“Good morning,” I said through a yawn as Catherine stepped out of her room, stretching as she rubbed her eyes. Her red hair was slightly messy, and she looked half-awake.

I had tried my hardest to fall asleep earlier but had no success. The restless energy left me wandering outside instead, where I ended up gazing at the stars under the open sky. The cool night breeze brushed against my skin, refreshing but carrying a hint of loneliness. Now, back inside, the early rays of dawn peeked through the windows, casting a soft glow over the house.

“Good morning, my apprentice,” Catherine greeted, her voice soft and groggy as she stepped out of her room. She was still in her pajamas, her red hair slightly disheveled, giving her an unusually relaxed appearance.

She yawned lightly before adding, “I’ll take a bath first.” Without waiting for a response, she turned and walked toward the bathroom, leaving me standing there, still caught between the lingering night and the start of a new day.

I simply smiled and gave her a small wave as she disappeared down the hallway. This world ran on magic technology and enchanted crystals, seamlessly blending the fantastical with the mundane. It was fascinating to see how everyday necessities—like heating water, lighting a room, or even running a bath—were powered by the soft glow of those magical crystals.

But I still didn’t understand much about how it all worked. The glow of the crystals, the runes etched into devices, and the way magic seemed to flow through everything—it was still a mystery to me. Hopefully, Catherine would teach me more about it. If I was going to survive here, understanding this world’s magic technology felt like an essential step.

Having already taken a bath earlier, I decided to step outside. As I opened the door, the cool morning breeze greeted me, brushing against my skin and ruffling my hair. It was refreshing, carrying the faint scent of dew and blooming flowers. I took a deep breath, letting the crisp air fill my lungs, and stepped out to soak in the peaceful stillness of the early morning.

Suddenly, a small figure appeared in the sky, descending gracefully toward the hill. As it drew closer, I could make out its striking features: two sharp, curved horns, crimson wings that shimmered faintly in the morning light, and a long, scaly tail that swayed lazily with each step. The figure landed softly on the grass, her movements deliberate as she began walking toward the house—and toward me. Her piercing eyes locked onto mine, and an air of quiet intensity surrounded her.

"You must be... Miss Mashiro, right?" the horned girl said, her gaze scanning me from head to toe. There was a slight tilt to her head, as if she were sizing me up. "Did you use a Perception Block skill, by any chance?"

I blinked, tilting my head in confusion. "Um... no?" I replied, shaking my head.

Her crimson eyes narrowed for a moment before she sighed, placing a clawed hand on her hip. "My apologies. I didn’t expect that the Witch of the Hill would actually take on a level 1 apprentice." Her tone carried a faint hint of disbelief, bordering on mockery.

I felt my tail twitch at her words, but I held my tongue, unsure whether her comment was meant as an insult or merely an observation.

"Who are you?" I asked, my voice cautious yet curious

The girl gave a polite bow, her short red hair swaying gracefully as she grasped the edges of her maid uniform. A faint smile played on her lips.

"Greetings," she said warmly. "I’m Sophia. I’ve recently been hired as the babysitter for the newborn dragons across the forest."

I blinked, momentarily stunned by her introduction. Babysitter? For dragons? The absurdity of the idea almost made me laugh, but the seriousness in her tone and posture kept me quiet. Instead, I just stared at her, unsure of how to respond.

The mention of a babysitter for dragons immediately brought to mind the ancient dragon's words. "I forgot to hire a babysitter," it had said, its voice grumbling with cute frustration.

Sophia didn't seem to mind my silence. She straightened up and gave me another polite smile, though there was a hint of amusement in her eyes.

"Yes, I know it sounds unusual," she continued, her voice calm, "but dragons are delicate creatures when they’re young. They need proper care and attention—especially the rare ones like the ones in this forest. It's my job to make sure they grow up strong and healthy."

Stolen novel; please report.

I nodded slowly, trying to process her words. “I see… but what brings you here, exactly?”

Just before Sophia could respond, the sound of footsteps echoed from inside the house. The door creaked open, and there stood Catherine, her usual bright, charming presence filling the air. Her long red hair peeked out from beneath her signature witch hat, and she held her magical staff with grace as she stepped into view.

“Sophie…? Why are you here?” Catherine sighed, tightening her grip on her staff as her nerves seemed to get the best of her. “Ugh, I’m already retired. Why do I still need to be visited by an S-rank adventurer...?”

“Hey! I’m retired too,” Sophia chuckled, her voice light. “I’ve got a proper job now. But that doesn’t change the fact that Thalradia is in total chaos right now.” She smiled knowingly, leaning toward Catherine with a familiarity that spoke of their past.

Sophia leaned closer to Catherine as she whispered something. Hearing that, Catherine’s eyes sank even further, and she let out a heavy sigh. She glanced at Sophia, exhaustion etched on her face, before her gaze shifted to me, a hint of pity flickering in her expression.

“I’m sorry, Mashiro. I can’t be with you today.” Catherine’s voice was soft, the words laced with an undeniable sadness. She smiled, but it didn’t quite reach her eyes.

I felt a knot tighten in my chest at her words, though I couldn’t bring myself to respond immediately. The air felt heavier suddenly, the warmth of the morning sun not quite reaching me. Catherine seemed so distant in that moment, her usual fiery energy dampened by whatever it was she was dealing with.

“Why?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper, betraying the confusion and unease that were swirling inside me.

Catherine hesitated, her fingers tightening around her staff. “There’s something I need to take care of,” she said, her tone more serious than I had ever heard it. “Something I’ve been avoiding for far too long.”

Sophia, standing a few paces away, observed the exchange with quiet understanding, but said nothing. She didn’t need to.

For a brief moment, I almost wished I could pry into Catherine’s thoughts, to know what was going on behind that wall of calm she always seemed to maintain. But I didn’t. Instead, I nodded slowly, forcing a smile even though I didn’t feel like it.

“Okay,” I murmured, “I understand.”

Before I could even react, a sudden pressure wrapped around me, pulling me off my feet. I gasped as I felt myself being lifted into the air. My mind barely had time to register what was happening before I realized Sophia’s wings had flared out, and she was hugging me tightly against her chest.

“Come on, don’t be sad! Since both me and you have nothing to do, let’s go on a date!” she exclaimed, her voice bright and carefree as she lifted us higher into the sky.

I opened my mouth to protest, but before I could get a word out, I was already far from the ground. The wind rushed past us, whipping my hair and clothes around. My heart raced in panic as I instinctively clutched at Sophia’s arm, trying to steady myself, though her grip on me was strong.

"Wait! What are you doing?!" I screamed, my voice high-pitched with fear as I struggled to break free of her hold.

Sophia only laughed, the sound carefree and light. “What does it look like I’m doing? We’re going to have some fun today!” Her red wings beat powerfully as we rose higher, the landscape below shrinking with each passing second.

I tried to look down, but the dizzying height made my stomach churn. The ground below now seemed miles away, a distant blur. I couldn’t understand what had just happened — one moment, I was standing on the ground, talking to Catherine, and the next, I was being whisked away by someone who was apparently in the mood for an impromptu adventure.

I twisted in her grip, trying to free myself, but Sophia held me securely, her wings beating rhythmically as we soared higher. "S-Sophia, please!" I yelled again, feeling the wind tear at my skin and whip past my face. "This is crazy!"

But Sophia just giggled again, as if she didn’t have a care in the world. She didn’t seem bothered at all by the fact that I was panicking. "It’ll be fine, don’t worry!" she said, her voice cheerful and teasing. "We’re just going on a little outing! Don’t you want to see the world from up here?"

I barely had time to respond when I heard a faint voice from below — Catherine’s voice. "Take care," she mouthed, waving from the ground below.