whispering and if I rewind my memories, I’m free, singing. Shadows, be reborn within the world of zeros, consume this body for eternity.

…

I’m sorry, I’m sorry. Thank you. Thank you so much for coming back. Ms. Amelia, did I do something wrong? While Siwoo was lying down, I nullified the slave contract. Shall we sleep together? It’s alright, no need to apologize. It’s weird. I’ll lay out a mat in the garden. Let’s have tea together. I also brought cake. Is there a song you’d like to listen to? Siwoo, there’s a place I want to go with you. I’ll pack our bags. You are truly beautiful, Siwoo. You possess remarkable talent. It’s strange. Siwoo! Don’t delve too deeply. It’s dangerous. The tide is high. Let’s have this for dinner today. Step on it firmly to create foam. It’s easy, right? Siwoo, take off your shoes and come inside. If you feel too cold, let me know. Looking at the stars is nice, but you shouldn’t catch a cold. The apple has become too mushy. I think I’m screwed. Thank you, Siwoo. It’s strange. Even if you regain your memories later on, w-will you be able to forgive me? It’s strange. I also hope for what Siwoo wants. But I don’t have the right to it. I don’t deserve it. It’s strange.

‘I’m sorry.’

‘Strange.’

3.

The time was dawn, before the birds woke up and the sun rose up.

Siwoo cast aside his blanket and sat down on the bed.

“…”

His blank face slowly became distorted.

Even as he covered his face with both hands, his turbulent feelings raged on like an erupting volcano.

“Fuck…”

Before he realized it, he spat out a curse in frustration.

Everything he had believed in felt like a web of lies.

Unless he did something, he felt like he couldn’t bear his feelings.

He wanted to lash out, hitting whatever was in his way with his fists.

“Fuck, damn it…”

All the memories that had come flooding back were messily tangled.

He felt like he became a character in the Truman’s Show.

Amelia, who knew everything, was the audience, meanwhile he was Truman.

She deceived him, who didn’t know anything, and he completely fell for it.

Two different memories flowed through his mind.

One of them was the memories of being captured and subjected to being a slave in Gehenna back when he was twenty three. His years of slavery while enduring Amelia’s torment.

The other one was the memories of his blissful days, living in the cabin with Amelia since he was eleven.

While in reality, the latter only spanned for one month, but due to the reconstructing process of both his mind and body, he felt that it was longer.

Each day for him, equated to a whole year.

The density of the time he experienced in one day couldn’t be described by mere words. It was to the point that he was unable to recall what dinner he had the previous day when he woke up in the morning.

“Ugh…”

He felt nauseous.

The things he knew and felt were entangled in a chaotic mess, resulting in a terrible headache.

Then, he covered his face with both hands.

Before he realized it, tears streamed down his cheeks.

4.

Amelia, who had been drowning in her agony and sorrow all night long, slowly rose from her bed.

From the sun’s position, deviated from its usual spot, she realized that she had overslept.

Her head felt heavy.

While her sadness and regret that had been tormenting her could be set aside while she was sleeping, they didn’t disappear completely.

They lurked like a shadow, ready to pounce on her whenever she let down her guard.

Nevertheless, this momentary peace was incredibly precious to her.

“…Ah.”

A passing thought brushed her mind.

The fact that Siwoo must have been waiting for her.

These days, he often woke up earlier than her, even prepared her breakfast. It made her wonder, maybe this time, he had finished his breakfast already.

Amelia swiftly changed her clothes and walked briskly down the stairs to the first floor of the cabin.

“Huh?”

But Siwoo was nowhere to be found.

Contrary to her expectation, he hadn’t prepared anything for her.

Looking at the furniture and the rugs, seemingly untouched from yesterday, it seemed like he hadn’t even come downstairs.

“Siwoo?”

‘Did yesterday’s event weigh down on him so much to the point that he overslept?’

When she glanced through the window, he was nowhere to be seen. Even when she walked around the small cabin from corner to corner, she couldn’t catch a glimpse of his shadow.

“Siwoo?”

So she went up the stairs again, to his room.

Yet, no reply came from inside.

‘Is he still sleeping?’

-Knock, knock

While knocking on the door, she called his name again.

“Siwoo, can I come in?”

Faint rustling noises came from inside.

Then, the door was slowly opened.

In truth, she felt embarrassed to see his face after what happened yesterday.

But, she didn’t want to waste the limited time they had left because of it.

Today, they had planned to visit the barley field together and complete their unfinished painting.

Like before, she had prepared a large canvas and an easel for them to use.

“…”

When Siwoo emerged from his room, Amelia was taken aback.

“Siwoo? What happened to your face?”

His face looked so pale, no, ‘lifeless’ was a better description for it.

Amelia reached out and gently caressed his cheek.

“Are you okay? Did you catch a cold?”

“…”

In the middle of that ominous silence.

Her thoughts became entangled.

‘Has he regained all of his memories?’

Her expression became uneasy. Then, her gaze met with Siwoo’s, who had a faint smile on his face.

His smile looked strained and filled with complex emotions.

“I’m okay. Did you sleep well, Amelia?”

“I did… But, are you sure you’re okay? You didn’t caught a fever or any—”

As Amelia rose on her tiptoes and was about to place her hand on his forehead…

He abruptly twisted his body and brushed her hand away.

“Ah…”

“No, I’m fine. I just have a slight headache.”

He still bore an air of awkwardness, which explained his reaction.

Amelia felt a tinge of remorse for her lack of consideration. She wrapped her arms around herself and asked.

“Would you like to go painting together today? I’ll prepare our lunch.”

Siwoo hesitated for a moment before nodding.

“Yes. I’ll get ready.”

That was when Amelia noticed a clear sense of distance from Siwoo’s retreating figure when he was about to close the door.

And so, she halted him in his tracks.

“Siwoo.”

Unlike before, it felt like he set up a clear boundary.

But, this was too excessive of a reaction towards the event that had transpired last night.

“Yes?”

Yet, Amelia lacked the courage to find out the truth.

She slightly shook her head.

“It’s nothing. I’ll wait for you.”

“Okay.”

The door was closed with a creaking sound, leaving Amelia standing there in silence.