When Magic Flows

A NEW PERSPECTIVE

Allegra POV

A couple of hours later we were in a potions class, each one stirring their cauldron trying to create a complex antidote, and sharing the same table. Since everyone was distracted enough, Sybil thought that this could be the appropriate moment for a girl’s talk:

“Not a minute more, Allegra Scott. Spill.” She simply murmured.

“Okay, fine. I have got closer to Alistair since the Yule Ball. He asked me to dance back in that night and we started really talking and getting to know each other. Happy?”

“Not at all. I want the details. Wasn’t he the arrogant one? Weren’t we avoiding him because he looked so pompous?”

“Well, Sy, believe it or not, but somehow I’ve found a way to get through all of his actions and I’ve got the opportunity to get to know a very nice guy. I decided to go on a date with him because no one knows if he could be my life partner or not. I’ve got to go out and know him better. Maybe this way we would bound and find out that we are life partners.”

“Oh, A. I’m so proud of you! Do you think that dating him you could avoid or postpone that stupid contest?” She asked me.

“I am not denying that I thought about it, but I decided that I am not doing this for the wrong reasons. I accepted his invitation because he is a very gentle guy and for the chance to find my life partner.” I responded to her question. “But this is not the end of this story, Sy. I met someone else.”

“What?” She shouted involuntarily. And the rest of the class, including our instructor, Madam Reid turned to us to see what was going on.

“I asked you to pass me the fire ant venom,” I said out loud trying to disguise her exclamation and she mouthed an excuse wordlessly. Seeing that this was a silly interruption, the others in the class went back to work, although Jamie looked a little curious. When she finally went back to what she was doing, I started again:

“Could you please calm down and listen to me quietly? Otherwise, they will start to suspect us. I won’t keep talking if you don’t calm down.” I told her.

“Fine. I’m sorry,” she murmured. “Please, go on. I want to know everything!”

“Okay, here is the thing: in the same Yule Ball I met another guy that invited me to dance. His name is Nicholas.”

“Why haven’t you told me anything for almost a whole month!” she whispered-yelled at me. She seemed angry, betrayed even, but I wasn’t keeping a secret from her intentionally. I just did not find the occasion for us to talk.

Now it was my time to apologize: “I’m sorry, Sy. I really am. It’s just that we were so busy the last month and there was so much happening in the last few days that we couldn’t find time for a little gossip. You tell me, aren’t you missing when we had free time to chat and catch up?”

“Yeah, you’re right. I hadn’t had the chance to tell you the latest news about me and Tyson either.” she finally gave in.

“Is this his name? Tyson?” I jumped in the little information she gave me.

“Focus, Allegra!” She exclaimed. “It’s your turn to share what is going on in your love life, and apparently, yours is much more agitated than mine.”

“Okay, okay. So, his name is Nicholas and he asked me to dance in the Yule Ball. He is a nice and recluse guy.”

“This does not say a lot, Allegra. Where is he from? What is his coven’s name?”

“Time’s up, everybody! Let’s test our antidotes!” Madam Reid yelled.

I looked at Sybil, excusing me for the test. She bottled her antidote and we went to the front of the room.

After a successful test and the end of the classes, we went home and used the path to finally catch up and learn what was going on in each other’s lives.

“Alright, you delayed this conversation too much, miss Scott. Go on.”

“Okay, fine. Resuming the story from where we were before, this guy invited me to a dance at the Yule Ball and asked me for my help. He is not from any coven. His dad was excommunicated many years ago and I think that his dad is a kind of a dark wizard…?”

“What?” And this time she actually screamed.

“Yeah, that’s what I said, Sy. He came to me because he needed my help with his dad. He is trying to save his soul. This is a good thing, right?” I did not know if I made this question for her to assure my thoughts or to myself. But still, she answered me:

“I think that this is a good thing, A. At least he is trying to save his dad. But how about his status?” she asked me.

“He claims that he has a grey soul, but I’m not sure. On both occasions that we spent some time together, one in the ball and another yesterday he said the same thing.”

“So, it was with him you were yesterday!” She exclaimed

“Yes, it was. But in both times, he did not do anything to prove him as a grey wizard. So, I decided to give him the benefit of the doubt.”

“But what about his dad, Allegra?” Without knowing, she asked me about what was my greatest worry.

“Well… apparently this is the main complication. How to save someone that does not even know that I would be there to save him? Or better, how to save someone that you don’t even know if wants to be saved?”

“What are you thinking about all of this, A? What are you going to do?”

“For now, I have to try to learn, and still am, each and every spell I can about purifying and restoration. Which ones I can use in other people and which ones are for objects. I intend to go and consult the spirits again for this, because if someone has the answers, probably they have.”

“You are probably right in this. They have seen generations. The accumulated knowledge and could give you the answer you’re hoping for. So, why haven’t you gone consult them so far?” That was a good question.

“I don’t know, really” I confessed. “Maybe I am delaying this consultation because I am afraid they tell me I am not strong enough for this, or too young, or that this would cost me a price beyond of what I expected to pay… I don’t really know what I am doing, Sy. I told him that I would help but what if it was in the heat of the moment? What if this is too much even for a high priestess? I could lose him.” Sybil was my friend, and she would understand. I could tell her the best and the worst things about me and she would stay by my side.

“Wait, when you say that you could lose him you mean…” She started.

“We kissed. A few times now. And in a certain way, we bonded a little. I like him, Sy, and I wanted to have at least the chance to find out if he could be the one for me, despite all his dad's past and his doubtful path.”

“I knew it!” She accused me gladly. “I knew it that there was more, and you were not willing to tell me! How was it?”

I had to smile at her question: “It was like a piece of magic, and I want more. I don’t know if what attracts me is his dangerous side or the good soul I can see through his eyes, but I want to know what I can find at the end of this road.”

She smiled back to me, and we took a moment or two just walking in silence. Finally, she offered me her conclusions: “You know, A., I am happy for you. You found a couple of suitors even before the whole contest thing. And before you start complaining about this comment, that indicates to me that you don’t even need a contest at all if it comes to your final decision, but maybe this could be a useful thing.”

I honestly doubted about that: “Really? How this could be useful to me? Not deciding between both of them?”

“No, silly. You could measure the depths of their affection for you. Winning such a contest will not be a walk in the park, so no ordinary wizard would enter in this competition. They will have to be brave enough for it. Besides, if a certain wizard of dubious origin won this contest, your family certainly couldn’t oppose to your marriage, if this is your final decision.” She told me winking.

Excellent! This was the kind of bright side I was looking for about this whole stupid thing! “Well, this gave me a new light overall on this situation. Thank you for bringing me some perspective, Sy. Maybe this whole thing is not that much stupid.”

“And I thought that I was the one with love-related problems…” she commented.

“Speaking of it, how is your relationship with Tyson? You mentioned about the ‘latest news’. If you thought that I would forget it, you really don’t know me.”

“I would not think of you like this, and you know that.” She scolded me lightly. “Well, last week we went on a date, and I did not say much to my mom, because I am not so sure yet how to approach her with the ‘only human’ situation, but I know that she knows that I am up to something.”

“Well, since you gave me some unexpected perspective, I promise you that I will think hard about how you could do to start this awkward conversation with her. How about that?” I offered.

“Yeah, nice, thank you.” She appreciated. “And Tyson think likewise. He knows that I am hiding something big. It is as if he could sense this in the air, but he did not try to get a confession or something. He is so patient, A. It is as if he was made for me!” I smiled at her.

“You know what? Maybe he was. You just have to be sure about it, but I think that if he is meant for you, he will understand and accept your whole witch side. I think love is also understanding each other.”

“Yeah, you are probably right.” She told me as we approached her home. “Thank you or the advice and support!” She told me, waving goodbye.

“Thank you for giving me some clarity with your wisdom!” I waved back at her and got on my way home.

I knew that Sybil was the kind of person that only looks at the bright side, but her advice was good and valid. And Nicholas had also told me, before her, to make the best of the whole situation. Maybe I would have to talk to them about the contest and if one of the two of them were in love with me, I could let destiny decide what would happen. Of course, the whole thing would be easier for me this way, which I was ashamed to admit, but what if this was the way out the universe was offering me? Anyways, right at this moment, I would accept it.