Page 16 of The Holy Academy of Witches

“Deal!” We extended and interlocked our pinkies in our most solemn oath.

“Okay, so the secret is, most soundless charms are mixed with unnoticeable or detection charms, and that weakens it. The more the charm is focused on sound alone, the stronger it is. So, hide yourself well and focus on sound only and boom.” He pinched his lips between his pointer finger and thumb while channelling his magic until his eyes flashed white. He then began drumming on the boat and while I felt the reverberations, they were soundless. Although it didn’t stop the sound of water sloshing against the side of the boat.

Pinching my own lips together I channelled my magic toward silence. Only silence. Light flashed from my own eyes before I tried drumming as well. It was perfectly quiet, although the sounds around me were also amplified.

Dismissing the spell, I asked: “Do you hear clearer as well?”

“Yeeeeeesssssiiirrrr.” He said, his eyes gleaming. Oh this was going to be an awful spell for him to know once we were back at home.

Pulling out my phone, I saw it was almost witching-hour. “I need to go. Some of my potion ingredients for class need to be picked during witching hour.”

He got up to tap the speed rune and steered us back towards, what I assumed was, the direction of the pier. He always did have an amazing sense of direction.

Docking the boat, he climbed up onto the pier before pulling me up with him. He crushed me into a hug, his scruff scratching my cheek.

“Ouch! Ya big lug!”

I wriggled in vain, scratching myself as he refused to let go. Finally I went limp and hugged him back with a sigh, “Love you too.”

“I know.” He said, patting me on the head. “So do mom and dad, you know that right?”

“Yeah… I do.”

“You don’t have to forgive them for everything to let them help you.” He’d gripped my shoulders now, knowing I didn’t want to have this conversation. He knew I could never forgive them, just like I knew he could never forget. I swallowed loudly.

“I can’t pretend everything is fine any more, Theo. I thought I was insane. They let us, encouraged us even, to think we were crazy. That I wasn’t actually glowing, that my visions were all in my head. That when we went through puberty, our new powers were just hormonal mood swings, and then made us fend for ourselves. Unless of course you count them enforcing meditation, herbal drinks, and mental shields even before our powers manifested. How am I supposed to just… act like I’m okay with that?” My words were whispered, harsh and guttural with barely suppressed rage.

“You know I’m the wrong person to ask about that. What they did was fucked. And honestly, I’ll never be okay with it. But then, look at me. I’m not exactly the golden standard of how to heal. And I… well, I don’t know what to do, but I’m worried about you, Sage.” I looked up at that, he almost never called me Sage. “I can’t protect you at a different school, and it’s making me actually lose my mind knowing you won’t let anyone in.”

I gasped, hurt at that. I was trying to make friends, to do what he had always done for me. Maybe I wasn’t the best at trusting people, maybe I should open up more. But it was hard. How could I trust anyone when I’d spent my entire life being lied to? When I’d learned to lie to myself while hiding in dark places as Theo convinced those around us that we were normal.

“Just… think about it. And be safe getting back. It’s just straight ahead okay?”

Flipping him off tiredly, I made my way back to the boat.

Theo cast the soundless charm again before rushing away, a serious run this time, he made it up the hill without slowing. He jumped and spun around to give me a large wave before he disappeared behind the hill. Classic Theo, always trying to cheer me up, to lighten my load.

I allowed myself a small chuckle before turning to get settled in the boat when a smooth voice came from the end of the pier.

“Trespassing on the first week of school, and at the pier? The creativity-”

Spinning around to identify the newcomer, I saw nothing but a pressed black uniform and dark hair before hitting the side of the boat and falling overboard.

Ten

Sage

My combat boots were pulling me down. This part of the lake was deeper than I would have expected for being near the shore. Struggling to kick them off, I kept my eye on the light that was slowly being swallowed by the lake’s algae forest.

I was sinking.Fuck.

I’d gotten one boot off and was trying to stay above the seaweed. The other was still too heavy and I was running out of air.

Don’t panic, just don’t panic.

Too late. My body began reacting to the stress by sending me vision after vision. I lived, I drowned, I lived, I drowned. None of it helpful as I tried to kick off the damning boot.

Strong arms wrapped around me and I instinctively began to struggle. The arms tightened, my lungs burned and I felt air leaking from my mouth.

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