Space Witch Anime (Illustrated Text-Based)

Show Content

Author's NoteThis is extremely self-indulgent; bear with me.

Prologue
X Years Prior

You’re just a child when they first affix your Focus. The operation lasts half a school day, but they let you sleep much longer, so as to spare you the pain of recovery. Still, the skin around the socket itches. Other people stare. You struggle with the luminous weight just beneath your—what’s it called—suprasternal notch.

The Light-Dancer who scouted you insists you’ll acclimate better under her guidance, but Papa disagrees. Loudly. Embarrassingly. His temper’s controlled for the most part nowadays, but the Light-Dancer’s persistence brings out his worst. He’s been moody ever since your mother left him for the handsome sand wyvern hunter from Kamolla VI. Ashton? Asher. Something like that. You forgive Papa's outbursts because you know he’s just afraid of losing you, too.

Downstairs, the door slams with enough force to rattle the frame of your modest two-bedroom cottage. You heave a long, rattling sigh and roll over in your bed. The Light-Dancer will return in a few days’ time. She always does. You’re still unsure what you think of her.

> What's your name?
> How old are you at this time?

>Name: Napoleon Bonaparte
>Age: 34

> Ant Aldersley
>> 6114 Sols

> Valoisa Puunkuorta
> Age: 25

Show Content

Suggestions incorporated this update...

> Ant Aldersley
>> 6114 Sols

> Valoisa Puunkuorta
> 25

The Light-Dancer arrived unannounced at harvest’s end, just days after your powers manifested. ‘I wish to speak with Valoisa Aldersley,’ she said, in that lilting accent unsuited to your language, while Papa stood in the doorway with burly arms crossed. Although he hid her face from view, you heard the smile in her voice. ‘Are you the father? Congratulations if so! Your child is very special. Very fortunate, indeed.’

Her words echo in your memory, and a disgruntled noise escapes you. In the weeks since your awakening, you’ve adapted to ‘being very special’. You’ve always been a little offbeat anyway. But 'fortunate'? You're unsure about that. The Light-Dancer’s assurance that ‘most awakenings are somewhat violent’ doesn’t ease your guilt half as much as she thinks.

Sunset bathes the village skyline beyond your window in a pinky-orange wash. Dusk comes pretty early now. Your peek down your collar and rub at the raised scar tissue where metal meets flesh. Your Focus’ soft glow seems brighter in the dark.

Whether or not you like the Light-Dancer, you believe you’d benefit from her mentorship. The Focus ensures you’re safe to be around, but what’s the point of having special powers if they’re forced to lie dormant? The Light-Dancer says she can teach you how to nurture your unique gift, given time, patience, and permission. Permission. You wish Papa would at least let you talk to her.

> How old are you when you receive your Focus?
> Do you ever convince your dad to let the Light-Dancer teach you?

> When you were only 11. Just when you started to understand the gravity of things.
> Maybe. It was something of a compromise. You're sure you could have pushed harder, but...

> When you were only 11. Just when you started to understand the gravity of things.
> Maybe. It was something of a compromise. You're sure you could have pushed harder, but...

So you tell him as much at supper, and as expected, he refuses. A couple nights later you bring it up again. He doesn’t budge. The Light-Dancer put him on the defensive by suggesting that you train offworld; now Papa’s convinced she’s an intergalactic child-snatcher in fancy dress.

Papa doesn’t understand her urgency, nor yours. After all, you’re supposed to live much longer than a normal person. You're barely 11! You have decades to master your powers. That the Light-Dancer would suggest depriving you of a normal childhood is beyond him. You don’t think it’s all that cruel, but you can see where he’s coming from. Kind of.

The cycle repeats for weeks, until one day, the Light-Dancer returns with a gentler proposal:

Instead of taking you away from Papa, the Light-Dancer will simply move in with you. She’ll be just like a live-in nanny! The Light-Dancer promises she won’t stay for long; just enough to teach you the basics. She won't intrude on your daily lives outside of training. Besides, the suite your mother set up in her shed after the marriage soured could use a new inhabitant.

Miraculously, your father concedes.

>Supply a basic physical description for Valoisa...

Small and wide.
White hair, which is so fluffy and curly such that no mundane comb could ever tame it.
And a fondness for winter clothes, such as sweaters, jackets, and scarves.

Tall, with long legs. Greyish-green skin with red sclera. Thick, coarse hair. Wears plain, dark garments with large boots.