A baby's cry pierced the silence, echoing through the walls of a cottage. Nestled just outside the town, the moderate but quaint cottage stood alone amidst the encompassing woods, its charm amplified by a sprawling garden and a stone path leading to its door. Not even the gentlest chirping of birds could rival the resounding cries of the newborn infant yearning for someone to hear it. Within the cottage, a new father stood beside a weary mother, who had just finished giving birth. Their maid, usually a soothing presence, stood between them. Yet today, her allure failed to offer the solace it once did. All three stood over a bassinet, gazing in a mix of shock and, perhaps, even disgust, at the bawling child before them.
“What the hell is going on Willow?!” the husband stammered, his voice trembling.
“I don’t know! This isn’t supposed to be possible” Willow retorted; her voice laced with desperation. “There must be a mistake! This can’t happen!”.
“…………..” the maid standing in-between the troubled parents now with disbelief etch upon her face due to the parents words.
“What are we going to do?” now in tears, fear starts to set in.
“Well, what are we going to do?” the husband echoes, almost with a hint of urgency.
A heavy silence settled upon the room, leaving all three of them at a loss for words. The only sound that persisted was the piercing cries of the newborn, slowly eating away at what sanity they had left. Finally, the maid moves toward the baby and picks them up. She cradles the baby looking as radiant as ever and starts to sway back and forth to try and stop the crying. Both the husband and wife look at her not with disgust, but with a tinge of regret for their own failure to provide unconditional love and comfort. Moments later a wave of relief washes over them, as the newborn finally starts to fall asleep, Willow finally speaks up again.
“No one must know about this. Tonight, we shall depart without a trace, leaving behind our past. Pack only what is essential for our new life. This includes you as well” As she is staring directly at the maid.
Not to rebuttal the orders given to her, but the maid asks in a calm and soothing voice, “But what name have you decided on?”
“Our original name is no longer applicable” Willow says, then looking at her husband “Considering the circumstances, I have no idea.”
“Hmm” the husband ponders a moment before a faint smile graced his lips, “There was a name I was always fond of when I was younger, how about we call them …….”
----------------------------------------
*Beep beep beep beep* The piercing sound of an alarm shattered the serene morning silence. Barely awake, the young man tries to hit the snooze button on the alarm clock next his bed. Finally, he hits it, and the incessant noise stops. He turns over to go back to sleep. Still with his eyes closed he says “I hate mornings” he mumbles as he tries to go back to sleep. He begins to think to himself, “What’s the rush? It’s not like I have anywhere to be just like every other day.” Not even a minute later a woman’s voice can be heard in the distance.
“It’s time to get out of bed Kozmo! Don’t let me catch you trying to sleep in again young man!”
Eyes wide open now “Crap I don’t need mom ripping me out of bed again”, then he shouts back through the closed door “I’ll be down in a minute mom, just changing”, as he is still in bed covered by his sheets. He sluggishly sat up, rubbing his eyes, and tossed the sheets aside as he stumbled towards his closet to put on some clothes for the day. Still half-asleep he grabs a shirt and some pants and dresses himself. Only moving at a snail’s pace, he shuffles his feet to the door to slowly make his way downstairs to the dining room.
“Seriously, you couldn’t have picked a clean shirt or put it on correctly?!”
Looking down he just now realizes that his shirt is backwards. “Sorry mom.”
“Go back up and put a clean shirt on and don’t forget to brush your hair before you eat breakfast.”
Once again, slowly shuffling his way back upstairs to his room, he changes shirts and goes to the bathroom to brush his hair. Peering in the mirror, you can tell this young man is in his mid-to-late teens, his hair disheveled silver-dirty-white hair fell across most of his face, reaching down to touch his shoulders. Brushing his silver-dirty-white hair back revealing his cerulean blue eyes, he starts to put it up into a neat and tight bun so that it doesn’t fall on his face or in his food. Standing at nearly 6 feet tall, a fit, yet thin, young man turns on the faucet, splashing cold water on his face to wake himself up.
“Hurry up and come back down before breakfast gets cold” he hears his mother yelling from downstairs again.
This time with a more upbeat pace he goes downstairs and begins to eat breakfast. Chewing his food he stares outside, and his mind begins to wonder about the same thoughts he seems to have every day, what will we be learning today. His mom has been his teacher since right around the time he was going to enter high school, she pulled him out and has been home schooling him ever since. It’s not like he has the same load of homework he used to when he was in school, but he does miss the days of hanging out with his friends. His mother: a woman looking in her mid-40s (not that she would ever actually reveal her true age to her son) with long wavy black hair cascading down her back, and a face still framing of youth yet held a since of wisdom. Staring down at her son with her aquamarine-colored eyes watching him as he eats, she overhears him quietly muttering under his breath “I’m tired of learning botany and herbology. I’ve always been a fast learner it almost always come naturally, not to mention it’s not like I’m all that interested in everything plant.” She then shakes her head dismissing the rude comment.
“Finish eating so we can go outside so I can teach you more about which plants have more healing properties over others.”
“Mom, we have gone over this time and time again. I know how to mix herbs…”
“Yes, but you only understand what mixes together, not the why and how.” she interrupted.
Now with irritation in his voice “How long are we going to be at this, you know as well as I do that no one is going to take a male apothecary seriously, kind of like how most people seem to make fun of a male nurse. Not to mention everything else that’s available with doctors and modern-day medication. Also, what if I don’t want to continue your business? I want to explore the world, not stay here for the rest of my life”.
“And we’ve gone over this, without the history of apothecaries, modern medicine wouldn’t be where it is today, and you will continue this family’s business just as your child will too. You don’t have a choice Kozmo, it’s in your blood”.
Sighing as if bloodlines have anything to do with making natural remedies. Anyone could do it with enough education or buying a book that teaches you how. Just need to ‘graduate’ from my mom before I can just leave and do whatever I want anyways, and she won’t be able to stop me. A glimmer of hope flickered in his mind, WAIT! That’s right, tomorrow’s my birthday and I will finally be 18. Only a day away until I’m seen as an adult and maybe this will be the year, she will let me sleep in.
“Well hurry up to the garden already” Mom says as she gracefully walks out the back door.
Kozmo gets up from the table and with one last bite, jumps out the door for another lesson on plants. “What are we learning about today?” Kozmo says exasperated.
“Today I thought we would go over the ‘Hyssop’ plant” As she points over to the brightly colored shrub. Purple flower like petals that look kind of like mini corn in the cob and big green leaves at the base of the plant standing about a foot and a half tall. “If you notice, its scent is inviting, sweet and uplifting.”
“And it can be used for purification, protection, healing, and clarity. I know this already mom” Kozmo interrupts.
“Yes, it’s even believed to help ward off the plague. Since you remember so much, what else can it help with on healing remedies?”
“It can help with disinfecting, colds, coughs and if brewed correctly in a tea, can help soothe your stomach.” Kozmo says in a monotoned voice, as if he has had to say that repeatedly.
“And while it not only helps with disinfecting, but it can also help heal bruising and scarring” Mom chimes in. “It’s also shown to help with clearing negativity energy, like after an argument or malicious spirits that won’t leave.”
“Like ghosts are real” Kozmo smirks.
Ignoring the comment, “It can also help with clarity in difficult situations, keeping you calm when everything around you feels like it’s falling apart or becoming overwhelming” continuing “The best time for harvesting them is at the end of spring and beginning of autumn.”
“And today is going to be a long day, mom is caught in her own world again” Kozmo thinks with a heavy sigh. As the day dragged on, Kozmo found himself lost in his thoughts, barely paying attention to his mother's words about various plants continuing until the early evening.
----------------------------------------
Everything is dark, distant, and faint screaming, then only silence. “Wake up Kozmo!”
“Dad?!”
This father, Lawrence, is standing over Kozmo who is laying in his bed. Even though the room was dark Kozmo could still make out his father’s features. Standing just as tall as Kozmo but with medium length hair stylishly tousled black hair with some specks of gray on either side of his temples. Though the gray could not be seen without light and looking closely, his father had a commanding presence not that Kozmo ever noticed due to his child like antics. His facial features were marked with a somewhat rugged handsomeness and a 5 o’clock shadow that never went away. While you could tell he was in his late-40s with the crow’s feet under his eyes, they were still a warm brown that love and a hint of mischief.
“Good morning son and happy birthday!”
Rubbing his eyes, he notices that it’s still dark outside, “Were those screams a dream, or did I hear that before being woken up?” he thinks before asking “What are you doing here?”
“It’s your birthday, did you think I would miss it?”
“Yes. You’ve missed several in the past due to you being gone for work. Also, what time is it?”
“It’s 3 am of course” an oddly cheerful tone in his voice. “The witching hour!” he followed up with a poor excuse of a creeping ghost “oooo” sound, sadly attempting to sound spooky.
“The witching hour is at midnight….”
“It’s midnight somewhere” he chuckles to himself. “Alright, time to get up, meet me and your mother downstairs. Today is a big day.”
What the hell is going on? Why is this year the year my parents finally lose it and get me up at 3 am to start my birthday…this has got to be joke, right?
His father pops his head back in the door, “Oh and here. Put those on, you’re going to need them” he says as he tosses his son a bag the felt full of clothes.
Darkness fills the bedroom as Kozmo gets up and turns the light on. Everything is white for a moment as his eyes adjust to the sudden brightness. He picks up a small bag full of some clothes and leather boots…. seriously what is this? These aren’t my clothes; in fact, these remind me of like a medieval set of clothes…including the cloak to go with it. A loose-fitting light gray tunic that has a V-neck and a sting running through it like a shoelace on a shoe. While the material was soft, it also felt durable, and the hemmed stitching was well done. The black trousers were baggy all the way down, and the leather boots had a square toe shape and they laced halfway to his knee. I’ve only seen people wear this in movies and on Halloween. Maybe this is some large prank and I’ll be able to go back to sleep afterword.
Kozmo puts on the tunic, trousers and laces up the boots before throwing the cloak over his shoulders. It was lighter than he expected and had a nice clasp at the top with a short standing collar. Kozmo thought, “I wish this had a hood so I could cover my face” sighing, he heads downstairs to meet his parents. “Happy Birthday!” both parents say in unison. Still half asleep, Kozmo nods and says thanks and immediately sits down on the couch exhausted from going downstairs. “So, what’s the big deal about waking me up at 3 am to celebrate?” grogginess evident in his voice.
“Today is a big day for you son, it’s time for your Journey of Ascendance” his mother says semi-excitedly.
“Journey of Ascendance” Kozmo echoes faintly, “What are you talking about?”
“When you turn 18 it’s time for you to learn what you’re capable of and use your powers for good to help others. However, this is a journey you must take alone. Just as I did, and my mother, her mother and so on.”
“Ok… but I still don’t understand what you’re talking about, what power?”
She pulls out an almost oversized hat, a witches’ hat, and sets it down on the table. This hat had an ancestral look upon closer inspection, while it seemed like it had some wear to it, it also was in pristine condition almost new. Something about it came off as if it possessed an aura of enchantment, made with the finest midnight-black fabric, it bore an unmistakable silhouette with a long conical shape tapering to a graceful point. Along the generously wide brim circling it, you could see intricate embroidery to it, but the threads were also the color of midnight-black and was too difficult to make out what it was supposed to be. Finally, it had a pearl white fibric band tied around the base of the crown, and the two ends of that fabric flowing off the brim in the back. “Well try it on, it should fit perfectly.”
You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.
“You’ve got to be kidding me, first you wake me up at 3 am, then tell me to put robes on, you talk a bunch of non-sense and now you want me to top it off with a witches’ hat?!” astonishment and annoyance evident in his tone. “If you wanted me to dress up you could have just waited until later instead of at this ridiculous hour.”
“Hunny, there is no joke here, just put on the hat and you will understand.”
“If it gets me out of this and back to bed then fine.” Kozmo grabs the hat and puts it on his head “Are you happy now?!” With the hat on Kozmo’s head he could now see the under color of the brim, it was a deep royal blue but without light it would be mistaken as black as the rest of the hat.
“Just wait and you’ll see” her words lingering in the air as everything became silent.
Nothing, nothing is happening. It’s just quiet, feeling like a fool sitting on this couch for this in dated clothes with a cloak and now a witches’ hat. Minutes pass and Kozmo’s face begins to show agitation until finally saying “I’m taking this hat off and going back to bed. I’ve had enough of this joke.”
~ Stop ~
“Who just said that?!” Kozmo looked around, both of his parents were still quiet and no one else was in the room.
~ I did ~
Again, there was the voice, it sounded like it came from right next to me or maybe behind? No wait, the voice is coming from inside my head. Confused, Kozmo reaches to take the hat off again.
~ I said stop, don’t remove me ~
Stopping mid-way in his tracks, stunned, dumbfounded, shocked “Is the hat talking to me?” He says out loud, realizing how ridiculous he sounds. While both of his parents just smile without saying a word.
~ Yes Master Kozmo, the hat is talking to you. I apologize for my delayed silence, my name is Enit. Please refer to me by my name and not ‘hat’ ~
“Enit….”
~ Yes, that is correct. It’s nice to finally meet you Kozmo. I’ve been rather curious if something would feel different with you being a male witch but no, the witches’ blood line is strong with you ~
“Witches’ bloodline? What are you talking about?”
“Don’t answer that Enit!” his mother pipes in “I’ll explain.”
He quickly locks eyes with his mom with a confused look. She sits down across from Kozmo before continuing “You see, my bloodline is only witches, in fact our great ancestors cursed each other to make sure the 7 great witch blood lines would stay strong so we could pass on our powers to each generation. Normally this would happen naturally, but witch blood and powers only pass to a female heir, so the curse was made so we can only procreate a girl.”
“Then I don’t understand” Kozmo replies even more dazed.
“Frankly neither do we, what you are doesn’t nor should exist. In layman’s terms you were never supposed to happen and being the only one of your kind means outsiders will see you as an Abomination.”
That word, abomination, echoes inside of Kozmo’s head. How am I an abomination? I shouldn’t exist? What am I? Who am I? This is too much, how am I supposed to process any of this. First, I’m told that I am a witch and second, I was never I should have never been born at all because I’m not a girl. Everyone always wants to be as unique as a snowflake but is this what it feels like to be so different that others would be disgusted by your very existence? Feels almost like struggling to swim and stay afloat in a vast sea as everyone else is in a bloat floating away and instead of helping you out, they just stare before looking away leaving you to sink. Being told that I’m an abomination and if anyone knew what I am, that is how I would be seen by the public makes me want to vomit. All of this because I have witches’ blood with a male body.
“Wipe that depressed look off your face, my blood flows through you. You are one of the most powerful witches to exist as well. On top of that, no one has someone like Enit in their family history.”
I can’t believe I already forgot there was a talking hat on my head.
~ She’s right you know. As far as I know, no other families have a familiar like me. I have been with your family since the day of your ancestors. Though I was created after the curse your mother mentioned that the witches made, I have knowledge of many things and will guide you on your journey ~
“My journey? Do you mean the Journey of Ascendance mom was talking about earlier?”
~ Yes ~
“Yes, you will be going on a journey alone back in our home, back to Miradia” again she pipes in before Enit can explain “It’s also crucial that no one knows your identity and that you are a male witch.”
“Well then how am I supposed to, as you put it, ‘help others’ if I have to conceal my so-called powers?!”
“It has taken awhile but we finally have something that will fix part of that, but we still have more to discuss before we get to that” with a slightly worried face looking back at her husband “First thing’s first, we have some other stuff to give you for your journey” She snaps her fingers and out of nowhere a brown leather bag, nearly the same size as her, pops into existence next to her.
“Wha..?!” Kozmo being to stunned to get a full word out.
She starts to pull out a bunch of trinkets, some of which I could tell were more alchemy based, some were classic witch stuff you see in children’s books like a broom, a wand, candles, etc… and a three times thicker version of a textbook. The list goes on, and it’s impressive how well packed that bag was and how nothing seems to have been broken.
“Before you go on mom, how in the hell am I supposed to carry all of that on me? That bag has got to weigh a ton and I am pretty sure that I would not get far with a bag that large.”
“You should ask Enit” she smirks.
“Umm...Enit, how am I supposed to carry all of that?”
~ Oh, well you see, I will carry all of that for you ~
“Oh HA HA Enit, very funny, you don’t have arms or a back to carry it on. Now be serious because I really don’t have the energy for this.”
~ I am serious, just take me off, grab the broom and put it inside me ~
“Sure whatever.” Kozmo grabs Enit off his head, followed by grabbing the broom and proceeding to shove it in where his head would normally go. As he starts to put it in, he anticipates the stick to hit the other side of the lining inside, but the broom just keeps going and going until the bristles slowly disappear into the dark void. “What the…” Kozmo turns the hat up and start to shake Enit, but nothing comes out. Putting Enit back on his head, “What just happened?”
~ I can also store most objects inside me while retaining my size and weight. Acting like I was an endless pocket or bag, and you will be able to retrieve anything I store just by asking and sticking your hand inside, thinking of said object and pulling it out, or you can just tell me what you would like to pull out and it will be what you end up grabbing ~
“Well, this would have been great when cleaning my room” he smiles, while mom and dad look at him unamused.
“Well now that everything is unpacked, this should help with your journey and everything you will be learning. To answer some early questions that everyone asks, yes, you can fly on the broom; no, you do not need the wand to cast spells, but it is a very helpful tool while you learn and finally, yes, this massive book is a spell book also passed down through the years with a lot of knowledge on potion creation and casting spells. You will also be able to ask Enit questions to help with understanding most of everything” she spills out reluctantly.
“Can I speak to black cats too?”
“I knew it was a mistake to let you read some of those children’s book with witches in them, no, those are supposed to represent a witches’ familiar which in this case is Enit. You are not forced to only one familiar though, however, please be warry when creating that type of kindship with another.”
“Be warry of familiars? Why?”
“Because not all familiars are loyal and they can leave you as they please, and if you make a pact with another familiar if they aren’t loyal think of it similarly to how in stories a genie somehow twists the wisher’s words. As it currently stands you not only have this families name to uphold but your secret cannot be spilled to the public.” Continuing, she goes on to say, “While you’re asking questions, go ahead and start putting your things inside of Enit so he can carry them for you and to get them out of my living room.”
“Well, what about Enit? Couldn’t Enit just leave our family and tell others?”
“No”
“Why not?
“Because I said so, now leave it at that.” She said with a sharp reply.
Kozmo begins to pack everything his mother placed out, slowly pushing everything in the dark void of his new hat…..his new familiar Enit. Every time his face fills with amazement has it just disappears and Enit never gets larger nor heavier. One by one everything that was brought out makes its way into the hat until nothing remains. Kozmo puts Enit back on his head, realizing that Enit was growing on him, and it was more comfortable to wear than originally thought. It also started to feel more stylish now with the knowledge of what it represented. Eventually Kozmo turns back to his mother.
“Was there anything else you wanted to cover with me?”
“Yes, but let’s sit down first.”
As everyone begins to sit down and get more comfortable, “We are from Miradia, it’s a world on a plane of existence that runs parallel to this one. And for the most part it is this world but more on the side of where most of your fantasy and folk lore stories come from”
“So, dragons and goblins among other fantasy creatures do exist?”
“Yes, where else do you think they got the ideas from, here?” she says in a rhetorical manor “Others have fled here in the past to get away or in some cases accidentally found themselves here but allowing anyone to find out about us could theoretically lead to a witch hunt, just as you learned about in Salem.”
“You said others have fled here in the past, are you saying we fled here too?”
“We did, shortly after you were born. After you were born the current situation of Miradia was not to our comfort and it would have been risky to keep you a secret all this time without a solution. As such we ended up creating what looked like an accident, so no one knows we are alive. Once you go back, and someone learns that you have the Hawthorne family name, it is highly likely that you will see how far that name reaches as well as how powerful it sits. You may even be brought into questioning about what happened.” A moment passes before she continues “As far as we need the public to know, your father and I are dead, and you miraculously survived but didn’t know whom you were until now.”
“Explaining that you two have passed away and I didn’t know how I was until 18 years later seems full of holes. If our family name is as powerful and popular as you say most likely someone would have investigated the scene and I won’t be just questioned but interrogated.”
“We ‘died’ in a fire, some old lady found you and she has now recently passed away which is when you found her diary and stumbled onto the truth of your name and power. And as for the investigation, no one even knew of the cabin we had and before we left it was burnt to ash, no traces were even left to find if someone did find it. Does that sound convincing enough to you now?”
“Sounds like you thought about this already with as fast as you replied, but yeah, I guess.” Feels like a common story plot though, Kozmo thought, “What about the problem we spoke of earlier, how am I supposed to come out as a Hawthorne if I’m supposed keep my identity a secret?”
“I actually have that covered son.” As his dad finally speaks for the first time since all this was revealed to him, he pulls out an enchantingly beautiful necklace. This necklace was obviously meticulously crafted from pristine white silver, gleaming softly under the living room light. The delicate chain, composed of interwoven links, attached to a celestial ornament, captivating the symbol of the night sky – a crescent moon. The moon too was painstakingly sculpted with intricate detail to fine to be seen with the naked eye however it did exude what felt like an ethereal luminescence. Within the crescent moon’s embrace nestled a mesmerizing purple crystal. Dangling from the peak of the moon, centered with the moon the crystal emitted a radiant glow pulling your attention and captivating your eyes. “Just put this on.”
Kozmo reaches out to the necklace and promptly puts it around his neck. In an instant Kozmo could feel a power emanating from the necklace flowing through his body. Suddenly nothing feels right, or more to say nothing feels the same. Kozmo felt has if his chest became heavy, is this an anxiety attack? That’s not all, my head feels a bit heavier, and something is touching my lower back now. Placing his hand on his chest to help sooth his now racing heart, but his hand stops much earlier than usual. Instead of feeling skin, bone, and a light amount of muscle he felt something much more pliable. Looking down only to see his chest was no longer his own chest, but he now had breasts. Still wondering what just happened and confused he then reaches around to his back to feel hair. Something had dramatically changed and Kozmo needed to see for himself in a mirror. He immediately runs to the mirror in the living room behind him.
The white hair that barely rested on his shoulders was now charcoal black reaching the lower end of his back. Once cerulean blue eyes were no more but now, they are a beautiful hue of a golden yellow accented with dark long lashes. His complexion now smooth with higher cheekbones, delicately arched eyebrows, rosy cheeks, and soft rosy lips. His jawline was now a slender chape and his hands were daintier than they had been before. His chest had obviously had breasts and while slim before felt a little slimmer in the waist. While his previous looks still had a unique charisma to him, he was now she. A beautiful young woman that looked the same age, and now felt himself or rather herself exceedingly radiant and alluring. Even the loose clothes, boots, cloak with Enit on her head, she still looked good.
“I am drop dead gorgeous.” Kozmo says to herself into the mirror without taking an eye off herself. “Is this just an illusion? I mean I can feel my own skin and pitch my cheeks, everything feels and looks real.”
“No, while wearing that necklace you are a girl. No illusion, your body has physically altered. This only works while wearing that necklace though, when you take it off you will revert to your original body.” Dad replies, “Our knowledge on this transformation is that it while your outer body completely changes it still cannot alter your true biology beyond that, that’s as far as we know. This doesn’t mean it’s risk free, there could be other ‘side-effects’ but since this may be the only one to exist there is no book or research to inform us of all the knowledge. Most use a form of illusion or a short-term alteration spell to change their looks however, illusion are just that, only tricking the eyes but nothing else. With alteration spells someone could do the same, but it requires so much magic to keep it going most you would see it is last 30 minutes or so.”
“So, this body is technically my body, and every bit real just like my original body?”
“That is correct”
Kozmo being an ex-male, she couldn’t resist to check everything out and immediately ran upstairs, rushing to the bathroom, slamming the door closed behind her. Not even a minute later a “HOLY SHIT!” can be heard all the way downstairs.
Looking back at his wife, “I knew this would be a mistake.” Sighing from embarrassment from Kozmo’s actions while his father starts laughing, a little too hard.
A few more minutes pass before the bathroom door opens and Kozmo walks back downstairs. “Well to keep up appearances I think I will need a new name to suit the new me everyone will know.”
“We will leave that up to you.” His mother replies with a faint smile.
“Hmm, any ideas Enit?”
~ Maya ~
“Maya, I like it. Maya Hawthorne.”
“Maya, what a beautiful name. But before you get too comfortable, you’re going to need this” Her mother says while promptly holding a bra out.
Maya’s face turns bright red. She begins to realize how embarrassing this was to have her mom give her a bra, other than the accidentally touching her mom’s bra when it fell into the laundry, she had never touched a bra let alone messed with one. Since she didn’t need once before this moment the thought hadn’t even crossed her mind until the bra was in her face. Before she could leave a more embarrassing thought crossed Maya’s mind and before she knew it, Maya blurted out, “Mom, please tell me this isn’t yours” with a hint of disgust in her voice.
“No honey, that is a brand-new bra I bought the other day for you, if you look carefully, you will notice the tag on the side still.”
“Oh, thank goodness” Maya mutters before quickly exiting the room for some privacy to put it on. After getting to the bathroom, she just now realized, “I have no freaking clue how to put this on” feeling even more embarrassed she also realized asking for mom or dad’s help with this would only make the entire situation even worse. With a pitiful sigh, “Guess I will just have to figure it out myself.”
A few minutes pass, and Maya is stuck on the latch, “How in the hell am I supposed to twist my arms that way and see behind me, this is ridiculous” *click* Mayas face perks up “Finally, well it doesn’t look to bad. Kinda cute, I’m shocked that it fits me perfectly but I’m not a fan of this additional pressure on my chest, reminds me of wearing an athletic cup but for my chest. Maybe I’ll just get used to it and forget about it” Putting her tunic and cloak back on and pulling her hair out so it would stop tugging her head back before heading back downstairs.
Maya proceeds to sit down with her parents who are still in the living room, Maya’s father looks to her, “Now that you’ve relaxed, I need you to remember, not only is that necklace the only one of its kind, but we are unsure of what its full capabilities and or side-effects are as I said earlier.”
Unsure how to respond to that statement, Maya replies, “Do you mean it has a chance to be more powerful than it seems? And when you say side-effects, do you mean like a rash or something?”
“We don’t know if any of that is the case or anything else, from this point on it’s even a mystery to us. It took me a very long time to acquire that so please don’t ask any questions about where it came from. Back to the topic please be mindful and don’t be careless with it.”
“I won’t be.”
“Well, I think it’s time to see you off” Maya’s mother chimes in. With that, both of her parents stand up. Her mother retrieved her own wand, glinting with arcane aura around it, and with a flick of her wrist, a cloud of white powder scattered into the air. The fine particles hung suspended. With practiced finesse, her mother manipulated the wand in a sweeping motion, as if tearing an invisible fabric in the air. As the wand traced its path, the cloud of white powder converged, drawn toward the ethereal tear created from her wand. A crack soon begins to materialize. Placing both hands on either side of the crack, her mother starts to exert a forceful push, reminiscent of a mime's struggle against an invisible box. The initial crack widened, fissures spider-webbing outward with an otherworldly shimmer, creating the impression of a grand double door opening in the middle of nothingness.
“Incredible…” Maya gasps.
“It’s time for you to begin your journey.” With tears in her eyes beginning to well up, she looks over at her husband. Both look at Maya and say “We love you and good luck” while they embrace her in a big hug.
Maya hesitantly stepped forward; her gaze fixed on the dark void of space that materialized in the heart of the living room. Without thinking and before she could stop herself, she took a brief glance back over her shoulder, only to find that the path she had traveled through had already vanished. Without warning, an overwhelming brilliant white light blinded her vision. Her face flushed with a mixture of awe and disorientation, her stomach churned, threatening to vomit. Overwhelmed by the sudden sensory overload, she instinctively dropped to her hands and knees. As her trembling fingers slammed into the solid cold ground feeling nothing but a gritty texture. Rubbing her eyes, she gradually realized this was none other than dirt. A shiver coursed through her, in only but a moment, she had arrived.