Making the Cover!

"A small portable furnace, a crucible, ten kilograms of mold clay, three light-colored, smooth animal hides, a bucket of dark purple dye, five kilograms of gold, ten kilograms of brass, seven pieces of purple magic gems..." Lyra murmured to herself, checking off each item from her list as she gathered the materials from the warehouse.

It took several trips back and forth, her arms loaded with everything from heavy metal to delicate hides, but eventually, she had it all. She carefully arranged the materials and tools on her desk in the alchemy classroom, her workspace now a haven of creativity.

With everything set, Lyra wasted no time getting to work.

First, she shaped the mold clay into the frame that would serve as the foundation for her book. As the mold hardened, she moved on to melting the brass, carefully pouring the molten metal into the mold to create the inner tube that would give the cover its structure. Her movements were steady, precise, as the liquid metal cooled and solidified into the form she envisioned.

Next came the animal hides. She boiled the skins until they softened, then bleached them to remove their natural hue. Once dried, she dipped the hides into the dark purple dye, the rich color seeping into the fibers. She set them aside to dry, mentally preparing for the intricate next step.

When the skins were ready, she stretched and carefully wrapped them around the brass inner tube, fixing them in place to create the outer layer of the book cover. Now it was time for the most delicate part of the process; the goldwork. Melting the gold in the crucible, she shaped it using a mold, and once cooled, she hammered, shaped, and carved the golden accents to perfection. Each detail had to be just right, especially when she inlaid the seven purple magic gems into the intricate designs.

Hours passed, but Lyra barely noticed. Her focus was absolute, her hands guided by the memories of techniques from her past life on Earth. The process, while long and meticulous, felt almost second nature to her.

By the time the sun had set, the once-flat blueprint had come to life. On her desk sat an octavo-sized loose-leaf book (260mm x 375mm), its cover gleaming with golden carvings and adorned with the glittering purple gems. It was stunning, everything she had envisioned and more. But her work was far from done.

"This is just the beginning," she thought, gazing at the finished book. It may have looked complete, but to make it a true witch's book, it had to be infused with magic. And with a book this large and made from such high-quality materials, the infection process would be challenging.

Infection was a delicate task. The better the materials, the more resistant they were to magic, but also capable of holding more power once infected. Lyra braced herself; it would be a test of patience and skill.

She worked tirelessly, channeling her magic into the book, carefully infusing it page by page. The process took over three hours, and by the time she was finished, it was already nine o'clock at night. Exhausted but satisfied, she wiped her brow and sat back to admire her work.

Now came the final step. Lyra pulled out the fresh parchment she had infected earlier and began cutting it into pages, each one perfectly sized to fit the book. She ended up with over a hundred pages, though the apprentice witch book could only hold exactly that. Punching holes in the sheets, she installed them into the loose-leaf binding, ensuring everything fit together seamlessly.

With a deep breath, she summoned her witch's book, and in a swirl of magic, the new creation replaced the old animal-skin version. A beautiful, large tome floated before her, shimmering in the candlelight.

Lyra's heart swelled with pride as she admired the book. The first page was an index she had painstakingly prepared, allowing her to find any page in the book with ease. And though each page still only held a single book's worth of content, the larger format meant the text was easier to read, with more space for additional information. Compared to the tiny palm-sized animal skin book she had used before, this was a vast improvement in both form and function.

There was only one downside: the book was heavier now. Picking it up would be a bit of a task, especially if she wanted to carry it around. But that was hardly a concern; witch's book magic allowed the tome to float effortlessly at her side, no matter the weight.

And right now, that's exactly what it did. The large book hovered gracefully in her left hand, naturally open to the page she had summoned, perfectly balanced and ready for her to dive into its contents.

Lyra smiled to herself, feeling the weight of her effort melt away. It was a masterpiece, and it was hers.

With her free hand, Lyra deftly pulled books from the shelves of the first-year library, copying their contents into her newly crafted Witch Book. She worked quickly, copying down the selected readings that caught her interest. Page after page filled, until only ten blank ones remained, reserved for future discoveries.

Once she had finished, she didn't forget to stop by the basement on her way out, grabbing two rolls of parchment before heading back to the castle gates. By the time she stepped outside, the clock had already passed eleven.

The path down the mountain was quiet, with only the stars above and the glow of the magic lamps lining the road to keep her company. But after a week of walking this same path every day, Lyra had grown so familiar with it that she could navigate without a second thought. In fact, she had become so comfortable that she could read from her Witch Book as she walked, a skill honed from years of multitasking with a phone back in her previous life. The bright magic lights made it easy to continue reading as she made her way down the mountain.

At 1:30 in the morning, Lyra finally arrived at the dormitory area. The little witches were already fast asleep, and not a single light glowed in any of the windows. The silence was a welcome respite after the long day.

As she approached her yard, something unusual caught her eye. The fence gate, normally bare, was almost entirely covered in slips of paper. For a moment, she blinked in confusion and even double-checked the dormitory number to make sure she was at the right place. "Yep, number 69," she muttered to herself.

Curious, she began taking the scraps down one by one, examining them under the glow of the streetlight. Each one was a message, left by sophomores and fourth-year seniors who had come by earlier to purchase her 'Character Cards'. The notes were polite but clear; they hadn't found her at home, and they wanted to return tomorrow to buy the cards.

Lyra chuckled, shaking her head as she pressed a hand to her forehead. "I thought the seniors weren't interested!" she mused. "Turns out they were planning to buy them on the weekend."

She couldn't help but wonder why no fifth-year students had come by yet. Had they already mastered what she was selling, or did they simply not need the cards?

Shrugging off the thought for now, she went around to the backyard to collect her laundry, only to find the clothesline completely empty. "Strange," she murmured, before spotting a neatly folded stack of clothes waiting in a basket by her door. Tucked between the folds was a small note.

"It's dark, and you haven't come back yet, so I helped put away your clothes! You're welcome! - Vasida, Sylph."

A warm smile spread across Lyra's face as she read the note. The small act of kindness made the late hour and the long day feel lighter.

But it was late, and with a full day ahead of her; especially with witches coming to buy her cards, Lyra decided to wash up and head straight to bed.

The next morning, she slept through the six o'clock bell, completely exhausted. She was finally woken by a knock at the door. A little witch had arrived to buy her cards.

Still groggy, Lyra jumped out of bed, hurriedly throwing on a robe. She rushed downstairs, opening the door with an apologetic smile. "I'm so sorry, Senior Sophie! I stayed up too late last night."

Sophie, a fourth-year with a warm smile, raised an eyebrow in concern. "Careful staying up late, Lyra. You won't grow tall if you make a habit of it!"

Lyra grinned sheepishly. "I understand, I'll be more careful," she said, taking Sophie's advice to heart.

With the morning rush of card buyers just beginning, she knew it would be another long, busy day ahead, but at least she wouldn't be facing it alone.

At thirteen, being just 1.5 meters tall was a bit of a concern for Lyra, especially when her peers towered over her. "I need to grow!" she often thought, determined to prove that height didn't define a witch's strength.

As she stood at the door of the academy, Senior Sophie approached her with purpose. "I saw the promotional poster by the castle warehouse," Sophie said, her voice bright with excitement. "I'm here for the card that shows magical value! I can pay all at once."

Lyra nodded eagerly, her mind already racing with the details. "Absolutely! Just give me a moment." She quickly grabbed a quill and began writing a contract, employing her golden pen technique to ensure everything looked official.

"Here you go," she said, handing the contract to Sophie. Once it was signed and the magic power transferred, Lyra handed over the card with a flourish. "All set!"

"Thanks, Lyra! You're the best!" Sophie grinned, before hopping on her broom and zooming off into the sky.

Once Sophie was out of sight, Lyra shook off her lingering sleepiness. She dashed to the washroom, knowing more seniors would be arriving shortly.

By midday, she had welcomed a total of twenty-nine second-year witches and thirty-one fourth-years, each eager to purchase her 'Character Cards'. The influx of magic power flowed into her card book, and she felt a surge of satisfaction.

In the entire witch academy, aside from the fifth-year students and the dean, all witches carried 'Character Cards'. It made her feel connected to her peers, all striving for their magical goals.

After the last customer left, Lyra returned to her dormitory, where she settled down to review the materials for her upcoming classes. As she flipped through the theoretical textbooks, she was pleased to find they were rich with knowledge and practical insights.

One book caught her attention: 'Learn Cooking from Scratch'. Curious about its contents, she opened it up. "Let's see what this is all about," she muttered, skimming through the pages.

To her surprise, the book was straightforward yet detailed, teaching just three dishes: baking bread, making vegetable soup, and frying steak. "Wow, they really mean 'from scratch'," she chuckled, recognizing the simplicity. The majority of the text focused on meticulous recipes, outlining each step and ingredient required.

The last tenth of the book, however, was dedicated to the magic of cooking. "It's thick for just three dishes," Lyra mused, "but it really feels more like a tutorial than a traditional textbook."

She recalled the book's motto: "Only when you know the cooking process thoroughly can you command the pots, pans, knives, and forks."

Flipping through the pages, Lyra felt a wave of confidence wash over her. "With my cooking skills and the Earth techniques I remember, this cooking magic will be a breeze!"

She chuckled to herself, realizing that mastering the spells would be just like transitioning from using her hands to directing the magic with her will. "Isn't magic just driven by willpower?" she thought, a spark of excitement igniting within her.

Lyra couldn't wait to dive deeper into her lessons, ready to blend her knowledge of cooking with the magic that flowed through her veins.