Deep in the South Forest is a raised platform. It stands taller than even the tallest of trees and is enchanted to grow as necessary to maintain its superior height. The platform itself is large enough to hold three villages, but that is not what it is used for.
One by one, wizards popped into existence across the platform, each wearing his best robes with all tassels and stoles that they had earned throughout their academic enterprises. Last but not least was Tristan the Great and Powerful Wizard of the Forest, followed quickly by his apprentice, Gwendolyn.
The first hour of the Gathering was for mingling and networking, so Tristan, true to form, had waited until the last minute to teleport in, thus avoiding that whole ordeal. Gwendolyn teased him mercilessly about that, insisting that she could have done all the talking for him, but he overruled her. When she learned how to teleport herself, he said, she could show up in time to mingle.
They were not the only couple to walk hand in hand, but they were certainly the most whispered about. The other wizards had never seen Tristan in anyone’s company, save perhaps Xavier on occasion. Many female wizards had attempted to catch his eye over the years only to be steadfastly ignored, and there was more than one jealous eye on Gwendolyn as they searched for their place in the crowd.
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“Ladies and Gentlemen, honored wizards,” a voice boomed from the stage. “We’ve come to the moment you’ve all been waiting for, the Great Showcase! I for one am very excited to see what new spells you all have discovered this year, and I’d like to kick it off with our very own, Tristan the Great and Powerful Wizard of the Forest! His submission is called Butterfly Stream.”
The announcer faded from view, and Tristan teleported into the center of stage. To anyone else he might have seemed particularly taciturn, but Gwendolyn knew it was stagefright that kept him quiet.
The wizard pulled his wand from beneath the folds of his robe and gave it a quick flick. Instantly, a colorful stream of butterflies emerged from the tip, small at first and rapidly growing as they spread out above the crowd.
The audience went wild, cheering for the spell and reaching up to try and touch the beautiful butterflies.
Tristan cleared his throat. “Ahem. This is Butterfly Stream, which I invented with the help of my apprentice, Gwendolyn.”
Gwendolyn beamed. She held up a wand of her own and send a spell straight up in the air. A stream of light that formed a big, red heart.