Chapter 162 – “Congratulations on completing your first spell.” Cordelia’s smile was small, hiding something I couldn’t quite place. “How does it feel to call on your magic and have it respond?”
It was moonlight alone that allowed me to see her delicate features from where she sat on the patio chairs. The leather chords around her neck were dark, but the silver charms that dangled from them glittered merrily.
A frown ghosted across my face and disappointment filled my bones. “I-I didn’t do that correctly, did I?”
“Not at all, but you tried, and your magic did respond.” She replied, patting the seat beside her when my sour expression deepened. “Come sit with me before we go inside and sort this out.”
“Everything alright out here?” Rowena’s flowery voice trickled through the small opening in the sliding glass door.
00:00/00:00PUBFUTUREHARRYPOTTER1
“We’re fine, just a bit of sigil magic gone awry.” Cordelia shouted back, but kept her eyes locked on my face. A slight twisting sensation in the pits of my stomach told me something was going on with the two witches. Rather than ask, I sank into the seat I once occupied and waited for her to speak. “Now, tell me. What did you do wrong?”
I skimmed the spell again and again until heat flooded my face and neck, followed by the embarrassment of missing something so blatantly obvious.
“I was supposed to paint the sigil on myself, not the porch.” I mumbled, closing the spell book, and peering down at it’s leather cover.
Cordelia’s hand on my shoulder was meant to reassure, but before she could speak the words Rowena’s voice floated outside a second time.
“Cordelia, could I have a word with you?” This time a head of auburn hair appeared from the darkness of the living room, barely visible beneath the moonlight.
Rowena wasn’t able to see her agitated expression, but I could. The gnashed eyebrows and pursed lips were off putting on a face as kind as Cordelia’s, and for the second time tonight my stomach twisted with the feeling that something was amiss.
When the backdoor slid shut behind her and the sound of their muffled voices faded, I turned my attention to the box of supplies she’d handed me. Within the mix of half-burnt candles, herbs, and oils was an old mirror. Other than being chipped at the corner, it was in decent enough condition.
“That’s why the mirror was in there.” I snorted incredulously, pinching the bridge of my nose when a chilling sensation danced up my spine.
Deep within the forest, I could feel them watching. The shadows were still keeping their distance, hiding from me after giving Breyona back her wolf. It didn’t matter how many times I asked why, there wasn’t a single whisper tossed in my direction. Rather than succumb to the anger that sprouted when they refused to answer my questions, I began flitting through the stack of spell books Cordelia left outside.
There was one in particular that caught my attention, mostly because of it’s cover. It was made from a pitch-black leather with an odd texture I’d never felt before. Each individual page was lined in silver so that they caught the light each time I turned to a new one.
Just as I found the first spell in the book, and realized what type of magic this one depicted, Cordelia was taking it from my hands and snapping it shut.
“Oh, no you don’t.” She shook her head much like Grandma did when she caught me gearing up to steal one of her sweets before dinner. “I can see the look on your face clear as day. You’re not ready for something a s complex as protection magic.”
was raised by the stirring of magic in our veins, coursing through our body and leaving little pinpricks in its wake. It rushed through us, flooding
some unknown reason, I needed
it along with my h****r and surprise. There was a part of me ready and willing to tear it from her hands, no matter the cost. I wanted to stay far away
and much more experienced witch could tell I was fighting an
ready for you.” She said, her voice firm
room. On the living room table was the great leather-bound book I started reading my first day of training. I’d learned what Sigil magic was, along with Natural and a hint of Divination. Before I could swipe it off the table and get to reading Rowena appeared around the corner, heading from the kitchen where Grandma’s humming could be heard. There was a tension within her delicate
my head to catch a glimpse
course everything’s alright. There’s
was referring to Grandma and…” I frowned, trailing off when I saw no sign of my
here!” I heard him shout and spun around to see the front door wide open with my dad standing just outside. Before I could ask him what he was doing, he nodded his head in Grandma’s direction and grunted, “…don’t look at me, look at the witch in
referring to Rowena, but then
hair. You were
into one another. “Yeah, well you got what you
over her shoulder, “I can still hear
house, promptly slamming the
that convenient?” Rowena said cheerfully, a glimmer of pride in her eyes as she glanced at Grandma. I had no choice but to follow as she shooed me back into the living
stairs. There was a glimmer of light in her eyes that felt familiar yet foreign at the same time. “I’ll see
or at least she pretended not to. She didn’t need to glance in the direction of the stairs to tell me she too felt the tense air between them. Left with more questions than answers, I
types in Rowena’s book
I found myself instantly missing my best-friend. Breyona had said if given the choice, she’d pick Divination as a magical skill. The further I read, the more I respected the subtle yet
future were just within reach for the witches able to practice Divination. Most needed a reflective surface like a pool of water or even a
a passive form of
through the streets came to mind, stirring up a feeling of dread that left me with a dry mouth. I could still feel the heat of her flames
that they would send them off to be specially trained and raised by
elements and the ways that they could be manipulated were near endless, varying in power
deep within the thick cut pages when I noticed grandma’s small form flit from the kitchen and out the front door. In her hurry to take the plate of cookies in her hand outside, she’d
Grandma asked, growing more urgent the longer
of anything…well, except for the usual pain.” He replied with a gravely voice, noticeably
shook her head at Rowena and darted back inside the kitchen. The clank of pots and pans rattling against one another d*****d out her quiet muttering. Rowena’s lips fell in a sympathetic frown, and with her high cheekbones and elfish features, she appeared
the way you intend the first few times.”‘ I caught her telling grandma in a hushed voice. “You’ll get the hang of it; I know
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
The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!