Page 3 of The Holy Academy of Witches

“Yes Headmistress, only last year my brother and I were found and alerted to our… abilities.”

“Just information on you for now, thank you.” Her voice clipped and short, “and before that?” She continued.

I had thought she would have read through all of this in my file…. Turning to look at the daughter briefly, I realised who this information was truly intended for.

“I was attending Stanford,” her blank stare caused me to specify, “a mundane American college.”

“And what brought you here? Rather than attend our western branch in America?”

“My mother is originally from here, and recently reclaimed ownership of the family estate. So, when we were told we had the option to apply and attend under the family legacy, we moved as a family,” I explained.

“Due to your Uncle’s passing?”

“Yes,” I said, my smile tightening. How much of my story was she going to require I share?

“I’m sure you understand your situation is quite unprecedented. Pending your passing of initiation, you will be allowed to stay and enter into the fourth year with your peers. However, given your age of nineteen, I will require that you meet with a tutor to ensure you’re brought up to the expected standard here at Sancta Academia Magicae. They can sign off on your competency at their own discretion, do you understand?”

Clenching my fists I kept my voice steady, “of course, Ma’am.”

She nodded, satisfied by my compliance - if I judged the triumphant twinkle in her eye correctly. “My daughter Adeline will be giving you your tour today, should you pass. She’s well versed in its history, should you have any questions. Now, follow me and we will begin.”

She stood, gesturing to me to follow her back through the bookcase door, leaving Adeline behind. The room beyond was lit only by candles. The flickering light illuminated a round table that held a small shelf of dried herbs, a colourful variety of unlit candles, a pile of gemstones, and a deck of tarot cards. My parent’s words flashed in my mind, “We only lied to protect you, Sage. Secret’s don’t last long in a world that uses them like currency.”

“Whenever you’re ready,” Headmistress Alva’s exasperation with my lack of action was my only instruction to approach the table. I did so hesitantly, only to stop again in confusion when I saw there were no written directions to be found.

“What is it I’m meant to do, Headmistress?” I asked, sweat slicking my palms as I looked anywhere but the tarot deck that seemed to be screaming my name. Perhaps I wasn’t insane, and that was a relief, but if what my parents warned was true, then I needed to stay well away from anything that could trigger my gift. Especially when I didn’t know the gifts of those around me.

“Follow your instincts, let your magic lead you,” she sighed, scribbling something down on a clipboard I hadn’t noticed upon entering. I looked back at the table with resigned determination. Theo hadn’t protected me all these years just for me to fail the first time we were apart. Besides, I needed to prove to myself that I could survive without him, and find the answers that would set me free.

The sparkle of amethyst caught my eye and I reached for it instinctively. The familiar planes of my favourite crystal grounding me. I closed my eyes and breathed deeply, allowing my fears of failure to flow out of me while I pictured confidence and peace. I was going to pass initiation. I was going to do normal magic that was not freaky or weird at all.

“That will be enough, thank you, Miss Williams.” My eyes flew open at Headmistress Alva’s voice.

The room was soaked in a purple glow, the candlelight a soft lavender to the violet shadows. It was beautiful, calming, and as I looked down at my hands in wonder, I saw the pale blue light of my magic filtering into the stone.

“Please put the stone down, Miss Williams. You’ll do yourself no favours by draining your reserves on your first day.”

I put the stone down hastily, unsure how to prevent my reserves from draining otherwise. As the purple glow disappeared she bent her head to continue scribbling things down on her clipboard, ignoring me completely.

“Should I…” I gestured to the other items on the table, unsure whether the glow was enough to pass, or if she’d wanted to conserve my magic for additional tests.

“No.” She said sternly, without looking up.

I shifted back and forth on my feet, wondering if the fluttering in my stomach was from the use of magic or the return of my nerves. I stared at the candle’s flickering flame to pass the time, wondering whether the scratching of a pen would reveal my failure or success.

There in the candle’s flame, I saw Adeline smiling back at me, the warmth in her face a stark contrast to the cold exterior I’d seen before.

The rapid clicking of heels had me blinking away the image. Headmistress Alva waved a piece of paper at me with the agitation of someone that had been kept waiting.

“Daydreaming will not be tolerated on campus, so be sure to stay alert or I’ll have to revoke your admission.” She shook the paper again and I took it quickly, on it were several paragraphs of curling calligraphy. All I could make out of the looping script was the word: ‘Accepted,’ at the bottom of the page. My heart began racing as I caught onto the fact that I had passed. She gestured to the door and I clutched the paper to my heart, nodding rapidly. We walked through the bookshelf to see Adeline in precisely the same position as when we left.

Silently, she stood and nodded at the Headmistress behind me, before standing to wait by the door.

“Leave your luggage here and I’ll have it sent to your dormitory. Keep hold of that paper until you meet with your tutor. It will give them some insight as to the strength and affinity of your magic.” She said, sitting down at her desk before summoning a laptop from thin air.

Adeline recognized the dismissal so I followed her out. Glancing behind me, I saw the font flash a quick:

“Good day, Misses Alva & Williams.”

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