She’s Still Alive

After a night of swift travel, the yellow minivan finally reached its destination just before dawn.

The Nanjin Development Zone was encircled by mountains, its only signs of human habitation a small village nestled at the foot of one peak and a bustling market town.

Most residents were elders, either content with their mountain life or simply unable to depart.

The younger generation, having left with their parents for schooling, typically returned only for year-end visits.

As the minivan descended the winding mountain road, Chen Zeyu gradually stirred from her slumber.

She rubbed her drowsy eyes, then shifted her backside, sore from the night’s bumpy journey.

The driver, a middle-aged man, noticed his young passenger awaken in the rearview mirror.

“Little girl, you’re awake! Are you heading back to see your grandparents? We’ll be there soon!”

“Yes, thank you, Uncle Driver. We’re going to see Grandma,” Chen Zeyu replied, shaking off her sleepiness.

She smoothed her white, knee-length dress, which had become rather wrinkled from sleeping and needed to be straightened.

“Is that your sister next to you? Your hair colors are so striking, are they natural?”

The driver had been curious all along; Chen Zeyu and Evetti’s brilliant silver hair was truly eye-catching.

“Yes… it’s natural,” Chen Zeyu mumbled, her gaze instinctively drifting to Evetti, who was still deeply asleep.

“Natural, you say? My goodness! Is your mother or father a foreigner? You both look just like little celebrities!”

The driver teased, needing to converse to ward off the fatigue of driving all night.

“Well… that’s a secret,” Chen Zeyu answered vaguely, then proceeded to tie her hair into a ponytail.

“Hahaha, a secret, eh? You kids nowadays have such interesting ways of speaking.”

Their casual chat continued until they arrived at the market town.

“Alright, time to get off. Wake yourselves up, both of you, and go visit your grandparents with bright spirits.”

“I’ll be right here waiting for your return.”

The driver gave a few parting instructions before stepping out of the driver’s seat, leaving the door ajar, unconcerned about anyone getting in.

The market town in Nanjin Development Zone was quite desolate, with rows of identical roller doors serving more as decoration.

No one bothered to open their shops before noon unless construction workers were starting their day.

“Evetti, wake up. We’re here.”

Chen Zeyu gently nudged Evetti, who had been resting her head on Chen Zeyu’s shoulder, a small, glistening droplet of drool clinging loosely to the corner of her mouth.

“Mmm… slurp.”

Evetti instinctively swallowed her drool, then squinted her eyes open.

Noticing she was leaning on Chen Zeyu’s shoulder, she showed no surprise.

“Is Lammiell still in charge? You seem even less reliable than I am,” Chen Zeyu grumbled, feeling that Evetti was being somewhat lax.

“Lammiell-senpai is fine for now. I’m certain she only slept last night,” Evetti said, yawning and patting her mouth.

“How do you know that?”

“Because the witches’ statuses can be seen at the company.”

“If Lammiell-senpai were truly in trouble, the magic flame born from her power would extinguish in the company’s system.”

“At that point, most witches would be dispatched to find her, not continue with project maintenance.”

“Why didn’t you say so sooner?” Chen Zeyu raised an eyebrow.

“I only just figured it out myself. Tei Lai-senpai didn’t mention it either, but after analyzing the situation, it made sense.”

“If a life-threatening incident had occurred, who would be in the mood for project work? Mmmph~”

Evetti stretched languidly, then rose from her seat.

“So, do you have any leads on where to search? Since there’s no rush,” Chen Zeyu said, standing up as well.

“Yes, and I’ll teach you something. Do you know about magic perception?”

Evetti flicked her head to the left, and her messy silver hair instantly swept to one side.

“Of course not. Teach me how to use it.”

Chen Zeyu unconsciously put her hands on her hips.

“First, close your eyes. I’ll guide you with magic.”

Evetti gathered her hair into a single ponytail, then walked behind Chen Zeyu and placed her hands on Chen Zeyu’s shoulders.

“Alright, what then?”

“Just feel it carefully. Don’t speak.”

Evetti’s voice softened to a whisper, and Chen Zeyu calmed herself, feeling as if only their breathing could be heard within the minivan.

‘Hmm, I don’t feel anything,’ Chen Zeyu thought.

Aside from the utter darkness before her eyes, there was nothing.

“Look to your right,” Evetti suddenly instructed.

‘Right?’

Chen Zeyu turned her head.

Her completely dark vision was suddenly dotted with tiny green particles, like fireflies, scattered along the village path.

“Good. Open your eyes,” Evetti commanded again.

“Huh? They’re still there!”

Chen Zeyu exclaimed, realizing that even with her eyes open, the scattered particles pointed directly to the path.

“A witch’s magic perception is innate. This method is very quick for finding people. Let’s go.”

Evetti removed her hands from Chen Zeyu’s shoulders, and the particles vanished from Chen Zeyu’s sight.

“I can’t see them if you don’t touch me.”

“Magic perception is something you have to grasp yourself. It’s like an instinct; you’ll understand it sooner or later.”

“I can see them just fine, so follow me.”

“Alright.”

Evetti, now acting as their guide, stepped out of the car, leaving Chen Zeyu to follow behind her, gazing at the familiar sights of her hometown that somehow felt unfamiliar now.

The old gravel path had been replaced with a concrete road, and the paddy fields connecting the village to the market town had become a forest.

Fruit trees had been planted diligently.

The distant village, once dim and muddy, now appeared somewhat bright, perhaps due to the construction of new houses and fresh coats of paint.

“It’s changed so much…” Chen Zeyu couldn’t help but sigh.

“How long has it been since you last came home?” Evetti asked, glancing back.

“Almost half a year. That was right after the Lunar New Year.”

“The Lunar New Year, a time for reunion. Those days are indeed fleeting.”

“It’s alright. Once I save enough money, I’ll definitely bring Grandma out of the mountains. Then things won’t be so difficult for her,” Chen Zeyu declared with conviction.

“Heh, well, let’s go see her first, then. It’s on the way for now.”

“Let’s find Lammiell first, though. Her life is important. I hope there’s nothing terrible there.”

Chen Zeyu looked at the trees in the mountain range, where clouds momentarily obscured the sun.

The ghostly green lights shimmered, hinting at something that might threaten the witches.

The distance between the market town and the village was short.

Evetti, guided by her magic perception, approached the village, noting that the scattered magic particles grew denser.

The traces left by the magic seemed quite fresh.

As Evetti walked, analyzing the situation, Chen Zeyu suddenly stopped, pulling on her arm.

“Evetti, wait.”

“What is it?”

“I think I see… Grandma.”

“Where?”

“That table.”

Chen Zeyu pointed towards an uphill path.

By the roadside, a new house with an open courtyard revealed four elderly people seated at a small table.

One of them, dressed in dark tones with a striking splash of red plum embroidery, was her grandmother.

Grandma’s hair was white but neatly tied, and her face, surprisingly, had few wrinkles.

In her left hand, she held a deck of cards, while her right fanned herself.

She muttered to herself, seemingly assessing the value of her hand.

“Your grandma looks so young, and she’s sitting right where…”

“Where what?”

“…where Lammiell-senpai’s residual magic particles are densest,” Evetti stated, seeing it all clearly.