The Indomitable Human Spirit

"Alright, now for the fun part — let's talk about magic," Tomoe winked at me playfully, her eyes gleaming with excitement. "Magic is the key to survival and power in a world full of supernatural beings. Although humans face many challenges mastering it, magic is what keeps us afloat. But it wasn't always this way…"

Fifteen hundred years ago, during the time of King Arthur and the height of Britain, there lived a man named Merlin. He was no ordinary man, and his title as the court magician to the legendary King Arthur Pendragon was enough to command respect. However, what was truly remarkable about him was his destiny as a magician, not just as the king's advisor.

Back in those distant times, when Merlin lived, humans were familiar with magic, but its power and efficiency were nowhere near what they are today. Human magic back then mostly revolved around communicating and "trading" with spirits, gods, and Devils. Shamans would commune with spirits for revelations and protection. Priests would pray to gods for divine blessings. Sorcerers would strike deals with Devils to gain supernatural powers. But this system was primitive, inefficient, and weak. More often than not, the benefits humans gained were far less than what they had to offer in return. The only exceptions were a few spirits and gods who were more generous, merciful, or interested in collaborating with humans.

As a proud representative of humanity, Merlin couldn't stand this imbalance. While some stories depict him as not entirely righteous, even selfish, seeking greatness while also wanting to spite the Devils of the time, what truly matters now is not his motives but what he accomplished. The legendary magician spent decades studying Demonic magic until he finally made a breakthrough. This gave birth to what became known as Magic — human magic.

Merlin developed an entirely new, revolutionary system for creating magic, based on the internal strength, intellect, and energy of a person. He crafted a method where magic could be used without the need to summon spirits or negotiate with gods or Devils. This system was built on the principles of mental focus, understanding the nature of things, and the ability to direct one's will and energy.

Merlin's human magic was a revolution in the magical world. It gave humans the ability to perform miracles on their own, without relying on the whims of supernatural beings. It was magic based on knowledge and understanding, much like the science that had been born in ancient Greece. Thanks to Merlin, magic became an art accessible to anyone willing to learn and grow.

Since then, magic has evolved, adapting to the changes in time and culture, but the foundations laid by Merlin remain unchanged to this day. In the official texts used by magicians worldwide, it's written: "Merlin interpreted the system of Demonic Power in his own way and transformed it into sorcery and magic. Magic itself is something that represents the miracles created by 'God' and the Demonic Power of 'Devils.' In other words, the supernatural phenomena that the legendary magician of antiquity approximated through his theory — equations. Every phenomenon corresponds to a specific law; their measurement, calculation, and manifestation are what we call 'magic.' Magic circles, in turn, are akin to the answers to these calculations for releasing supernatural phenomena. Together, these two components transform paranormal phenomena into their own formulas and then recreate them".

Thus, "human" magic was born — Demonic Power was systematized into magic, and magic itself became a skill of calculation, a science. Merlin, drawing on his extensive theoretical knowledge and practical research, created the most accessible, stable, and advanced magical system, allowing humans to wield supernatural powers without relying on Devils or gods.

The significance of "Merlin's Magic" was so immense that it laid the foundation for the power of medieval empires and kingdoms across the European continent. After the fall of Britain, which sent shockwaves through Europe, new powers began to rise from the remnants of the once-great kingdom. Vikings, Franks, Visigoths who established a kingdom in Spain, Byzantines, and Lombards — all these peoples, who grew in strength from Britain's ruins, became the pillars of European civilization. Many of them adopted Merlin's magical system and used it to consolidate their power and expand their territories.

Of course, each culture integrated Merlin's magic to varying degrees. For instance, the Vikings still heavily relied on Norse runes, while the Byzantines leaned on divine teachings. Even so, the Franks incorporated magic into their military strategies, enhancing their warriors and crafting protective spells. The Visigoths used magic to fortify their cities and defend against enemies, particularly in the kingdom they established in Spain. The Byzantines, as heirs of the Roman Empire, combined magic with Christian teachings, creating a unique system of divine magic that protected their empire from external threats. The Lombards, who seized significant territories in Italy, used magic to govern their lands and defend against rivals.

These new magical systems, based on the principles laid down by Merlin, became the foundation for the development of magic in the centuries that followed. They enabled European peoples not only to defend their territories but also to conduct successful conquests, expanding their influence and building powerful states. "Merlin's Magic" thus became the cornerstone upon which European civilization was built, blending science, art, and mysticism.

Unfortunately, at some point in history, mages went underground, and the existence of magic was erased from human history. According to Tomoe, several events led to this. The first was the creation of a special ecclesiastical court by the Catholic Church, known as the "Inquisition," established in 1215 by Pope Innocent III. The Inquisition actively persecuted mages and witches, branding them heretics and subjecting them to brutal torture and executions. As a result, many mages chose to go into hiding to escape persecution.

The final blow came with the "Great War of the Three Factions," which began in the same century and affected not only Heaven and the Underworld but also the human world. The war between angels, devils, and fallen angels brought chaos and destruction, further contributing to the disappearance of magic from everyday human life.

These two events — the rise of the Inquisition and the Great War of the Three Factions — effectively erased magic from human society. However, by then, Merlin's magic had already taken root across the world. The mages who went into hiding continued to practice and develop their craft in secret, passing down their knowledge through generations. Magical schools and clans concealed themselves around the globe, forming their own communities where they could safely thrive and grow. As time passed, magic may have vanished from the lives of ordinary people, but it never disappeared entirely.

That said, even among ordinary people, rumors of magic still lingered. Never underestimate the power of the human tongue, through which legends, myths, and tales of magic and miracles have survived to this day. These stories were passed down from generation to generation, preserving memories of great magicians and their feats.

"Now, I can finally tell you what witches are," Tomoe said proudly, puffing out her chest before she began. "We witches are something akin to a supernatural species, but at our core, we're still human. The mechanics of our origin are difficult to explain, especially to someone just beginning to learn the basics of magic. To put it simply, you could think of us as 'genetically modified' mages. That's why the Inquisition primarily hunted witches. Though the term 'genetically modified' isn't entirely accurate — people back then didn't know about genes and such — the result is similar. The first witches were born out of mages' desire to create a new kind of human who could stand on par with Devils, angels, and fallen angels. This was achieved through selective breeding and various long-lost rituals. Honestly, it's still a mystery why only women can become witches. The most popular and plausible theory is that women were far more compatible with the changes brought about by those forgotten rituals."

Tomoe paused, letting me absorb what I'd just heard, then continued:

"Witches, like mages, possess magical abilities, but our power runs deeper and is more potent. We can use magic in more complex and sophisticated ways. For example, telekinesis, which allows us to control brooms and other tools. On top of that, we have a particular talent for dark magic, curses, illusion magic, and sometimes even divination. Essentially, every witch is born with the potential to become strong enough to rival even powerful Devils."

She glanced at me to make sure I was still paying attention before going on:

"However, not all witches are equally powerful. Even if a witch has a child, the child doesn't always inherit her magical power. This is one of the factors that makes us so unique and rare. What's more, a man born to a witch cannot become a witch, even if he possesses magical abilities. Witches are an exclusively female phenomenon."

"But how did witches manage to survive?" I asked, intrigued by this part of the story.

"Thanks to our ability to hide and adapt," Tomoe replied. "Our dark and difficult past taught us how to live among humans without revealing our powers. Witches have always known how to stay hidden and use their magic discreetly. Even today, many witches live ordinary lives, just like everyone else, but they still practice magic in secret."

What could I say? "Wow", maybe? Who would have guessed that outside my house, yokai, vampires, devils, fallen angels, and gods were running around, while inside, two amazing witches lived under the same roof. But what was both thrilling and terrifying was the fact that there was still so much more for me to learn — and chances were, I'd experience it all firsthand.

The world of magic was far more complex and fascinating than I had ever imagined. Just knowing that a whole universe of the supernatural existed beyond the walls of my home made my heart race. It wasn't just a new world — it was a world full of dangers, mysteries, and incredible opportunities.

At that moment, my eyes caught a small glowing point in the upper left corner, and two transparent screens appeared before me.

I glanced at my sister, but her face didn't betray even the slightest reaction. Either she was really good at hiding her emotions, or I was the only one who could see this.

I shifted my focus back to the screens, specifically the one on the right, where three words were glowing: "Witch Craft Works".