Elmyra’s journey home from school…

The dismissal bell blares into the classroom launching all of the young scholars at the door. The teacher, Ms. Hern, shouts after them, “Don’t forget class! Your first Blood Manipulation exam is this Friday!” A few students manage a “Yes Ms Hern” but most of them have already scuttled out of the classroom. 

Left behind in her chair intensely scribbling notes down, is a young Elmyra. Her sharp brown and purple eyes frantically darting between her textbook and the notebook her hand seems sealed to. She’s hardly even noticed the bell. One would think that “Witch Blood Manipulation 301” is speaking a prophecy to her. Ms. Hern opens a window and Elmyra snaps to. Looking up, she sees Ms. Hern at the window, looking gently at her. “Elmyra… you know it is time to go.” she says. 

Elmyra sits frozen for a fraction of time. Her head spiraling through thoughts of “can I stay”, knowing the answer, not wanting to talk to Ms. Hern (again), and then she starts moving her feet. She starts throwing her pens and books into her bag silently. Each movement feels like she’s stuck in sludge as her body fights her entire will to survive to put her last book in the bag. Pulling her bag up over her shoulder, she sighs and lets go of all her fears. As she walks forward towards the door, she nods at Ms. Hern. “Have a good night Elmrya! See you tomorrow” Ms. Hern calls out as Elmyra hurriedly enters the halls. 

The Holston Institute of Witchcraft in Shorth is certainly famous for many reasons, and its architecture is a distinct part of it. The school was designed with a large center hallway running north to south. Meaning the suns and moons casting light through the 50-foot stained glass panels that run alongside will catch light in different hues at different times of day or night. Currently, Elmyra is striding through her favorite time of day in the Winter. The Suns are setting and the purples and blues of the glass are lighting the school. As she walks, it feels as if she is walking through water. A feeling she often feels but cannot see. 

Elmyra always makes sure to look at the main panes of glass and pay her respects as she walks. The glass depicts the first witch, Rynara, as she lived. Her journey assembling the first coven, the second coven, her betrayal and descent into Hell, her defeating the Daemon known as Korthan, her resurrecting from hell, and then her final redescent into Hell as a Goddess. This is a story told often to young witches but Elmyra observes these panels and wonders deeply about her heritage. 

What is this path set before me? I will be a great witch someday; I can feel my power growing. Yet, what is the path I can choose? What is Rynara going to think of me if we speak? Am I even worthy of that? Will she ever choose me? OO-

Elmyra snaps to as she slams her head into the school’s Oak doors. Looking around she sees the janitor chuckle as the echo finishes reverberating through the hall. She pauses for a moment and checks everything. 

Well, okay… Embarrassing but fine. You got this. 20 minutes until I am home. It’s going to be okay. Deep breath. 

Witches bring their families or send their kids from everywhere across the Mortal Plane to study at the Institute. But Elmyra was born just outside of the Institute’s home; Holston. Thus, rather than getting to walk home, she stands atop the stairs awaiting her family’s carriage. Normally, Mr. Gordon is here before school gets out. He usually likes making jokes with the kids as they walk out. 

Gordon is never late, I really hope he is okay. 

Elmyra sits atop the stairs and looks through the open iron gate of the school and out into the city streets. The streets move restlessly as she watches. Passing by are people of all sorts. Paying her no mind and living amongst each other. Holston is a busy and dangerous port, most people are here to do business and leave quickly. The city is constantly alive with noise, movement, people, and livestock. Elmyra sits and absorbs it all, thinking of all the people who she knows in the city. 

Witches are only accepted in Holston because of the Scorro Coven, which Elmyra’s mother leads. The relationship between witches and people is always tense but the Scorro Coven has been a longstanding advocate for Holston’s independence. It has made the sailors, traders, pirates, and Federations a lot of money evading taxes from local kings and lords. For even though Witchcraft is a magic of Hell, it can be looked past for some extra money at port. 

Speaking of people she knows in the city… Elmyra perks up as she thinks of walking to talk to the man at the candy shop. Mr. Gary? He was always kind to her, and usually would not make her pay. Usually saying something like: 

“A young witch needs to eat all the sugar she can. You have to grow to be big and strong young miss. Maybe you’ll remember me before turning me to a pig, HA!”

His words bounce in her head and she smiles. She longs and yearns for the courage to joke so effortlessly. The carriage could be here soon, but the store has salt water taffy. If she makes it, she could have taffy on the ride home. As she is about to make the run, she sees the carriage enter the gates of the school.

Rats, I wanted that taffy. 

Elmyra stands up and shuffles down the steps, as she gets to the bottom, the carriage pulls up. Mr. Gordon leaps down effortlessly saying, “Good afternoon Ms. Elmyra! I am so sorry for the delay, I had to pick up your mother.” 

Elmyra stops dead in her tracks. She looks Gordon in the eyes. With sincerity he says, “I don’t know El. She says she needs to speak to you dear.” Elmyra looks back at the carriage and says, “Well it was good to see you Mr. Gordon, I guess we will talk more tomorrow.” She swallows and chokes a dryness down. She steps up and opens the carriage door to see her mother. 

Her mother greets her gleefully, “Sweetie, I have excellent news.” Elmyra climbs in with Gordon’s help and her mother continues, “I have secured your future.” Elmyra sits down, and hears, “it is everything you have ever dreamed of Elmyra, aren’t you excited?”

“Of course Mom.” Elmyra feigns the faintest excitement and receives her mother’s exuberant delight. Her mother sits upright and then puts her hands on her knees. Not a very large woman, but she carries a strong presence that fills any room she is in. Always well dressed, and well put together, her presence is derived from her sense of self and this presentation. Sitting upright made her feel like an insurmountable peak to Elmyra. Her mother slides up to the edge of the seat, then she excitedly whispers, “I got you a spot in the Grand Coven qualifying in the class of the year 10000.” Her mother leaps back in excitement, hands over her mouth as if she still cannot believe what she has just said. Elmyra sits silently still in shock. 

I will only be 17 then, that is in 3 years. My powers may not have even fully formed by then. The bottom 3 qualifiers get sacrificed to Hell to serve Rynara for eternity. Is she serious? 

Her mother is too excited to truly notice Elmyra’s silence. Rolling back and forth in her carriage seat, giddy as can be. But it is now becoming apparent that Elmyra is not celebrating with her. Her mother prods, “Elmyra this is wonderful. You are going to be the most powerful witch in the world. This is your dream!” Elmyra remains still. Silently trying to think about how many things she needed to start practicing mastering for the qualifiers. 

I think if I start right now, skip Orb theory, minimal study of common magic to focus on my specialty categories, maybe I can make up all the time. It will be close. I will have t-

Her mother slaps Elmyra across the face.

“Are you even listening to me?!” her mother screams. Through her ringing ears and blurred vision, Elmyra manages to sit up and brush her hair back in order. Quickly and quietly Elmyra mumbles, “I am sorry Mom, it was just a lot to process. I am listening” 

Her mother sits back with her lips sternly drawn together. Staring daggers at Elmyra for her insubordination in such celebratory times. Snapping to, her mother calmly smiles, returning her hands to her knees. “Oh honey, there’s nothing to process. This is your future. I know you can do this because you are my daughter. If I had this opportunity, I would have not have hesitated to take it. You can be the most powerful witch our family has ever seen. That is really special honey. I don’t care if it is a lot to think about. It might be hard but, I won’t let you pass this up. This is an opportunity for you and our family.” 

Her mother pauses and brushes her hand through Elmyra’s hair. Every nerve in Elmyra’s body ignites but she does not flinch. Her mother looks her in the eyes, “Honey, I know you are capable of things like this, so I am going to push you.” Elmyra fights tears and manages to choke out, “Okay Mom, what do we need to do to qualify?” 

Her mother leaps back in a full return to the jovial excitement of before. Sitting back and basking in her perceived achievement. Staring off out of the carriage, her mother says, “there will be a council meeting in 3 days, this Saturday. I will tell you all about it when we get home.” Elmyra stares out of the opposite side of the carriage, silently calculating her chances of survival, and wiping away tears her mother will never hear.