Short Story: The Magic of Kindness

[Original fantasy story, AI-generated illustration]

A mysterious town in a mysterious world.
On the edge of the forest outside that town, an old witch lived.

The name of that forest was the 'Forest of Oblivion'.
Those who stopped by were only the witch's acquaintances or lost travelers.

Inside the forest, it was dark and deep even during the day, and loneliness and sorrow drifted and blew through the trees along with the wind.
Memories left behind by someone made the leaves of the trees tremble sadly.

Time flowed quietly and slowly, eventually leading to the night of oblivion.
Abandoned by people, forgotten by time, an eternal parting that disappears into the far reaches of memory.
The silent things that wait for that moment.

The old witch was a 'witness' who stood by at the moment of that parting and cherished their existence.

However.

Even for the old witch who had served as such a witness, the time for parting would eventually come.
As a witch with a lifespan longer than a human's, she did not know when that would be.

The witch had a granddaughter.
A young witch who still retained some innocence in her features.
She was young, wise, and beautiful, a witch who watched over the 'times' that people longed for and dreamed of, no less capable than the old witch.

One day, the young witch headed to the forest to visit the old witch's hermitage.

'Grandmother, I wonder how you are doing today. I hope your health hasn't gotten any worse than before.'

The young witch had a very kind and compassionate personality.

While flying through the sky on her favorite magic broom, she reflected the old witch's hermitage in the back of her eyes, which held the light of a rainbow.

'Her daily work must be tough as well.'

A strong wind struck her as she flew high in the sky.
Even so, she did not panic and used weather control magic to turn it into a gentle breeze and continued to fly.

Her black robe was filled with stars, auroras, and the power of light, and her pointed hat granted her infinite magical power and magic.

Deep in the forest.
The young witch arrived at the witch's hermitage and landed quietly on the ground.

The magic broom changed into particles of light and disappeared as if melting into the space.

'Grandmother. How are you?'

The young witch entered the old witch's hermitage.
As always, she used words to show her concern for the old witch.

Oh. You came again today. I appreciate it.

The old witch was cleaning inside her hermitage.
A seasoned broom swept the hermitage clean, and when it was finished, it was stood up by the doorway and fell silent.

Good work, magic broom. There is no flying work today, so you should rest easy for the rest of the time.

At the old woman's words, the magic broom glided through the air and went into the storage room.

Grandma, are you still using that kind of broom?

The young witch sat on a chair the old witch had placed with magic, her eyes widening at the old witch's appearance.

Grandma, it seems like it's been hard for you to use magic lately. Isn't your magical power running low?

She spoke out of concern for her aged grandmother, the old witch.
However, her expression was cold despite the kind words she used.

Well, I suppose so. I have lived for quite a long time, so it is no wonder that my body is getting rusty here and there.

Saying that, she tapped her lower back and turned her violet-colored eyes toward the cupboard.

Now then. Shall I make some tea for my lovely granddaughter? Spirits of fire and spirits of water, appear at my command! Tea leaves and teapot, dance in the air, and brew tea according to my decree!

By the old witch's magic, the tea set flew out of the cupboard all at once, a flame created by magic heated the pot, and the water boiled.

The tea leaves opened inside the pot, and a pleasant aroma drifted through the hermitage.
A cup filled with tea was gently lowered onto the table that had appeared in front of the granddaughter witch.

Thank you for the tea.

The granddaughter picked up the cup and took a gentle sip of the tea.

It's delicious. The tea you brew, Grandma, is always delicious.

The old witch watched over her granddaughter, who said this while drinking her tea, with gentle eyes, and poured tea into her own cup as well.

...However, her control over the magic slipped slightly, and tea was spilled onto the floor.

Oh my, look at me. I made a mistake. Good grief.

To wipe up the tea spilled on the floor, the old witch tried to use magic to bring out a rag.

"Cough, cough!"

She coughed painfully and crouched down on the spot.

"Grandma!"

The granddaughter witch rushed to her grandmother in a panic, supported her body, and called out to her while gently rubbing her back.

"Are you okay, Grandma? Please don't push yourself so hard. Instead of using those old-fashioned spells forever, why don't you try using new magic?"

The young granddaughter witch demonstrated several state-of-the-art spells in front of the old witch.
They were all excellent spells, constructed with sophisticated, advanced magical formulas that exerted mysterious power with very little magical energy.

The old witch watched them with admiration.
However.

"That is wonderful magic. Thank you for showing me such a thing. But..."

The old witch hesitated, thought for a moment, and then continued her words.

"But you see, I won't use the magic you all are so proud of. I am fond of this magic passed down from ancient times that I have been accustomed to for many years."

She shook her head quietly, and although her words were gentle, they contained a fierce will of rejection.

"Those spells lack elegance."

"W-why? Why, Grandma! What is wrong with the magic I use?"

"It's the heart. Magic is the heart. It connects with the heart of the user. But the magic you all use so happily has no heart. There is no connection of the heart."

As she said this, the old woman hung her head, and her body collapsed powerlessly onto the floor.

The granddaughter, who felt a rift in their hearts, embraced the old woman.

"Grandma, please don't say things like that. I love you so much, and I just want you to have an easier life..."

"No, I am the one who should apologize. I ended up speaking harshly to such a kind child as you. Please forgive me."

Supported by her granddaughter's magic, the old witch headed to the bedroom.
As she laid her grandmother on the bed, she pulled a chair up to her side.

"Are new methods really that bad? Is it really that important to keep clinging to the old ways?"

The granddaughter witch had tears in her eyes as she asked the old witch lying there.

But the old witch did not answer.
She had grown tired and fallen asleep.

Grandma...

For a while after that, the granddaughter stayed at the hermitage, taking care of the old witch.

In her daily life, she used her new magic and sorcery to work efficiently, and continued to provide meals and medicine that she thought were best for her grandmother.

A few days later, the old witch had recovered remarkably well and was able to return to her usual life.

As usual, after finishing her work, it was time for afternoon tea.
She was enjoying tea with her young granddaughter witch.

Grandma, I'm so glad you've fully recovered. See? My magic was useful, wasn't it? You're even more energetic than before, Grandma.

She was confident in her own magic.
With the power of that magic, she had brilliantly revived her grandmother, who had been so old she seemed on the verge of departing for the underworld.
Her grandmother would surely praise her too.
That is what she thought.

However.
The young witch could not hide her surprise at the words that came from the grandmother she had expected to praise her.

I thank you for the diligent use of your magic and what you did for me. But listen well. That magic of yours truly lacks heart. No, I cannot help but think so. So, the day after tomorrow is the full moon. I will show you a special kind of magic, so come here when the moon rises.

A strong light of will filled the old witch's pale violet eyes.
Overwhelmed by that intensity, the young witch nodded obediently and followed her instructions.

Then, before dawn two days later.
The young witch straddled her broom, flew through the sky, and entered the Forest of Oblivion.
She had come to gather medicinal herbs and mushrooms that grew only in this forest for her own medicine making.

A while after entering the forest,

Clang! Clang!

A sound like an axe striking a hard tree trunk could be heard.

(Who on earth could be trying to cut down a tree in a forest like this?)

She wondered about it, but she did not dare to find out the identity of the person cutting the tree.
Perhaps some curious townsperson had come into this forest and was playing at being a woodcutter.

Cutting down trees to use them in this day and age, they must be humans who cannot use magic. It's pathetic, those humans who can't use magic. They can't fly, nor can they manipulate fire or water. What an incredibly inefficient way to live.

The witch, who relied on magic for almost everything in her life, muttered this and looked down slightly on the unseen humans.

After finishing gathering the medicinal herbs for ingredients, she constructed a hearth with magic and began to brew a potion there.
A distinct odor filled the air, and the animals in the forest scurried away.

“When Grandma used to make medicine, the animals would always come close.”

Watching the animals fleeing the forest with a suspicious look, she sent the completed potion to a wholesaler in town using teleportation magic.

A small sense of unease appeared in her heart.
However, she did not notice it.

The night ended and the sun rose.
The young witch, having finished making the potion, was disgusted by the smell on her clothes.

“Ugh, this is no good. I need to do laundry. And I need to wash myself, too.”

She headed toward a spring in the forest, and upon arriving, she used powerful fire magic to turn the spring water into hot water in an instant.

“Now that I’ve soaked in the hot water and feel refreshed, I’ll wash the clothes I was wearing in this spring. Oh, right, I should add the potion that removes stains well...”

Saying this, she threw a mysterious powdered medicine into the spring and began washing her clothes there.
She created a vortex with magic power to swirl and scrub the laundry.
For the finishing touch, she dried them with wind magic and hurriedly finished changing.

After she left, a large number of fish were floating on the surface of the water.

“Well... there’s still plenty of time before the promised hour, so what should I do? Maybe I’ll go home for a bit.”

She took out her magic broom using spatial manipulation and tried to return home with it.
Particles of light gathered and formed the shape of her broom.

When the young witch straddled it, glittering particles of light scattered, and the broom floated softly into the air.

In the direction she was about to fly off to,
a single streak of smoke was rising.
It was smoke like that rising from a chimney.

“A chimney? Cooking with a hearth in this day and age. Even Grandma uses magic to cook.”

The young, beautiful witch voiced her astonishment and flew away at full speed.
While flying through the sky on her broom, the witch thought about her grandmother, the old witch.

“Grandma, what kind of magic are you going to show me? Magic that’s even more amazing than the light calculation magic that I and my peers use?”

The young witch, who had confidence and pride in the latest magic and sorcery they used, sometimes looked down on old magic calculation formulas because of their power.
The incident at the old witch’s hermitage the other day had actually made her feel impatient at seeing her use old-fashioned magic, and she had been thinking of having her grandmother learn light calculation magic as well.
But hearing the words “even more amazing magic” from the mouth of that old witch, her grandmother, her heart was fluttering with as much expectation as it was with doubt.

Her residence was in an area lined with ordinary houses, where there was very little foot traffic even within the town.
The residents of the area were also mostly from the wizard clan who possessed magic power, and using magic in daily life was a matter of course.
There was no one who questioned that.

A neighbor called out to her.

Oh, great and powerful witch. It is an honor to see your beautiful form again today. I will come by later to pick up my usual medicine...

I am sorry. The shop will be closed today. Please come for your medicine tomorrow.

She hurried back to her home and held her hand over the plate hanging on the door.
The words "Closed Today" appeared on it, and the letters shimmered and moved with magical light.

A few hours later.
She was busy reviewing the notices from the Magic Association that had arrived today and technical documents on new magic, leaving no stone unturned in strengthening her own abilities.

Honestly, magical technology advances day by day. If I thought like my grandmother, I would be left behind in the blink of an eye.

She was a witch who was captivated by the magic of the moment and could not tolerate anything old-fashioned.

I suppose it is about time.

While she was absorbed in various magical experiments, the sun had completely set.
She changed into a slightly more elegant outfit for the witch's gathering, formed her favorite broom, straddled it, and flew off toward the "Forest of Oblivion" once again.

Arriving at the old witch's hermitage deep in the forest, she touched the doorbell shaped like a bellflower made of crystal.
A matching bellflower was attached to the other side of the door, announcing the visitor with a gentle ringing sound.

It was a very simple piece of magic equipment.

It is not modern at all.

The young witch muttered.
She was beautiful, but her expression was cold.

Come in!

Her grandmother's loud voice called from inside.
When she opened the door and stepped inside, she found the table covered with food her grandmother had prepared.

Beside it, her grandmother, the old witch, was wearing an apron and setting out plates and knives.

A fire was burning in the fireplace against the back wall of the room, keeping it at a comfortable temperature.
Furthermore, a pot was placed on the bricks, with water simmering, ready for tea at any time.

I am glad you came. Now, sit there.

Guided by the voice of the old witch, her grandmother, she stepped into the room and sat down as she was prompted.

...

The young witch's granddaughter could not find her voice.

An elderly witch.
Even for a long-lived race, her grandmother had reached a very advanced age.
The lifespan of witches is very long.
Compared to humans, they live for a far longer time.

What on earth could her grandmother—an old witch who claimed that ancient magic was more important than anything else—have meant when she said it was more amazing than the new-era magic she herself used?

Though she sat in a chair, the young witch looked around, unable to understand the meaning of what she was seeing.

Delicious-looking dishes were spread across the table, but none of them appeared to have been prepared with magic.

“...Grandma... what is all this?”

She finally opened her mouth, squeezing out the words to ask her grandmother.

“This? Yes, that’s right. These dishes spread out before you now. All of these are my ‘handmade’ creations. This is what I meant by the greatest magic.”

The old witch laughed, looking satisfied and very amused.

“Ho ho ho... what do you think? I can do all this without using any magic. And I guarantee the taste is perfect, too.”

As she said this, the old witch plated a piece of savory roasted chicken and offered it to the young witch. Then, she ladled soup made in an earthenware pot into another bowl and placed it next to the meat plate.

“Come now, eat without hesitation. I’ve also prepared a raspberry tart for dessert. It’s your favorite, isn’t it?”

The young witch’s eyes began to well up, and before long, she burst into loud tears.

“I-I’m sorry, I’m so sorry, Grandma! I might have been wrong. I thought you were just an old-fashioned, outdated witch. I thought there was no value or meaning in anything other than new magic!”

She cried for a while, and finally seemed to calm down. Even so, she continued to apologize to her grandmother while occasionally sobbing.

“No, no. Perhaps I was a bit too stubborn as well. Times change. Humans and witches alike change their forms. If that is the case, it is only natural that their inner selves change too.”

The grandmother stood beside where her granddaughter was sitting and gently embraced her.

“You have been doing well. Your familiar told me so. But you must properly atone for the sins you have committed. You must apologize to the animals that fled. And you must restore the spring you polluted with magic to its original, beautiful state.”

The grandmother conveyed her words and feelings through telepathy, a technique only witches can use.

“I understand, Grandma. I might have been conceited, thinking I could do anything. The polluted spring... it will be difficult without the help of the spirits, but it is my responsibility. I will do it properly! So please watch over me. And... once I’ve done that... you should try learning light magic too!”

She had finally calmed down, but because of the telepathic connection, she still confessed all her thoughts to her grandmother while letting her see her tear-stained face.

"That's true. If it's something even an old person like me can use, it might be worth trying out."

　The old witch smiled gently, then let out a sigh.

"I might be a little tired. I hear the magic potions you make have a good reputation? Shall I try one?"

　Her pale violet eyes held a stronger light than before.

　A witch's lifespan is very long.
Even after living for 100 years, one is still considered a novice.
My grandmother is quite old, but her lifespan is still far from over.

　She thought she had to do her best for her troublesome grandchild.

　After that, time flowed very slowly in the witch's hermitage, and during the long night, the two generations of witches, old and new, released light magic into the night sky, bestowing blessings upon all the creatures living in the forest.

A witch living in the "Forest of Oblivion."

　The old witch who is the messenger of oblivion.

　She had thought that she herself was finally destined to be forgotten.
However, it seems that is still a long way off.

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　(END)
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"Author's Mutterings"Yes, everyone. Did you enjoy this one as well? This original fantasy short story, "The Magic of Kindness," is a work I came up with during a (dialogue) with AI. However, this time, the AI's intervention rate is lower than usual. The moment the idea for the work came to me, I declared, "This time, I won't talk to you, I'll write it myself!" So, no matter how much my hands stopped hitting the keys or how much I struggled with the story development, I decided in my heart not to rely on AI at all (except for looking at images) and wrote this work to completion.There are absolutely no AI elements in the text part.Because I don't like the sentences those guys bring. If I'm going to rewrite them while writing, it's better to write them myself from the beginning. (I learned that well from the previous fairy tale adaptation.) So, how was my 100% original text compared to text involving AI?Please, by all means, let me hear your thoughts! I'm waiting for your comments. Furthermore, likes and follows are also very welcome!

"Please check out these works as well"