"My dear, what are you doing?" Grandmother's voice rang out gently. Her eyes were lined with the passage of time, her silver hair neatly tucked beneath a purple noble cap. Her gait was unhurried, each step carrying a lifetime of peace.
Mai flinched. "Grandmother…" she whispered, her voice low, as if afraid someone would hear.
She raised her head, her eyes determined. "I need to go see Mimi. It's the last wish of a friend… but my father won't let me go. He cut off all my EN because he thinks AI Witches are just tools. I hope you understand."
Grandmother smiled, a warmth like the first rays of winter sunlight. "Of course. Do what you believe is right. But please try to understand your father. He used to love AI Witches very much. An incident caused him to change."
Mai froze. Her father used to love AI Witches? Then why was he being so harsh now? A storm of questions flooded her mind. But not now. Protecting Mimi was still the top priority.
"Grandmother, I'm going to Manualee," Mai said, her voice steadier now.
Her grandmother nodded, her tone light as a breeze. "Yes, be careful. I left some EN outside the room—you can use that for now. As for the EN account card, I can't give it to you. Your father has locked the owner-recognition spell. You should hurry. I heard from your father that Witchiecoop is coming to Manualee to capture Mimi."
"Thank you, Grandmother!" Mai bowed her head, then turned and quickly walked out of the family estate. She softly called Miki's name, and Miki flew out of her bedroom window. The afternoon sun shone on Mai and Miki's backs, as if seeing off the beginning of a new journey for this noble girl.
Mai stepped out of the transfer station in the heart of Puresight City. The atmosphere was overwhelmingly bustling: people jostling, AI Witches flying overhead, artificial ocean waves carrying passengers far away, high-speed trains darting like arrows of light. Everything dazzled the eye, but time did not allow her to hesitate.
Thanks to the little EN her grandmother had left her, Mai chose the fastest way: spatial teleportation.
Miki gathered its courage and jumped into Mai's bag. A pink frog hopped over, its eyes sparkling like glass. It puffed out its cheeks and blew a transparent bubble that enveloped Mai. In an instant, the world around her faded, the sounds of the city disappearing. The bubble burst in a spray of sparkling light like fireworks.
Mai opened her eyes. Before her was no longer Puresight. She had arrived in Manualee.
As soon as they saw Mai, Long's group cheered with joy. Ms. Phan was also there, ready to help protect Mimi. But Mai had no time to share their relief; her voice was urgent:
"Long, we have to take Mimi away immediately. There's not much time left."
Long frowned, confused. "Why…?"
Mimi suddenly let out a "Meooo," as if sensing danger.
"Swoosh… swoosh…" A strange sound rang out, and the space began to shake. A dark purple gate opened, cold light flooding from within. Witchiecoop stepped through. Leading the way were Dung and Director Dong, followed by the three Dyed-Hair Siblings and their minions.
Long and Mai's group clutched Mimi tightly and ran in desperation. They had too little EN left to fight back. Running was their only option.
But before they could escape, a thick purple space enveloped them. Everyone—Long, Mai, Mimi, Dreamy—floated, trapped in the stasis spell of Director Dong's Superior AI Witch butterfly.
Kiet—a little deaf boy—refused to give up. He picked up a rock and hurled it straight at Witchiecoop. Dung roared angrily, spewing fiery red flames toward Kiet. In that dangerous moment, Ms. Phan quickly used Noddy's teleportation spell, pulling Kiet out of the line of fire.
"Oh, it's an old acquaintance. Hello, Ms. Phan, former senior member of Witchiecoop." Director Dong's voice rang out, cold and laced with sarcasm.
Ms. Phan clenched her fists, her eyes blazing with anger. "Dong, you're going too far. These are just children!"
"Going too far? Haha…" He laughed, the sound sharp as a blade slicing through the air. "You were the one who proposed and led the experiments on children. And now you pity them?"
The whole group was stunned. Experiments? Children used as test subjects? No one could believe what they were hearing. That kind, gentle teacher… had once been a high-ranking member of Witchiecoop? Dong's words struck like a blow, leaving everyone reeling.
"And now you teach those failed experiments. Many are deformed, many died young. Honestly… you disgust me, Ms. Phan," Purple Hair laughed maliciously, her voice dripping with venom.
Uncle Lam stood silently, his eyes red. He glared at Ms. Phan, then turned to Kiet, tears welling up.
Kiet looked bewildered, unable to fully understand the words because he was deaf. But in his hazy memory, haunting images flooded back: strangers with syringes, cold pools of medicine, a small, helpless body floating. Then light had appeared—Uncle Lam and the others pulling him out of the darkness, out of the ruins of Witchiecoop.
Kiet was a failed experiment. His congenital deafness… was merely a consequence of those cruel trials.
Long and Mai stared at Ms. Phan, their eyes burning with rage. For Mai, the pent-up pain made her heart feel as though it were breaking. In her eyes, Ms. Phan had once been kind—someone who had taught her and Lan to love and protect children. Now that image had collapsed, shattered into pieces of disappointment.
Mai screamed, her voice trembling yet erupting like never before:
"Say something, Ms. Phan! Explain! It's all just their lies, isn't it… isn't it, Ms. Phan?"
The purple space thickened, suffocating her breath. Ms. Phan remained silent, her breathing uneven. Then, unexpectedly, a half-smile appeared. She walked slowly toward Mai, who hung suspended in the confined space.
"Yes…" Her voice rang out, cold as a blade. "What they said… is completely true."