Night fell. Glenn sorted through the notes he had taken that day, preparing to retire to his room, when Little Leaf and Little Mushroom quietly approached him. ‘Do you two need something?’ Glenn asked, puzzled. Please don’t let it be about the little match girl… he prayed inwardly.

  His fears were unfounded.

  Little Leaf stepped forward. ‘Glenn, could you take us outside?’ ‘Take you out? Out where?’ Glenn regarded her with suspicion. ‘We want to see the world beyond the Abyssfall Gorge. Mama Meiko already agreed,’ Little Leaf said quickly.

  The apprentices all called Meiko “Mama,” a title warm and intimate; only Glenn still addressed her as “Teacher Meiko.”

  So my stories finally sparked their curiosity… But why were they so terrified of the outside before? When I was their age, I begged my father to take me everywhere… Glenn lowered his gaze in thought, not immediately responding.

  The two girls waited anxiously. They had pleaded with Meiko for ages, and she had finally agreed—on the condition that Glenn be the one to take them. Once, Meiko would have happily brought them herself, but Morogen’s death had left her on edge.

  ‘Alright then—but it’s already late. Tomorrow. Tomorrow I’ll take you out for the whole day.’

  Only after a long moment did Glenn give his answer.

  The two girls cheered triumphantly, spun hand in hand, and skipped off with bounding joy.

  Glenn, meanwhile, was already planning the trip—perfect timing to raid the hideout of those three dark mages before he grew too busy to bother.

  —The next morning—

  Before the alarm even rang, his door was pounded on. ‘Glenn! Lazybones! Wake up! We’re all ready!’ Little Leaf’s excited voice rang out. ‘U-um… Little Leaf… this isn’t very proper…’ Little Mushroom’s almost inaudible whisper followed.

  Children truly were inexhaustible. Glenn tossed off his blanket, yawned, and rose. ‘I’m up, I’m up.’

  Opening the door, he found two brilliantly dressed, vibrant young girls beaming up at him.

  His half-lidded eyes widened a little. ‘Well now… you two look fantastic! Absolutely adorable!’ he said, giving a thumbs-up.

  Both girls flushed bright red.

  Little Leaf huffed and turned her head away with feigned indifference, while Little Mushroom bowed her head, the brim of her newly changed—yet equally oversized—hat hiding her face entirely.

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  ‘Mama Meiko helped us dress up…’ Little Mushroom murmured timidly from beneath her hat.

  No wonder. Meiko might be a centuries-old witch, but her sense of style was impeccably modern. Even Da'off—who clearly cared little for fashion—looked respectable every day thanks to his elegant wife.

  ‘Alright, off to wash up! Once we finish breakfast, we’re heading out!’ Little Leaf grabbed Glenn’s hand and dragged him toward the washroom.

  Moments later, freshly washed, Glenn entered the dining area to find Meiko sipping juice with her usual grace.

  ‘Breakfast is ready,’ she said softly. ‘Eat first—there are things I need to tell you.’

  Glenn nodded and sat.

  Meiko had prepared a fried egg with several slices of meat roasted by some special technique—quite tasty, though far from sufficient for someone with Glenn’s bottomless appetite. He finished quickly.

  Meiko then sent the girls outside to wait. Only when the room held just the two of them did she speak.

  ‘These children have never been outside. I always feared that one day they wouldn’t know how to survive in the world beyond. But now they’re choosing to take that step—thanks to you, Glenn. I entrust them to your care.’

  ‘Of course. I’m part of your family too, aren’t I?’ Glenn smiled, then paused. ‘But I’ve always wondered—why were they so afraid of going out before?’

  Meiko’s expression dimmed. ‘Da'off told you about his first three apprentices, didn’t he?’

  Glenn nodded.

  ‘He told the others as well. They were very young back then… those events became a shadow in their hearts. Fear of the outside took root. Now, curiosity is finally overcoming fear—that’s why Little Leaf and Little Mushroom asked to go out yesterday.’

  After giving him several more safety instructions, she sent him off. Glenn stuffed a backpack with supplies and spending money for the day.

  His great deer, which had been grazing on lush grass outside the magical house for days, had grown noticeably plumper—and was reluctant to pull the cart at all.

  ‘This is our first time riding in a cart—it feels amazing!’ Little Leaf leaned over the side, watching the wheels turn.

  Little Mushroom sat in Glenn’s lap, fascinated by the deer, occasionally patting its rump with her tiny hand.

  ‘Be careful—don’t fall,’ Glenn said absently, map in one hand, reins in the other.

  Little Leaf stuck her tongue out at his back. ‘As if I’d be that clumsy!’

  ‘Little Mushroom, can’t you take off your hat? The sun’s strong—you’ll get hot.’

  In truth, the hat’s brim kept poking Glenn under the chin. But the girl clutched the hat with both hands, refusing to remove it. Glenn sighed and let her be.

  There was a small town just outside Abyssfall Gorge, but that wasn’t their destination. The hideout of the three dark mages was in a place called Camber Ridge—not far, easily reachable within the day.

  To keep the girls entertained, Glenn told stories from time to time, and even sang children’s songs—translations and adaptations he had made himself. “Fireflies,” “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star,” and so on.

  The girls’ admiration for him grew even deeper. To them, Glenn seemed to know everything worth knowing.

  At noon, the deer cart rolled to a stop on a grassy clearing. They hopped down; Glenn tethered the deer to a tree and opened his backpack.

  From that deceptively small pack, he produced a folding parasol, foldable chairs, a collapsible grill, ingredients—one item after another.

  The girls, who had been chasing each other across the grass, ran over the moment they saw the curious contraptions Glenn used in his experiments.

  They watched him unfold the parasol, set the chairs beneath it, assemble the grill, pour in charcoal, and ignite it expertly with magic.

  ‘Are you… making food?’ Little Leaf guessed.

  ‘What else? You’ve never had barbecue, have you?’ Glenn replied while working.

  ‘Barbecue?’ the two girls echoed in unison.”