Page 42 of If The Shoe Fits

The students nod thoughtfully, and I add, “Remember, when you try the slippers, focus on one particular thing—an intention, a hope, or a belief. That clarity will help guide the magic.”

As I step back, Wulfy leans down to whisper in my ear, “You’re amazing, Sweet Witch.”

I turn to him, my cheeks warming under his golden gaze, and I can’t help but think that, for once, maybe the shoe really does fit.

“I don’t get it,” one of the kids mutters close enough for me to hear.

chapter sixteen

Ipause, scanning the room and realizing I’ve lost some of them. A few students look confused, others are whispering to their friends, and a couple seem more interested in their phones than my explanation.

Okay. Time to regroup.

“It’s like this,” I say, leaning in slightly as if sharing a secret. “If you’re on a sports team, think about the last game you played. Sportsmanship is a huge test of ethical values, right? Did you play fair? Did you respect your teammates and opponents?”

Some heads nod, and I see a flicker of understanding in their eyes.

“But the same can be said for those of you who take your classes seriously. Remember, the Academy works on an honor system. Have you been honest in your work? Are you putting in the effort you’re capable of?”

A round ofohsripples through the crowd, and I breathe a little easier.

“So, if it doesn’t fit, we’re what? Losers?” Steven pipes up, earning a smattering of laughter from the students around him.

A smile teases at the corner of my mouth. “No, you’re not a loser, Steven,” I reply, keeping my tone light.

“If the slippers don’t fit—and they won’t for many—you’ll receive a message only you can hear. It’s a suggestion on where you can apply yourself to improve. For example, when I tried them on, the slippers suggested I work on reining in my temper when it comes to certain errant students—” I shoot a pointed look at Steven, earning more giggles from the crowd, “—and maybe not giving so many pop quizzes.”

“I second that, Professor Troy,” another student chimes in, to a chorus of laughter.

I grin, glad to see the tension in the room easing. But before I can continue, Aggie catches my eye and mouths something urgently.

What?

I think, trying to decipher her frantic gestures. Finally, it clicks, and I clear my throat.

“Oh! One thing I forgot to mention,” I say, my voice rising slightly to recapture their attention. “In trying on the slippers, yes, you’re opening yourselves up to judgment—but you’re also getting a glimpse into your actual soul.”

A collective gasp sweeps through the room.

“Our souls?” someone asks, the words dripping with disbelief and a little awe.

“Well, the things that move and motivate you,” I clarify. “If you take what the slippers have to say to heart, they can help set you on the path to obtaining your heart’s truest desire. That’s the goal here. To give you insight. Guidance. A way forward.”

The room goes silent, the buzz of nervous energy almost tangible as students exchange glances, elbowing each other and daring one another to go first.

I step back, gesturing toward the designated area where the line should begin. “So,” I say, smiling encouragingly, “if you’d like to gauge your moral compass, please form a line here.”

No one moves at first. The students look at each other, hesitant, their nerves on full display.

And then Wulfy speaks.

“So, who’s first?” he asks, his deep voice cutting through the tension like a blade.

The shift in the atmosphere is immediate. His tone—calm, commanding, and utterly serious—has the effect of a starter pistol. One brave student steps forward, then another, and soon, the line begins to form.

I glance up at Wulfy, his sharp golden eyes surveying the crowd with an intensity that makes my breath hitch.

There’s something about the way he stands beside me—strong, steady, and completely unwavering—that fills me with a sense of calm.

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