Chapter 1

## The Land of Mages

**"The Land of Mages"** (魔法使いの国 *Mahōtsukai no Kuni*) is the first chapter of the *Wandering Witch* manga.

## Summary

Elaina enters the Land of Mages where she encounters a young girl named Saya. The meeting between the two will form a wonderful bond between the two girls.

### Plot

A young girl named Elaina who loves to read books is inspired to become a Witch from a book called, "Nike's Adventure". She tells her mother about her dream that she one day hopes to accomplish and her mother notes that she'll have to learn magic and study hard in order to achieve her goal. Adamant that she'll do so, Elaina asks her mother's permission that if she does become a witch, will she allow her to go on a journey. Assuringly, Elaina's mother agrees to it.

In the present day, Elaina flies on her broomstick until she reaches her destination, the Land of Mages. Upon reaching the checkpoint, she's allowed instant entry due to her Witch's brooch that she wears. The city's custom is then elaborated on and the hierarchy of magic users. Reading a sign that states, flying is recommended, Elaina does so, but is then crashed into by a young girl. They crash into a rooftop and the young girl acts in an apologetic manner, although it's noted that she's bleeding. Therefore, Elaina hands her a handkerchief to wipe off the blood from her head. Using time reversal magic, Elaina repairs the broken rooftop and then heals the wound on the young girl's head. Without staying too long, Elaina gets on her broom and advises her to pay more attention to her surroundings. As Elaina heads off on her broom, the young girl tries to stop her, but fails to do so and spots something on the ground.

On her merry way, Elaina notes the abundant populous of mages in the place. Furthermore, she notes how she passed the arduous Witches Exam with relative ease and how she should be treated with respect. However, the response she gets around the town is tepid and shrill, which perplexes Elaina. Finding an inn, Elaina finds the young girl that crashed into her earlier that day. Perturbed that Elaina was out for revenger for what she did to her, Elaina reassures the young girl that's not the case whatsoever. The young girl introduces herself as Saya and asks if she can do anything for her, to which, Elaina flatly declines. Noting the inn offers discounts to Witches, Saya notes that's reserved for Witches and Elaina argues that she is a Witch. On the other hand, Saya gives her a special discount for the trouble she gave her earlier that day. Continuing her argument that she's a Witch, Saya notes that she has no Witch's Brooch. Astounded, Elaina along with Saya returns to the crash site and desperately scour the area in search of it. Their search though turns up nothing. Noting that it's late at night, Saya suggests they return the following day to search for the brooch.

Back at the inn, Elaina takes a bath and laments over losing her brooch that her master gave her. Finished with her bath, Elaina finds Saya in her room after using the spare keys to get inside, which, Elaina then reprimands her for doing so. Inquiring as to why she's there, Saya prostates herself to the floor and begs Elaina to teach her the secret to passing the Witch Exam. Curious as to know what pose Saya is doing, she elaborates on the background of it. Wanting to know more information on Saya's request, Saya explains the situation that involved her and her younger sister Mina. Both of them come from a land from the far East and hoped to pass the Witches Exam, before returning home. Mina managed to pass the exam first and returned home leaving Saya left feeling despondent about her situation. The next Exam is a week from then and Elaina decides to help her until they find her brooch.

The next morning, the Witch Exam training begins and they first start out with broomstick riding, to which, Saya handling of it is pathetic. Because of this, Elaina notes to Saya that her chances of becoming a Witch are 0%. It's noted that the written exam is simple just memorize the material, however, what Saya will have trouble in, is the practical part of the exam. Disconcerted about her chances, Saya is admonished by Elaina that if she wants to survive she'll have to pass the practical part. However, if she doesn't want to pass the exam then quit, but Saya is resolved to take it and pass. Hearing this makes Elaina smile and she subjects Saya to some "harsh training". On day three of said training, Saya manages to become adept at flying on a broomstick, which impresses Elaina. Day four of the training involves mastering wind magic by making stationary bottles rock and not tip them over. During this training session, Elaina gives some tips about her wand handling and posture. This training proves to be hard on Saya, so Elaina allows Elaina a break and goes off to collect information on her missing brooch. Amid this, Elaina bribes a florist who informs her of the whereabouts of her missing item.

That night at Elaina's room in the inn, Saya asks Elaina if she can join her in bed that night and Elaina allows it. They then talk about how Saya's skills have improved over time and that soon Elaina will have to leave Saya, because she's a traveler. Saya then brings up that Elaina hasn't found her brooch yet, so she can't leave so she should stay with her. On the other hand, Elaina details that she's found her brooch and asks that Saya return it to her. A quick flashback reveals that the florist Elaina bribed, saw Saya find and take the brooch. It's then deduced by Elaina about the inconsistencies involving Saya that lead her to believe she was the culprit. Guilt-ridden, Saya asks why didn't Elaina didn't confront her about this before and this is due to her lack of evidence. Despite all of this though, Elaina believed Saya to be a good person. Confessing her emotions, Saya claims that she was merely lonely and Elaina notes that she's not her sister. As Saya emotionally cries and Elaina internally confirms that Saya was heavily reliant on Mina. Elaina then scolds Saya for stealing and her selfish behavior for not wanting to be alone. In Elaina's opinion, when a person truly devotes herself to something they'll always be alone if not, what's the point. Furthermore, Elaina claims that in her trials to become a Witch she faced the same predicament of being alone, but she overcame it. So to cheer Saya up, Elaina gives Saya her spare hat, this is to help inspire Saya in becoming a Witch. She then requests that her brooch be returned to her. Tearful, Saya embraces Elaina claiming that she's sorry for what she did.

Six months have passed by since Elaina has encountered Saya in the Land of Mages and she learns from a newspaper that Saya has successfully become a Witch. It's also written that once she becomes a Witch and as of age, she'll once again meet the "Traveler" she loves so much.

## Characters

* Elaina
* Victorica (flashback)
* Saya
* Fran (flashback)
* Mina (cameo)