Casters

Chapter 14

"Wake up!" Sheena exclaimed in excitement. Charlotte opened her eye and asked, "what is it?"

"We are going to Steven's house. His parents would like to meet you!" she said, jumping in excitement. Charlotte frowned at the thought. "I would like to decline, thank you." She pulled her covers back and turned around. "What? Why?" Sheena asked. Charlotte stared at her, "you speak as if you weren't there at the time of the incident."

"They have forgotten, Charlotte," Sheena explained. Still, Charlotte shook her head, "and I have not."

Sheena crossed her arms, She waved her hand above her and suddenly, Charlotte was wet. "Hey!" She rose and pouted. "Good morning to you, too, Sheena," Charlotte said, trying to comb her hair. Matilda entered the room and stared at her, "looks like you woke up on the right side of the bed, sister," she giggled.

Charlotte rolled her eyes and replied with "whatever." She took some clothes and a towel and headed towards the bathroom.

"She's still mad at us, isn't she?"  Matilda sighed. Sheena frowned, "she'll be fine. Maybe I could talk to her later." Matilda nodded and left the room.

---

Charlotte was washing her hair, being bombarded by memories her family locked away from her.

Moon caster, huh? she thought. Sounds surreal.

She tried to think of the time when she caused the death of her own family, but she couldn't. What if I am just dreaming? she thought. Magic does not exist, right? 

She closed her eyes and pinched herself as hard as she could. Then, she opened one eye and held out her hand. She thought of the purple flames she cast during that day. She saw a little purple flame on the palm of her hand. "Uh, largen?" she whispered. Suddenly, the flames grew bigger and turned blue. "I guess this is my life, now," she frowned, closing her palm.

Charlotte sensed someone outside the door. "I know you're listening, Matilda," she exclaimed. Suddenly, the footsteps ran downstairs. Charlotte shook her head and continued her bath.

"Gideon, huh?" she let out another sigh. "Sounds uncanny."

"Are you ready?" Sheena knocked.  "Not yet, I'll be coming down in 5," she replied.

"Won't you be having breakfast?" Sheena asked. "No, thank you."

 Charlotte could hear Sheena sigh and left. Ever since the other day, she has been giving silent treatments and cold interactions. 

She wore her clothes and picked up her necklace. Even this was a lie. How could Matilda lie to me? She even knew her own powers before I did. She bit her lip and put it in her pocket and went downstairs.

"Charlotte, dear, would you like some tomato soup?" Aunt Grace asked. "No, thank you," Charlotte replied without hesitation. She took her stuff and looked at Sheena,  "I will wait for you outside." She then left the room.

"She'd never say no to my tomato soup," Grace whispered. Annalise put her hand on her shoulders in comfort. "She'll understand soon." Grace shook her head and sat down, "it's all my fault. I shouldn't have lied to her."

"You did what you had to do, Grace," Annalise replied. "Oh Sheena, bring this extra sandwich in case Charlotte gets hungry along the way." Sheena nodded and left.

"She needs to accept her fate, sooner. Her birthday is two days away," Grace said.  "I know, Grace, that is why we have to give her some time to think things through," Annalise said, sitting down. "Eleven years isn't easy to face in a span of two days." Grace closed her eyes and sighed.

---

"I bought you some sandwich," Sheena announced, digging through her bag. "Thank you," Charlotte said. Sheena handed out the sandwich and as soon as Charlotte grabbed it, she said "why wouldn't you eat with us again? Instead of locking yourself up and eat when it strikes midnight?" Sheena commented. Charlotte frowned again. "I would like some time to think things through. Nothing feels the same, anymore."

"Charlotte," Sheena said, stopping in their tracks, "there are things that are about to occur in a few days' time." She looked at her and frowned, "I know it is hard, but we have responsibilities to do."

Charlotte rolled her eyes. "Why me? Why can't Luna just choose someone else?" She continued to walk. "Charlotte!" Sheena exclaimed. She caught up and said, "we're not just doing this for the family. Not for the magic realm, the casters, but for the entirety of the living creatures in this world."'

Charlotte bit her lip. I know, I just want this to finally end.

"How are we able to defeat the evil caster when you couldn't stop to accept the current situation we are in? You still have not even trained yourself for any unexpected battles we could encounter," Sheena pointed out.

"I will use my powers when I need them," Charlotte replied stubbornly.

They continued to walk in silence until a thought came across Charlotte's mind. "Say, Sheena?"

"Yes?" She replied.

"What happens on your 18th birthday?"

Sheena thought for a while before answering. "Well, on a caster's 18th birthday, there is a sacred celebration being held.

A caster is claimed by his element on his own birthday. Even if you had different elements when you were younger, it could change on the claiming ceremony. However, your final element would be during your birthday. You will not choose your element, they choose you."

"So, just like the photos I found a few days ago," Charlotte asked, "this will also be a grand feast?"

Sheena nodded, "and our relatives from different places will gather."

"What happens if you celebrate with fewer people?" Charlotte asked again. Sheena laughed. "There is absolutely no problem when you prefer a simpler celebration."

"Where would we celebrate the ceremony, then?"

"Your home, of course," Sheena replied. "Our home? We could barely breathe in there." Charlotte smirked. Sheena shot her a face. "Oh," Charlotte scratched her head,  "I forgot, we live in a magical world."

"Really, though. I think Aunts Grace and Annalise will decorate the home to allow indoor celebration," Sheena said,  "Who knows, maybe we could turn the interior structure of the house into a hundred story hotel." Charlotte laughed at this.

"Sheena?"

 "Yes?"

"Please train me," She requested,  "I will deal with all of this, as long as I stick with you." They looked at each other and Sheena nodded. "Okay, we'll start tomorrow."

---

"We are here," Sheena whispered, "are you ready?"

Charlotte looked at the house. Memories of that day rushed into her again. The words of Trisha piercing her brain.

"You'll be okay," Sheena reassured, "Fred, Steven, and his mom are the only ones in there."

Charlotte nodded and motioned for her to call them. Sheena took out her phone and called Fred. "Hi! We're already here," she said, smiling. Charlotte suddenly remembered Van. She has not heard from her since their move. Her accounts were also deleted.

I wonder what could have possibly happened to her, she worriedly thought.

Steven opened the door and waved at them, "Hi!"

"Sheena, come in! Fred is in the living room." Sheena went inside and he turned to face Charlotte.

"How are you doing? You have not been answering my calls nor my texts," Steven said. Charlotte looked away and said, "I needed some rest."

Steven frowned, "I could listen to you, you know?" He held her hand and whispered, "I just want to let you know that you're not alone in this." Charlotte looked at him and smiled. "I'll be fine, Steven."

He motioned for her to enter and he followed her inside. His mother was talking with Fred and Sheena. Charlotte was suddenly petrified, afraid that his mother could have remembered the incident.

"Hi!" She greeted. She stood up and shook her hand, "you must be Charlotte."

Charlotte smiled anxiously and nodded, "Good morning! Yes, I am. Thank you for inviting me over."

His mother let out a hearty laugh, "Of course, he would never stop talking about this beautiful girl he met back in Provence." Fred choked on his glass of water as soon as he heard this. Sheena let out a giggle.

"Mother..." Steven whispered in embarrassment. "There are things better off unsaid."

Charlotte giggled and smiled, "You can always embarrass him in front of me as you like, Miss."

"Why, I like her personality, Steven," his mother pointed out, continuing to tease him.

"Mother..."

"Okay, okay! I shall leave you four. I'll be by the kitchen!" She turned to face Sheena and Fred and asked, "will you be staying for lunch?" They nodded and she left.

"Your mother is always something else," Fred teased. Steven shot him a glare. "I'm really amazed about the whole memory cleansing thing," Steven whispered.

"Yeah," Fred agreed, "who was the one who did that spell? Especially when she stopped time."

"My sister, Matilda," Charlotte replied. "So, she does like- telekinesis or something?" Fred described. Sheena let out a laugh, "maybe the oracle could answer your questions, Fred," she said, "You'd understand it in no time."

Fred's cheeks turned red, "hey, she was pretty, no doubt with that. Steven, back me up here."

Steven chuckled and shook his head, "I would not say anything about her since she is Charlotte's grandmother."

Fred, again, choked on his cookie, "that was your grandmother?!"

Charlotte and Sheena laughed.

"Could she attend your claiming celebration, though?" Steven asked. Charlotte shrugged, "I don't know how all of this works, yet. There is a lot to remember, and I have forgotten many."

Sheena frowned, "unfortunately, she can't."

"Why not?" Steven asked. "The event would take place at home, right?"

"In a family of light-bearers, there is only one oracle. On the 18th birthday of the next oracle, the previous one will be taken away from the world," she whispered. Charlotte's jaw dropped.

"Is that why Grandmother Christen has been sick lately?" she asked, "because I am turning 18?"

Sheena nodded, "sadly, yes. That is the reason why."

Charlotte held her head. "I would like to change the conversation, please."

"Tomorrow, Charlotte and I will be training her spells out on the field. Would you like to come?" Sheena invited the boys. They instantly nodded, "of course! We wouldn't tell anybody, obviously."

"I brought some more cookies!" His mother entered with a tray of it. "You know, Charlotte," she said as she placed down the tray. "When Sheena and Fred come over, Fred would always eat everything that is placed in front of him."

"I thought Steven was the only one who should be embarrassed today?" Fred said, slowly returning the cookie he just took.

Charlotte laughed and said,  "Miss, I would like to ask something?" His mother looked at her and smiled, "what is it, dear?"

"Would it be okay for Steven to come by our house on my birthday?" She asked,  "It's just three days away."

"three days away? He should have told me!" She turned to Steven and said, "you, young man, are taking me to town today. We will buy a gift for her!"

"What?" Charlotte said in shock, "There's no need for a gift, Miss," she laughed nervously. His mother flipped it away, "No. There is no celebration without a gift!" she turned and left the room.

"Your mother acts different," Charlotte said. Steven smiled, "she's actually my second mother. Step-mom?"

"Oh, no wonder why!" Charlotte nodded her head. Sheena called her and said, "Steven's parents are Europeans. However, since his biological mother died, his father fell in love with an Asian."

"No wonder she's so nice!" Charlotte commented, taking a bite from her cookie.

 "Very nice, indeed," Fred agreed, taking another cookie. "Fred!" Sheena exclaimed, crossing her arms, "how many cookies have you eaten?"

Fred just smiled as a response.

"So, in each element or power or whatever," Steven asked, "there are different spells?"

Sheena nodded, "yes. I mean, they could have the same names, but each effect, strength, and even the outcome would differ."

"Is it hard to be a caster?" Fred asked.

"It's harder when you do not recognize your own identity," Charlotte whispered.

Steven held her hand. They locked eyes and he smiled at her, "you'll get there soon. Train well so that you wouldn't get hurt."

"You know, chemistry is such a pain," Fred said, "but it hits different when it's between you, two."

Sheena and Fred laugh as Charlotte forcefully try not to laugh.

"That's enough chocolate for you today," Steven said, getting the tray and heading for the kitchen.

"Hey! No fair!" Fred exclaimed, "I was just hungry."