Page 31 of The Holy Academy of Witches

A giddy breeze twirled around me, causing my hair to tangle further. Exasperated, I pulled it up into a messy bun. Looking down at my mud splattered jeans, I thanked all the Gods for the comforts of the weekend. The pleated silk of our uniform would have been a nightmare for exploring these tangled woods. I pulled my leather jacket closer, cursing myself for leaving my gloves in a different coat, before kneeling by the stone. It was ideal for a seance table, and if I warded the clearing right I could keep anyone else from discovering it.

Grabbing the pouch of salt I’d nicked from Adeline, I eyed the clearing’s perimeter… Yeah, this would be enough.

Pacing the clearing I began to sing.

Ring around a rosy, pocket full of posies, ashes, ashes, we all fall down.

Repeating the tune over and over till the circle was complete, I reinforced the spell with thoughts of secrets, hiding, safety, sanctuary. A large stone building flickered in my mind at that last word, but it was gone before I could examine it. Odd, maybe this place enhanced my visions? Made channelling my emotions unnecessary? Either way, it was mine now. Mine and any who I allowed, once I mastered warding spells.

Taking out the crystals I needed to charge for class, I placed them in a circle. A piece of Malachite sparkled, the exact shade of Adeline’s eyes, and for a moment I felt the icy fingers of foreboding.

I looked into the trees surrounding the green meadow, there was no one around for miles… and the wards were fresh. The air crackled in anticipation. There were too many risks in this book situation, it was worth trying for a vision.

Messaging Theo to call me in an hour, just in case I lost track of time, I began sinking so my back rested against the stone table. I thought about Adeline’s emerald eyes. About her behaviour in the library. About her love of piano. All the while repeating the question,is she trustworthy? My gut told me she wasn’t lying about anything but I laid down and fell into the pale pink swirls behind my eyes as a vision consumed me.

We were at the Academy, though we weren’t in uniform. Perhaps it was a weekend, either way we both looked older… Or just,differentsomehow. Future Sage was talking animatedly while Adeline smiled, shaking her head at whatever I was saying. They sat under a tree eating some apples, each taking turns telling stories and laughing. Shoulders loose, smiles open, and the occasional friendly nudge before dissolving into a heap of laughter.

Tears fell down my face as I blinked away the vision, the ethereal blue glow which took over my eyes, taking longer than usual to fade away. Theo’s call was rattling the crystals on the table.

“Hello?” I croaked.

“What did you see?” He answered.

“Nosey much?” I scoffed, rubbing my throat before standing. My knees wobbled. I’d done too much, I needed food.

“Hey, you know the deal, I call… you answer.”

“It was nothing, I just found out I might be able to make friends after all.”

“Well sounds like a better time than usual,” he responded with a slight pause.

“I’m okay Theo, nothing bad this time. Thanks for the call.” I ended the line before he could prod any further.

Walking back the way I came, I contemplated how Adeline and I could become so close. Either way I wanted that friendship, I craved it. And if I could do anything to help it come true… I would.

With that promise I began tearing into the snacks that lined the bottom of my bag. First rule of magic, always have snacks.

Seventeen

Sage

Ariver of low hanging clouds swept across the observatory’s glass ceiling. The grey current concealed any planets and stars from view by the naked eye, as well as from the large telescope that acted as the class’ axis. Mrs. Biggle’s desk was on the Telescope’s raised platform, a captain at the helm of her ship as she led us through ‘destiny’s sea.’ Every so often the platform would spin, allowing her to observe the room’s four distinct sections.

The scrying corner was lined with counter height tables, each station containing a black crystal ball and empty elemental bowl. Unsurprisingly, everyone had favoured the crystal ball as most found filling the bowl with an element too tricky to maintain while scrying.

The tarot corners’ low tables were covered in woven cloth, while tufted pillows packed with people were dealing their fates. Most had cast a privacy spell so their cards were blurred, but the few I could see were well and truly fucked. If the rising number of extremist attacks across the world weren’t enough to predict a war in my mind,thiswas.

A crash came from across the room and I looked up to see Amelia helping a tired looking Silva pick up a dish of crystal pendulums. The other witches refrained from joining, having warded themselves inside salt circles before using their pendulums. Each pendulum continued to swing, despite their witch’s wandering attention. The pendulums ranged from obsidian, to iron, to rose quartz but an especially rare Aquamarine crystal caught my eye as it swung. A pair of pale blue eyes above a smug smile flashed in my mind before it pointed toward yes.

I rolled my eyes, glancing down at my pouch of runes. They were the safest option for me with so many eyes. Which was infuriating as I was beyond tempted to show my peers that while I was behind in most subjects, this one I could, and usually did, do in my sleep. Thankfully my pride did not override my self-preservation instinct. I’d cast my own privacy spell, along with glamouring myself to dissuade my peer’s attention. I rolled the runes around in their pouch, wishing we could go back to studying the stars rather than practising readings, where my visions might be triggered. I looked up to see Mrs. Biggle approaching, my poorly cast glamour having had no effect on her. I dismissed it, casting a rune while asking if I’d enjoy today’s dinner.

“Miss Williams, I was informed by Miss Alva that you seem to have quite the affinity for this subject and yet I’ve not once glimpsed you approaching any of the other stations, is there anything wrong with what has been provided?” She narrowed her eyes at her own classroom, as if certain she would be able to spot whatever had prevented me from approaching the other stations.

“No ma’am, I’m just of the mind that runes are the easiest to carry and want to become more proficient in them for my career.”

“Ah,” she crossed her arms over her bulk while tapping her lips. Giving one last glance around the classroom she let her arms drop, “that’s very practical thinking Miss Williams. You’re considering a field-heavy career then?”

“Yes, my parents work in the conservation and cartography of enchanted lands.” I try to keep my posture relaxed, still triggered by the unexpected aspect of my parent’s photography and mapping business.

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