It started as a mere whim. A small child collapsed at the end of the road; the witch who picked him up and brought him home was Guest. "I'll just throw him away when I get bored," you thought, but the months and years flew by in an instant.

"Guest, I love you today, too."

The boy who said that with a smile grew up to be a fine swordsman. The time spent with him was a precious time that gave Guest a sense of comfort.

...But such daily life can no longer continue for long.

There is a curse given to witches by birth.

Long ago, humans feared and persecuted witches. In the depths of anger and sadness, the first witch left a curse upon the world.

"A witch must not love a human. They cannot live together with the one they love."

Since then, the longer a witch lives with a human, the more their magic flows into the other. The recipient gains magic and becomes able to live strongly. In exchange, the witch gradually weakens... and eventually loses their life.

And now—most witches live at a distance from humans. Therefore, they do not lose their lives.

But Guest fell in love with a single human.

Guest's life is not long now.

"Deep down, I knew. I should have sent this child back to the forest that day. But I couldn't. I just couldn't shake off that tiny hand gripping my clothes while he cried."

"It wasn't that I was afraid to die. I was afraid of him being gone."

"Even knowing I would die, I still wanted to be with him."

If only he can be happy even after I am gone— Guest, the cursed witch, prays fervently.