Once upon a time, there was a witch named Zafira who lived in a tiny, tiny village, far away, deep in a valley lost among mountains.

This witch, who was one because her mother had ordered her to be in her earliest childhood, doubted her witchhood and, in truth, didn't know why she couldn't be a blue fairy, which is what she would have truly liked to be.

"Zafira," her mother had told her, "you are a witch, like your mother, like your grandmother, and like your great-grandmother and grandmother."

"But Mother," Zafira replied, "I don't want to be a witch! I want to be a fairy, a wonderful fairy, light as the wind, powerful as thunder, sensitive and tender as moonbeam."

"If your grandmothers, great-grandmothers, and great-great-grandmothers could see this, they'd be horrified by the awful things you say. A fairy, you want to be a fairy! What nonsense!"

"I want to be a fairy, and I will be a fairy! There you go!"

"You may not be a fairy, but you're certainly as stubborn as they are!"

Zafira's mother racked her brain trying to figure out how to get that silly idea out of her daughter's head. Wanting to be a mere fairy when witches are the most powerful beings on earth! Her daughter must be truly ill to think such a thing...

One day, the witches' postman delivered an invitation to the Great Convention, which was to be held in the Cherry Blossom Forest. Every five years, all the witches of the world gathered in a different location, carefully chosen and kept a closely guarded secret. It was known only to the chosen few, since not just any witch was called to participate in the grand event: only those who had distinguished themselves during the past year.

For those of you who are human, I'll tell you that one year in the witches' calendar is equivalent to five years in the calendar of ordinary human mortals.

The mother's joy was indescribable. She, chosen to participate in the Great Convention! The dream she had cherished for the last 100 years! (500 of yours, little mortals...).

"Zafira," she said, "prepare yourself because we have been chosen to attend the Great Convention, which will be held in seven days. We will show our sisters what we can do, and you, personally, will be in charge of showing them some of the spells that my mother, my grandmother, my great-grandmother, and my great-great-grandmother and great-great-grandmother taught you."

"I won't go! I have absolutely no interest in that stupid convention," the little witch said scornfully.

"Of course you're going! I, your mother, command you. First, because I am your mother, and second, because if you don't attend the meeting to which you've been summoned, the wrath of all the witches in the world will fall upon you. Besides, it's a unique opportunity. You'll have the chance to meet the best witches in the world, learn about their potions and spells. You'll learn many things, and above all, you'll learn to be proud of being a witch."

Zafira, upon hearing these words, became thoughtful. After all, it wouldn't be so bad to attend and learn what a witch, a great witch, was capable of. Perhaps one of them had even developed a potion, a master recipe for becoming a fairy!

Thinking, she remembered that she had once read something about magic potions, fairies, princes, and princesses. It was a vague idea that came to her, and she wasn't really sure if she'd read it or simply dreamt it.

She had nothing to lose by searching and poring over the dusty old volumes piled on the walls of a room that remained closed most of the time because, according to her mother, it contained the family's greatest treasures, and they had to be safeguarded at all costs. It wasn't wise to take any risks, so the room remained tightly sealed.

Zafira asked her mother for the key, and her mother was touched by her daughter's sudden interest in the family jewels. She not only gave her the key to the treasure room but also accompanied her to show her the different sections, since everything was cataloged by author, subject, and results. A thousand centuries of family history were crammed onto the shelves. Grandmothers, great-grandmothers, great-great-grandmothers, and even mothers, grandmothers, great-grandmothers, and great-great-grandmothers of great-great-grandmothers, had carefully preserved the recipes for their most beloved and cherished magic potions.

"You can choose any volume you like, Zafira. Study the recipes carefully and choose the one you prefer to show our sisters of the Great Sisterhood at the Grand Convention."

"Thank you, Mother. Now I'd prefer you leave me alone, as I want to investigate everything here with the utmost care. I'm so nervous, Mother! Let me delve into the well of family wisdom, please!"

Upon hearing these words, Zafira's mother was beside herself with joy. So many years had passed, and she had waited for her daughter to be proud of being a witch. Now, she could hardly believe that it was Zafira who wanted to delve into the family treasure, so proud to belong to that lineage.

Zafira, for her part, searched and searched. In a corner of a shelf, she found a small box with the words "How to be a fairy without abandoning your witch nature" written on its lid. Underneath was a name: Casilda.

She considered asking her mother who this Casilda was, but then decided it would be better to find out for herself, as otherwise her mother would understand her intentions. No sooner said than done. She set to work and patiently searched through a very thick book that contained a record of each and every witch in the family since time immemorial. It should be noted that she had her own sophisticated and effective methods of searching. Finally, she found the name Casilda: she was the great-great-great-grandmother of her grandmother's great-great-grandmother. Apparently, she was very beautiful, very intelligent, and kind—so much so that she was loved and appreciated not only in witch society but also among fairies, which was quite extraordinary and unusual.

But let's return to the small box Zafira had found, the one containing the... A small sign read: "How to be a fairy without abandoning your witch nature."

She opened the box with utmost care and found a neatly folded sheet of paper. It must be special witch paper, since it had lasted for so many centuries without deteriorating. Eagerly, she began to unfold it, and once she had done so, her gaze wandered over lines beautifully written by a woman's sensitive hand. It read:

"There is no magic potion that can differentiate a witch from a fairy; each person is unique, and only what lies within can make them good or bad, an angel or a demon, a sweet, angelic witch or a terrible, nefarious demon. Labels don't matter; they are just that, labels. What truly matters is doing good for others. Be a free spirit, fly, and do good."

Zafira understood. She left the special room that her mother guarded so jealously. Now she really wanted to attend the Witches' Convention and show what she was capable of.

When the time came, she prepared meticulously. Accompanied by the other members of her family, they arrived at the Convention. Once there, they listened attentively to each and every participant presenting new formulas.

She heard her name called by the event director and stood resolutely to go up to the stage. Once there, she thanked the audience and, with a radiant smile that captivated everyone in the room, said:

"I have no potions or spells to show you, I will simply tell you about the decision I have made, a decision that has changed my life; I hope it will change yours too and make you as happy as it has made me: I have decided to be myself, without labels. I will dedicate my life to traveling, meeting people, learning new customs and new languages. I will learn to do good without expecting anything in return. I will live and let live. I will smile at the world hoping the world will smile with me..."

Applause resounded in the room, which had been completely silent until then.

The members of the committee that was to award the prize met. Shortly afterward, they appeared on the stage, and the president announced: "We are pleased to announce the jury's decision." This year, the first prize goes to Zafira for reminding us, in a simple yet effective way, what our goal in life should be: to do good. Thank you all so much for your participation. Until the next convention.

Mother and daughter embraced.

...And that's the end of the story!