by Dani Corlee
Kim was staring at the place, nearly open-mouthed, when a beautiful koi fish jumped from the water towards her. She moved a step back in fear, but just one second before hitting the grass in front of her, the fish transformed into a tall, red-haired man. He smiled at her, showing a big mouth and striking white teeth, bowing slightly and greeting her.
“You must be Mrs. Pupp. My name is Alasdair and I'll be one of Aurora's teachers.”
Still paralyzed by surprise, Kim couldn't do any better than reply with a laconic, “Nice to meet you” and a stiff smile.
The school bell rang and Alasdair hurried away.
Still looking at him in wonder, she asked, “What does he teach?”
“Physics,” was the answer. “And can you see the two swans over there?” the young witch said, pointing with her chin toward the two animals walking towards the school, turning into humans. “She teaches Chemistry, and he teaches Biology. While the unicorn over there is...”
“Physics, Chemistry, Biology...” Kim interrupted her, without taking her glance away from all the animals turning into human beings, adults and children alike.
“I thought this school is one where spells and potions are taught! This doesn't look like Hogwarts.”
Ravyn laughed hard. “Oh, my!” she exclaimed and wiped a tear from her eyes.
“Kim, Hogwarts is fantasy, something invented for a book. This is real.”
“But...but what about the subjects you teach...”
“If you have to master the matter, you have to know it as a first thing, don't you?” Ravyn replied, shaking her long, shining dark hair.
Kim was silent for a few seconds, pondering the information she had so far. Then, trying to focus her sight behind the nearest hills, she asked, “Where is the school?”
“The school? It is right in front of you,” Ravyn replied, pointing to the Snow White cottage.
Kim looked surprised. “Well, I expected something... bigger,” she whispered.
“Did you? Come on, let's go inside.”
“It couldn’t hold even half of the people entering it. I wonder how...”
But the words died in her mouth as soon as they approached the door. She could already see the inside and it looked huge, with a hardly visible ceiling, and the only wall she could spot from there looked as if it was made of glass, a huge window from which she could see....
“Stars and planets!” she shouted as soon as they reached the doorstep.
They went inside and Kim stopped, enchanted. The place was huge, the other side so distant it could only be estimated in its position and the ceiling incredibly high. Many people, witches for sure, were orderly as they flew to various levels, each one waiting their turn and following the previous witch in a slow, circled flight.
On the other end of the building there were quick movements. It took a while for Kim to focus and see there were animals over there. Horses? No! Unicorns and Pegasus! And a... a dragon?
Kim realized her mouth was wide open in astonishment and shut it. She turned to Ravyn. “Well, this is most unexpected. Is this the school? Really?”
“You haven't seen anything yet; this is only the hall. Come with me, I'll show you a few classrooms.”
They approached a circle of red light on the floor and Kim saw that any witch flying was starting from a circle like that. There were plenty of them on the sides of the hall, each one fitting just three or four people.
They stepped inside it. “Now, give me your hand and relax. I'll take you upstairs.”
“I've always thought witches need a broom to... Oh!” Ravyn had levitated and was pulling Kim with her.
They went up in a slow spiral, Kim's eyes wide open in terror.
“Relax, relax! You are forcing us down to the ground!”
“Sorry, I can't help it!” Kim replied in a choked-up voice.
After a few seconds, they reached one of the nearest levels. Kim breathed heavily and exclaimed: “No more! Can I wish for an elevator so that I can use it to go down when we have to go back?” Then, trying to regain control, she said, “I've always thought you can only fly with a broom.”
Ravyn rolled her eyes. “Oh, boy, that's the way non-witches like to depict us. Probably because it looks quite funny. We can fly whichever way we like. Yes, with a broom, too. It is much easier if you don't feel very comfortable with your abilities. Make a spell and the broom will fly, and you with it. But it is much better learning how to levitate and control your body in the air. Look,” she added, walking in a corridor, pointing to some classes still open while students were entering them. Kim peeked inside and smiled. The classes had big windows, with wonderful views. One class faced Rome, another New York, and while the classes were closing, she could recognize Dubai and Pechino.
“It is really amazing! Are those classes in those cities, or are they just sort of, er, pictures?”
“The classes are here, but they really face other places. When you open the windows you can smell the real odors of that city and hear the sounds from that very moment.”
Two tardy kids shouted at the women to let them pass and overtook them, thanking them and waving goodbye, then turned down the left corridor and disappeared.
“All ages are here, aren't they? Pre-school kids, too? Is it here where Aurora will spend her afternoons next school year?”
“Yes, all ages. Even preschoolers. Even though those with powers are fewer and fewer.”
“What?” Kim frowned. “I know there are many young witches. I saw lots of kids and teens, too, at the club.”
Ravyn's reaction surprised Kim. She flushed and replied, “Oops! I thought Granny Isidora told you. I shouldn't have mentioned it, even though I don't understand why. I hope she won't be upset with me.”
“Can I ask what you are talking about?”
“Hmm. You'd better wait. She will tell you.”
CHAPTER 18
“So,” Isidora said, moving her hands with grace and making two glasses of iced tea appear out of thin air. “What do you think about the school?” she continued, offering one glass to Kim.
“Not what I expected, for sure. It's incredible. I love the potion laboratory and the garden for plant study. I think I will love those lessons. Oh! And I really enjoyed the first mini-lessons about flying. The first time Ravyn pulled me with her was awful and terrifying. I was petrified, but then we met Zaleria, who'll be my movement teacher. She explained her lessons will start with fluctuation and then flying and teleporting, and she gave me some preliminary tips so that when Ravyn and I went to the top floor, it was easier and even a little fun!”
“Very good, my dear. Zaleria called me and told me you won't need many lessons. You are talented and quick to learn!”
Kim smiled and looked out of the window while sipping her tea. The wonderful scenery behind Isidora's desk never ceased to enchant her.
“Tomorrow, a few delegations of witches from other communities will come here to meet you. We postponed the meeting until now, but we cannot do so any longer. Therefore, we gave them permission to come here and meet you. They might be...eager, to ask you how to solve a... quite problematic situation we all are undergoing. They will talk to you about it for sure, and therefore, I want to run over the matter before they arrive.” She stopped and took a sip of the cold drink.
“You have seen the school. There are lots of students, because that school serves many hundreds of students from many communities. But we are having fewer and fewer kids born with powers.”
“What do you mean? You told me every baby born of a female witch is a witch. Do you mean witches are having fewer children?”
“Not exactly. Our birth rate has declined like the rest of the country, for sure, but that's not the reason. The reason is...” Isidora stopped and breathed deeply. Kim felt how the words were heavy for her.
“The reason is, many of our new witches don't seem to have any powers. Unpowereds, we call them.”
“How can that be? I mean, a witch without pow
ers isn't a witch, is she?”
“We know they are witches. They must be, because of their DNA. Remember, the gene is hereditary. Also, we can sense it. Yet, they have no powers at all, or very weak ones at most, and we don't know what to do.”
“It's odd and very bad for you. Oh, for us, I should say. Is the witch race going extinct? Is this what you mean?”
Isidora shook her head. “We still have a lot of new witches. But every year the percentage is smaller compared to the total number of births.”
“Therefore, some witches aren't able to give birth to witches with powers...”
“Again, no. I wish it was more simple! We had witches who gave birth to powerful witches but the child or children they had afterward had no powers. Or witches who had powerless kids and then gave birth to witches with powers. It is a puzzle, the pieces of which we cannot put together.
“I need to warn you. The prophecy said you will change the destiny of the world and many witches believe you will help us with this.”
“Who, me?” Kim opened her eyes wide in astonishment. “I wouldn't really know what to do! I'm not a doctor or a geneticist.”
“They don't help us. We have scientists among our race. They tried to study the problem but they couldn't find a cause, nor a solution.”
“Well, thank you for telling me. I hope those delegations won't expect me to have a ready solution for it and demand it at once.”
“Don't worry. Even though you still don't feel it, you are a Queen and they will treat you with all due deference.”
“It will be a long night for me. I think I won't be sleeping soon. I'm too nervous about the meeting. No, I'm not nervous. I'm terrified! What if they don't like me? “
“Why shouldn't they like you? They won't be moved by their personal feelings, anyway. There's a prophecy and that's the most important thing. They know you are the Queen, and that's enough. So, don't worry, my dear. Rest, and tomorrow you'll be calm and refreshed.”
Back home, Kim's uneasiness grew even more.
“Will you, Mom? Mom? Mom!” Aurora waved her little hands to get Kim's attention.
“Uh? Sorry, honey.”
“Are you okay?”
“Yes, but please, I’ve told you so many times, don't speak with your mouth full.”
“You aren't listening to me,” she complained. “I need some water to swallow this meat!”
“Here you are. I have something on my mind and I can’t concentrate on anything else.”
“What's that?” Aurora asked, trying to chew, drink and talk at the same time.
“Nothing. What about a cartoon after dinner?”
“Yeahhhhh!” was Aurora's enthusiastic answer.
CHAPTER 19
It wasn't even dawn on that still-cool summer morning when Kim got up, moist with sweat.
It had been a long night, full of intricate dreams. One in particular was still in Kim's mind. It hadn't been a nightmare, only a bad dream that had left her full of grief and sorrow.
She dreamed she was looking out Isidora's window. She could clearly see the center of the town on the left, then the outskirts with all the cottages ending in the hills on the right. In the middle, the big park, and many people in it. She suddenly found herself floating over the park, looking at all the people. There were kids, teens and young men and women, all with the same nearly scared look, full of sorrow. They were all wearing a gray shield which looked like it was made of thick smoke, each of them keeping it at a different angle as to face an invisible enemy coming from everywhere. Yet, they all stared at the hills on the right which were slightly hidden by the mist. Their eyes were full of sadness and Kim felt it inside her heart. She woke up full of an infinite grief which could not be forgotten.
After a quick shower, still before dawn, she went up to the tower to paint that scenery before it faded from her mind. She felt it was important to remember it. She sensed there was something she couldn't quite grasp, that she had already forgotten, but it was the most important thing of her entire dream.
Soon, she had everything ready, new canvases and oils, because she had planned to paint again once her new life was finally settled. This wasn't the case, but she felt an urge she couldn't fight.
When it was time to wake Aurora up, the painting was well on its way. Not a finished painting yet, but she had managed to draw the sketch and then make the first coat of paint. It was still a draft, but it looked much like her dream already.
She washed her hands carefully and woke Aurora. She had planned to take her to the club and come back to finish the painting.
“May I see it?” Aurora asked, chewing her pancake.
“First finish your breakfast and I'll take you upstairs.”
“I want to see Isidora's window. I want to see what you painted for real.”
“It won't be the same, you know. You won't see those people in the park, for example.”
“I still want to see it. Please?”
“Okay, okay! Isidora? Can we come in?”
“Sure. How are you, Aurora?”
“Fine! Can I see the town from your window? Mom made a painting of it,” she replied, pulling her mom behind Isidora's desk without waiting for an answer.
“Did you? Oh, that's nice. You must show it to me when you can. So, little one, enjoy the view.”
“Oh!” Aurora exclaimed when in front of the window. “It is really beautiful. We can see everything from here.”
She analyzed everything and then pointed to something on the right. “What's that, Mom? It isn't on your painting.”
Kim looked at what Aurora was still pointing and stared at it, then slowly turned to Aurora and stroked her hair. “My little one, what would I do without you?”
“Okay, Mom. Ask me for help any time you need it,” was the serious reply.
I got it! Yes, that could be the answer! A sudden excitement overwhelmed Kim. She moved toward Isidora who was looking at them with a questioning look.
“I'll take Aurora to the playground. Then I need help. Is Lucille here this morning? Can you ask her or somebody else to help me, please?”
“Sure, take Aurora and I'll look for Lucille. Oh, and if you need a quiet place to talk with her, you can use the small conference room at the end of the corridor. We never use it, so you can stay there in total tranquility.”
A few minutes later, Lucille was with Kim in the conference room, in a pink baby-doll top and pink, sexy bedroom slippers with matching marabou feathers, stretching her arms and yawning.
“What's the matter with you?” she smiled, quickly chewing her gum. Kim wondered fleetingly if she was ever without it. “I was still sleeping when Isidora called me for an emergency. And I wasn't alone,” she winked.
Kim couldn't help but giggle at the sight of Lucille dressed that way. “Oh, I'm sorry, but it is very important.” She stopped and shot a puzzled look toward Lucille. “Do you chew gum even when you sleep?” She paused, afraid of the answer. “Never mind. We have more important things to do. I need a big, detailed map of the town. Then a list of all witches who gave birth in the last, let's say, twenty years. Also, for each witch I need to know their address at the moment of their child's birth and for each birth if the kid has powers or not. And some sticky notes as well, please.”
“Yep, my Captain! An unusual request. I'm gonna cast a spell on our database,” was Lucille's answer, who, in the meantime, had moved her hand in the air and in the blink of an eye was dressed properly. “While I work on the computer, take a look at the map. Is it okay?” A map of the town appeared on the big table.
“I said I need a big one. I have to put a sticker on it for any witch who had a child in that period.”
“So what? Enlarge it!”
“What?” Kim rolled her eyes. “Oh, yes. I suppose I'll never get used to these things!”
She made a serious face and tried to concentrate. “I wish...ehm, I wish the map was bigger. As big as the table.” Her wish was granted, and the map now co
vered the whole table.
“You don't need to say it loud. Just think about it. Now, let me work on this spell. Only a few minutes and I'll be back with you.” Lucille disappeared and that sight nearly made Kim faint. A person disappearing wasn't something you got used to easily.
Kim studied the map. She hoped her intuition was right. She didn't want to give false hope to the community.
A little later, Lucille addressed her, and she jumped with fear, not having realized Lucille had come back. “Here you are,” she said and handed her some papers. It was the list Kim had asked for.