[Episode 2] Welcome Home to the House of Lights. -One Day, a Witch Picked Up a Girl-

A Place to Belong

"--Why is this house called the 'House of Lights'?"

The gentleman smiled at the young witch's question.

"Actually, that was a name meant for a different house."

The gentleman narrowed his eyes, looking nostalgic.

"Someone dear to me once said it. They wanted to prepare warm meals in a warm room and welcome their family home to a house with the lights on. They said they wanted to make it a place to belong until their child eventually grew up and left the nest."
"Huh, is that so?"

The witch didn't ask any more. She knew what had happened to that 'someone dear.'

She took a bite of bread. Since coming to this house, she had been eating warm meals. The gentleman couldn't cook, so the witch had prepared almost all of them. When he ate the food, he would smile. Even though he should have had a refined palate, he always seemed happy with the witch's cooking.
When the witch went out, the gentleman would wait for her return. When he went out, the witch would wait for him without turning off the lights.

They both knew it was just playing at being a family. But it had become a place where they both belonged.

"...It's a good name. I like it."

At the witch's words, the gentleman smiled happily.

"I think so too."

He said that, then stopped what he was doing.

"I want this house to be a place where people like us can belong."

The witch couldn't understand. Why help strangers? Humans couldn't be trusted. They turn on you in an instant. They kill the innocent.
But she nodded. Because she herself had been helped by him, a human.

"...That's right. Because this house is the 'House of Lights'."

The gentleman narrowed his eyes and nodded.

Even after he passed away, the witch continued to think about his words.

"Can you understand my words?"

The young girl nodded. Her short, dark-colored hair swayed slightly. She opened her mouth to reply.

"..."

No voice came out, and her face stiffened. Her expression seemed to show not only confusion at being unable to speak, but also hesitation about trying to make a sound.

"There's no need to force yourself to speak."

At the witch's words, the girl flinched, her shoulders trembling, and she closed her mouth with a look as if she were about to cry.

"...If you want to talk, you can talk. If you don't want to talk, you don't have to. You can do as you like."

At those words, the girl looked up as if she had been told something unexpected. However, the witch did not notice and crossed her arms, lost in thought. I don't know why this child cannot speak. But just because she cannot speak doesn't mean it's inconvenient. As long as she can do chores, that's fine.

The witch took something out from the shelf.

"Use this from today on."

What she held out was a slate. It was something used by young children when they learn to write. The witch took a slate pencil and wrote characters on the slate.

"You can write characters like this. Can you write your own name?"

To the witch's question, the girl shook her head.

"How about letters?"

To her shaking her head again, the witch said without seeming to care.

"Then, learn them. I will teach you."

Ordinary people do not learn to read or write. The only ones who study letters are nobles, clergy, the landlord class, or merchants. The witch snorted at the girl who looked at her with curiosity.

"I was taught them a long time ago, too. I'm better at studying than the people around here."

The witch rubbed her chin with her finger and glanced at the girl.

"Even so, it's inconvenient not being able to call you by a name."

The witch stared intently at the girl.

"...Alice."

The girl blinked. The witch said it once more.

"Alice. From today on, that is your name."

Perhaps ruminating on it in her mind, the girl placed a hand on her chest and looked down.

"If you don't like it, you'd better tell me your name quickly."

The witch wrote beautiful characters on a stone tablet.

"This is your name. Can you write it?"

Alice stared at the witch's writing, then wrote her own name next to it. Although the lines were shaky, it was written correctly.

"Huh. Not bad at all."

The witch continued to write characters one after another. Alice watched them and wrote them down in the same way. Alice seemed to have a good memory, as she learned the characters in one go.

"You're quite smart, aren't you?"

At the witch's words, Alice blinked, then broke into a happy smile.

The witch had only thought of her as a child with a slightly good memory. However, Alice's good memory was not limited to just characters.

A week after she started teaching Alice housework, the witch looked at the food on the table and let out a cry of surprise.

"...You've already learned it?"

There sat the dish she had only taught her how to make once on the first day.

Alice looked at the witch, then brewed tea and placed it in front of her. She pulled out a chair for the witch to sit, so the witch sat down. Alice sat opposite her as well.
She began to eat. It wasn't burnt, and the seasoning was exactly as she had been taught.

"You made this all by yourself, didn't you?"

Alice nodded at the witch's question. The witch looked at her and her expression softened.

"Alice."

Alice looked up and stared back at the witch.

"...You did a good job."

At those words, Alice raised the corners of her mouth and narrowed her eyes. She continued her meal, looking pleased.

The witch let out a sigh as she watched Alice.

She learned things too quickly. Once taught, she could do almost anything. She would watch the witch's hands carefully as she taught her chores and imitate them. She would learn just by doing that. For tasks that required skill, the witch made her do them repeatedly, but even then, she became able to do them many times faster than an ordinary child.
If one were to say she wasn't like an ordinary child, that would be true. But that was just the kind of child Alice was.

"Well, I suppose there are children like this, too."

The witch thought this and continued her meal.

Once Alice learned how to write, she tried to converse with the witch.

"Hello."

Conversations with her began with this word. Seeing this, the witch wrote on her slate as well.

"Hello."

When she replied like that, Alice diligently strung the letters together. It seemed she still found it difficult to write long sentences, so her replies came in short phrases.

"Please tell me your name."
"............"

The witch thought for a moment before replying to the question.

"When you can write your own name."

Alice's face lit up, and she wrote the letters as if she were full of confidence.

"Alice."

The witch smiles faintly at the name written in clumsy letters.

"That is your real name. You'll be able to write it soon enough."

At those words, Alice knits her brows and pouts. Seeing her dissatisfied expression, the witch reflects that she might have been a little too mean. She pats Alice on the head and opens her mouth.

"You just need to learn various names little by little. You might find yourself among them, too."

When she says this, Alice softens her cheeks and nods twice. She is a quick learner. Surely, she will be able to write her real name soon. Besides, children grow up fast. Surely, she will soon no longer need the witch's help.

"...I hope you can learn it soon."

Thinking about how long this child would be here, the witch lowers her gaze slightly.

A few weeks have passed since Alice arrived.

She has started to be able to handle chores little by little. Leaving the chores to her, the witch stands up, thinking of doing her own work.

Suddenly, the witch's ears twitch. She hears the sounds of the forest. Realizing that someone who is not a villager is talking in the forest, the witch calls out to Alice.

"Alice."

She doesn't take her eyes off the dishes. She must not have heard.

Alice seems to have a methodical personality; she decides on the order in which to do chores and always carries them out in that order. After she finishes cleaning, things are always placed in specific spots. And because she focuses when she starts chores, she doesn't look this way even when called.

"Good grief... it can't be helped."

Alice's attention is on her chores. It should be fine to leave the house for a bit. The witch glances at Alice and then leaves the house.

The winter forest is quiet. Living things are asleep, and plants show no changes. Since there is no fruit on the trees, few things approach from other places. In such a situation, those who come to this forest are nothing but trouble.

The witch flies around the forest on her broom as if taking a walk. The witch hates trouble. Therefore, she wanted to find and deal with it before it became trouble.

"--Hey, was it over there?"
"It's not there. Isn't it already dead?"

Two men appeared to be looking for something.
Come to think of it, I remember hearing the sound of a carriage and men's voices on the day I picked up Alice, too.

"Damn it, where did that little girl go?"
"And we went to all the trouble of buying her, too..."

Hearing those words, the witch narrowed her eyes. She slowly lowered her broom. They did not notice the witch's presence. As she came up behind them, the witch looked down at them.

"--You lot, what are you looking for?"

When she called out from the sky, the men looked up. Seeing the witch, their eyes widened in shock. One of the men stiffened his expression and squeezed out a trembling voice.

"W-w-witch...?"
"Ah, that's right. I am a witch. Do you have some business in this forest?"

The witch narrowed her eyes and looked around the men. The horse-drawn carriage parked near them was large. It looked like it could carry several children. It had a roof and walls, so she couldn't see inside. There was no sound coming from within, so it was likely empty for now.

"No, well..."

To the man who was turning pale and trying to make excuses, the other man asked the witch a question with a calm demeanor.

"We're looking for a girl. Haven't you seen her?"
"I haven't. Is she your daughter?"
"No... she's a child we were entrusted with. If you don't know, then fine. We're leaving now."

Saying that, the man tried to climb into the carriage.

"Hey, are you serious, wait!"

The man who was about to be left behind looked between the witch and the carriage, then ran toward the carriage.
The carriage drove off as if fleeing from the witch. After watching them go, the witch slowly descended to the ground.

"...I wonder if that child really was kidnapped."

The witch frowned as she stared in the direction the carriage had gone.

"Meow."

A black cat rubbed against the witch's feet.

"Oh, did you follow me?"

The black cat dug its claws into the witch's robe, as if to say, "Pick me up."

Hey, you're going to tear it.

The witch picked up the black cat. The black cat narrowed its eyes sleepily in the witch's arms.

If you can't walk on your own, you shouldn't come out.

Even though she said that, the witch started walking while still holding the black cat.

Ordinary people don't come near this forest. Instead, those who do are beasts, people carrying things they don't want others to see, and those who have lost their way.

It was in this forest that she picked up Alice. It was also in this forest that she picked up a daughter over a decade ago.

Perhaps the 'House of Lights' is looking for people.

After the gentleman who picked her up passed away, the witch had thought about living alone. However, contrary to the witch's intentions, that house welcomes new residents.

It would be a simple matter if I just didn't pick them up, though.

The black cat meowed from her arms.

That's right. You're one of them, too. It's a real problem.

The witch returned to the house after patrolling the forest.

When she entered the house, she saw that it was a mess. She caught sight of Alice huddled up in a small ball.

What is the meaning of this?

Alice looked up and saw the witch. Large tears welled up in her eyes. Her face crumpled, and she ran toward the witch. She clung to the witch's clothes, tears streaming down her face. She didn't appear to be injured. It didn't seem like anyone had directly harmed her.

What happened?

Looking around the room, all the shelves were open, and their contents were scattered on the floor. All the doors were open as well, showing signs that someone had been searching for something. The witch looked around cautiously.

Did someone come here?

Alice shook her head. The witch widened her eyes and looked at the girl.

"……So, were you the one who took the contents out of the shelf?"

When asked that, she nodded.

"Why?"

Alice looked up, went to where the slate was placed, and wrote.

"I didn't know where you had gone."

It seemed she had felt anxious because the witch had suddenly disappeared.

The witch couldn't really understand it. She thought it wouldn't matter if she was away for a little while. She couldn't understand it, but she knew it was very important to the girl.

"……I suppose it can't be helped."

The witch stroked the head of Alice, who was sniffling and crying.

"I thought you wouldn't hear me no matter what I said because I was focused on my chores. I'll make sure to call out to you next time. ……I'm sorry."

She crouched down to meet Alice's eye level. While gently patting her back, the witch spoke as if to reassure her.

"I won't force you right now. But you'll get used to it little by little. Because someday, you will have to leave this house too."

Alice tilted her head.

"The 'House of Lights' becomes a place for someone to belong. But once you find a new place to belong, you leave. That's how daughters are, and that's what a 'home' is."

Hearing those words, Alice wrote on the slate.

"You will be here forever, won't you?"

The witch gave a small smile at the letters, which were shakier than usual.

"I have nowhere else to belong but here. I can't leave."

Alice stared intently at the witch. Then she wrote.

"Then, I will be here too."
"……I hope so."

I tidy up while glancing at Alice, who is sobbing. I probably won't be able to do any more brewing today.

"Shall we have some tea and take it easy today? Could you prepare the tea?"

Alice wipes her tears, nods, and goes to boil the water.

That day, Alice didn't leave the witch's side. When the witch stood up, Alice stood up too. When she walked, she followed right behind her.

"Good grief... I feel like I've adopted a dog."

The witch started calling out to Alice whenever she went somewhere. Even when she was focused on chores, she would call out to her before heading to the brewing room. She had thought Alice might not hear her while she was focused, but it seemed she could. When she called out before leaving the room, Alice didn't show any signs of panic.

Even while doing chores, Alice would come to check on the witch at regular intervals. At first, thinking she might not understand something, the witch would ask, "Is something wrong?" every time she showed her face.
However, since there was often no particular business, the witch eventually just started looking up and making eye contact.

One day, Alice came to the brewing room with a slate, which was unusual.

"What is it?"

She shows the characters written on the slate. The witch looks at the characters and the corners of her mouth lift.

"Yes, yes. I understand. Go back to your chores."

At the witch's words, Alice stares at the slate in her hand. She runs over to the witch and presses the slate against her.

"............"

When the witch takes it, caught by her serious expression, Alice smiles with satisfaction and returns to the living room.

"......Good grief, there's no helping you."

The witch laughs as she traces the characters Alice wrote with her finger.

"The place where you are is where I belong."

At those words, the witch lowers her brows and smiles.

You can read all the episodes from the first one below!

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