When Magic Flows

THE PREPARATION

After spending several hours on the frozen lake, we came back home at noon to get dry clothes and have lunch, then we decided to rest close to the fireplace and watch TV. Too soon, four o’clock came and I had to head to my mom’s office, or what should be my future office soon. But she wasn’t there, as I expected. I was about to yell her name in the corridor when one of the apprentices came to me saying that she was in my bedroom waiting to start my ceremony preparation. I quickly thanked her and went to my room.

“Okay, let’s take this show on the road,” I told them as I was opening my bedroom door, but that was not possible. This wasn’t my bedroom. It looked more like a beauty studio.

“What’s going on here, guys?” I said as I entered my room

“Oh, finally! We don’t have time to waste, honey. Come on” my mom told me pulling me from the corridor. “This is Hannah, your beautician, but you can say ‘hi’ while she transforms you” she was a woman on a mission and nobody could stop her, that was certain.

This beauty section took almost four hours and according to my mom, it covers the basics, and I could only imagine how much time it would take if she decided on a full-day beauty section. After I was bathed in essences, scrubbed, massaged, and scented, Hannah made my makeup and the instruction was to have enough to make me look older but not too heavy. A little bit of mascara, eyeliner, and eye shadow. I always had good skin, so minimal was necessary here. Plus a nice lipstick and then I was done. 

After my hair was styled, everything seemed to be in place. Then they brought me my ceremony dress. If it was summer, I would be wearing it by itself because it was a stunning white lace dress, but since it was December, they gave me a white coat so I would not freeze in the mid-winter air. I saw my mom’s eyes filled with unshed tears and looked at her scolding. I don’t need to start crying after all this preparation, so keep your flood gates closed, please! 

After that, they finally gave me the opportunity to look at myself in the mirror. Saying that I was impressed was an understatement. I looked older, responsible and mostly, I looked ready to face this challenge. At least tonight’s challenge. 

Then I started to appreciate myself below the makeup and fancy hair. Joana looks a lot like my mom, and I inherited most of my features from my dad. Hazel eyes, tanned skin even during winter, wavy brown hair, pouty lips, and nice curves here and there. I liked my appearance and I did not think that this was a crime. I was also slightly smaller than most of the witches, and as a leader, I thought that this feature could not be very useful someday. For now, I looked like a bride, which in a certain way I was, after all, I was committing myself to my coven, right? 

Was at that moment that I saw my dad’s eyes in the mirror. He looked so proud and so happy and I almost started crying.

“Oh, sweetheart, I will always have father’s eyes for you and your sister, but today you really look like a woman. You are a queen, kiddo! Congratulations!”

I was beyond happy to hear that, after all, this indicates his approval. So, I crossed my room in a few steps and hugged him as tight as I could. 

“Thank you, daddy. This means a lot to me. You don’t look so bad yourself” I teased. “Any last-minute advice before the ceremony?” I asked him as we walked toward my bedroom door.

“Keep your friends close, especially the ones that are capable to hold your feet in the ground.” He told me and I thought it interesting.

“Don’t worry about it. I already have some of them who would happily kick my a*s if I need it” I told him as I laugh and caught the arm he was offering me. 

We walked a few moments peacefully until he approached the subject that was on his mind from the beginning: “Sweetheart, you also should start looking for a life partner. The one who will help you to be complete and brings you the balance you will need to lead the coven. It is a two people job, baby girl. Don’t’ fool yourself thinking the opposite” he told me concerned.

“Yeah, I know,” I told him. “I had a few dates here and there but no one that got my attention this way up until now”

“Well, the stars will align your path with his. Don’t worry, sweetie.” My dad told me as a dreamy smile appeared in his face. I wonder if he was recalling his own path with my mom.

The truth that I was not able to tell anyone was that most of the witches and warlocks fell a certain pull towards their partner normally a few months before they turn 18. Most of them spend hours talking and knowing each other. You just needed a few dates and it looked like an addiction. You get to know each other and all the time of the world seems to never be enough.

But not in my case. I dated a few guys in the last couple of years but just thinking about living the rest of my days with one of them just didn’t seem right. When it comes to love, wizards are like puzzles, and when you find the other part that fits you, all the bonds become stronger, life looks brighter and you think and feel as one. One could not live long without its partner. As a matter of fact, a lonely wizard (or in my case, witch) would be weak and starts to languish without the perfect balance of a partner, so you can say that I was seriously worried about this matter. 

But this was not the moment to worry about it, after all, this was my Pass Flow ceremony! As we walked outdoors to our backyard, I saw a covered stage prepared for the ceremony and all the other elements created for the occasion. There was the supper area with several tables and chairs and most of them were facing the stage. There was also a bonfire to warm everyone up, all decorated in a winter theme. My mom excels when the subject was parties. If I wasn’t nervous until that moment, I could feel all the butterflies in the world in my stomach. When I said that it was on, back in the morning, I wasn’t thinking this through. Now is getting serious.

As my father led me through the way to the stage, I could see the faces of all the adult coven. The ancients that are the counsels for the new generations were smiling with dreaming faces as if they have seen this scene several times over the years. Then I could see the faces of the middle-aged wizards and witches, looking at me as the future that comes ahead. Their time ruling was over and all of them look proud and relieved at the same time. Although there was their time to step down, we all knew that they would always be there for us, like the rest of the coven.

Then we finally arrived at the stage, where the leaders were with my mom and grandma. All the coven’s attention was on us, but impressively, I was not as nervous as I thought I would be at that moment. And then my mom started her speech.