Page 48 of Magical Mission
“You’remelting my eyebrows!”
Bella’s voice, usually melodic and serene, now held the edge of someone trying very hard not to lose her entire magical composure.
I eased the door open just a crack.
Inside, chaos.
Gentle chaos, but chaos nonetheless.
One of the long wooden tables was smoldering faintly, surrounded by a group of midlife witches waving spellbooks like fans. A small fire sprite hovered over the damage, looking far too smug for something the size of a teacup. I hadn’t a clue that the Academy had its own fire department made of such dainty creatures.
Bella was trying to coax something into a sealed lantern while explaining, calmly but with tight teeth, that lighting the grounding herbs is a symbolic act, not a full combustion ritual.
Across the room, Opal, with wide eyes, sat cross-legged on a cushion as a potted lavender plant slowly rotated above her head. Every few seconds, the pot dipped toward her, like it wanted to boop her on the nose.
“Should it be doing that?” Opal asked the class.
“Not… really,” Bella said, still wrangling the sprite. “It’s reacting to your aura.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means your aura is very... enthusiastic today.”
I tried to bite back a laugh and failed.
The door creaked as I stepped in.
Heads turned.
Bella gave me a look. Not panicked. Just resigned.
“Maeve,” she said. “How lovely of you to drop in. Everything’s under control.”
I looked at the charred edge of the table, then at the pouting fire sprite being lured into a mason jar with a sugar cube now that her work was over.
“Mmhmm. Very controlled.”
Bella finally managed to seal the sprite and placed the jar carefully in the corner, muttering a charm that sounded suspiciously likestay put or so help me.
Then Bella straightened, smoothed her apron, and turned to me.
“We’re working on wrangling mischievous herbs,” she said with forced cheer. “Identifying energetic resonance through scent and aura reading.”
I looked around.
One pot of basil was floating. Another had apparently developed the power of speech and kept repeatingcan’t catch mein a low monotone.
I smiled brightly. “Sounds like a success.”
Bella arched an eyebrow. “You’re enjoying this.”
“Only a little.”
A bell chimed faintly in the hallway, signaling the ten-minute mark until class is finished.
Bella clapped her hands. “All right, let’s ground our herbs. Everyone, find your breath, plant your feet, and imagine rootsgrowing beneath you. We’re going to bring the energydown,not out.”
A collective shuffle and rustle as everyone adjusted, settled, and tried very hard not to giggle. A few snickers happened anyway.
