The Witch and the Lion

 220110323 Elizabeth 曾郁芊

Swish——

Jane opened the dormitory window. A pure white, adorable pigeon carrying a rolled piece of parchment in its beak landed on the desk.

The girl took the parchment and casually scattered some feed in front of the pigeon. The pigeon occasionally tilted its head to peck at the black eyes fixed on the girl, occasionally letting out soft cooing sounds.

“Bless me, bless me——”

Jane closed her eyes, deeply touched the three times over the Represented Grand Archon, veritable Moon Goddess, murmuring how witches over witches, please grant that I pass my midterms——

Following her respects to every deity she knew. With an excited heart and trembling hands, she untied the string around the parchment. At first, the parchment was white and blank, then seeping golden dust darkened down into it without any wind, revealing her grades and the exam ranking.

Dead last… again——

Jane sighed, rubbing her forehead, and casually set the parchment aside. She didn’t dwell on the disappointing results for herself. She was determined to study hard and do better in her magical arts this year.

No more being at the bottom!

She changed into a brand new witch robe, picked up her newly bought magical broom, and light and agile as a breeze through the half-open window; the pigeon was still pecking earnestly at the feed scattered on the glass.

Jane’s destination was Jinxelka Street, a place known for selling all kinds of magical products. Whenever something new was released, it would trick many students out of their magic crystals.

“These days, even the way we witches waste money isn’t the same as before.” Jane sighed, she didn’t notice witches weren’t you——

So every time she came to this street, Jane became extra careful. She checked every crystal ball in the store, carefully calculating the deduction on her usable shop funds. She finally walked out with a stack of parchment and several bottles of color-changing ink.

The shopkeeper called after her, “Coming again next time——I’ll give you a discount——”

Jane squeezed into the crowd, counted the few magic crystals left in her pocket, watched the remaining witch walking with a stiff step, leaving the busy Jinxelka Street. The nearby alleys were almost empty. The evening glow painted the sky, and she savored the soft spoonful of pudding, a satisfied smile spread across her face.

This hiss——she heard the sound herself. Looking down, she saw a small, adorable lion cub clinging to the side of her boot. It was not the size of her palm, covered in fluffy fur, with tiny claws that was yet to be sharpened. It nuzzled her boot with its nose; its bright eyes filled with undeniable excitement.

“Ah!” She crouched down in delight, picking up the little lion. She rubbed her face against its fluffy body. The cub seemed to shy away for a moment, then enthusiastically placed its paws on her face, adorably brushing against her. In that instant, Jane abandoned all reason——her mind held only one thought.

She finally had a magical beast companion too!

Jane brought the little lion back to her dorm. Fortunately, there weren’t many witches in her year, so each girl only owned a single dormitory. No need to worry about a roommate making a pet.

Humming a cheerful, made-up tune, the girl eagerly wrote several letters and asked the pigeon to deliver them— she wanted to show off her best companion to all her friends! Let them envy her fluffy little lion!

The cub napped peacefully across the desk, curiously exploring the environment, and seemed endlessly tireless. Watching the little lion, Jane grinned widely. She even teased the cub with a gentle gnaw on the cub’s tail to check, she skillfully stroked its fur. The cub still tried to escape, but eventually, the little lion settled down, its eyelids dropping as if it let out a sleepy yawn.

Patiently waiting until the cub was fully asleep, Jane carried it to bed. She arranged an arm cover the cub, treating the cub carefully. She toyed and rested her head near the lion’s, drifting into a contented sleep.

When morning sunlight streamed into the gray room, Jane tried to turn over but felt a light weight on her chest. She opened her eyes in shock. Her tiny, fluffy adorable lion cub had turned into a boy. He had soft, messy hair, and the boy was curled up on her bed, the fluffy ears on top of his head. A strong, thick tail lightly swished.

Wait, they say you shouldn’t touch a tiger’s tail… but what about a lion’s?

Jane sat still, not breathing. Her fingers trembled at the fluffy tip of his tail. She stroked the fur hesitantly, unable to speak, and quickly hid her hands behind her back.

“Uh… magic crystals. The creature, Round and Orange, like a big magic ray.”

Jane made her breakfast from an Orange Bear beverage, pouring it all together. The creature thanked before scurrying away with the surprised seed.

“Leon” the boy was so much more convenient with the magic and magical beasts, she ate the living before digging into her own bread crumbs plate with the dying before the dying into her own bread.

Leon’s eyes sparkled at the sight of the food. Jane scooped a spoonful of the mushroom grain and pumpkin bisque. The student cafeteria’s lamb chops were almost as big as his face— cheap, tasty, and filling. He ate quickly but not messily. When he was full, Jane patted his head affectionately. The cub nodded the door. You don’t have to wash the dishes, Jane. Just leave them by the door. You magical beasts will collect them later. I’ve got class soon— Professor Zelean’s. I really can’t be late.

Jane shrugged. Leon’s eyes followed her movements as she headed to the door. She turned and said, “If anything comes up, wait till I get back, okay? I’m off to class now——”

Leon was about to leave, he suddenly grabbed her wrist. Just as she was about to declare his name. Meeting his clear, earnest eyes gazing at her, he got it, “I’m Leon.” The little lion nuzzling her palm with its fluffy warmth.

“See you later.”

The bell marking the end of class echoed through the teaching building. As soon as the professor left, Joanna from the next seat slid into the chair in front of Jane and tapped her desk. “So you got your final beast companion?”

Jane shook her head repeatedly.

At first, she thought Leon was a normal cat, she couldn’t keep by her side. Who knew he was actually a magical beast person? No wonder she failed all her beast-related courses— she really couldn’t tell ordinary magic animals from beast-people.

“Then,” Joanna said, “Can I meet him later?”

“Sure,” Jane agreed easily, though she had no idea when she’d actually be free.

After returning to the dormitory building, they pushed open the door. Leon rushed to her arms, surprised and delighted by a fluffy hug. The girl and beast played and laughed together, and Jane’s heart is filled with joy at the fluffy little lion.

Since officially living together with Leon, Jane discovered magic and her grades went up. In his lion form, the lion was energetic and cleaning the dorm, organized her scattered potion bottles, and flower vases in the academy, and even regularly replaced her litter box with the academy had a best Regulate reward.

Lately, though, the little lion had been acting a bit strange. Jane turned and met the boy’s earnest stare. She set down her book. “You know. Our academy is huge, and students from other colleges visit often. Don’t worry you’re free to roam around and explore everywhere. But lately, you’ve been hiding in our dorm a lot. I was worried, so I wanted to keep an eye on you!”

“I just wanted to see you. I was worried.”

Under her relentless tactics, Leon finally surrendered, raising the white flag.

“Alright, alright! I agree! You can write it.”

Saying this felt like cutting off a piece of himself.

Goodness— the lion tribe’s dominance in the Sunset Forest was world-renowned. Now their traits would end up in a magical creature research report.

Ugh, those witches would probably just squeal over their fluffy, adorable cub forms and ignore their actual strength!

The usually cheerful boy sighed but quickly tossed the worry aside.

Once Jane had Leon’s permission, she solemnly settled at her desk.

This magical creature research report was tied to her final grade. She had to write it well, do a thorough job, and aim to not be last again!

She laid out her parchment and quill, even performing a luck divination for herself. Delighted with the result, she bowed left and right to various deities before starting to write in earnest.

Jane breezed through the sections on species and gender. But when she reached the first part— observation and recognition— she fell into reminiscing.

Once, the little lion returned to the dorm covered in dirt. She scooped but couldn’t help wiping its tangled fur with a tissue.

“Did you get into a fight? Or were you bullied?”

The cub shook its head, licking its fluffy paw, its innocent baby face utterly sincere. “Fell into a mud puddle.”

Jane’s eye twitched.

Since when were there mud puddles in the witch academy? It must’ve been a pit dug by some student raising a Swamp Beast!

She had nothing against Swamp Beasts— just their hygiene!

So, ignoring the cub’s struggles, she held its furry body with one hand and vigorously scrubbed with a brush in the other.

Seeing resistance was futile, the little lion finally gave up and lay still in her palm, its fluffy tail drooping dejectedly.

Jane swiftly wrote about the cub’s texture, body structure, and size, even flexing her hand to recall the memory.

The second part was about dietary habits.

Jane tapped the desk with her quill’s feather, images flooding her mind.

“Eat some greens,” Jane said, adding the vegetables she didn’t like from her plate into his bowl. “It’s good for you! Makes your fur glossy. You’ll be the handsomest lion in the forest!”

Leon glanced at the vegetables. Just as Jane worried he’d see through her ploy, he picked up a large forkful and stuffed it into his mouth.

His face showed clear reluctance and conflict, but he mumbled, “Mmm… veggies aren’t tasty, but I should eat them….”

He had to maintain his fur for his beast form!

Jane stifled a laugh, her eyes curving as she watched this pure, earnest boy. “Then I’ll get you more next time. Eating them daily will really show results!”

“Okay!”

Jane carefully wrote it down, muttering to herself.

“Lions don’t like vegetables, but their diet can be adjusted… through guidance….”

She racked her brains, expanding a few short lines into several paragraphs. Then she stalled at the final section.

Will the behavioral habits of a magical creature be influenced by environment and individuals?

“Hmm, this one——”

After much thought, Jane felt they hadn’t spent enough time together for a solid conclusion. A report’s ending needed to be well-crafted.

Well, she’d just observe him more, spend more time with him, and think about the conclusion later!

Setting down her quill, Jane moved closer to Leon, watching him stir the potion for her.

They chatted and laughed together. Outside the window, sunlight warmly bathed the figures of the girl and the boy. A pigeon glanced at the intimate pair, then spread its wings and flew off to find its beloved.