Velvet opened her eyes slowly. Her head was hurting and her entire body felt stiff. She looked up at the ceiling, immediately noticing that she was not at home. Because there was no ceiling to be seen. Instead, something like a curtain or a tent was covering the bed she was lying in. And the bed itself was so soft, softer than any bed she ever had the chance to rest on. It felt like she lay on a pile of clouds.

Is this what heaven feels like? she thought to herself as she looked around the room. There was a large wooden wardrobe, a neatly carved wooden desk with a padded chair, and a bunch of dolls and stuffed animals resting in the corner, looking at her. On the far side, a bunch of very fine-looking coats and dresses hung from a movable stand. Lifting her head up a little, she looked down the bed. On the right side of it, a girl with blonde hair was resting her head, sleeping peacefully while using her folded arms as a pillow. She could see half-dried tears glistening on her white cheeks. It was Penelope.

She looks so innocent like this, Velvet thought to herself. Like a completely different person. I could never tell this is the noisy girl making fun of me at school.

From the next room over she heard some voices. She couldn't make out what they were saying and her curiosity got the better of her. Slowly, so as to not wake the sleeping girl, she got out of the bed and tiptoed toward the door. She regretted the decision instantly as her entire body ached and it would have been a lot nicer to just keep lying in bed for a bit longer. Leaning closer, she put her ear against the keyhole. Now she could clearly make out what they were saying. One voice belonged to some unknown man, but the other one she recognized immediately. It was Miss Reinard, her teacher!

"I came as fast as I could!" she said, seeming a bit out of breath. "I can't thank you enough for taking care of the children for me. I was looking for them everywhere but couldn't find them. They were all out on the playground one second and gone the next! I'm truly sorry, I feel like I have failed as a teacher!"

"No worries, Miss Reinard, you did a fine job. It's not your fault that my daughter decided it would be a good idea to go adventuring in the forest," the man responded calmly.

"How can you be so calm about this?" she said with a surprised voice. "It's my duty to prevent things like this from happening!"

"My daughter was aware of the dangers that lie in that forest. But she deliberately lured Velvet there to scare her and took another student along with her. She told me everything and admitted her fault. There is nothing you could have done, so you don't need to blame yourself."

"I really wish I could, but I don't think I will be able to forget this so easily."

A loud noise was heard as what seemed like the front door flung open. Some huffing was heard and heavy footsteps entered the house.

"Ah, glad you could make it," the man with the calm voice greeted whoever had just come.

"Where is she?!" a voice that Velvet immediately recognized as her father's said. "Where's my daughter?!"

She fought the urge to open the door and run into his arms. But she decided to listen to what they had to say instead.

"No worries, Mister Crow. Your daughter is alright. She is currently sleeping in Penelope's room," the other man answered him.

"Can I go see her?" her father said impatiently.

"Let's leave her be for now. The healer said she needs some rest."

"The healer?! Was she injured?!" She could hear the panic in his voice as he asked that.

"Not really. Some bruises here and there, but none of them had any serious injuries. I called a healer because she was unconscious when Penelope and Lucas brought her here, but he said this is simply because she was exhausted from casting too many spells."

"Casting spells? What are you saying?!" This answer only seemed to puzzle her father further.

"Excuse me?" Miss Reinard also chimed in.

"Oh, forgive my rudeness, I should first explain what happened." The man chuckled. "You two are in for a treat! Penelope told me everything and I am sure she did not make this up, but she and Lucas were captured by a pair of bandits."

"Bandits?!" Velvet's father shouted.

"Oh my goodness!" the teacher exclaimed.

"But your daughter saved them and they managed to escape. They could not outrun them so when they caught up to them, she used magic to knock them both down before falling unconscious herself. Penelope and Lucas carried her over here after that. Quite the unbelievable story, if I do say so myself, but there is sufficient evidence to back it up. I even sent some guards to capture the bandits and sure enough, they found them unconscious in the woods!" the man concluded.

"So you're saying..."

"Your daughter is a witch, Mister Crow. That is what I am saying."

"But I saw her minutes before she disappeared and she had no magic!" Miss Reinard was baffled. "And she is just short of nine years old. The normal age to develop magic is between twelve and sixteen years. How is this possible?!"

"I asked the healer the same question. But he seemed just as puzzled. The mark of light is definitely there, he confirmed it. However, he said this is a first for him, seeing someone get their mark at this age. Never in his life has he witnessed such a thing. But to be frank, we are lucky that it happened. Had she not by some miracle awakened magic at that very moment, we might have never seen our kids again. I am forever in your daughter's debt."

"No need to be so formal!" she heard her father say with a hint of embarrassment in his voice.

"I'm really happy for her!" her teacher seemed very pleased. "We just talked with the children today about their future goals and I know how much she wanted this. I bet she will be ecstatic when she wakes up!"

Velvet looked down at her right hand. The mark of light was engraved on its back, just like she remembered it from the forest.

It's not a dream after all! she felt a rush of excitement wash over her all of a sudden. It all still seemed like some sort of fairy tale which she will wake up from at any moment. She still couldn't comprehend it. This really is happening! I really did get my mark!

"Where are Penelope and Lucas?" a woman's voice asked and Velvet contained her excitement for the moment to lean back on the keyhole and listen.

"Lucas was already picked up by his parents who took him home," he explained. "He's a strong boy, he'll be alright. As for my daughter, she really took what happened to heart. After explaining what happened, she broke out in tears and kept repeating how this is all her fault, apologizing over and over. When we took Velvet to Penelope's room and laid her there to rest, she refused to leave her side, even as the healer examined her and left. I tried calming her down at first, but it was impossible, so I just let her be and I think she eventually cried herself to sleep."

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Upon hearing this, Velvet turned around, looked at the girl sleeping on the side of the bed, and smiled. She briefly remembered Penelope stopping Lucas when Velvet told them to run and attacking the bandit with her staff instead. So all of this is just an act you put up at school, huh? Deep down, you're actually really sweet and caring. Looks like you're not so bad after all.

"Oh, I am so relieved that they are all alive and well!" She heard her teacher breathe a sigh of relief. "If there is anything more I can do to help, please tell me. The children are of course excused from school until they feel well again."

"I don't think that will be necessary," Penelope's father answered. "They will be as good as new when they rest up, I am fairly certain. You should go home and get some rest too, Miss Reinard. All of this worrying must have exhausted you."

"As always, you are too kind, Mister Corwell," the woman responded. "I shall take my leave then. Again, if either of the children feels like rather staying home, I will not be marking their absence these last few days. School is almost finished anyway."

"We will let you know if anything comes up. Stay safe," Velvet heard the man say, followed by some footsteps and the opening and closing of a door, marking the teacher's departure.

"Now then Mister Crow..." he cleared his throat. "We need to discuss the matter of your compensation."

"Compensation?" Velvet's father sounded confused. "What compensation?"

"Don't be modest, James. Your daughter has saved my only child's life today. As I said, I am forever in your debt. Allow me to repay you, if only modestly." After saying that, she heard him take a few steps and pick something up. A distinct metallic clinging made her think it must have been a pouch of coins. "Here, take this."

"What?!" her dad exclaimed. "I-I can't accept this. It's too much!"

"My dear Penelope is invaluable to me," the other man said. "Besides, this money is not yours to decline. It's for your daughter. Velvet likes magic does she not?"

"Yes, she does."

"Well then, please allow me to provide everything she needs to follow the path she wants to. This is but a small token of my gratitude."

"Small token of gratitude? This is enough to buy a house!"

"Money does not mean all that much to me. I can always make more. But if I lost my daughter today..." Mister Corwell paused for a moment. "I dread to even think about it."

"Are you absolutely sure about this?" her father asked.

"Of course. Take it, James. Go buy her some nice clothes. And a proper hat. The girl's in rags for goodness sake!" The wealthy man seemed appalled. "She will also need a real staff now that she is a witch. Buy her these things with the money I just gave you and let me take care of the rest."

"Well, when you put it like this..." He finally gave in. "Alright. Thank you very much!"

"You are most welcome. Do you want to see her now?"

"Of course! Where is she?" Her father jumped the moment he heard him mention her. Velvet heard his steps approaching the door and opened it preemptively.

"Dad!" she shouted running towards him and hugging him.

"You're awake already?" He was surprised but overjoyed to see her nonetheless. "Thank goodness you're safe!"

They let their hug linger for a while. When they finally broke it, his hands caressed hers as he looked down and caught a glimpse of a burn mark on the back of her hand. He lifted her right hand up. The burn mark was not really a burn mark, even though it looked like one.

"I got my mark!" she exclaimed happily, seeing him staring at it. "It's the mark of light, just like Thoracc's!"

There was no response though, only silence. She glanced up to find his eyes filled with tears. He looked towards the ceiling letting them freely slide down his cheeks.

"I hope you can see this, Sarah," he whispered under his breath. "Our little girl did it. She got her magic just like you always believed she would."

Her father took her home where she told him in detail everything about what happened in the forest and rested up some more. She was feeling much better after a good night's sleep and decided to go to school regardless of him telling her that the teacher said she doesn't need to.

When she walked into the courtyard the next day, a lot of children were playing outside. This time, she was not late. Early even. A girl with black hair came up to her and laughed.

"Thank goodness you ditched that awful-looking hat from yesterday! It looked simply dreadful!"

"Hey," a familiar voice said from behind the girl's back. "You got a problem with her?"

Penelope walked up to them and stood herself by Velvet's side. "Because if you have a problem with Velvet, you have a problem with me. She's my friend, you know," she announced.

"N-no, I don't! S-sorry, Vel!" the girl stuttered and ran off.

"Um...thanks, I guess?" the confused witch said. She didn't expect Penelope to make a complete reversal and even stand up for her like that.

"Don't mention it," she said in turn and patted her on her back. "You saved me yesterday even after I was so awful to you. I can never thank you enough." Pausing for a moment she offered her extended arm to the girl. "Sorry I just announced myself as your friend like that. It's totally up to you. Do you accept my apology and my friendship? I won't be mad if you don't."

After a few seconds of staring at her hand, Velvet shook it and smiled. "Yes. I think I can do that. Apology accepted!"

The other girl's face lit up with a smile as well. "Thank you!"

Thank you for reading the first part of the second chapter!

Looks like Velvet made a new friend! Let's show her our support with a vote! [https://img.wattpad.com/4127d9899becb045d9ac914aac7eaffdd207a578/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f4d42576e4f5255727356647139673d3d2d313235343633343934322e313730376561386130643530646263643931323434323230393035312e6a7067?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]

Looks like Velvet made a new friend! But will this odd friendship last?