Page 56 of The Holy Academy of Witches

Adeline: Ha! Tell me about it. At least you don’t have to listen to yours talk endlessly about shopping and boys!

His reply came through straight away:

Teddy: That’s what you think!

I snorted a laugh which Professor Hershaw didn’t fail to miss. “Ooh you are in good spirits this morning Adeline! It’s nice to see.” She gave me a genuine smile and walked to greet Professor Biggle who had snagged her dress on a nearby table.

I double checked my phone was on silent before slipping it back in my pocket, a smile still lingering.

I listened intently as Professor Hershaw and Professor Biggle discussed and demonstrated the ways in which divination and rituals could be combined.

“Wonderful, can anyone think of an example of a blessed gift which may benefit or be enhanced by ritual magic?” Professor Hershaw asked, looking round the classroom, her eyes never staying on my own for more than a split second. She never picked on me to provide answers unless I raised my hand, even when she knew I would know the answer, unlike every other teacher at the Academy.

A girl sitting cross-legged on a green bean bag, raised her hand tentatively, “astral projecting?”

“Oo not astral projecting, good guess though Penny, astral projection is a ritual act - correct,” she smiled kindly, “but it is not a blessed gift, it uses our inane witchcraft.” She looked around the room, all the students rapt with attention. “Blessed gifts are a form of magic unique to the witch or warlock, entirely separate to the light and dark magics which we all inevitably learn to wield. In fact, 60% of the time blessed gifts manifest at a different stage in childhood entirely. There may in fact be some students in this room whose gift has not yet made itself known… Is anyone willing to give an example of a gift? It does not need to be your own, if you would not like to share such information, after all we all have the right to privacy where that is considered… and for good reason, many witches have been persecuted throughout history for their gifts. Anyone?” I bristled uncomfortably, looking away.

“Healing?” Someone volunteered.

“Yes! Well done Cassandra!” Professor Hershaw clapped her hands together, “Healing is a wonderful example. We of course have the ability to heal small scrapes, common illness and minor wounds… as you’ll know from your potions lessons with Professor Allard… but healing as a gift…” She paced the room, her hands waving around with her passion for knowledge. Everyone’s eyes followed her, including Professor Biggle’s. “Why healing is truly a blessing… the ability to save even the most gravely injured, bringing them back from the brink of death… truly amazing stuff. Of course, most healers go on to pursue careers in the medical field which is something we should all be very grateful for… Anyone else?” Her eyes scanned the room, momentarily settling on my own, a flicker in her expression the only tell she was wondering what my own gift was. What gift must the best student in the Academy have? How powerful is she? Everyone wondered, only one person knew and he sat in an entirely different classroom. I kept my face neutral as I met her gaze. She looked away first, pointing to a permanently rosy-cheeked girl I couldn’t recall the name of.

“Mathilda!” That’s the one. “Which gift have you thought of…”

“Empathic abilities?” She asked, her voice timid, wavering with uncertainty.

“Excellent! Professor Biggle, would you like to take this one?”

Professor Biggle nodded, “Empath’s are individuals blessed with the gift of sensing one’s feelings and emotions. It varies from person to person but rule of thumb is that most empath’s need touch to sense an emotion, though, more rarely, few empath’s are able to sense a person’s emotions from close proximity. The feeling is easier to sense if it is a strong one, such as anger or extreme joy… yes?” She asked a student with their hand in the air.

“Is being an empath one of the gifts that could be crossed over with divination?” The girl, Melody, one of Sage’s room mates, asked.

“Unfortunately not,” Professor Hershaw answered instead, “can anyone think of an example of a gift whose very nature is that of divination?“

When no one answered I raised my hand, “Yes, Adeline.” Her smile spread wide at my participation.

“The sight. Seer’s, although rare, are gifted,” not blessed, I thought to myself. I certainly didn’t envy those plagued with such a burden. “-With foresight. The witch or warlock is plagued by visions of things that have yet to pass.”

“Excellent,” Professor Hershaw breathed, “and can you think how this gift may be manipulated by ritual magic?”

“Rituals using light magic could enhance the seer’s visions, make them more focused and to the will of the seer… though I imagine it would be dangerous, giving yourself over to light magic whilst also consumed by a vision.”

Professor Biggle nodded in agreement, along with a few students. I looked around the room as the two professors resumed the lecture. Noticing Sage’s absence, I ensured my notes were thorough so she could use them. I’d drop them off at her dorm if she doesn’t show up for tutoring this evening. Though we weren’t exactly friends she was certainly growing on me and I knew she liked to do well academically.

As I left the rituals classroom I had a couple of hours to kill before my next lesson with Professor Qadir. A group of students were gathered blocking the entrance. Looking past them I saw the sky had darkened with thick grey clouds, rain poured heavily down, muting the usually vibrant campus. I tutted at the girls huddled together, conjuring an umbrella I pushed through them and out into the courtyard.

I found my mind drifting back to the image of Teddy and his messages… It’s funny how someone who wasn’t even part of my life a few weeks ago was now frequently on my mind.

Wet leaves were littered all over the winding paths which spiralled out from the courtyard. I had just enough time to head to the greenhouses for some ingredients, set up a couple of my healing potions to brew and eat lunch.

Thirty

Sage

The ache in my chest grew as I got closer to consciousness, a racking cough shaking my overly hot body. Reaching for the blue potion I plugged my nose and swallowed quickly, sighing at the icy relief that spread through my veins. Squinting I held in a sob when I saw it was my last cooling drought. The pain in my chest spiked, throbbing from the consistent cough, and lack of magic. I’d pushed myself too hard, for too long, the healer said. My reserves were now running too low to fight off the virus.

Pushing myself into a sitting position, I grabbed the phone and sent a series of messages off. First, to the medics for extras, then to Adeline to cancel tutoring, and the last to cancel training with Theo. It was no surprise when the obnoxiously loud ringtone pierced my ears. Was I usually deaf??

“What, you quitting on me already?” Came his response.

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