Miss Witch Doesn’t Want to Become a Songstress

Upon entering Hestia’s home, Fernandi glanced around, taking in his surroundings. Even without close inspection, the modest economic state of the household was apparent.

In the entryway, there sat a four-jet motorcycle. Its sturdy, wide tires and jet thrusters allowed it to hover and fly, making it a beloved choice for many due to its compact size and agility. However, the dust and worn-out shell of the motorcycle suggested it was older than Hestia herself.

“That belonged to my dad,” Hestia explained, noticing Fernandi’s gaze lingering on the vehicle. She paused, thinking he might be an enthusiast.

“He used to ride it to work, but it broke down a long time ago, so now it just sits there.”

“The ‘Crossbow-Y2,’” Fernandi remarked, recognizing the vintage model.

“It’s old but a classic.”

Nostalgia washed over him, reminding him of his own youth. While he no longer kept up with newer models, this one was unmistakable.

After exchanging a few words, they entered the house. Hestia removed her small leather shoes, slipping into airy slippers. Her white socks softly padded against the floor as she crossed the hall to fetch a pair of oversized guest slippers from a cabinet. She handed them to Fernandi before he sat down.

Hestia busied herself preparing tea, then seated herself on a bamboo sofa across from Fernandi. The warm yellow light of the chandelier cast a cozy glow over the room, softening its otherwise bare and modest appearance. Although clean overall, the corners bore a faint layer of dust—evidence of her busy academic life. Household robots were far too expensive, and since she rarely had visitors, she saved her energy and time for other priorities.

But today was an exception.

Fernandi, familiar with the realities of life, wasn’t surprised by the state of her home. Despite working at the prestigious Edess Academy, his own youth had been fraught with hardship. He understood that for ordinary people, maintaining a spotless house was often a luxury.

After taking a sip of tea, Fernandi looked at the gray-haired girl seated opposite him and began to speak.

“Apologies for the delay in reaching out, Hestia. There were unforeseen circumstances,” he began.

“If I had contacted you earlier, perhaps you wouldn’t have felt so conflicted about your decision.”

He paused briefly before continuing.

“Choosing a school is one of life’s significant decisions. I’d like to explain the advantages of Edess Academy so you can make an informed choice.”

“Thank you for understanding,” Hestia replied, curious to know what conditions Edess Academy would offer and whether it genuinely valued her. After all, they hardly knew each other, and her potential had only been partially revealed.

In the Federation, nearly everyone pursued the Sequence transcendent path. However, about 60% of people remained at Sequence 2, 37% advanced to Sequence 3, and only 3% reached Sequence 4. Among those at Sequence 4, only 1 in 50 managed to ascend to Sequence 5, with even fewer progressing further.

Some individuals were born with unique talents that set them apart. These talents allowed them to excel in specific fields, achieving results with significantly less effort compared to others.

For example, those with freezing abilities could freeze ice at 1.5 times the volume of those without talents in the same sequence. At Superior Talent grades, this multiplier increased to 2-3 times, Rare Talent to 3-5 times, and Perfect Talent to 6-10 times. Legendary Talents, however, defied common logic and were exceptionally rare.

Talents of Rare and Perfect grades significantly eased the path to advancement, especially when paired with compatible transcendent pathways. For instance, someone with Perfect Talent in freezing could ascend to Primordial Sequence 5 Frostwalker, with much less effort than those without such talents.

For a city like Arpeggio, with a population of one million, annual graduates numbered approximately 12,000. Among them, only 7-8 might reach Sequence 5 in their lifetime, and perhaps one Sequence 6 transcendent would emerge every decade.

If Edess Academy recruited Hestia, it would be equivalent to cherry-picking the city’s most promising talent in a decade.

Despite her exceptional abilities, Hestia remained unaware of their true rarity, possibly because of her sister’s remarkable achievements. Hestia had subconsciously normalized her gifts, believing she had a long way to go to catch up with her sister, Themisia, whose talents were extraordinary by any standard.

Fernandi speculated about the terms offered to Hestia by Swallow Garden Academy and prepared to raise his offer by two tiers to break through her hesitation.

“If you join Edess Academy, not only will we waive your tuition fees, but we’ll also provide a monthly stipend of 100,000 Federal Credits,” Fernandi declared confidently.

At this number, Hestia was stunned. Even working at Crystal Dreams, one of the most luxurious venues in Arpeggio, she couldn’t dream of earning 100,000 a month. Her most frugal monthly expenses barely reached 900 credits, meaning this stipend could sustain her for nearly a decade.

In truth, Edess’s standard stipend for exceptional talents rarely exceeded 30,000 credits. Fernandi had secured special approval from Director Hayden, who personally funded the additional amount.

Additionally, the academy had prepared housing for Hestia in Southern 1st District. While such a significant offer aimed to alleviate her financial burdens, Hestia seemed hesitant to leave her current home.

“Moving out…?” she murmured, conflicted. While her current residence was shabby and poorly located, it held sentimental value.

“I’d rather stay here for now. If it’s necessary, perhaps I can consider it later,” she replied softly.

“Though your offer is tempting, I’ve already completed the second round of interviews at Swallow Garden Academy. It feels inappropriate to turn them down without a proper explanation,” Hestia added. The kind words and parting gift from the Swallow Garden staff lingered in her mind, making her reluctant to act rashly.

Fernandi fell silent. Hestia’s refusal wasn’t due to the terms but rather her moral compass, which prevented her from breaking commitments lightly.

He admired her resolve, recognizing it as a form of strength—a quiet confidence in her own path, unshaken by external temptations.

“If that’s the case, I can help mediate with Swallow Garden Academy,” he offered. “The schools under the Verdant Veil are well-connected, and I know several faculty members at Swallow Garden.”

Hestia nodded in agreement, unable to find a reason to decline further.

“Then I’ll take my leave for today,” Fernandi said, rising.

“We’ll contact you again after coordinating with Swallow Garden Academy. If you have any questions or face difficulties in the meantime, feel free to reach out. At Edess, we have the resources to solve nearly any problem.”

“Thank you for your kindness,” Hestia replied, standing to see him off.

After Fernandi left, Hestia returned to her room, retrieving a memory card buried in an old box. It contained photos and videos of her sister Themisia during her school days.

“Southern 1st District,” she whispered, a name that brought back fond memories.

The Winter Festival of that year flashed in her mind—Themisia, radiant and unstoppable, a shooting star on stage and in the arena. Even years later, Themisia remained Hestia’s idol.

But Hestia knew her own path was different. She didn’t yearn for such brilliance. Life had many facets: making friends, caring for animals, napping peacefully, reading by the window, or penning thoughts in a diary. These were the moments she cherished most.

Not all strength lay in power. Sometimes, preserving tranquility demanded even greater resolve.

This was her path.