A Court of Mishief

Eira

Days have passed in the blink of an eye and the little witch didn't notice the other witches talking gleefully about the upcoming tournament. She thought that she made a fool out of them. She didn't stop to think that she was being made the fool instead by her mother.

She kept on going about her business for the day when she finally noticed some of the witches passing her by clutching pieces of parchment and hurriedly walked towards the castle. She followed them and she found this long line of witches that were also somehow clutching pieces of parchment. She was confused, and curious at the same time. What is happening?

"Aren't you going to sign up for the tournament that you conjured up just to have everybody fooled?"

*Eira*

I was startled when I heard my mother's voice behind me. In fact, I was so startled that I jumped as I was turning to face her. I gulped as I looked into her eyes. They were so beautiful to look at but they were devoid of any emotion. They are, as most people would describe it, as cold as ice.

"Uh, but it is not real. Why would I jo-" I stopped myself from saying any more, and then it hit me.

"You made it real? But how? I mean, that takes serious planning, how did you manage to make it real? Did you know right from the start?" I asked non-stop. I think I almost stuttered.

"I had to. You used my name, and we both know how competitive witches are. It is in our nature, and I think it is a wonderful idea to see who is the most powerful witch in the kingdom. So, aren't you going to put your name in the bowl?" She asked me with a haughty tone.

I gulped down my own saliva before trying to formulate a response to her question.

"Well, what is going to be in the tournament? Am I allowed to know the activities in the tournament or not?" I asked even though I already know the answer to my question.

"No, you're not allowed to do so because not only are you cheating but it is also your fault that we had to orchestrate this non-existent tournament just so we do not lose the trust of everybody in the kingdom. If you didn't use my name for your shenanigans, none of this would've happened. You are required to join the tournament. No if's, no but's." She commanded and proceeded to walk away from me.

If she wasn't my mother and queen, I would have ignored her. But I can't because she is those things. She is the queen of the witch kingdom. Queen Astraea of the Blood magic. She has the magic that can kill, heal, and turn anyone and any other living thing into her own marionette. There is an unknown avenue when it comes to her magic. And here I am, her daughter, who has possibly one of the most pathetic magic there is.

String magic. Yipee!! A lot of people made it such a big deal that I should train myself because I could be as powerful as my mother. Sure, maybe if I also had her magic then that would be possible. How the hell is string magic supposed to be a match for her blood magic? It doesn't make any sense to me, at all.

I groaned loudly that every witch in the hall looked at me in confusion and interest. I excused myself and got a piece of parchment paper to write my name on and started to fall in line as well.

As I was lining up with the rest of the witches, something caught my eye but disappeared when I looked for it. I shrugged it off and waited patiently for my turn to put the parchment paper with my name on it into the blood-red bowl that my mother conjured for the event.

My plan backfired on me. This is a mess. How the hell do I get out of this mess? I sighed when it was my turn. Others were excited when they placed their names in the bowl and it lit up with a symbol of their power. Me? I was just waiting for it to be over.

Witches my age are starting to question if I really am the daughter of the queen or not. They would not tell it to my face but I would hear it coming from their mouths whenever I pass by them on the streets of the kingdom. Even I question myself about the authenticity of my relationship with the queen.

I held my breath as I dropped the parchment into the bowl and waited for whatever symbol is going to appear on top of the bowl. I've never done this before. All I've ever done was watch and never enter anything because I wasn't allowed to enter before and now, I am obligated to join the damn tournament.

I wasn't really expecting something extravagant but I was shocked when it lit up so bright and started to weave something incomprehensible at first but started to solidify into something I can't quite grasp just yet. When it was done solidifying, it took the shape of a sandglass.

What? I thought I had string magic. What does this have to do with my magic? I heard someone gasp behind me and when I looked, I saw my mother standing just a few feet behind me. Her eyes are stuck looking at the floating sandglass.

"It is confirmed. You will have the power to control time and control the future." She announced to the whole hall.

I received a mixture of awe, envy, and plain disbelief from the witches surrounding me. Even I couldn't believe what I am hearing right now.

"But I have string magic. How does that control time and control the future?"

The queen looked at me for a long time before saying, "You'll know when the time comes for you to know. For now, you are officially part of the tournament."

Oh, great! Help me, oh Mother of all Witches!