1 Chapter 1
With the finishing touches, I pour the purple liquid into a jar. Turning around, I head back down the stairs from my lab. Sitting in the waiting room of my shop is a woman and her pet hen. The lady lives just down the road in a red house. She seems really nice, but I haven't had much of a chance to talk with her. Hearing my footsteps, the two of them perk up and meet me halfway.
"Now, here is the cough medicine, it's my special home remedy." I say directly to the hen, while including her owner. "You will need to drink 1/4 cup of this every 8 hours. That should calm the cough." The woman smiles brightly and takes the jar from me. She places it neatly in her satchel attached to her hip, then readily picks up the hen.
"What would we do without you Miss Bell? You know just the right way to take care of our animals, as well as the villagers." I smile shyly and see them off, but before they are far down the road, the woman hurries back towards me. "I almost forgot to pay you! How silly of me!!" She pulls out her coin purse and fidgets with the insides of it. "Here, 10 pounds. And also, here. Two magic stones." In her hand, along with the money, is one red and one yellow magic stone. I take in a deep breath at their beauty.
"Ma'am I can't take these. These must be worth fortunes and far better witches than I can make use of them." But there is no convincing her. She places them in my hand and scurries off before I can stop her. I smile shyly and head inside my shop and home. Inside the door, I place the stones in my pocket, the money on the counter, and then opened my mail that I left sitting on my couch. Going through my mail, I notice more bills to pay. Light, heat, and a vendor notice. I'll have to give the vendor that's coming the solid 10 pounds I just made. That is if I want to keep making remedies and to keep helping my patients.
I sit my mail down in annoyance, and head to the stairs leading to my lab and bedroom. As I climb the stairs to the second floor, I notice the yellowish stone begin to glow inside my pocket. The light grows brighter and brighter, till it fills my vision. The room around me disappears into a bumblebee yellow, and the floor seems to vanish below me. Before I can even blink my eyes, I flash into a bright blue sky; Filling it with the most perfect white puffy clouds. Am I flying? Did the stone do this? Am I teleporting somewhere? Or are the stones showing me a vision of some sort? I look toward the horizon and see a beautiful building maybe 100 miles off. And to no doubt of mine, it was the Gervorshe Royal Magic Academy. The most top Elite School for wizards and witches.
I am in awe. This is the school I've only read and dreamed about all my life. I never thought that I'd be looking at it now with my own two eyes. But before I can look even more closely, with a snap I am in a courtyard, with the school towering over me. I lay underneath an oak tree, with the leaves falling down all around me. I look forward, and in front of me are two people arguing. They are oblivious that I am sitting down near them, almost like they can't see me. Wait, am I invisible? Is this the power of the stone in my hand? Maybe not teleportation stones? Before I can pinch myself, I am flying in the air again, and in just a split second, I'm in a classroom.
Two gentlemen stand to the side of me. One is tall, and has rich golden hair, while the other is around my height and has shimmery emerald green hair. Both with eyes as dark as the midnight sky. I can feel my face flush as I look at how handsome they are. But once again I am flying, and I am moving to another location through this sort of space I'm in. This time it seems like I'm in a flower garden, filled with tulips, daisies, roses, lilies, and even carnations. A few feet away there is a pavilion tall and white, with a pink haired boy no older than me, standing with a floating stuffed rabbit.
But in an instant, I am back in my cottage, just outside my bedroom. A feeling of excitement falls over me, but it doesn't last long. From all the excitement and flying between spaces, my stomach is really easily upset. I run to the bathroom and kneel over my toilet seat and I spew all my breakfast into the bowl. Once done, I rinse my mouth and wash my hands in the sink, then look at myself in the mirror. My cheeks are flushed and beads of sweat are at the top of my brow. As I wipe away moisture with my face rag hanging off the side of the sink, my front door bell rings. Shoot. A customer. I compose myself, fix my hair, and head down to the main floor. Standing there is an old man with a sweet beagle. He's the farmer who gives me fresh apples every year. I think his name is Gerald, but I could be wrong.
"Hi there," I try to make my voice sound chipper. "What can I help you with today?"
"This is my dog Connie. She's been bleeding from her paw and I can't seem to find the cut. Can you help?" He looks worriedly down at Connie as she whimpers picking her paw up off the floor. She limps over to me as I crouch down to meet her. The man holds her leash in his hand tightly. I can definitely feel his anxiety.
"Hi Connie, what did you cut yourself on?" My eyes connect with her. "Woof woof woof, I fell on a rose bush chasing a bunny. It's lodged on the bottom part of my paw in the webbing. Please, it really hurts." Her voice to me is quiet. But to her owner, he just hears her barking like normal. I pick her up gently in my arms, and take her and her owner over to one of my examination rooms just down the hall, past my stairs. I place her on the table and ask her to roll over on her back. Once her paw is up in the air, I take off the bloody bandage around her paw. I pull out my wand and roll up my sleeves.
"By the gods, sacred wind grant us a breeze and mend this wound. Sanatio Aura." A blue light forms around Connie and a gust of wind is blown through the room. A sliver of wind, like a needle, removes the thorn and seals the cut perfectly. The spell evaporates, and the old man and Connie are left in shock.
"My dear, that was just spectacular! In all my years, I have never met anyone who can heal animal injuries, no matter what they are, as well as you just did!" His voice is elevated and full of enthusiasm as I clean and wrap up Connie's paw. "Do you live in this shop by yourself? I know your mother and father are gone, but surely you have some other family?" He asks me as I pick up Connie, and hands her back to him. My mood darkens and I feel tears welling up in my eyes.
"No family. My parents died from the pandemic that came through the valley 10 odd years ago, as you know. But my parents taught me the ways of medicine, and left this cottage, my home, to me in their wills. I've been on my own ever since." I choke back a sob and wipe my eyes and cheek before I look at him. "It has been lonely, but I love what I do. And I get to see all my kind neighbors every day." With those final words between us, he nods at me, pays me 10 pounds, and leaves with Connie.
I place myself behind my counter and stare off to the distance. I miss my mother and father, more than I can even describe. But I know they are looking out for me no matter what. My gazing gets cut off when the red stone begins to glow from inside my pocket. I take it out and place it in my hand. In a heartbeat I am in a large town, the streets busy with horse-drawn carriages and people. Exotic stands and buildings surround me, but one man catches my eye. I noticed him due to his scarlet red hair. He jauntily walks down the street, till he shouts 'found him' and he stops in his tracks.
I'm not able to take a closer look, because I'm now in a new place. This time, things look as if I'm on a training field, but there are tall buildings spread out around me. There are three other people here with me though. The first one forms light shaped arrows over his head. "Sagitta Lumen!" He shouts. The second, which she seems to be the referee, tells the gentleman not to go easy on each other. The third man, who has the most gorgeous brown hair I have ever seen, shouts back. "Let's see you try to defeat me." With a wave of his wand, a paper doll is flown out onto the field. Covering the doll is writing. In the next second, a great Wall forms, blocking the light arrows from coming toward him.
But as suddenly as before, I am back home. Feeling nauseous now, I rush to the bathroom again. Coming back into the main lobby and looking at the stones in my hand, I have this feeling of overwhelming bliss. That battle was intense. What kind of magic was that? I have never seen magic used in fighting before. Through my thinking, a jug of water catches my attention from the corner of my eye. I roll up my sleeves and pull out my wand. "By the Gods, deliver unto me. Levis Pullma!" The jug glows white, then grows solid white wings. Instead of it flying over and landing in my hand like it's supposed to, it spins around my head, teasing me over and over again. Then it dumps and lands on the floor beside me.
I'm still no good at other magic. Why am I only good at medicinal magic? Why is my only talent the ability to hear and heal animals? What's so important about that? I mean I'm the only one on this side of the country with the ability to talk to animals as far as I know. I just wish I could meet someone else with this ability. I want to be a student, like the ones I saw in those visions, if that's what I can call them. Be powerful and more useful than I am now. Maybe fight for a cause one day when wizards and witches are needed more than we are now. Was it a vision? Maybe it was, or just a dizzying dream. The memories of the town, the field, everything I saw with the stones starts to blur all of a sudden. A ringing sound causes me to grab my head and cover my ears. What's going on? Then the ringing stops as soon as it starts. I look around, but nothing is around me. The stones below me begin to glow bright, turning into one ball of light, then fly into the air. Right before my eyes, they disappear.
I guess the magic of the stones wore off. When using a stone of different varieties, after you are done using them, they disappear into the air or sky. Like they are going back to the heavens. I try to remember what I was thinking about. I dig deep inside my inner thoughts, but nothing jumps out at me. Whatever I was trying to think about is gone. But from how my heart is pounding, it must've been fun.
Abruptly there is a man's voice outside my front door. "Hello, is this the residence of Freya Bell?" I move away from the bottom of the stairs, and cautiously walk towards the door. I feel a lump in my throat begin to build. If it was a customer, they would've just walked in. So who could be calling my name, without entering? With one swift moment I open my door and peer out.
To my shock, there is nothing to see. I look toward each side of my house but nothing. "Over here," says the man's voice as something hits me on top of my head. With a wincing gaze, I look up to see a floating letter. Wait, a floating letter?! I take a double take and look at it hovering above my head. I may be a witch, but that doesn't mean things like this don't surprise me.
"I am the Gervorshe Royal Magic Academy Acceptance Letter. I am here for Freya Bell." The letters' words freeze me in my tracks, and causes me to fall back on my butt.
"What?!" My voice is raised to a small yell. This makes the letter move away from me in fear, but comes back when I don't say anything more, loudly. "I can't have been chosen. I'm a novice, nobody. I don't even have that many magic powers. How can this be?" My voice is still raised, but it's not so quiet anymore. .
"You have been chosen for your work as a gifted witch. Now we leave tomorrow. Please begin packing immediately. I'll be back at a quarter to four in the afternoon. Do not be late." The letter spirals around my head, creating a white cloud of smoke above me. When the smoke evaporates, a uniform appears in my arms. "Oh how pretty!" The uniform is navy blue with a red tie, golden embroidery on the seams, and black tights. Along with what seems to be a school bag, some papers, and writing equipment. With that done, I rush inside and begin my packing. I hardly sleep, and when I wake up, I'm still beaming in excitement.
The next day comes in a rush, and I am calling all my usual customers letting them know I'm going. All of them are happy for me, but sad to see me go. I promised them I'd be back, but maybe that was a poor choice of words. I don't know if I'll be back. I have no idea what to expect once I'm there. I mean, it's my dream school after all. So many unexpected things can happen.
The academy only accepts students after a strict process is conducted, and I'm not even sure what that is. I haven't put in an application, so to be chosen just out of the blue like this is super shocking. The letter appears exactly as he said he would, ready to leave. Before leaving, I eat one last meal at my table, leave the keys for my next door neighbor Arabel under the front porch mat; since she'll be the one looking after my house and shop. With one last look, I lock my door and start walking with my suitcase.
"One more thing, young lady." The letter says in a stingy voice. I look up at him as he circles my head again, creating smoke. Out of the smoke drops an emblem of the academy. "That will be the most important thing you own while you spend time at the academy. Do NOT lose it." He almost sounds angry, and I wonder why. Has someone else lost it before me? With those words, he turns around and heads toward the carriage at the end of my driveway.
As I head down the path, I swear I hear someone call my name. I turn around and look back at my house. But no one is there. My sky blue cottage stands there silently, with my tree and flower bushes blowing in the wind. It almost feels like my parents are there waving, wishing me good luck and goodbye. I can't help but smile.
"Hey, are you listening? You are spacing out with a dumb grin on your face. We must be there before nightfall. So let us be on our way." How rude and arrogant. But he is right. It is time to leave. With one last smile, I run after the letter to begin my dream. I will become a powerful witch now. Off to study magic!
