Vol 1 Prologue (1/2)

Chapter Prologue

PROLOGUE

– The Last Hexe

She introduced herself as «The Last Hexe»1

to me.

She was clad in black clothes like those worn at a funeral and had dull grey

hair that looked as though it were covered by ashes. Within her eyes dwelled

mystery, and she certainly looked the part of a 'witch'. However, she was a

surprisingly sociable and friendly person.

”It's a pleasure to meet you, Lyle Waldstein.”

Upon my grasping of her outstretched hand, the «Hexe» was all smiles, and

my anxiety all but vanished.

And to Erl—of course, the «Hexe» had a real name and also a pet name—

”Are you really a witch?”

I asked.

Erl did not live in a dwelling deep in the forest but rather in a mansion out in

the open, widely exposed to the sun. The people that worked there had

never seen any fiels2

or automata3

like those from the fairy-tales of the past.

At that time, I did not know the reason why «The Last Hexe» was known as

a rare prodigal scientist . To the childishly innocent me, Erl had said,

”Well, well, what should I say? The 'answer' is not something that is given,

but earned, don't you know?”

while smiling in delight.

I had immediately went about exploring the mansion. I could find nothing, to

which Erl smiled, and I doubled my efforts in my search for the answer.

It ought to have taken about a month. I discovered a hidden door and a

staircase to the bas.e.m.e.nt.

1

Hexe means 'witch', in German. To be exact the author used 'Hex' (not in furigana, it's

written right at the end of the book), but I took the liberty of correcting it.

2

Faeries, basically.

3

Moving puppets, similar kinds of existences.

2

Carrying a lamp, I entered the bas.e.m.e.nt, and promptly shouted for joy.

There was the 'witch's room', the existence of which I had both been

skeptical of and was eagerly antic.i.p.ating, where gla.s.s specimen containers

and old books were piled up.

And, on top of the table was, that which was considered to be the origin of

magic, the mysterious magical stone—[Amber].

Taking one of the amber stones, I raised it over my head... but, nothing

happened. No flames, not even a faint light, was given off.

Avoiding detection, I stayed inside the hidden room. Parchment scrolls,

handwritten ancient doc.u.ments, Erl's research notes, I read everything

systemically and a.n.a.lytically, deciphering their codes.

One month later, I succeeded in drawing out the magical power of the

amber.

Up until now, I still clearly remember the dusk-coloured light that the amber

had given off during its magical excitation.

”Lyle..... you...”

Turning my head towards the source of the sound, I saw Erl's face covered in

surprise and shock.

”Even though he's just a six or seven year old kid, to have even cracked the

code about the magical power of amber... Is he what they call a genius?”

From that day onwards, Erl had made me call her 'Master'. She may have

been a strict one, but when I did a good job in learning what she taught, she

would gently stroke my head and smile.