Page 47 of Jasmine's Enchanted Genie

“Since witches or wizards are born with dormant power, it's inherent in their makeup. You’re not a born witch, so to gain the power, the lamp would have to take it from someone else.”

“Someone who was sent to the ether.” Someone who would probably die now that I’d stolen their power. “I need to give it back with my third wish.” I couldn’t do anything mean like that to another person.

“If they were sent to the ether, it was because they’d murdered with their power or did something so horrible that they could no longer exist in this world. Look at it as a blessing. You’ll use their power for good, not evil.”

“Cardia was going to send me there for disobeying her. Has she ever sent others there?”

“I don’t know.”

I’d try to do as he suggested yet my first “use” of this power had been to take it from someone else. “Whoever I took power from will die.”

“They were dead already.” He tilted his head. “Didn’t you know? When a person enters the ether, their soul is stripped from their body. All that’s left is a shell that wanders through the fog until it’s killed by one of the beasts.”

28

BOSHUN

Since it was late, we went to bed, rising early enough to dress and go down for breakfast. We wanted to be ready to go to Jasmine’s sister with the healer.

“I’ve been thinking about power,” Jasmine said as she donned one of the dresses I’d already crafted.

“In what way?” If only I’d created additional clothing for myself. I’d placed my suit outside the door last night, and someone had taken it and returned it clean, but everyone would notice that “the prince” was wearing the same outfit as the day before. A little thing when compared to everything else, but it bothered me. If my fake identity was unveiled, they might thrust me out the front gate and lock it behind me—or toss me into the dungeon.

“We have a few minutes before we have to go downstairs,” Jasmine said. “Would you tell me how to use my power? I promise I won’t practice on my own, but I feel like I should at least have a basic understanding of what I’d need to do to craft spells.”

“I’m not sure—”

“If I don’t understand how to use it, how am I going to keep myself from accidentally casting spells? Leave it to me to give the king a second nose when I sneeze.”

“It doesn’t work like that.”

She laid her hand on my arm. “Then tell me how it works.”

“All right.” Taking her hand I drew her over to the bed, and we sat on the edge. “Close your eyes.” I watched until she’d done it. “Now look around you.”

“With my eyes closed?” Laughter bubbled in her voice.

“You won’t find power with your eyes wide open.”

“I have a feeling I shouldn’t be looking for magic with my eyes closed, however.”

“This method is used when a witch or wizard is in early training. Once you can see the power around you, you can then be taught how to pull it in and send it back out into the world with your command.”

“Is spellcasting that simple?”

“Once you can gather power and send it out, then you’ll learn the right words to cast the spell. They’re complex. Otherwise, someone might inadvertently do something unexpected.”

“Like give the king a second nose.”

I laughed. “Yes, something like that.” I cleared my throat. “With your eyes closed, look for the mist. You’ll find it lurking around the edges.”

She frowned. “I see something.”

“What color is it?”

“Deep red. Light blue. Some purple. Lots of colors.”

“Amazing,” I breathed.

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