From Man to Woman: My Love Story with the Sorceress

What preparations are necessary for an outing or date? Back in the day, Elisha would have gone all out for such events. He’d take a shower, style his hair, and pick his outfit based on the occasion—casual for places like amusement parks, and more polished for dining at sushi or Western restaurants. Choosing the right clothes could boost comfort and leave a good impression, so Elisha sometimes wore perfume that matched his outfit. But today was different. Today marked... the end of everything. Elisha thought as he stared at his computer screen. The screen showed a w******p chat, and the profile picture of the person messaging him was a charming black cat, lounging with its tail playfully curled, giving off a vibe of mystery and elegance. Elisha had saved her contact as "Miss Witch." Of course, witches aren't real, and if they were, they probably disappeared during the medieval witch hunts or got overshadowed by modern technology. The brilliance of technology should have made room for magic—Elisha called her "Miss Witch" because she was as intriguing and graceful as the black cat in her profile picture. She was like those storybook witches with pointy hats, broomsticks, wands casting strange spells, and potions made with bat wings and snake teeth. She was truly one-of-a-kind. Even among Elisha’s many ex-girlfriends, she was a real standout. Elisha couldn’t figure her out. But that no longer mattered. After all, he was meeting tonight to say goodbye to Miss Witch... or maybe to say "never again." Just like before, in a routine he was now used to—Elisha was planning to end things with Miss Witch. ... It was a little past nine in the evening at a bar tucked away on a quiet street near the city center. This was where Elisha had first met Miss Witch, and it was about to witness their breakup. A dramatic start deserved an equally dramatic finish. Elisha greeted the familiar bartender and took a seat in a corner booth—being on time was a mark of a gentleman, and arriving early showed refinement. He ordered a cocktail in the flavor Miss Witch liked, one that had been off the menu due to seasonal mint leaf quality but was finally available again. He ordered one for himself too and waited on the sofa for Miss Witch to arrive. A few minutes later, Miss Witch walked into the bar right on time. As the doorbell chimed softly, Elisha looked up and saw she was wearing the same black dress from the day they first met. The simple, well-tailored dress reminded him of a siren’s flowing hair in the sea—refreshing and elegant. Elisha had always suspected the dress was quite pricey, even though he’d never seen anything like it at luxury brand shows. He could tell from the cut and design that it was high-quality, but he wasn’t sure if it was a new release from a top brand. Maybe some people could have the aura of a top international brand even in a sack, like Miss Witch. With her long, jet-black hair, deep, misty eyes, and pale lips that never wore lipstick, she was tall and slender. Even though her conservative style kept her covered up, Elisha could tell she had a lovely figure. Her expression was calm. After nodding to the bartender, she walked straight to Elisha. “Good evening,” Elisha greeted with a smile. “Good evening,” Miss Witch replied with a gentle nod, then gracefully took a seat across from Elisha. “I got you a drink,” Elisha said softly, “It’s a cocktail you’ve always liked. The mint leaves were off-quality for a while due to the season, but they’re finally available again.” “Hmm.” “With the changing season and weather, you’ve been under the weather. Please stay warm and avoid catching a cold, especially the flu.” “Hmm.” “So, why are you wearing this dress again today? I remember it’s the same one you wore when we first met.” “Hmm…” Miss Witch’s usual rhythm of responses seemed to falter. She suddenly looked up at Elisha, her jet-black eyes showing a hint of confusion. “When we first met, I wore this dress, and now, on the day we part ways, wearing it again… it’s a way of reminiscing about that day, don’t you think?” “…” Elisha’s smile vanished. It was as if a mask had been removed, revealing a cold and calculating figure behind the façade of a tender, affectionate boyfriend. “So you knew I asked you out today for this reason, didn’t you?” Elisha tapped the table with his fingertips. “Well then, let’s get everything out in the open. I won’t pretend anymore.” He looked directly into Miss Witch’s eyes and plainly admitted, “Yes, I’m here to break up with you.” Miss Witch’s expression remained the same, and she didn’t seem surprised at all. She just furrowed her brows in confusion and tilted her head cutely. “But… why?” Elisha shrugged and waved his hand dismissively. “Maybe it’s just because I don’t like you anymore.” He sighed, adjusted his glasses, and explained further, “Relationships are complicated. It’s normal for feelings to fade over time. Plus, our relationship was purely platonic—most of the time, I covered the costs, and we’ve never slept together. You haven’t really lost out, have you?” Miss Witch looked a bit puzzled, as if she was thinking about what he said. Once she confirmed his words, she nodded in agreement. “Exactly,” Elisha smiled. “So I haven’t been after your money or anything else. Our relationship has just cooled off, and it’s no longer worth continuing.” He then remembered something and pointed at himself, saying, “Of course, you might think I’m a scoundrel and feel free to scold me. I know I’m at fault, but… no matter what, I can’t keep being your boyfriend. I’m sorry.” “…” Miss Witch stared at Elisha in silence. She seemed a bit resigned, maybe frustrated to have encountered such an obviously dishonest person. She had laid out the faults and clarified the gains and losses, cleaning up their relationship from beginning to end. Elisha had indeed neither desired her physically nor deceived her financially, so Miss Witch found it hard to label him as a scoundrel. After all, the only thing he had taken from her was her affection, which couldn’t be quantified. So, she could accuse him of being shameless, of breaking her heart, and of being emotionally dishonest, but she couldn’t really confront him. Both of them were reasonable people, and reasonable people don’t do unreasonable things. In this sense, Elisha had seemingly struck at Miss Witch’s weak spot, securing an untouchable position for the evening. Truly… a scoundrel who, through his deep understanding of human nature, became even more detestable. Miss Witch sighed softly. She pulled out her wand. Elisha was stunned. He watched as she produced a branch with fresh green leaves from seemingly nowhere. She then lowered her gaze and asked softly: “Previously… did you say the same things to your other ex-girlfriends, Elisha?” “!” Elisha was taken aback, momentarily speechless. Miss Witch gently waved her wand. A soft, cheerful chant filled the bar, barely audible over the jazz music. “Sleep.” Elisha heard Miss Witch say. As a result, everyone in the bar except for the two of them fell into a deep, dreamless sleep, as if wrapped in eternal slumber. Elisha’s eyes widened in shock, and a nearly impossible suspicion began to form in his mind. He looked up at Miss Witch’s wand in disbelief. Miss Witch anticipated his thoughts and calmly explained: “Six and one-third inches long, made of elderwood. This is my wand.” Her tone was as matter-of-fact as if she were saying… just as a mechanic carries a wrench, a witch should always have her wand ready. But Elisha wasn’t interested in that. He wanted to know why such things as wands actually existed in this world. He slumped on the sofa, staring at the wand, feeling as if his previously unshakable worldview, built over twenty years, had shattered into a heap of debris. His heart trembled, his body shook. “…A witch?” he murmured, “So you are a witch, and this world… really does have witches?” Miss Witch didn’t answer his question. She simply observed Elisha, her expression softening as she looked at him with the wand still in hand. Then, for the first time since they met, she smiled. “Even though you haven’t deceived me financially or otherwise, and although you always covered the costs of our outings, and despite your reasoning being sound—if you no longer have feelings, then I shouldn’t insist…” “But, having had my feelings hurt, I’m still pretty angry.” “You once told me that when someone is angry, they should learn to let it out, or it will be damaging—so, Elisha, are you ready to face the wrath of a powerful sorceress?” Dark, unknown entities began to awaken with her proclamation, slithering and leaving grimy, sticky traces on the floor and table. Tentacles. One by one, tentacles with suction cups and strange eye patterns emerged from behind Miss Witch and from beneath her dress, spreading through the shadows and filling a large part of the bar, making the candlelight flicker. A tentacle reached out with a shimmering vial of multicolored potion, presenting it to Elisha. Miss Witch, seated in the darkness, looked at Elisha with cold eyes and said: “If you enjoy playing with a girl’s emotions, then this potion is the perfect punishment for you.” “Drink this potion, and you will become an apprentice witch.”