The Witch’s Abode and Beastfolk Lore

The sunlight deepened and faded, and the leisurely afternoon of reading slipped away unnoticed.

Iordera returned the book to its shelf, then stood and stretched languidly.

A yawn escaped her lips.

She had gleaned a wealth of knowledge, discovering many things.

For instance, she learned that beastfolk, once intelligent animals, had evolved over long periods into bipedal, humanoid forms.

Though their innate appearance was humanoid, their heads still marked a significant distinction from humans.

Conversely, more advanced sentient races, such as dragons and elves, could assume human guises through magic—a feat beyond the capabilities of the beastfolk.

Thus, one could still encounter stunning dragon maidens and elven beauties… *Ahem*, Iordera certainly wasn’t particularly eager to see them; she was merely curious.

Given their inherent racial disadvantages, the beastfolk had chosen to unite into a formidable alliance to contend with humans and other superior races; the dog-headed folk were but one constituent tribe.

The reason for the higher races’ adoption of humanoid forms stemmed from the war led by Sheila centuries ago, which solidified humanity’s dominant position, thereby establishing the human shape as the continent’s universal standard, much like English in her past life.

Ah, that war led by Sheila…

“What are you pondering?”

“I was just thinking that Sheila achieved quite a lot,” Iordera replied, a spontaneous answer slipping out as she registered the question, “but it all seems to date back centuries. In the last two hundred years, she’s done virtually nothing.”

All her accomplishments, whether wars waged or books penned, including that earlier treatise on authority, belonged to a bygone era, more than two centuries past.

Within the last two centuries, however, she appeared to have remained largely inactive.

The sole event of note, indeed a sensational one, was her personal declaration of Hecate as a witch, followed by her subsequent sealing.

‘Wait, who was it that just asked me?’

Iordera turned to find Hecate’s grinning face, and a shiver ran through her. “W-w-w-when did you arrive?!”

“I’ve been here a while,” Hecate’s voice drifted, light and ethereal, almost like a hummed tune. “Seeing you so engrossed in your reading, I refrained from disturbing you. Your questions are not complicated. Two centuries ago, Sheila embarked on a project, dedicating herself entirely to it, neglecting all else. Unfortunately, she ultimately failed… or so she believed.”

Iordera, her interest piqued, asked, “What kind of project?”

Hecate merely smiled. “If you venture to the Restricted Section, perhaps you will find your answer.”

“…”

‘Right, that was as good as asking nothing at all.’

Hecate settled beside her. “After an entire afternoon of reading, is that truly all you’ve gleaned?”

Iordera pondered for a moment before responding, “Also, the beastfolk. It’s a pity they possess human-like bodies yet retain animal heads.”

“A pity, you say?”

For the first time, Hecate seemed to miss her meaning entirely.

“Exactly,” Iordera affirmed, gesturing with her small hands around her head. “If most of them transformed into human form, retaining just a few distinct features—like only their beast ears and tails—wouldn’t that be splendid?”

Hecate raised an eyebrow. “Like the decorative embellishments found in pleasure houses?”

“…” Iordera was momentarily speechless.

‘So, this kind of… entertainment already exists in this other world, then.’

This time, Hecate clearly understood Iordera’s expression and offered a mocking smile. “Of course it does. Never underestimate the desires of the nobility.”

“Alright then,” Iordera conceded with a shrug. “But why haven’t the beastfolk simply evolved into that precise form? There’s quite a difference.”

Hecate let out a soft chuckle. “How could evolution be so precise? Their current state is already quite remarkable, having remedied many of their original shortcomings.”

Iordera nodded, recalling a passage she had just read in one of Sheila’s works, which stated that before the beastfolk evolved towards humanoid forms, their lifespans were incredibly short, comparable to their ancestral animals.

Cats and dogs, for instance, typically lived only ten or so years, twenty at most.

However, after evolving into beastfolk, they could easily live for many decades. Consequently, Sheila lavishly praised this transformation in her book, hailing it as a magnificent achievement, claiming that through evolution, they had entirely overcome their race’s inherent flaws.

“In truth, I once authored a book that offered a small rebuttal to Sheila’s perspective,” Hecate revealed. “Alas, my works have all been removed from circulation, so you won’t be able to read it.”

Iordera tilted her head. “What did you refute?”

“She asserted that the beastfolk had entirely resolved their racial shortcomings, particularly concerning lifespan,” Hecate explained softly. “That is incorrect, for a significant portion of the beastfolk population—no less than five percent—still suffers from shortened lives.”

Iordera nodded. “You are right.”

‘Though I was a humanities student in my previous life, I still possessed basic biological knowledge; the shortened lifespans among some beastfolk were undoubtedly due to what we call recessive genes.’

“Thank you, my dear,” Hecate said, a slight curve gracing her lips, appearing quite pleased.

Iordera considered this, then added, “Yet, they also possess abilities far surpassing humans, such as direct communication with animals. That truly is a remarkable skill.”

“Communication with animals, you say? It’s merely adequate,” Hecate remarked, blinking slowly. “It’s nothing to write home about.”

“Huh, don’t you think that’s incredibly impressive?”

Iordera gestured with both hands. “Communicating with animals must be so convenient, and one could uncover many things that humans find… inconvenient to know.”

“My dear, you are mistaken, or perhaps overlooking certain details. While it’s true they converse with animals, you shouldn’t imagine animals think like you… I mean, like adults.”

Hecate smiled. “I once attempted to communicate with small animals using mental magic, but what I received were responses utterly devoid of logic, meaningless, and even incomprehensible. Animals simply cannot grasp what is unfolding before them, and even if they could, their mode of understanding differs entirely from that of humans.”

“I see…”

‘So it’s like being given the chance to converse with a newborn, but neither of you can truly understand what the other is saying.’

“Therefore, they can only exchange simple concepts, which is better than nothing at all.”

‘Well, in that case, it truly is rather ordinary, just as Hecate suggested. Nothing special.’

“Oh, by the way, my dear,” Hecate suddenly recalled, “did you undertake the task at the night market? How did it fare?”

Iordera’s face instantly fell. “I’m afraid I cannot disclose the details.”

With such a visible mask of suffering, Hecate could hardly fail to understand.

“Very well, then, I shall not trouble you further,” the witch said, rising gracefully and smoothing her skirt before ascending the stairs. “I reside just above here, so if any questions arise, feel free to seek me out at any time.”

“Understood, understood,” Iordera mumbled, dismissing her casually.

‘Yet, she had no intention of actually going upstairs. The witch’s temperament was notoriously fickle; despite her current gentleness, who knew what she might do next, perhaps even grabbing Iordera by the throat.’

‘If I were to enter the Witch’s Abode and couldn’t escape, or only managed to leave after shedding blood, to whom could I possibly appeal?’

Returning home, she slept, only to arrive at school late the following afternoon.

However, the moment Iordera stepped into the library, she noticed her colleagues whispering amongst themselves, the entire space adorned with festive decorations, as if celebrating the New Year.

“What has happened?”

“The Governor of the East District is arriving today,” Mrs. Su explained to her. “He is here to tour the academy and the library, so we’re just tidying up a bit.”