The next day, the morning light filtered through the windows, casting soft golden streaks across the classroom. The laughter of children echoed from the small house on the outskirts of Puresight that Mai had mentioned—an educational center for disadvantaged children.
Inside, old wooden tables were neatly arranged in rows. On the walls, colorful scribbled drawings seemed to tell the dreams of each child in the center. A few small AI Witches fluttered around the classroom, leaving behind sparkling blue rays of light, illustrating the lesson with gentle magic.
Kiet sat in the corner of the classroom, his eyes still tired from yesterday's relapse, but a slight smile appeared when he saw his friends. Here, the children played with the AI Witches of the volunteers: a bright red butterfly, a cute little pink bat, and even a talking book with a charming smile. They were all friendly, bringing simple joy. Some AI Witches even conjured cherry blossoms that floated throughout the classroom, then vanished in a blinding light, filling the room with cheers.
That scene—children, magic, and laughter in that old classroom—was like a small piece of happiness in the vast city of Puresight.
From afar came the familiar sound of footsteps: "Clop... Clop..." The whole class fell silent, as if they knew who was coming. It was Ms. Phan—the teacher with long silver hair, walking slowly but with gentle dignity. Beside her and perched on her shoulder was Noddy, an owl-shaped AI Witch. Its brown fur was woven from dry fabric and velvet, its round, jet-black eyes like two marbles, topped with oversized glasses that made it look both wise and whimsical.
Ms. Phan entered, her gentle smile transforming the entire room. The lively laughter from earlier gradually subsided, giving way to a warm, friendly, and studious atmosphere.
She walked from desk to desk, her voice soft but full of concern:
- "Tho, is your skin still bleeding? Be careful, okay?"
- "Vy, you have a heart condition, so don't get too excited. Everyone, please don't tease her."
- "Dung, did you bring lunch today? If not, you can eat with me."
She asked as if she knew everything about their families and lives. Each child answered to receive her attention. Noddy, the AI Witch owl, occasionally blinked his jet-black eyes behind his oversized glasses. His gaze quietly swept across each face, as if examining their health and mood.
Then her gaze settled on Kiet.
"Does Kiet still have a headache today? I heard your illness flared up yesterday. If you feel unwell, remember to let me know."
Ms. Phan turned to the corner of the room, smiling at the empty tables. On them, deep red flowers were neatly arranged—a silent farewell to the children who once sat here, but now only memories remain.
Ms. Phan nodded slightly, calling Noddy forward. The AI Witch owl shuddered, its eyes widening and glowing. It let out a short hiss, then shouted:
"Recreate the magical illustration space!"
Instantly, the space in front of the classroom opened up like a giant screen. Swirling light revealed the image of a powerful wizard controlling the entire planet. The space shifted continuously: from the wizard's silhouette to tiny creatures of all shapes, displaying dazzling magic. Coding numbers fluttered back and forth like a swarm of data fireflies, blending with the history of humanity, witches, and mystical creatures through countless ups and downs. A chaotic fireball exploded, followed immediately by peaceful birds gliding by, phones, tablets... all flashing before the children's eyes like a vivid movie.
Ms. Phan's voice rang out:
"Over a thousand years ago, the world had no magic. Humans relied solely on science to explain everything. Then a powerful wizard appeared, teaching humanity its first lessons in magic. From there, other wizards gradually opened up, and the world changed. It was no longer just technology, but a fusion of science and magic."
The image shifted, and Noddy gently flapped her wings. Ms. Phan continued:
"Humans digitized magic and transmitted it into AI. At first, they only stored information and couldn't perform spells themselves. But then, thanks to biotechnology, the DNA of witches was combined with AI. And so, AI Witches were born—artificial entities with power, but limited by energy. They needed EN to perform magic."
Noddy blinked. The space shifted colors:
"AI Witches continued to expand, replacing many professions. EN energy became indispensable—a new form of currency that determined the very existence of the world."
The entire class fell silent, listening intently. Today's lesson was not just history, but also a reminder: this world was built on both science and magic, and the AI Witches were the bridge between the two. But the children all knew one thing clearly: in this world, EN was truly important.
Vy, the girl with thick glasses, tilted her head in thought, then asked, "Ms. Phan, so who will support the creation of AI Witches now?"
The child sitting next to her whispered softly, but loud enough for the whole class to hear: "It's Witchiecoop."
A murmur rippled through the classroom like a small wave: "That's right, it's the Witchiecoop company." The children began to discuss it.
Ms. Phan smiled: "You're right. Witchiecoop will produce and manufacture, teach the AI Witches, and handle the liquidation—uh..."
She paused, as if she had just touched upon a word that shouldn't be said aloud, and quickly changed the subject.
A harsh knocking sounded outside the classroom door, as if someone were hitting the wood with a broomstick. Ms. Phan startled, glancing through the door crack. Three figures stood there, their green plaid uniforms standing out. On the chest of their , the Witchiecoop emblem shone: a large W, clearly split in two—one side blue, the other fiery red—as if it too were vying for power.
They were the three brothers of the Dyed Hair family. Witchiecoop's henchmen, the AI Witch liquidation specialists.
The tallest one in the middle, with tight curly blond hair, goes by the name Blondie Hoe. His face is cold as ice, his eyes sharp behind thin glasses. In his hand is a tablet that is always on, as if it is automatically analyzing everything around it.
To the left is Purple Hair—a girl with long purple hair, a fringe covering her eyes, and a strange smile. She holds a bright green, sparkling apple-flavored lollipop. Floating around her is a purple bubble-shaped AI Witch, chattering nonstop with a voice as static-filled as a radio.
On the right was Platinum Hair. The smallest but looking the oldest. On his head were only three strands of hair as white as thread, his legs limping, each step causing the large rose beside him to sway and fly along as if bound by magic.
Ms. Phan opened the door, trying to stay calm as she greeted them.
But none of them responded. They walked in, not bothering to look around or greet anyone.
Platinum Hair spoke, his voice sharp:
"We've come to eliminate an AI Witch hiding in this classroom."