Page 51 of The Holy Academy of Witches

“Oh lovely! I’ve never liked swimming myself… the chlorine never agrees with my eyes! Well, I won’t keep our future winner waiting!” She stumbled to open the door for me, gesturing for me to go in.

“Thank you.” I waited to see if she would follow but instead she remained outside, obviously waiting on someone.

* * *

I floated in the water, the pool empty apart from a brunette in the year above and myself. Most students would be in classes. I idly wondered if Sage would be putting herself forward for the Run. I snorted at the thought. Though she did look like she spent a lot of time outdoors, I never encountered her doing any sort of exercise. Hmm, I’d have to ask her this evening.

After swimming another length, I pulled myself from the water. Shivering, I made my way into the changing rooms. At least the tiled flooring was heated. My hair hung heavy and wet down my back, plastered against my costume. As I lifted my phone from my locker I noticed a notification. Drying myself off, I swiped my phone bringing up a text message from Teddy.

Teddy: I’m sorry I couldn’t wait… As if you wrote the letter on parchment!

Please please tell me you used an actual quill?!

Adeline: Of course I did, what do you take me for?!

A smile tugged at my lips. Standing in my underwear in the middle of the changing rooms, I quickly typed out a reply and then continued to change back into my uniform.

A high pitched chime sounded signalling the arrival of another message. I fought a smile as I dried my hair. Once dry, I tied it up into a high ponytail, wrapping a velvet bow around the bobble.

Teddy: I mean, I just didn’t know I was talking to a 16th century playwright that’s all

I laughed to myself as I replied. Grabbing my bag, I left the gym.

Adeline: Winifred Shakesword at your service! x

Teddy: LOL! Oh Winnie! What am I going to do with you?

Nibbling at my lower lip, I typed out a message and waited for his reply, which came straight away. We continued to text back and forth, my smile spreading as I walked to my Curses class.

Twenty-Seven

Sage

The try outs were coming up fast, which meant Theo and I’s training became a competitive and applied crash course on magic. Everyday we tried to outdo each other with our repertoire of spells. After a couple of back breaking weeks, I was still not up to Theo’s physical standards. I was currently trying to do rope climbs from conjured vines and every muscle in my arms and back were screaming. Without any cliffs or rock walls on campus it just hadn’t been a priority. In contrast, Theo seemed to have upped his regimen as he spent most of our session hanging from a branch to shout instructions.

“Okay, now see if you can conjure a vine and swing to it! No! Don’t conjure it in your hand, root it in a tree and then pull it to you,” Theo shouted, “you don’t want to put your full weight on something that isn’t secure!”

I threw down the vine I’d already conjured. My right arm shaking from the effort of holding my entire body. Following his instructions, I began swinging from tree to tree.

“Good! Now swing yourself onto a branch! Someone is coming, dismiss your vines. Leave no foothold behind! He can see you! Camouflage! Come on Sage, if I see you I can incapacitate you!”

I rolled my eyes, I’d been using his silence spell which relied on no unnoticeable spells.

“Don’t think linearly, Sage, be flexible!”

Casting a shield of bark as close to the tree behind me I hid behind it, “Don’t impair your vision!”

I felt a hand wrap around my ankle before a sharp tug sent me falling to the ground. Dropping my shield, I cast a vine and held on tightly, my arms jerking in their sockets to prevent a gruelling impact.

Slow clapping filled the air. Looking down I saw that he had cast a mattress of leaves and hay in case I failed to catch myself. The thoughtful asshole. Setting the mattress ablaze before dousing it in water I swung myself over to tackle him into the sooty puddle. He dodged, only to be tripped by the vine I’d cast around his feet.

“Timber!!” I yelled. We burst into laughter as the dark water soaked us both.

“That’s exactly the kind of thinking you need to do in The Run, Sage. Stop focusing on your visions, they eat up time and are unreliable. Use your rock climbing skills, and play the long game.”

“As long as my prize is seeing your face in some mud, I’ll have all the motivation I need.” I said, surveying my work. His tee and sweats were drenched and I didn’t even try to hide my smugness as I crooned, “Looks chilly, you should cover up.” No sister wanted to see their brother in the grey sweatpants reserved for hot guys.

He splashed me back, only for it to hit a shield of air. I stuck out my tongue behind the barrier before shivering.

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