Katy sat down and waited. She did not really know what would happen. She just knew that she was to be assigned her classes, and divination, whatever that meant, was to help somehow. Katy could not guess how this professor could figure out what classes she would do well in, or exactly what divination was, so she was tense as she waited, she waited as if this was a dream that was about to end.
Professor O’Conaill sat down on a pink cushion beside her and started to explain about her new school. “Okay, Katy Lily, we are going to talk classes, well mostly just talk and see where your power guides us.” Katy did not know what that meant but the professor’s smile reassured her. “First let’s see your wand and staff, nice Yew staff and Holly wand, so let’s see that would put you in Pyrokinesis. Now, just for your information about how classes work, there are four terms to the year, the First day after the New Year in January to second Friday in March, then there is a break for two weeks then we go to the second Friday in June. Then again there is a two-week break, then we go until the second Friday in September and then another two week break. Then we go until the second Friday in December then we are off until the beginning of January. Now you can stay at the school during breaks, which is fine, or you can go back to your family. Now our calendar is a little different, though our school schedule follows the traditional United States calendar, in our world our New Year’s Day, or Samhain, is October 31st and we will have a large feast if on a school day classes are cut in half. On the last day of classes in December we also have a large feast as an early celebration of Yule, normally on December 21st, which is around the time the world celebrates Christmas. On February 2nd there is a feast to celebrate Imbolic, as well as one on May 1st to celebrate Beltane. On the last day of classes in June we celebrate an early Litha which is normally on the 21st, and July 31st we celebrate Lammas, and on the last day of classes in September we celebrate an early Mabon, which is usually on the 21st. You will learn more about that in your history class. Now all students take Magical Transportation, History, Elements, Astronomy, Thaumaturgy, Potions, Creatures, Spells, and Magical Defense. The other classes you take will be chosen today. Any questions?” The professor smiled down at Katy.
“How, professor, do we find out the other classes I will take?” Katy finally stopped to wonder: Just how many classes would she have to take? And what would they learn in these classes?
“Well that is the easy part, it takes only moments! First you will take Pyrokinesis, as your elemental power is Fire. Now I will have you wave your wand; throw some stones and I will read you. Very standard procedure, I assure you. First let’s have you wave your wand.” The professor handed Katy her wand.
“Umm… What do I do, professor?” Katy was worried she had never performed magic before. In fact, before today she had never heard of magic before except in stories and myths.
“Just raise your wand and wave it and think about turning the table into an animal.”
Katy did as she was told. She waved her wand at the table and then freaked out because the table that was in front of them suddenly transformed into an exceptionally large black panther.
“Very good Katy!” Exclaimed Professor O’Conaill, as she changed the panther back into a table. “Yes, transfiguration will be one of your classes. Please set down your wand for now.”
Katy sat down her wand on the table and waited for the professor to tell her what was next. But Katy was concerned if with just a wave her wand, aimed at the table turned it into a panther, what other power could she be holding inside of her. “How?”
“It is your inner power. Yours is extraordinarily strong, most students turn the table into something smaller. But when you are not thinking about how to do something but just thinking on making it reality, it is easier to do. The power is always in you we are just teaching you how to control it. Now let’s try this, I will think of a number and see if you can guess it, we will try a few times. Go.”
“27.” Katy did not know how but somehow she was able to hear the number echo in Professor O’Conaill’s mind.
“Again.”
“35.”
“Again.”
“6,723.”
“Again.”
“1,765,315.”
“Great! Alright telepathy will be another class. Now I am going to say some words to see if you understand them, just repeat after me. Apple.”
“Apple.” Katy felt insulted that the professor felt the need to check if she understood the word apple. But she paid attention, she thought she might have heard something hidden in the world that the professor had said.
“Basilisk.”
“Basilisk.”
“Police.”
“Police.”
“Candy.”
“Candy.”
“Great! You understood them all! They were in different languages. I am pleasantly surprised you go the last one. Only one other person in the last two centuries got that one, it is an ancient dragon language. Yes, I know you will be good in the study of languages.”
“If you knew that I will be good, why didn’t you just tell me what classes I would take, why all these little tests, professor?”
“To show you what you can do. Now let’s continue.” Professor O’Conaill stated with smile and a twinkle in her eyes.
Katy said nothing just waited for more instructions, but no instructions came. Professor O’Conaill picked up a knife that had been laid on the table and cut her arm open.
Katy jumped up, she did not realize what she was doing, she acted on instinct, she grabbed her wand from the table and touched her wand to the professor’s wound. There was a spark of gold then the wound closed. Katy expected to hear words of praise from the professor, instead she saw, barely, out of the corner of her eye a fist as it flew toward her. Without thought she raised her arm and blocked the blow headed for her and swung her other arm out to hit the attacker, which in this case was the professor. She fell to the floor but entered an attack mode. She expected to have to defend herself more, but the professor just smiled at her.
“Great, great, Katy, you reacted out of instinct both times. Yes, you will do very well in your martial arts and your healing classes.”
Katy did not say anything but stayed on alert as she righted herself and sat back down on her cushion, she was berating herself for letting her guard down. Rule one of life was keep your eyes open and your guard up. She did not know why there could not have been another way to test for the martial arts class.
“Now don’t worry that will be the last time I try to attack you, it was just to test your reflexes, I found it works better if the student doesn’t know what is about to happen. Now, I am going to give you a couple of options and allow you to choose two classes.”
“Okay.” Katy waited, then was handed a list of classes, there was Herbology, Meditation, Religions, Alchemy, Arts, Symbols, Cryptography and Mythology, Telekinesis, Literature, Aspecting, Creative Writing, Drama, Chorus, Wand History, and Physical Education. “Umm…. Professor what are these classes about?”
“Well if you think- you would enjoy Potions I suggest going into Herbology as herbs and plants are very important to a potion master, Meditation is just like it sounds you meditate so you can try to gain a high consciousness, Religions is again just learning about other religions and learning to understand just because somebody believes in something different does not mean they are wrong, Alchemy is a science, Arts is, well, painting and ceramics and the history behind them, Symbols is about learning the meaning of symbols, cryptography is learning to speak and write in code and Mythology is about learning myths and legends, Telekinesis, is using only the mind, no magic, to make things move, Aspecting is like meditating, but it is more connected to becoming like the ancient gods and goddesses, the rest sound just like their names. Wand History, after your fifth year would turn into Wand Making.”
Katy looked at the list and knew she would pick Herbology there was no doubt about that, she was sure Potions would to be a blast, but the others all looked the same. What if she chose wrong? What if the class she chose turned out to be wrong for her and one of the other classes would be better for her? She was confused; there was more than one class that looked interesting.
“Oh, by the way you are allowed one term to test the subject out if you don’t enjoy it you can always change. But almost one hundred percent of the time the student is guided by their own instincts and that is almost always correct.” The professor smiled at her and Katy looked at the list again.
It only took moments after the professor assured her there was room for error, for Katy to decide she remembered reading about Greek mythology in the library. “I want to take Herbology and Mythology.”
Professor O’Conaill smiled, and Katy felt more confident in her choices. “Great choices Katy!” Professor O’Conaill took her own wand out of her apron and tapped the paper she was consulting. “Now tell me, young witch, do you think you would enjoy learning about ancient civilizations, of our ancient ancestors, going on adventures, maybe even finding a lost treasure, finding artifacts of magic long since lost.”
Katy thought it was joke at first, but then this was a new world that only days ago she thought of as a joke. She thought about her answer, would it be interesting to learn about how ancient witches and warlocks lived, would it be cool to go find the treasures they left behind, to go on great adventures, to see something of the world? She had only known the alleys she grew up in, now that she thought about it; the world was vast and the knowledge it held would be just as vast. And Katy wanted that knowledge! Katy looked up at the professor with a great big smile. “Yes, that would be the greatest thing ever, to see the world and to seek out its treasures and secrets.”
“Great, Archeology is going to be a great class for you. Now it is time for me to read the crystal ball with you, read your palm, and allow you to throw some stones to divine your last two classes.” The professor took her hand and looked at the lines, Katy was not sure what they meant but thought it was interesting that someone could read about a person from the lines on their hands. “Hmmm…. Remarkably interesting.” The professor dropped Katy’s hand and then grabbed a crystal ball. “Have a look into this crystal ball with me Katy.”
Katy peered into the ball; it gave off a glow. At first Katy did not see anything, then she saw herself in new clothes, a smile on her face, but a tear was running down her check. She was surrounded by friends, one of which had blood red eyes and dagger like teeth. But there was also a fog hanging over her. “Professor… what is the meaning of the fog?” She was afraid to ask about the kid or the sadness she saw in her eyes.
“There will be time for that in your divination class.” Professor O’Conaill could not have a larger smile. “Yes, it will be great to teach a powerful young witch like you. Now for the last thing a casting of stones, here Katy take these, hold them in your hand and concentrate on the question, what should be my last class, and then toss them onto this mat.”
Katy looked at the stones for a moment there was a bluish green one, a blackish purple one, a red orange one, a blue and white one, and a pink one. She concentrated all her power into that question and then dropped the stones onto the mat.
The professor took a moment to read them. “Great, you shall be in my little sister’s class Necromancy. That is communicating with the ones who have gone before us so that way we can try to solve the problems around us; rather they are presented directly to us, or indirectly. You never know how you affected the world until you are taken from it. Now it is not raising the dead or using them for evil purposes, though both have happened, we teach you to ask your question to the sprits and interpret the response, it is a very interesting course. Now let’s get you back to Antonio, hang on to your wand Katy, and never let it leave your side. You will be taught how to use it, and your staff in your classes.” The professor thought for a moment and as if it was an afterthought said, “for now your staff should remain by your side as well.” The professor handed Katy her staff and lead her out front. She went to the desk for a moment tapped a piece of paper with her own wand and handed it to Katy. It was her class schedule. Then Antonio came up to her and put her staff back into her bag, which he carried.
Katy thought about the suggestion Professor O’Conaill gave about holding on to her staff. But she trusted Antonio, she was not sure why she did, but she did, so after a moment of internal argument she choose not to ask for it back. So instead all she said was “Thank You, professor.”
“Thank you, professor, now we can get her uniforms and books. Come on, Katy Lily.” Antonio took her free hand, and as they walked out the door Katy said thank you and once again followed Antonio. “Well Katy Lily, what classes are you taking?”
Only then did Katy look down at her schedule and what she saw shocked her. Then she told Antonio “On Tuesdays and Thursdays I have History at 7:30 A.M. then Spells at 8:40 A.M. Potions at 10:00 A.M. Creatures at 11:10 A.M. Teleportation at 1:30 P.M. Thaumaturgy at 2:40 P.M. Telepathy at 4:00 P.M. Languages at 5:10 P.M. Healing at 7:30 P.M. Martial Arts at 8:30 P.M. Then on Mondays and Wednesdays I have Transfiguration at 7:30 A.M. Magical Defense at 8:40 A.M. Pyrokinesis at 10:00 A.M. Herbology at 11:10 A.M. Mythology at 1:30 P.M. Elements at 2:40 P.M. Divination at 4:00 P.M. Necromancy at 5:10 P.M. Archeology at 7:30 P.M. and Astronomy at 8:40 P.M. Wow, that is a lot!” Katy had gone to school in the city but the whole school day was only six hours long. She started to worry again about her ability to fit in to this world, into this new life.
“Yes, the school does expect a lot from the witches and warlocks it teaches. But you will have Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays off, and of course, there is not much written homework, they believe more in the hands-on approach. Of course, as you see you must be back in the dorms by midnight that goes for the weekends as well. You can do what you want most of the time on weekends, except until you are fifteen you can’t leave the school, once you are fifteen you can teleport or fly to other local magical communities. This is the largest one here, and of course there is a small magical community right outside the school, called Mitchellville. Of course, any detentions you get will be served on the weekends as well. Now let’s get your uniforms.”
They stopped at this small shop; it was called Mentha’s Uniforms and Cloaks. They walked in and were greeted by a noticeably young woman, with bright red hair and if possible, her eyes were a brighter red.
“Welcome to Mentha’s Uniforms and Cloaks! You will find no better! I am Jodi, and how can I help you today?” Jodi had a huge smile, which to Katy it seemed a little forced while she waited for their answer.
Antonio spoke up first “Katy here needs seven cloaks for everyday wear, three winter cloaks, and seven sets of the standard uniform, seven archeology uniforms and two sets of the martial arts uniform. She is a Fire elemental.” Katy did not see why that was important. But said nothing as Jodi grabbed her hand to lead her to the back room. Antonio took a seat by the door.
“A Fire elemental, rare, but at least you have come to the right place for your school uniform. First I am going to take some measurements.” Jodi took out a measuring tape, it was the brightest yellow Katy had ever seen and started to measure Katy. After she was done, she had Katy try on a plain white blouse and skirt to make sure the measurements were correct. After Katy got redressed Jodi walked out to another room and after a few minutes she came back with some boxes. “Now these will grow with you for one year, every year around this time you will have to order more, just send us your new measurements, using the tape measure in the box. Now that will be 15 Berries please.”
“Antonio has my money. I will go get it.” Katy jumped down from the measuring station and ran to Antonio, “Antonio, it will be fifteen Berries,” Katy held out her hand for the money.
Antonio said nothing but got up and went to make sure that Katy was given everything she needed before paying. “Let’s see seven skirts, seven shirts, seven ties, seven cloaks, three winter clocks, two sets of the martial arts uniform, seven archeology shirts, seven pairs of archeology shorts, and the archeology hat, three pairs of shoes, underclothes, socks, and of course her witches hat. Okay, here you are Katy.” Antonio handed Katy the bag of money.
Katy opened it and counted out fifteen gold coins and handed them to Jodi and handed the bag to Antonio. Antonio took the boxes and placed them into Katy’s bag, which he continued to carry. Then he took the money bag back from Katy. They walked out as they said goodbye to Jodi. “Umm… Antonio what do the uniforms look like?”
“Like what I am wearing except you will have a black skirt, which will go to just above the knee. And of course, knee high blood red socks, black dress shoes, blood red button-down shirt, dark orange tie, and your cloak, as you are in Fire. Now if you were in another house the colors would be different. Spirits’ colors are navy blue and gold, Waters’ colors are dusky violet and grey, Earths’ are brown, or khaki, and green, and Airs’ are yellow and black. Let’s go get your potion ingredients, and any other items you need. Then we will get your books, after that we can stop and get something to eat.”
Katy said nothing just held her wand and held Antonio’s hand as she walked down the street to Potions R Us. When they entered the store, they saw all these strange sets, scales, mortars and pestles, different herbs and things for potions, hairs, animal bloods, Katy’s eyes popped!
“We need to get you two pestles and mortars, one for more poisonous ingredients and one for non-poisonous, a cleaning kit, a set of scales, your first year potion kit, your herb kit, an athame, a cauldron, vials, jars, your stirring stick, a ladle and of course gloves, you will use those for Creatures, Potions and Herbology so we will get you three pairs. Why don’t you go pick out an athame and I will grab everything else, the athame section is over there.” Antonio said as he pointed to the end of a wall, where all these knives sat on cushioned shelves.
Katy walked over and looked at them; there were so many different ones to choose from. There were plain ones, gold ones, silver ones, so many different ones. She looked them over and wondered how to pick one when she saw it. It was perfect. It had a blood red handle with some symbols cut into it, and the blade solid silver. She fell in love with it. She went to reach for it when a salesperson came up to her, he was pale, his hair to his shoulders, black and greasy, he had a beak nose, and black eyes.
“No touching unless you are buying!” He yelled at her. She dropped her hand. Suddenly afraid, she felt a sense of heat and she decided to hold her ground.
“I…. I am buying…. Sir…. Antonio has my money he…. Is over there…” Katy said nervously as she pointed over toward Antonio who had just finished up with another salesperson.
“Sure, you were!” Said the man as he rolled his eyes. “All children are thieves, thieves I tell you. Come back when you have money to show me!” He slammed down the cover of his glass case, but it did not break, but it did vibrate a lot, as if it had wanted to give in, but something was preventing the cracks from being formed.
Katy was on the verge of tears when Antonio walked over. “What is the problem?” He looked at the man who was yelling at her, and then back down at her.
“The child was trying to steal an athame!”
“Steal? Katy? No, I sent her over her to pick out her athame; she starts school in a few days.” Antonio’s voice was cold to the man who had yelled at her. “Please open your case back up so she can grab the one she wants.”
The man looked at Antonio and opened the case. The man watched Katy’s every move.
“Pick your athame, go on Katy Lily, it is okay.” Antonio’s voice was no longer cold.
Katy went quickly to the one she had seen and grabbed it and showed it to Antonio. “Isn’t this awesome, it is so pretty, look the handle is the color of the tips of my wand and staff!” Katy forgot her fear in place of how happy she was and how proud to show Antonio her choice, Katy also felt the heat she had felt subside.
“That is a perfect choice Katy Lily.” Antonio turned to the man and with the same cold voice “how much?”
“Two Berries.”
Antonio paid him and then took the athame and put it in a box being offered by the man. Antonio took Katy’s hand he walked out of the store. “Okay, before your books we still have to get you a few more things.” They walked in silence, to a little store called Kane Resources.
“Now we need to get your parchment and quills, your telescope, star charts, folders, ink, an Archeology field kit, runes, crystal ball, tarot deck, Spirit board, crystal set, oracle set, stones, candle set, and bowl set. We have lots of things to buy before we buy your books.” They walked into the store, so many strange things were all around Katy and she never wanted to leave, she wanted to watch the strange shooting objects, she wanted to look at all the crystals and cards she saw. “Come on Katy Lily, much to buy, first we pick out your stones, crystals oracle, runes, and tarot sets.” They walked up to the displays.
Katy saw lots of different decks of cards, different sets stones and crystals and so many other things; she did not know how she was going to pick out her sets.
“So, Katy let’s see let’s start with your tarot set and oracle set. Those will be these decks here. Just pick one, the one meant for you will make sure it is chosen we are magic you know.” Antonio said with a laugh and a wink, he seemed to know that Katy was going to ask him how she would know which decks were meant for her.
Katy just looked at them all, the ones on top were all flashy and she really didn’t like them, after what seemed like forever she saw a deck of cards, near the bottom, as if forgotten, they were plain to the eye, but it seemed to be they were glowing. Katy picked up the deck and handed it to Antonio. “These are mine.”
“Great, now time for the oracle deck, they are here.” Antonio said and pointed to a table on the right.
Antonio held on to the tarot deck, and Katy went and looked at the oracle decks, if possible, they were flashier then the tarot decks on top. Then she saw one, it had fairies on the cards, she looked at them, they did not seem flashy, but they were pretty, as meant to go with her tarot set. She picked these up as well. “These are mine as well.”
“Great! Okay the cards are out of the way. Now here are the rune sets, crystal sets, and stone sets, pick one of each.” Antonio said as he pointed out three tables.
“Are fairies real?” Katy stopped to think of all the stories she had read, and now she had a deck of cards with many kinds of fairies.
“Why, yes, there are many creatures and beings you will meet as you travel through our worlds.” Antonio responded.
Katy took that to heart and turned her attention back to the task at hand. Again, Katy took some time to choose, because at first everything looked the same. In the end she picked a black and red rune set, which sounded like music to her ears. Antonio said they were screeching at him. She also chooses a crystal set that seemed to scream her name when she looked at them, and a stone set that seemed to hum when she held them. She handed them to Antonio. “These are all mine.”
“Great! I will just pick up everything else from the counter; we had placed an order for what we could so it should all be ready. Go ahead and pull out your class list, it will also have your book list on it, next to the classes.”
As Antonio went up to the front to get the rest of her supplies, she looked down at her class list again. Antonio was right; there was a list of books to purchase. She wondered now how much everything was; maybe she should have picked a cheaper athame, or something, because Antonio said the books were expensive.
“Ready to go Katy Lily?” Antonio asked as he took her hand.
“ Umm… yeah…” They walked out of the store and straight to the bookstore.
“Okay what are the titles of your books Katy Lily?”
“A Magical History, White Magic Spells Year 1, Beginner’s Potions, Creature Care Year 1, Magical Household Guide Book 1, Workings of the Mind, Languages Year 1, A Beginner’s Healing Guide, Changes You Make Year 1, Defenses Against Black Magic Year 1, A Fire Starters Guild Year 1, Herbs and Trees of the World, Greece, Rome, Egypt, and their Gods, Elemental Powers Year 1, Divining Powers Year 1, Spirit Guides, Uncovering the Secrets of our Ancestors, and Plants and Stars of Our World.”
“Yes, exceptionally good books, I had most of them myself. I took almost the same classes you are, except I did not take Mythology I took Symbols instead, but dropped them after my fifth year. After your fifth year you choose the ten classes you are most interested in and continue on in them, so instead of one hour classes every other day you have two hour classes every other day for you sixth though ninth years. For your tenth year you choose you six favorite classes, so you take three classes a day, three and half hours each, it is to help you decide the topics you want to master. You can also get permission to take weekend classes in your tenth year, up to three additional classes on Fridays and Sundays, but only one or two students a year decide to do that, and usually it is only one additional class. Most people pick their elemental power and one or two others to master. I choose potions and healing, but my main focus is potions just don‘t tell my mom, she is a medicine woman.” As Antonio explained all of this, he picked up the books Katy had listed off. By the time he was finished with his explanation about classes they were up at the checkout counter, and the clerk looked and rang up the books.
“Thirty Berries please.”
Antonio counted out the money and gave it to the clerk, and put the books into Katy’s bag, which he continued to carry. “Thank you. Let’s go Katy Lily and get something to eat.” Antonio took Katy’s hand and led her out of the store.
Kris Charles - Author 